Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York have identified the DBC2 gene that is missing or inactivated in 60% of human breast cancers and about 50% of lung cancers. The researchers report that this is a completely new type of tumor-suppressor gene found on chromosome eight.

IBEX Technologies is developing two biomarkers to predict the severity of osteoarthritis progression. These biomarkers detect the cleavage by collagenase of cartilage type II collagen. The combined data from these two biomarkers were utilized to yield a colratio which can distinguished patients with osteoarthritis who rapidly progressed compared to those whose disease did not progress.

Scientists at the International Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon, France have discovered that high levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I may increase women's risk of developing ovarian cancer before age 55.

BTG and Isis Innovation Ltd, the technology transfer company of the University of Oxford, have signed an agreement for the commercialization of a new celiac disease technology developed by the University of Oxford. The Oxford researchers have studied the toxic protein fractions in cereal crops and have identified the particular part of the wheat protein that, following modification by gut enzymes, causes the immune reaction associated with celiac disease.

Scientists at the Robert Koch Institute in Berlin are developing infrared spectroscopy to be used in a new blood screening system that could detect mad cow disease or its human equivalent in less than 15 minutes.

Researchers at the University of Cambridge and his colleagues have developed a non-invasive test that pinpoints a group of molecules called MCMs which are found in rapidly dividing cancerous cells but not in healthy cells. They expect to use these MCMs to test for the early signs of bowel, cervical and other common cancers.

Targeted Diagnostics & Therapeutics, Inc. is developing guanylyl cyclase-C (GC-C) technology as a sensitive and specific diagnostic marker and as a target for gastric and esophageal cancer.