Overview
Dr. Habibullah Life Sciences Limited (HLSL) is a cutting edge company that focuses on the discovery of novel biomarkers for diagnostic and therapeutic applications in gastroenterology, neurology and oncology. Our biomarker discovery, development and delivery services in a clinical setting are supported by our state-of-the-art laboratory technologies. Our team of highly qualified scientists and bioinformaticians have substantial experience in molecular & cell biology, drug discovery & development and diagnostic product development. We also partner with biopharma companies to provide solutions ranging from pre-clinical biomarker discovery to companion diagnostic development including regulatory submissions and commercialisation. Our biomarkers could be applied in everything from treatment response prediction, treatment efficiency and disease detection to classification and patient stratification, among other areas.
Research Areas
Circulating Biomarkers
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs): CTCs are cells that have shed into the blood system from a primary or metastatic tumor and circulate in the bloodstream. The identification and isolation of CTCs in cancer patients can be used as an alternative to traditional tissue biopsies in order to evaluate what might be taking place on a real-time basis. This technology may be used to evaluate a patient prognosis as well as their response to therapy, diagnosis and treatment.
Exosomes: Exosomes have recently emerged as a new class of promising circulating biomarkers. Exosomes are membrane-bound phospholipid vesicles (30–150 nm in diameter), actively secreted by a variety of mammalian cells, especially dividing cancer cells. Exosomes exist in large quantities in biofluids, even in tumours that release sparse numbers of CTCs. In addition, exosomes also carry diverse cellular constituents of their parent cells, including proteins, mRNA, miRNA, & DNA, and have been shown to play various roles in modulating the tumour microenvironment.
What is Biomarker?
Biomarkers are indicators of disease occurrence and progression, which can be used to measure and evaluate normal biological and pathogenic processes, or pharmacologic responses to a therapeutic invention. In some cases, they may even serve as potential drug targets. Biomarkers can be specific cells, molecules, genes, gene products, enzymes or hormones. There are three major classified types of biomarkers according to their applications in disease detection — screening, diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. Screening biomarkers are used to predict the potential occurrence of a disease in asymptomatic patients. Diagnostic biomarkers are used to make predictions on patients suspected of a certain disease. Prognostic biomarkers are applied to predict the outcome of a patient suffering from a specific disease.