Diagnostics for organ injury from environmental contaminants.

Banyan Biomarkers, Inc. is developing protein biomarkers to evaluate organ injury in fish exposed to environmental contaminants. Following the same successful strategy that was applied to find biomarkers for human brain injury, we have developed biomarkers that can distinguish necrosis from apoptosis in contaminant-induced organ damage. We are also engaged in research to identify novel protein biomarkers that are specific to the damaged organs and that might suggest modes of action for contaminants that cause adverse effects in reproduction, growth and general health. These biomarkers will enable us to determine higher order effects from exposure to contaminants. This is particularly relevant for studies that need to evaluate the organismal and population effects of exposure to 87,000 contaminants that may behave as endocrine disruptors.