Novel Biomarkers for Predicting Suicide Risk
JHU REF: [C12394]
Invention Novelty:
This invention provides DNA methylation-based biomarkers for predicting suicide risk.
Value Proposition:
Almost 30,000 people die of suicide each year in the United States, and 1 million people die worldwide. In the teenage population, it is the second leading cause of death. Chemical, behavioral, and psychological risk factors are important in identifying these patients; however, many times they produce a false positive or a false negative diagnosis. It is thus important to develop biomarkers for suicidal behavior. This technology is an epigenetic predictive biomarker for suicide risk. Advantages of this technology include:
- Quick, safe and non-invasive blood test can detect the presence of suicide associated biomarkers.
- The biomarkers have been confirmed in multiple human sample types.
Technical Details:
Johns Hopkins Researchers have identified a genetic biomarker for suicide risk. Using genome-wide DNA methylation profiling in post mortem brains, an association of a methylated CpG located within a single nucleotide polymorphism with suicide status was identified and confirmed in an independent cohort of post mortem brain samples with bipolar disorder. An independent replication in peripheral blood DNA from individuals from the GenRED offspring cohort also exhibited significance at both DNA methylation and genotype model terms. An analysis of serum corticosterone in the human blood samples identified a significant negative correlation of genotype corrected DNA methylation status with stress hormone, suggesting that the DNA methylation at the target CpG may be a molecular marker of stress hormone exposure, which has previously been associated with suicide attempt.
Looking for Partners: To develop this invention into a commercial suicide risk diagnostic test
Stage of development: Pre-clinical
Data Availability: Under CDA/NDA
Patent Status: Pending
Publication(s)/Associated Cases: WO 2015006645 A1; PMC4564560
Categories: Diagnostics
Keywords: suicide risk, biomarker, DNA methylation, epigenetic, blood test, psychiatric disorder
