Omics Distillery
Biologists' FAQ
The Gap between Data and Insight
In biotech and pharma pre-clinical and clinical R&D, receiving omics data from drug treatments on patient-derived cells presents a significant opportunity to address biological questions crucial for understanding the drug's mechanisms and its potential therapeutic effects. Here are some key questions that scientists frequently ask:
Drug Mechanism of Action
-
How does the drug influence the cellular pathways within patient-derived cells?
-
Which genes, proteins, and metabolic pathways are up- or downregulated upon treatment?
-
Can these pathways help elucidate the drug's primary targets and off-target effects?
Differential Response Analysis
-
Are there variations in how different patient cells respond to the drug?
-
Are there any biomarkers of responsiveness or resistance to the drug?
-
By comparing omics profiles from responders and non-responders, are there any predictive markers of efficacy or adverse effects?
Drug Safety Profile
-
What are the potential toxic effects of the drug on normal cells?
-
Are there any concerning pathways activated by the drug that could lead to toxicity?
-
What are the molecular mechanisms of the drug's side effects?
Gene Expression Profiling
-
Which genes are significantly affected by the drug treatment?
-
What gene expression changes correlate with the drug's intended therapeutic effects or unwanted side effects?
-
Can we distinguish between primary effects directly linked to the drug's action and secondary effects resulting from the cellular response to the primary effects?
Epigenetic Effects
-
Does the drug cause any changes in the epigenetic landscape of the cells, such as DNA methylation or histone modification?
-
Can these changes provide insights into the drug’s long-term impacts on gene regulation?
Protein Interaction Networks
-
From the changes in the proteome, including post-translational modifications, can we deduce how the drug affect protein-protein interactions within the cells?
Metabolic Changes
-
What are the effects of the drug on the cellular metabolism?
-
Do these changes in metabolic pathways contribute to the drug’s efficacy or toxicity?
Comparison with Existing Therapies
-
How does the drug's impact on cellular pathways compare with current treatments?
-
What are the drug's advantages or disadvantages over existing therapies?
-
What potentially position it as a superior option?