The View From Here Thomas Joos This month’s e-newsletter will provide an update on biomarkers. The ideal biomarker is specifically associated with a particular disease or a disease state and should have an expression level that is predictable. To be of maximum benefit, a rapid, simple, accurate and inexpensive detection of the marker in serum and/or urine is desirable, together with a measurable standard baseline as a reference point. So far, discoveries of ideal biomarkers are rare events. However, today's systems biology uses global analytical research tools to screen for biomarkers on the genomic, proteomic or metabolomic level. In parallel, knowledge-based approaches combined with screening approaches are used for biomarker discovery. These approaches have a great potential to identify disease specific biomarkers. The selected references will provide an overview of recent developments in the biomarker field. Enjoy! Thomas Joos, PhD Head Biochemistry Department NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tuebingen