Biomarker companies raise funding to scale up sales and marketing, validate diagnostics; NIH plans to fund blood cancer biomarker research;

> MDxHealth has raised €10,000,000 ($12.6 million) through a private placement of new shares, to scale up a U.S.-based sales and marketing team, and to operate and grow the company's U.S.-based CLIA-registered commercial laboratory. Press release

> GeneAssess has raised half a million dollars in seed funding to fund the validation of its lead biomarker as a diagnostic for breast cancer and a predictive biomarker in other cancers. Article

> NexDx has raised $2.6 million to fund the development of its molecular diagnostic test for rheumatoid arthritis and move it into analytical and clinical validation. Press release

> The protein EYA3 could tag chemotherapy response in Ewing's sarcoma, according to researchers at the University of Colorado Cancer Center. Press release

> Researchers looking at keratin 5, a type of protein found in hair follicles and certain skin cells and that is used as a marker of stem cells, have found a genetic link explaining how healthy stem cells, which normally carry out repairs in tissues, can become cancerous. Press release | Abstract

> A rare genetic variant may predict survival in glioma. Press release

> The premise of personalized medicine is based on selecting patients dependent on their likelihood to respond to specific treatments; however, recruiting by genotype does pose ethical challenges. Press release | Abstract

> Biomarker company Tethys Bioscience is collaborating with Lose It!, a consumer weight-loss program, to improve weight loss and diabetes prevention. Press release

> The National Cancer Institute is planning to fund research into the development and validation of biomarkers to diagnose and predict progression of blood cancers. Article

And Finally… Genetic markers could predict educational acheivement. Press release