Biomarkers are the keystone of stratified medicine. Now, as for any new medical product, the development of bioassays follows a pathway that begins with basic research and moves toward preclinical and clinical stages. Although biomarkers can be identified in clinical phases, the discovery of new biomarkers is often ground in knowledge generated by academic basic research. A better understanding of disease mechanisms is crucial in this respect. It is obvious that neither the pharmaceutical industry nor the diagnostic manufacturers can support alone the continuum that leads to stratified medicine. Therefore, a stronger cooperation between public and private.
