Biomarker Epidemiology

Biomarker epidemiology is the application of biomarkers to epidemiology, which is the study of patterns, causes, and effects of health and disease conditions in defined populations. It is a rapidly growing field within the biomedical sciences, and its importance lies in its ability to identify early risk factors for diseases and illnesses, predict and diagnose disease states, and even establish new treatments and interventions for disease prevention and control. Biomarker epidemiology can be used to improve population health, inform medical and public health policies, direct resources for healthcare interventions, and guide health promotion efforts.