New Saliva Diagnostic Potential for Sjogren's Syndrome

Image found here. 

UCLA made the announcement yesterday of the receipt of a grant from the NIH for this exciting study:

The UCLA School of Dentistry has now received a $2.8 million grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, part of the National Institutes of Health, to support a multi-center clinical trial of a diagnostic test that uses patients' saliva to determine whether they have Sjögren's syndrome. This simple, non-invasive test will permit a diagnosis within minutes, rather than the weeks currently required when using blood or other tissue samples. 

The project will be led by Dr. David Wong, associate dean for research and the Felix and Mildred Yip Endowed Professor in Dentistry at the UCLA School of Dentistry. For Dr. Wong and his colleagues, who have been conducting research on using saliva as a diagnostic tool for biomarkers of oral cancer, early-stage pancreatic cancer and other maladies for several years, this is an important step in moving from the research realm to actual clinical trials and, eventually, to use by medical and dental practitioners. 

"This clinical trial will make it possible to validate the effectiveness of salivary diagnosis and move us a step closer to eventual FDA approval and clinical product development," Wong said. "The establishment of scientifically credible biomarkers for this chronic autoimmune disease that are not invasive, painful or embarrassing is our goal."

Hm. Scientifically credible biomarkers.....not invasive, painful or embarrassing. I like it. A lot. The article continues:

"The UCLA School of Dentistry is very proud to be at the forefront of this international effort to advance the field of saliva diagnostics from the research laboratory to clinical trials," said No-Hee Park, dean of the UCLA School of Dentistry. "The prospect of early detection of Sjögren's syndrome, and possibly other serious illnesses, in the future through this methodology is truly exciting."

Yes, it IS exciting. Go get 'em, guys and gals.