For a long time now, endometriosis has been the subject of intense research at the Medical University of Vienna. There are now new, groundbreaking findings, obtained from an innovative, endometriosis–specific blood and tissue bank. This advance was made possible by secured long–term private funding from businesswoman Ingrid Flick. The project entitled I.N.G.R.I.D. (Interdisciplinary New Gynecological Research Group In the field of endometriotic Disease) secures long–term funding of a six–figure euro amount for MedUni Vienna research projects in the field of endometriosis. One of these projects has now discovered a highly promising biomarker for the disease.

Küssel and Husslein investigated whether certain adhesion molecules (binding proteins between the cells), which are known to play a role as a "glue" between the cells, amongst other things, would be suitable as a biomarker for endometriosis. The outcome: women with endometriosis produce a lot more adhesion molecules SVCAM–I (soluble VCAM–I) and SICAM–I (soluble ICAM–I) so that a combination of these would represent a suitable potential biomarker in the blood serum. In a group of 138 women, it was possible to determine with 90% certainty whether they had endometriosis or not. "We now want to conduct follow–up studies to investigate whether this promising starting point can lead to a new, minimally invasive diagnostic option in the future," say the study authors.

The article, "Soluble VCAM–I/soluble ICAM–I ratio is a promising biomarker for diagnosis of endometriosis," was published in the journal Human Reproduction.