A new study shows that our blood contains far more information about heart disease than previously thought. Using advanced data analysis, researchers from Bergen and Reykjavík, among others, have mapped how hundreds of blood proteins interact – and how these patterns can warn of future heart problems.
The research team, led by bioinformatician Sean Bankier, analyzed 30 years of data from the Icelandic heart association Hjartavernd. Instead of studying individual proteins, they examined the entire network of proteins in the blood. This revealed clear links between protein patterns and the risk of common heart problems, such as heart attacks.
The method could eventually make it possible to extract more information from regular blood tests and reduce the need for invasive tests such as biopsies. The researchers also believe that the technique can be transferred to other diseases, including cancer.
The study shows how big data and bioinformatics are opening new doors in medical research – not as a replacement for laboratory work, but as a powerful supplement.