Why PNI scientists need to engage in exploratory hypothesis-generating biomarker studies

Area of Science:

• Psychoneuroimmunology
• Biomarker Discovery
• Systems Biology

Background:

• Multi-omics research offers advanced analytical tools for complex biological systems.
• Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) has historically faced challenges in biomarker research, potentially due to overlooking immune-brain interactions.
• Existing sample collections can be leveraged for novel insights.

Purpose of the Study:

• To encourage PNI researchers to adopt multi-omics approaches.
• To highlight the utility of cross-sectional omics studies in PNI.
• To provide pragmatic guidance for designing exploratory cross-sectional omics studies.

Main Methods:

• Review of multi-omics technologies and statistical solutions.
• Discussion of cross-sectional study designs for PNI research.
• Conceptualization of pragmatic steps for exploratory omics study design.

Main Results:

• Cross-sectional omics studies can identify key biological systems for further investigation.
• These studies build fundamental mechanistic knowledge of biological networks.
• Integrating PNI perspectives enhances biomarker research validity.

Conclusions:

• Embracing multi-omics advances is crucial for PNI.
• A nuanced understanding of inflammation and psychological comorbidity is necessary.
• Careful consideration of study populations and measurements is key for successful exploratory omics research.