After using its Oxford Genome Anatomy Project database to identify 25 potential protein biomarkers for colorectal cancer, Oxford Genome Sciences announced this week that it has partnered with Biosite to develop a diagnostic test for the cancer.

The test will focus initially on detecting colorectal cancer relapse, said Gunars Valkirs, senior vice president in charge of discovery at Biosite. If that test is successful, the companies may then move to apply it as a colorectal screening test for the general population.