Chair to bedside: Translational advances in salivary biomarker analysis

Title : Chair to bedside: Translational advances in salivary biomarker analysis

Abstract:

Saliva has emerged as a promising diagnostic biofluid, offering a non-invasive, cost-effective, and patient-friendly alternative to blood-based investigations. The concept of “from chair to bedside” underscores the translational journey of salivary biomarker research—from laboratory discovery to routine bedside clinical application. This lecture aims to highlight recent translational advances in salivary biomarkers and their growing relevance in clinical decision-making across medical and dental disciplines.

Advances in molecular biology, proteomics, genomics, metabolomics, and nanotechnology have significantly expanded the diagnostic potential of saliva. A wide array of salivary biomarkers, including proteins, nucleic acids, hormones, antibodies, and microbial signatures, have demonstrated strong correlations with local and systemic diseases. These biomarkers have shown promise in the early detection, prognosis, and monitoring of conditions such as oral cancer, periodontal diseases, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disorders, autoimmune diseases, and viral infections. The development of highly sensitive analytical platforms and point-of-care devices has further accelerated the translation of salivary diagnostics into chairside and bedside settings.

This lecture will discuss the biological basis of saliva as a diagnostic medium, key milestones in biomarker discovery, and validation strategies essential for clinical translation. Emphasis will be placed on real-world applications, including chairside screening tools, personalized medicine, and disease monitoring, as well as the integration of salivary diagnostics into routine clinical workflows. A comprehensive approach with different clinical studies, done by author will be discussed.

Biography:

Dr. Vandana Singh, Addtional Professor,Department of Oral Medicine & Radiology at Faculty of Dental Sciences, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, India is an eminent Oral Physician with over 13 years of clinical, research, and academic experience. She completed her BDS from KGMU in 2005 and MDS in Oral Medicine and Radiology from Mahatma Gandhi Postgraduate Institute, Puducherry, in 2011. Her key areas of interest include early detection of oral cancer, premalignant disorders, and saliva diagnostics. She is nominated as a Rural Oral Cancer Training and Screening Expert under NRHM, India, and holds lifetime membership in various national and international professional bodies, including IAOMR, the European Academy of Oral Medicine, and the Indian Dental Association. She has authored book chapters and published 25 research papers in reputed journals. She is actively involved in intramural and extramural research projects and has been invited as an international guest speaker at several conferences.