GHAPPcast: Decoding Diagnostics: Why Biomarker Development Phases Are Your Clinical Ally

October 2025

In this episode of the GHAPPcast, Patrick Horne, NP and Chris Lovell, CRNP discuss the critical role of biomarkers in hepatology and liver disease management. They explain what biomarkers are, how they are used in clinical practice to detect conditions such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and how they can measure treatment response. The conversation explores the rigorous biomarker development and validation process, beginning with discovery and assay development, through retrospective and prospective validation, and ultimately assessing population impact. Patrick and Chris highlight the role of the Early Detection Research Network (EDRN), established by the National Cancer Institute, in ensuring biomarkers meet strict scientific standards before clinical application. They also emphasize why it is important for clinicians to understand these processes—so they can have greater confidence in applying biomarkers to improve early detection and patient outcomes. This discussion offers a clear, evidence-based perspective on how biomarkers shape the future of liver disease diagnosis and care.