Welcome to BioSciCon

BioSciCon, the Biomedical Science Consulting Company, Inc., is a small business biotechnology R&D, educational and consulting company located in Rockville, MD. BioSciCon primary activities are focused on the development of a novel improved Pap test for more accurate early detection of cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is a preventable disease IF detected on time. According to FDA, CDC and CMS, in spite of recent developments ("See & Treat," HPV testing and HPV vaccines) the cytological screening remains the best strategy for prevention of this disease.

BioSciCon designs and develops patented Pap test related products and services under the brand name MarkPap®. This is an emerging biomarker-based technology for the enhancement of the visibility of abnormal cells on Pap specimens. Visualized with MarkPap® technology, the biomarker appears as a red pigment on the Papanicolaou bluish background in abnormal cells serving as their locator. This is a cytoplasmic protein biomarker distinct from nuclear features commonly used for cytological screening and, therefore, is an addition to the standard criteria for reading and interpretation of cervical specimens (see images). The biomarker appears exclusively in dysplastic, cancerous and HPV affected cervical cells. Normal squamous epithelial cells are entirely negative. Since the biomarker is positive in HPV disease (highlighting koilocytes), the test may become a new cytological tool for detecting epithelial tissue response to HPV infection and for the monitoring of the effect of the new HPV vaccines.

Based on the results from clinical-laboratory trials on 2,000 subjects/specimens (general population and women at high risk), MarkPap test proved to be superior (better diagnostic accuracy), more productive (faster screening), better controlled (control slides), customer friendly (MarkPap kit) and less expensive than conventional and liquid-based Pap test. MarkPap test has reduced the false negative rates of cervical cancer screening to less then 5% (see Publications). MarkPap® products will become available for marketing in the USA after FDA approval and worldwide after the approval of local governments.

The presence of the biomarker brings the opportunity for utilizing this technology in telemedicine. Our new product MarkPap Digital is designed for telecytopathology. Another new product is MarkPap Self designed for future Home Pap. Both new products open a prospective for dramatic increase of number of women participating in screening and making the test available in remote places without necessary infrastructure. Today, only 6.5% women have cervical cancer prevention worldwide, and 250,000 women die per year from a preventable disease. MarkPap technology opens prospective for mass cytological cervical cancer screening worldwide with the unprecedented benefit for saving thousands women's lives each year.

MarkPap® Images

Click on the image for a larger view

Legend: Upper left: COMBO Control Slide. Central marker negative (blue) normal epithelial cell surrounded with marker positive (red) HeLa cultured cervical carcinoma cells. Upper right: Cervical specimen with two negative normal squamous epithelial cells, and one small abnormal positive cell. Lower left: HPV infected binuclear positive cell. Lower right: Normal cervico-vaginal specimen, with several normal marker negative squamous epithelial cells.

Only abnormal cells are highlighted by the red biomarker. Normal cells are entirely negative (blue). This is a red "stop light" for the screener. Hard to miss marked cells!

BioSciCon has currently incorporated a business arm, MarkPap LLC for the purpose of commercialization of MarkPap technology products. The LLC is currently searching for funding partners and/or potential licensing partners for commercialization of the first line of products (MarkPap® test, MarkPap® Kit with accessories) and for the continuous development of the second line of products, MarkPap® Digital and MarkPap® Self.