Transgenomic Inc. and Max-Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics Collaborate On Variation Discovery System
OMAHA, Neb., Feb. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Transgenomic Inc. (Nasdaq: TBIO - news) and the Berlin-Dahlem-based Max-Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics announced today that they have entered into a multi-year collaboration for the development of a high-throughput genetic variation discovery system. Funded by the German National Genome Research Network (NGFN) and incorporating Transgenomic technology, the system developed will provide researchers with a better tool to attack large-scale genetic variation studies. Such studies are essential for developing associations between genetic variation and diseases, which in turn will allow biopharmaceutical companies to develop diagnostic tools and gene-based therapies. The work will be performed in the department of Prof. Hans Lehrach of the Institute.
According to Dr. Richard Reinhardt, head of the scientific service group at the Institute, ``Transgenomic technology is well suited for incorporation into such a system. It will facilitate the integration of the process, from sample preparation to sample introduction to analysis.'' Dr. Lehrach, director of the department of vertebrate genomics, added, ``The Transgenomic technology should contribute to an eloquent solution for the high-throughput analysis needs, not only by its function but also by its economical nature. The cost per analysis should be very appealing.''
Collin D'Silva, CEO of Transgenomic, commented, ``We are honored that the Max-Planck Institute has confidence in our ability to be an effective partner with them in developing this system. We are confident that our versatile technology will be a solid building block for its development.'' D'Silva also said, ``We are pleased to cooperate with a partner of such an outstanding reputation as the Max-Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics. With their help we can more quickly achieve success with our goal of providing effective solutions to problems faced by the genomics segment of the life sciences community.''
About the Max-Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics
The Institute was founded in 1965 and currently has 465 staff positions. Work at the Institute is largely in the fields of the molecular analysis of vertebrate genomes (Lehrach's department), molecular causes of human diseases (department led by Dr. Hans-Hilger Ropers) and bioinformatics (department headed by Dr. Martin Vingron). The work of all departments is supported by a large service group. Affiliated with the Institute is the Resource Centre/Primary Database of the German Human Genome Project, which has the task of providing clones and clonebanks, as well as to collect and make available the data generated by associated projects.
Dr. Lehrach's department of vertebrate genomics is chiefly concerned with the systematic identification and isolation of the genes of the vertebrate genome. The key elements of this work are the application of efficient techniques for the gene identification in cDNA libraries, the mapping and analysis of human chromosomes X and 21 and other model organism genomes, and the elucidation of the function of the gene responsible for Huntington's chorea. This work is supported by the development and application of new techniques, such as new automated systems for functional genomics and new techniques for producing and analyzing a catalogue of gene products and their antibodies.
About Transgenomic
Transgenomic is headquartered in Omaha, Neb., and has offices in the United States, Europe and Japan. Major manufacturing facilities are located in San Jose, Calif., Omaha, Neb., Cramlington, Newcastle, U.K., and Glasgow, Scotland, U.K. The company provides innovative research tools to the genomics segment of the life sciences industry. These tools enable researchers to discover and understand variation in the human genetic code, or genome, in order to accelerate and improve drug development and diagnostics... |
