Illumina Receives $1.2 Million Phase 2 Grant From National Cancer Institute to Develop Microarrays for Protein Profiling
Multiplexed, Bead-Based Immunoassay Method To Be Designed for Cost-Effective, Simultaneous Testing of Many Samples
SAN DIEGO--(BW HealthWire)--March 11, 2002-- Illumina, Inc. has received a $1.2 million Phase 2 research grant from the National Cancer Institute to develop a highly multiplexed immunoassay system based on the Company's BeadArray(TM) technology. The grant, funded through the NCI's Innovative Molecular Analysis Technologies (IMAT) Program, will help Illumina extend its bead-based array platform -- now being developed for DNA and RNA analysis -- to the measurement and characterization of proteins and their post-translational modifications. By enabling highly parallel protein characterization, BeadArray technology has the potential to accelerate research in functional genomics and proteomics and to streamline drug development.
The new grant follows successful completion of a Phase 1 feasibility study. Phase 2 research will focus on the development and validation of an array-based, high-throughput immunoassay system to identify and evaluate defects in lymphoid system homeostasis and the immune response to cancer. Illumina is collaborating on this project with Dr. Christopher Goodnow, Professor of Molecular Medicine at the Australian National University's John Curtin School for Medical Research and a pioneer in the use of mouse models for the study of the immune system.
Illumina's Vice President of Genomics, Dr. Mark Chee, commented, ``We're gratified and excited to receive this Phase 2 proteomics grant. It underscores the flexibility of our BeadArray platform and will advance our efforts to develop new enabling technologies for the biomedical research community.'' Illumina has received a number of earlier NIH (National Institutes of Health) grants for technology development related to genomics. Funded projects include the development of SNP genotyping and gene expression arrays.
Illumina (Nasdaq: ILMN; www.illumina.com) is developing next-generation tools that will permit large-scale analysis of genetic variation and function. The Company's proprietary BeadArray technology will provide the throughput, cost effectiveness and flexibility necessary to enable researchers in the life sciences and pharmaceutical industries to perform the billions of tests necessary to extract medically valuable information from advances in genomics. Illumina's technology will have applicability across a wide variety of industries beyond life sciences and pharmaceuticals, including agriculture, food, chemicals and petrochemicals. |
