The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute Purchases Production-Scale SNP Genotyping Solution From Illumina
Tuesday February 18, 8:33 am ET
Illumina's BeadArray(TM) Technology Will Be the Foundation for the United Kingdom's Contribution to the International HapMap Project
SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 18, 2003-- Illumina, Inc. (Nasdaq: ILMN - News) announced today an agreement with the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute for the purchase of Illumina's SNP genotyping solution. Illumina's solution will constitute an integral component of the Institute's extensive resources devoted to understanding the functional implications of SNP-based sequence variation in the human genome and other model organisms.
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The SNP genotyping laboratory will be installed in the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and used by the Institute to support the United Kingdom's contribution to the International HapMap Project as well as other large genotyping projects. The HapMap Project aims to characterize the extent of linkage disequilibrium in the human genome in order to enable future studies of common disease.
The genotyping laboratory solution is built around Illumina's proprietary BeadArray(TM) technology and features high sample throughput, unprecedented multiplex levels, LIMS (laboratory information management system) control and low running cost per SNP scored. The complete offering is fully integrated to ensure optimal SNP genotyping performance. Included in the turnkey offering are Sherlock(TM) scanning equipment, GoldenGate(TM) assay protocols, LIMS and analytical software, fluid-handling robotics, and access to Sentrix(TM) array matrices and reagent supply, along with installation, start-up, training, and support services. When installed, the genotyping laboratory at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute will have the capacity to produce routinely one million genotypes per day.
The purchase agreement follows large studies performed earlier for the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute by Illumina's genotyping services group. One of these studies was designed to identify haplotypes in defined chromosomal regions. Illumina is also collaborating closely with the Sanger Institute and with the Wellcome Trust's Centre for Human Genetics, Oxford University in the areas of design, SNP selection and data analysis to support Illumina's direct role in the HapMap Project.
According to Jay Flatley, Illumina President and CEO, "We're very pleased to expand our collaborative relationship with the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute. This purchase agreement will enable us to work even more closely with the Institute on the HapMap Project goals. In addition, the agreement underscores the tremendous value that our BeadArray(TM) platform delivers to the genomics research community."
The Sanger Institute's Head of Human Genetics, David Bentley, Ph.D., commented, "We're keen to install and begin working with Illumina's technology. Their production genotyping solution offers opportunity to significantly increase throughput and lower the costs of large-scale research conducted at the Institute, for both the HapMap Project and future initiatives."
When completed, the HapMap will constitute a seminal reference work, aiding researchers in the evaluation of disease risks and therapeutic response based on individual genetic patterns. A HapMap of the human genome will allow more rapid and efficient large-scale genetic association studies aimed at discovering common genetic variants contributing to human disease and differential response to drug treatments.
The Sanger Institute (http://www.sanger.ac.uk/) is a genome research institute primarily funded by the Wellcome Trust, with the purpose of furthering the knowledge of genomes, particularly through large-scale sequencing and analysis.
Illumina (www.illumina.com) is developing next-generation tools that permit large-scale analysis of genetic variation and function. The Company's proprietary BeadArray(TM) technology provides the throughput, cost effectiveness and flexibility 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 and proteomics. This information will help pave the way to personalized medicine. |
