WaferGen Biosystems, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: WGBS), a leading developer of state-of-the-art genetic analysis systems, today announced that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded a grant to the University of Pittsburgh that includes funding of $350,000 over the grant period for WaferGen's SmartChip™ Real-Time PCR System. The researchers will conduct novel gene expression research in the areas of advanced lung disease and asthma and will use the SmartChip system as the key platform for high throughput validation.
Part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the $3.5 million grant awarded the University of Pittsburgh is part of two grants totaling $12 million to several institutions that also include Harvard, Boston University, National Jewish Hospital, and Wake Forest. In one project, the researchers plan to create a genetic, molecular, and quantitative clinical phenotyping data warehouse with bioinformatic tools that will empower investigators to make fundamental discoveries in disease pathogenesis, refine diagnostic criteria, and lead to real gains in personalized medicine to address chronic lung disease. In a second project, they will study the underlying genomics of asthma to determine why some individuals develop disease that is more severe and difficult to treat. The findings are intended to facilitate the development of new therapies especially targeted for severe asthmatics.