Genomics News and Research

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Genomics is the study of the complete genetic material, including genes and their functions, of an organism.

Complete Genomics raises $39 million in Series E funding

Complete Genomics announced today that it has raised $39 million in its Series E funding round. New investor Sands Capital led this round of financing and was joined by existing investors Essex Woodlands, OVP Venture Partners, Prospect Venture Partners, OrbiMed Advisors, Highland Capital and Enterprise Partners.

20 Aug 2010

Metagenics announces acquisition of Catalina Lifesciences

Metagenics, Inc., a San Clemente, California-based life sciences company, today announced its acquisition of Catalina Lifesciences, Inc., the Irvine, California-based maker of Bariatric Advantage.

20 Aug 2010

Luminex donates new MAGPIX system to Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research

Luminex Corporation, the worldwide leader in multiplexed solutions, today announced it has donated the first commercial unit of its newly launched MAGPIX® instrument to Professor Peter Siba and his scientific team at the Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research. The instrument will be used onsite in Papua New Guinea to progress malaria research led by Dr. Peter Zimmerman, Professor of International Health, Genetics and Biology at the Center for Global Health and Diseases at Case Western Reserve University.

From Luminex 18 Aug 2010

Study discovers multiple effects of SSRIs on cells

A new discovery about selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) suggests that these drugs, which are used to treat mental health disorders like depression and anxiety, have multiple effects on our cells. In a research report published in the August 2010 issue of GENETICS, researchers used yeast cells to identify secondary drug targets or pathways affected by SSRIs. Such secondary pathways could help explain why different people taking the same drug may experience different effects, and could also lead to new types of drugs altogether.

17 Aug 2010

Human induced pluripotent stem cells help to treat Parkinson’s disease: Research

Researchers at the Buck Institute for Age Research have successfully used human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to treat rodents afflicted with Parkinson's Disease (PD). The research, which validates a scalable protocol that the same group had previously developed, can be used to manufacture the type of neurons needed to treat the disease and paves the way for the use of iPSC's in various biomedical applications. Results of the research, from the laboratory of Buck faculty Xianmin Zeng, Ph.D., are published August 16, 2010 in the on-line edition of the journal Stem Cells.

17 Aug 2010

Albert Einstein College of Medicine named 1 of 5 Nathan Shock Centers

Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University has been named one of the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) Nathan Shock Centers of Excellence in the Basic Biology of Aging. The select group of five centers nationwide provides leadership in the pursuit of basic research into the biology of aging. Einstein's designation includes a $3.1 million, five-year grant from the NIH's National Institute on Aging.

17 Aug 2010

SIK2 impacts cell division cycle, regulates ovarian cancer response to chemotherapy: Research

For the first time, Salt Inducible Kinase 2 (SIK2) has been found to play a critical role in cell division and to regulate the response of some ovarian cancers to chemotherapy.Findings were reported by researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in the August issue of Cancer Cell. The study adds to growing evidence that combination therapies targeting different phases of the cell division cycle are vital for optimal cancer treatment.

17 Aug 2010

Cox Business light-speed computer accelerates TGen’s molecular research

A Cox Business light-speed computer connection coupled with advanced, military-grade technology now provides Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) with the nation's fastest supercomputer link among life-sciences facilities.

16 Aug 2010

Researchers discover genetic alterations responsible for Kabuki syndrome

Using a new, rapid and less expensive DNA sequencing strategy, scientists have discovered genetic alterations that account for most cases of Kabuki syndrome, a rare disorder that causes multiple birth defects and mental retardation. Instead of sequencing the entire human genome, the new approach sequences just the exome, the 1-2 percent of the human genome that contains protein-coding genes.

16 Aug 2010

Cox Business light-speed computer connection provides TGen with fastest supercomputer link

A Cox Business light-speed computer connection coupled with advanced, military-grade technology now provides Translational Genomics Research Institute with the nation's fastest supercomputer link among life-sciences facilities.

13 Aug 2010

EUROPEAN BIOTECHNICA AWARD finalists announced

The names of the finalists in this year's EUROPEAN BIOTECHNICA AWARD have been announced. The companies Addex Pharmaceuticals (Switzerland), Apeiron Biologics (Austria) and Galapagos Genomics (Belgium) have made it through to the final round.

13 Aug 2010

CLC bio, PSSC Labs announce new turnkey solution for full-genome assembly and analysis

Today, CLC bio and PSSC Labs announced a new turnkey solution, CLC Genomics Factory, for assembly, read mapping, and subsequent downstream analysis of very large amounts of high-throughput DNA and RNA sequencing data. Built as a high-performance bioinformatics appliance, CLC Genomics Factory comes in three different sizes with varying numbers of compute nodes, capable of processing the data output from up to 10 Illumina HiSeq2000 or 7 Life Technologies SOLiD 4 systems.

13 Aug 2010

Astex and MMRC commence Phase II clinical trial of AT7519 CDK inhibitor in multiple myeloma

Astex Therapeutics, the UK-based biotechnology company developing targeted therapies for oncology and virology, and the Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium announced today the initiation of a Phase II clinical trial of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, AT7519, to treat patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer. The trial is designed to investigate both single agent and combination activity of AT7519 with bortezomib (Velcade®).

13 Aug 2010

Research finds genetic roots of alcoholism in humans

A novel mutation found in a mouse gene might provide new insights into the genetic roots of alcoholism in humans, according to a study led by researchers at the Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center and the University of California, San Francisco. The study is published August 12th in the open-access journal PLoS Genetics.

13 Aug 2010

Sanofi-aventis, Scripps Genomic Medicine collaborate to advance research in individualized medicine

Sanofi-aventis and Scripps Genomic Medicine, a division of Scripps Health, announced today a strategic alliance to advance research and development initiatives in the field of individualized medicine.

11 Aug 2010

GoTaq 2-Step RT-qPCR System allows researchers to detect target genes

The new Promega GoTaq 2-Step RT-qPCR System allows researchers to detect target genes expressed at low levels even with hard-to-amplify samples. Enhanced sensitivity of the two-step system extends the broad dynamic range of RNA quantitation and provides a robust, gene expression analysis tool.

11 Aug 2010

GWA Study helps scientists identify genetic variant that increases tuberculosis susceptibility in African populations

Scientists have identified a genetic variant which increases susceptibility to tuberculosis (TB) in African populations using a technique known as a genome-wide association (GWA) study. This is the first novel disease variant to be identified using this technique in Africans and demonstrates that such studies are viable in African populations, which have a high degree of genetic diversity.

9 Aug 2010

ASEBIO to host Biospain 2010

The Spanish Bioindustry Association (ASEBIO), in collaboration with the Navarre Society of Development (SODENA), and the government of Navarre, will host BioSpain 2010 the biennial international gathering of experts in the biotechnology sector, in Pamplona from September 29th to October 1st. BioSpain 2010 is honoured to welcome three lecturers of international prestige: Mr. Carlos Cordon-Cardo, Vice-Chair of Pathology & Professor, Columbia University; Mr. Larry Fritz, President & CEO, Covella Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Life Science Venture Partner, Westfield Capital Management Company LP; and Mr. Conny Bogentoft, CEO Karolinska Development AB.

8 Aug 2010

Agendia inaugurates new clinical genomics laboratory

Agendia, a world leader in molecular cancer diagnostics, today announced the inauguration of a new state-of-the-art clinical genomics laboratory in Irvine, CA. Previously, Agendia's offices and laboratory were located in Huntington Beach, CA. The new laboratory will further increase capacity to support Agendia's strong commercial expansion in the U.S. market, as well as the use of multiple Agendia tests in clinical research. MammaPrint, the company's lead product and the only FDA-cleared breast cancer recurrence test, is reimbursed by an increasing number of payers, covering some 100 million lives today.

6 Aug 2010

WaferGen launches SmartChip System for discovery, validation of biomarkers

WaferGen Biosystems, Inc., a leading developer of state-of-the-art genomic analysis systems, today announced it has launched the breakthrough WaferGen SmartChip Real-Time PCR System, the next-generation Real-Time PCR system for discovery and validation of biomarkers, or gene expression patterns, on a single platform. The SmartChip System is designed to provide accurate, highly sensitive and high-throughput gene expression profiling capabilities to researchers, clinicians and pharmaceutical companies.

6 Aug 2010