Applied Biosystems launches genotyping service provider programme

Applied Biosystems, an Applera Corporation business, has established a global genotyping service provider programme for scientists interested in the study of how specific genetic variations may impact health or disease.

The SNPlex™ Service Provider Program was created for research laboratories that do not have access to capillary electrophoresis (CE) genetic analysis instrument systems. The goal of the programme is to provide these researchers with a comprehensive solution for genotyping research through the global service provider participants.

The providers in the programme include the Chinese National Human Genome Center (China); DNAVision (Belgium); IntegraGen, Inc. (France); Medical Solutions Geneservice (United Kingdom); the University of California at Los Angeles DNA Sequencing and Genotyping Core Facility (United States); and Vanderbilt University DNA Sequencing and Genotyping Facility (United States).

High throughput genotyping services offered through the programme will enable researchers to study large populations of individuals to gain an understanding of genetic areas of interest and further expand research into potentially finding cures for a variety of diseases that include cancer, heart disease and diabetes. The programme members will provide assistance with medium to large scale genotyping research, such as validation or fine mapping studies that require obtaining high throughput single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data. SNPs are variations in DNA sequence that are believed to affect how diseases develop and determine how a drug may affect a particular disorder.

Applied Biosystems is a global leader in the development and commercialisation of instrument-based systems, consumables, software, and services for the life-science market. The SNPlex Service Provider Program is based on the SNPlex™ Genotyping System, which consists of custom designed assays, universal core reagents, analysis software and fully supported system documentation that are optimised for use on Applied Biosystems’ CE platforms. The programme provides a broad range of support, including planning, sample extraction, genotyping, data interpretation and statistical analysis through the participating service providers.

The Chinese National Human Genome Center has used the SNPlex genotyping system in conjunction with Applied Biosystems’ CE sequencing platforms to lead many national and international genomics research projects related to large scale DNA sequencing, functional genomics, proteomics, and SNP detection.

“The Chinese National Human Genome Center has undertaken many projects in screening candidate genes for disease associations in pedigrees or populations, and in our experience the SNPlex System is ideal for this kind of research,” said Dr WeiZhi Chen, MD and chief technology officer at the Chinese National Human Genome Center. “Our involvement in this programme demonstrates our commitment to delivering highly customised genotyping services to the research community.”

Scientists at UCLA’s GenoSeq Core anticipate that its customers will use SNPlex technology for a wide variety of research, including cancer and neuropsychiatric studies. GenoSeq Core has used Applied Biosystems’ SNPlex genotyping and sequencing platforms to establish high throughput assays and methodologies for more than 240 laboratories in the past year.

“It’s not always practical for a researcher to set up a high throughput assay in their laboratory if the methods are not the main focus of their work,” said Dr Jeanette Papp, director of GenoSeq Core. “GenoSeq Core has the requirements for these experiments in place, including the instrumentation, necessary robotics, bioinformatics and, most importantly, the expertise. This programme is another way for us to provide high quality SNP genotyping services to our customers, broaden access to genotyping platforms and enable them to accelerate their research and business.”

Applied Biosystems is supporting the SNPlex Service Provider Program by providing technical and marketing support, which is expected to enhance the participating service providers’ ability to deliver advanced genotyping services to customers. Members of the programme were chosen based on proficiency in executing the SNPlex chemistry workflow and generating reliable data using GeneMapper™ Software for Data Analysis.

“Applied Biosystems believes in partnering with leading laboratories to create programs that broaden access to technologies and software that will enable the acceleration of important research related to the study of disease and other genetic traits,” said Phoebe White, senior director of genotyping, Applied Biosystems. “The SNPlex Service Provider Program facilitates access to a complete genotyping analysis system for those who have not scaled up their research and made an investment to purchase on their own.”

Further information about the SNPlex Service Provider Program is available via the article webpage.