Clinical Genetics News Round-Up

A round-up of the latest industry and product news from the clinical genetics community

The most recent news from the clinical genetics community includes genetic engineering of white blood cells in the fight against cancer, a new collaboration to tackle age related diseases and advances in clinical next generation sequencing.

1. Scientists Genetically Engineer Patients’ Own Cells to Attack Cancer

In a pioneering trial taking place in London, doctors are harnessing patients own immune systems in an effort to find a new effective treatment for resistant head and neck cancer. The trial of the novel therapy, which involves genetically engineering the patient’s white blood cells so that they recognize and attack the tumor, is taking place at the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) at Guy’s and St Thomas’ and King’s College London.

2. Affymetrix and XRGenomics LTD to Collaborate on Development of Diagnostic Tests for Age-related Diseases

Affymetrix, Inc. and XRGenomics LTD, a UK-based biotechnology company, have announced that they will collaborate on research and development of a new generation of diagnostic tests for age-related diseases. Over 50 percent of healthcare costs are spent on those aged 65 and older and according to the G8 Summit 2013, age-related diseases could bankrupt Western medicine by 2050. New solutions are required to deliver efficient and effective care.

3. Singapore General Hospital and Thermo Fisher Scientific Collaborate to Identify the Prevalence of Asian-Specific Genetic Mutations in Cancer

Singapore General Hospital (SGH) and Thermo Fisher Scientific have announced the establishment of a collaborative partnership aimed at identifying cancer genetic mutations linked with Asian populations using Thermo Fisher’s Ion Torrent next-generation sequencing (NGS) platform.

4. QIAGEN Introduces GeneReader NGS System

QIAGEN has announced the start of commercialization activities for its GeneReader NGS System, the first complete Sample to Insight next-generation sequencing (NGS) solution designed for any laboratory to deliver actionable results.

5. Video: Using OneSeq to Advance the Diagnosis of Genomic Disorders

In this video, Professor Orsetta Zuffardi, Ph.D., Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, describes her laboratory’s work in postnatal and prenatal diagnostics and research into genomic rearrangements. Hear how she hopes to use OneSeq technology from Agilent as an alternative to array-CGH in the diagnosis of genomics disorders through the identification of copy number variants and genetic mutations.

6. Video: New Philisa® Real-Time PCR System from Streck Enables 20 Minute Real-Time PCR

Streck’s Philisa® Real-Time PCR System, is due to be launched in 2016 and offers real-time optics in a modular format. Watch this video to learn more about how the system can perform a 20-minute rapid reverse transcriptase PCR assay, and about the company’s plans to develop PCR based real-time kits for the detection of genes associated with antibiotic resistance.