RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Expression Analysis (EA), a Quintiles company today announced a grant program that provides scientists with leading-edge products and services to advance genomics research. In the fifth year of EA’s grant program, EA and Illumina will award two grant winners fully-funded exome and RNA sequencing services along with array-based methylation analysis as part of the companies’ integrated biology grant.
“This grant program illustrates our commitment to advancing new applications in genomics research,” said Steve McPhail, President of EA. “We are encouraging researchers to explore the power of an integrated biological approach in their genetic research studies.”
“We are very excited to enable this comprehensive approach using the latest advances in genomic studies enhanced with gene expression and regulation,” said Tristan Orpin, Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of Illumina. “We look forward to another successful partnership with EA in co-sponsoring these grants.”
Integrated biology is a scientific approach that has considerable advantages over other approaches within biology and biomedical research—including interpreting interactions in genetic research studies through a comprehensive, systems view rather than a single scientific lens that can exclude significant biological factors.
The integrated biology grant includes:
- Whole Genome DNA Methylation, which plays a critical role in the regulation of gene expression and is known to be an essential mechanism for guiding normal cellular development and maintaining tissue identities;
- RNA Sequencing, which enables a more comprehensive and quantitative view of the entire transcriptome, providing accurate analysis of gene expression. This also enables identification of novel transcripts, novel isoforms, alternative splice sites, allele-specific expression, cSNPs, and rare transcripts all in a single experiment; and
- Exome Sequencing, which integrates protein coding regions of the human genome through enrichment strategies that target all exons, UTRs and other functionally annotated regions of interest.
Applications will be reviewed and scored by technical experts at EA and Illumina. Myles Axton, Editor of Nature Genetics Magazine, will select the two winners from among the top 10 finalists on or before August 15, 2013. Applications for the grant are due by June 25, 2013. Applicants are encouraged to showcase projects that have significant public health importance, including the epidemiology, genetic epidemiology and genetics of the biological question under their study. A strong case that the biological question has important human health consequences will be advantageous. For more information on the program, including application requirements and materials, please visit expressionanalysis.com/grant.
About EA
EA, a Quintiles company, provides cutting-edge genomic sequencing, gene expression, genotyping, and bioinformatics services to the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, diagnostic test developers, government agencies, and academic labs. All projects are conducted under clinical-grade quality control, ensured through CLIA certification, GLP compliance, and adherence to CLSI guidelines. EA’s bioinformatics staff are key contributors to the Food and Drug Administration’s MicroArray Quality Control (MAQC) and Sequencing Quality Control (SEQC) studies, which aim to improve standards and quality measures for reliable use of next-generation sequencing and gene expression technologies in clinical practice and regulatory decision-making. As part of its mission to improve human health, EA has donated more than $2.2 million towards academic genomic research grants and its “Leave Your Fingerprint on the Cure” Program for pediatric cancer hosted at the American Society for Human Genetics annual meeting.
Genomic Know-How is a registered trademark of Expression Analysis, Inc.
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