Affymetrix has extended its agreement with Partners Healthcare to include a new contract array manufacturing (CAM) supply agreement enabling Partners to transform recent microarray discoveries into fully validated molecular diagnostic tests for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).
"For the past year, the team at Partners Healthcare has been paving the road to personalized medicine by demonstrating how to transform genetic discoveries into fully validated laboratory developed diagnostic tests," said Fred Pollock, director for strategic business and translational medicine at Affymetrix.
"Affymetrix technology continues to improve patient care by helping physicians around the world to better classify, manage and treat complex diseases."
Bio-Rad has signed two multi-year agreements with Quest Diagnostics to place its BioPlex 2200 systems and autoimmune test reagents as well as its HIV-1/HIV-2 assay in Quest's network of reference laboratories across the US.
"We are excited to work with Quest Diagnostics and are confident that the BioPlex 2200 system will serve them well by enhancing their already outstanding reputation for high quality testing and excellent service to their clients," said Norman Schwartz, Bio-Rad's CEO.
"Quest will be the first national reference lab in the country to offer the BioPlex ANA Screen. As a result, clinicians and patients will benefit from broad access to this innovative technology."
Jeol has opened its newly furnished NMR applications and demonstration centre in Welwyn Garden City in the UK. The centre will function as the company's base for application development and demonstrations as well as both user and engineering training.
The laboratory houses two NMR instruments, an ECX 400 instrument and an ECA 600 which can be viewed through a large window from the comfortable office style operating area next door.
Jeol is also launching an initiative to assist scientists in enhance funding bids by making places available to use the facility to gain data. Ten places will be initially offered which will involve a training day followed by scheduled access to use the instruments. To find out more about the scheme email: nmr.applications@jeoluk.com.
Illumina will collaborate with the Institute of Translational Medicine and Therapeutics (ITMAT) to develop a customised chip for vascular disease using Illumina's iSelect custom genotyping BeadChip.
The chip will analyse more than 55,000 SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) in 2,100 candidate genes believed to underpin primary and secondary vascular disease processes. More than 120,000 samples from population studies and clinical trials will be analysed to find genetic links to vascular disease.
NuGEN and Kreatech have agreed to commercialise a fragmentation and labelling module that combines their technologies to allow one- and two-colour gene expression analysis using Agilent microarrays.
Kreatech will supply NuGEN with components from its universal linkage system (ULS) technology that will be combined with GE Healthcare's Cy3 and Cy5 mono NHS esters to provide life science researchers with a flexible and sensitive RNA sample preparation workflow.
"With technology from Kreatech and GE Healthcare, NuGEN can now deliver the Ovation RNA amplification system to researchers conducting gene expression analysis on the Agilent platform," explained Dr Sue Pandey, vice president of commercial operations at NuGEN.
"Our customers have asked us to deliver an Ovation solution enabling whole genome expression analysis for the Agilent platform - and we've created a simple, easy-to-use, yet highly reproducible and sensitive solution based on our proven Ovation technology."
Qiagen has said it has received in excess of 90 per cent of the outstanding shares of diagnostics manufacturer Digene allowing the company to effect a merger without the need for approval of the remaining shareholders.
The deal values Digene at $1.6bn (€1.15bn) and passed the antitrust waiting period required under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act on July 16.
Roche and Eppendorf have entered into a co-marketing agreement for protein expression products. Roche will contribute its RTS (rapid translation system) reagents portfolio while Eppendorf's Thermomixer comfort system will replace Roche's RTS Proteomaster.
The companies believe the combination of the two product portfolios will provide researchers with superior options for protein expression experiments.
"Roche's RTS reagents for protein expression makes a perfect application for the Eppendorf Thermomixer comfort, because its combination of temperature control and mixing features contribute to the best possible performance of the RTS System," said Michael Schroeder, board member for Sales and Marketing at Eppendorf.
VWR International has signed an agreement to distribute Assay Designs products that includes its immunoassay kits, antibodies and reagents.
"We are pleased to add Assay Designs to our portfolio of Life Science products and services," said Dr. John D'Errico, category manager for Life Science at VWR.
"This agreement will continue to strengthen VWR's ability to provide systems solutions for the best life science research products to our customers."
