SINGAPORE, Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- South-East Asia's first Illumina Hiseq X is now operational at MedGenome's lab in Singapore in partnership with Nanyang Technological University Singapore (NTU).
(Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160112/784044 )
To celebrate the launch and completion of first 250 whole genomes, MedGenome today announced a Grant Challenge offering human Whole Genome Sequencing at 30X coverage for USD 199 per genome. Based on evaluation of one-page project proposals submitted, 10 projects would be selected for this co-funding. Each proposal can be for up to 10 whole genomes. All submissions should be submitted by 31st of December 2016 to singapore_grant@medgenome.com. Funded proposals will be announced on Feb 3, 2017 during the Grand Challenge Ceremony at NTU.
Large-scale genomic sequencing projects and innovative genomics research enable better understanding of complex human diseases and population structure. This has become a reality only with the high throughput and unprecedented low price per genome of HiSeq X Ten. "Local South-East Asian research communities need access to low cost high throughput NGS technologies to remain competitive with global initiatives in precision medicine," said MedGenome's COO, Dr. Ramprasad. The technology is bringing down the price of Whole Genome and Whole Genome Methylation sequencing to the much anticipated USD 1,000.
"We are very excited to collaborate with a leading academic institution, NTU Singapore, to provide access to the latest sequencing technology to further population level and precision medicine initiatives. Illumina has been very supportive in the speedy setup of this technology platform and the Grant Challenge program," said Sam Santhosh, Chairman and Global CEO, MedGenome.
"The lack of ultra-high throughput DNA sequencing locally, which reduces the cost per sample by as much as 80%, has restrained the pace of scientific discoveries in this region." said Stephan C. Schuster, Professor, NTU Singapore. "This joint initiative between NTU and our industry partner, MedGenome, will massively benefit our research projects not only at NTU, but across all leading research institutions and life sciences companies in the South-East Asian region."
All MedGenome Singapore Grant Challenge samples will be sequenced within 30 days of receipt.
About MedGenome
MedGenome (http://www.medgenome.com) is a genomics-driven research and diagnostics company. MedGenome is a market leader for genomic diagnostics in South Asia and a leading provider of genomics research services globally. MedGenome offers genomics solutions in cancer immunotherapy and diabetes and works with various commercial and academic researchers globally on genomic research projects. It is also a founding member of GenomeAsia 100K initiative to sequence 100,000 genomes in South, North and East Asia.
MedGenome is a global genomics firm with presence in San Francisco, USA, Bangalore, India and Singapore. Our NGS lab in Foster City, California is ISO 15189 compliant, CLIA certified and CAP accredited.
About Nanyang Technological University
A research-intensive public university, Nanyang Technological University (http://www.ntu.edu.sg), Singapore (NTU Singapore) has 33,500 undergraduate and postgraduate students in the colleges of Engineering, Business, Science, Humanities, Arts, & Social Sciences, and it's Interdisciplinary Graduate School.
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