NIMH awards Genomas an SBIR Grant to develop MRI DNA biomarkers for neuropsychiatric disease

Sep 16 2009

Genomas(R), a biomedical company advancing DNA-Guided medicine, today announced the award of a 3-year Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grant totaling $1.4 Million. The grant, entitled MRI DNA Biomarkers for Neuropsychiatric Disease, was awarded by the National Institute of Mental Health.

In announcing the award, Gualberto Ruano, M.D., Ph.D., President/CEO of Genomas and Director of Genetics Research at Hartford Hospital commented: "The interface of fMRI and physiogenomics provides a powerful platform for DNA Guided Medicine in mental health. We believe this program will add new efficacy and drug selection components to our existing and future DNA-guided PhyzioType(TM) systems for personalized prescription of antidepressants and antipsychotics. It will open significant new venues for interdisciplinary translational research and commercial strategic partnering in clinical neuroscience."

This Phase II program integrates the Genomas physiogenomics technology with the leading fMRI research of Godfrey Pearlson M.D., at Hartford Hospital's Institute of Living, and the advanced neuro-informatics capabilities of Vincent Calhoun Ph.D., at the Mind Research Network and the University of New Mexico. MIND Institute, University of New Mexico. The research leading to this award has been published by this collaborative group in the renowned journals Human Brain Mapping and Annals of Biomedical Engineering.

To date, Genomas has secured $4.8 Million of NIH SBIR funding for PhyzioType(TM) product development. PhyzioType(TM) Systems are composed of an ensemble of inherited DNA polymorphisms genotyped by arrays and interpreted by a bioclinical algorithm in order to convey to physicians predicted comparisons of efficacy and side effect risk among drugs for the individual patient. They are currently available for DNA-Guided Medicine in the prescription of antidepressants and in advanced development for antipsychotic, lipid-lowering, and hypoglycemic drugs. The company's clinical phrarmacogenetic tests and consultation service are provided through its Laboratory of Personalized Health (LPH), an accredited and licensed high-complexity molecular diagnostic center. Genomas is located on the campus of Hartford Hospital. For more information, access www.genomas.net.