Affymetrix, Inc. (Nasdaq:AFFX) today announced that the Kaiser Permanente Research Program on Genes, Environment, and Health (RPGEH) and the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) have entered into an agreement with Affymetrix to support genome-wide analyses of DNA samples from 100,000 Kaiser Permanente members.
The members have volunteered for a large-scale research program designed to create a new resource for studying disease, health, and aging. Scientists from the program will use the just-launched Axiom Genotyping Solution, which delivers high-throughput, automated technology and enables researchers to find novel and common genetic variations associated with complex disease.
DNA studies will be linked to Kaiser Permanente’s electronic health record system, the largest of its kind. Information from health surveys and environmental data will also be analyzed. These resources will give researchers an entirely new platform for studying genetic and environmental influences over time on a wide variety of health conditions, across diverse populations.
The program is being funded by a $24.8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and over the next two years, a significant portion of this amount is expected to be used to purchase the Axiom Genotyping Solution.
The Kaiser Permanente RPGEH is a growing resource for scientific research designed to facilitate epidemiologic studies of both genetic and environmental influences on common health conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, asthma, mental health disorders, and many others.
“The NIH grant gives Kaiser Permanente and UCSF an opportunity to utilize a new model for studying human genetics,” said Kevin King, president and CEO of Affymetrix. “We greatly value the relationship we have built with the program leaders over the last two years, and we are excited that our technology will be used to help researchers study effective prevention and treatment strategies to improve healthcare and quality of life.”
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