NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – The Institute for Systems Biology and the Swedish Neuroscience Institute said this week that they will collaborate on genomics, computational biology, and systems biology research on brain diseases, and will partner on raising funds.
The Center for Advanced Brain Tumor Treatment, part of SNI, will work with ISB in a collaboration that brings together researchers “from the fields of neurosurgery, neuropathology, systems biology, genomics, and biostatistical analysis to address serious diseases affecting the brain, such as malignant brain tumors," SNI neurosurgeon Greg Foltz said in a statement.
The aim of the research is to develop diagnostics and treatments for brain diseases, such as glioblastoma and neurological disorders, in part by discovering how genes and proteins are involved.
ISB President Leroy Hood said in a statement that the partnership involves joining “the clinical expertise of the [SNI] with the systems biology, technology, and computational expertise of ISB.”
The partners will begin by creating a brain tumor tissue bank and an associated genomic database using samples that were removed during surgery.
“With the tissue bank and associated genomic database, we are establishing the foundation for one of the largest brain tumor research projects in the country," said Foltz.
The collaborators also will work to identify markers that could eventually lead to early diagnosis of diseases.
The fundraising aspect of the collaboration will be led by ISB VP of Development Laurence Herron and by Randy Mann, senior director of the Campaign for the Swedish Foundation.
SNI was started in 2004 as part of the Swedish Medical Center, a Seattle-area non-profit healthcare provider.