NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – Duke University and Tempus are teaming up on a brain cancer research initiative.
Under the terms of the agreement, Tempus will provide sequencing and analysis for glioblastoma patients in a clinical study being conducted at Duke, using an engineered poliovirus for treatment. The trial began in 2012 and was awarded breakthrough status by the US Food and Drug Administration last year. Glioblastoma is a highly aggressive tumor that grows and spread quickly, the partners said.
"Patients who face incredible odds are most in need of innovation," Tempus CEO Eric Lefkofsky said in a statement. "We are pleased to partner with the forward-thinking team at Duke who recognize the importance of equipping their researchers and physicians with the information and technology they need to accelerate discovery."
Duke is the latest in a string of high profile hospitals to sign sequencing deals with Chicago-based Tempus. The University of Michigan and the Mayo Clinic, among others, have also partnered with Tempus for research on other types of cancer.