NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – The Institute for Systems Biology has contracted Complete Genomics to sequence 615 complete human genomes as part of a study on neurodegenerative diseases, Complete Genomics said today.
Under the agreement, ISB will work with its academic partners to provide Complete Genomics with DNA samples from families in which multiple individuals are affected by neurodegenerative diseases.
The Mountain View, Calif.-based firm will perform the sequencing, assembly, and annotation and will provide ISB with a list of variations found in each genome. ISB will then conduct its own analysis, using family genetics and network studies to identify causal and modifying genes.
Complete Genomics has provided sequencing services to ISB before, sequencing 100 genomes for studies of Huntington's and other diseases in one effort last year, and sequencing four genomes as part of a study to find a causal gene in Miller syndrome.
All of ISB's work on these projects has been supported by the University of Luxembourg.
ISB President Leroy Hood said in a statement that the sequencing partnership with Complete Genomics enables the institute to "focus on data analysis and interpretation while avoiding major capital expense, pipeline building and technology development."
Financial terms of the agreement were not released.