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OpGen, Hitachi Developing Human Chromosome Mapping Analytical Service

NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – OpGen and Hitachi High-Technologies said today they will combine their technologies to develop a comprehensive human chromosome mapping analytical service.

The agreement will leverage OpGen's Whole Genome Mapping technology and Hitachi High-Technologies' and the Hitachi group's cloud-based systems. The analytical service to be developed will be for clinical research applications, the partners said, and will include bioinformatic tools to complete a human genome sequence and to detect and analyze structural variations in chromosomes.

Whole Genome Mapping provides "a unique view" into structural variation in human chromosomes, and according to OpGen, offers "a more accurate and complete analysis of the human genome than next-generation sequencing data alone can provide."

Hitachi High Technologies developed its cloud platform for human genome data with Hitachi Solutions. The platform will enable secure entry portals for scientists, and eventually for patients, to access Whole Genome Mapping data, human chromosome analytical tools, and eventually clinically actionable data, the partners said.

Hitachi High-Technologies also is adding DNA sequence analytical tools as part of the service. The tools are complementary to Whole Genome Mapping and will provide complete genetic evaluation of human chromosomes.

Hitachi High-Technologies is funding development of the service. Financial and other terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"The resulting human chromosome mapping service will enable OpGen to continue its expansion into clinical research with the potential to develop diagnostic applications for diseases based on a patient's genetic information," OpGen CEO Douglas White said in a statement.

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