The firms will work together on assays for cancer early detection, therapy selection, and disease monitoring, as well as on applications in reproductive genetics.

Ambroise Wonkam has been selected as director of the Department of Genetic Medicine and the McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine at Johns Hopkins Medicine, effective Jan. 1. He is succeeding David Valle, who will remain on the Johns Hopkins faculty. Wonkam was previously a professor of medical genetics as well as deputy dean of research and director of GeneMAP (Genetic Medicine of African Populations) at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. He holds a medical degree from the University of Yaounde in Cameroon, a doctorate in medical genetics from the University of Geneva in Switzerland, and a doctorate in human genetics from the University of Cape Town.

Debbie Nickerson died last week at the age of 67 after a brief illness. She was a professor at the University of Washington's Department of Genome Sciences, of which she was a founding member, and the leader of the university's Northwest Genomics Center. She also led UW's center for the National Institutes of Health Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) program and UW's Center for Mendelian Genomics. In addition, her team has been a main contributor to the NIH's All of Us Research program. She was also a researcher at the Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine. Nickerson held a BA from Adelphi College and a PhD from the University of Tennessee. In the 1980s, she joined Leroy Hood's lab at Caltech and in 1992, she become an assistant professor of molecular biotechnology at UW.

The most-read stories in 2021 represents readers' vast interests in the variety of topics covered by GenomeWeb from COVID-19 tests to IPOs and legal battles.

Seven proteomics firms, ranging from tools companies to diagnostics outfits, listed on public markets in 2021 in a sign of growing interest in the space.

Under the agreement, Baylor Genetics will transfer its clinical-grade whole-genome and whole-exome sequencing technology to SRL beginning in 2022.

The agency recommends manufacturers develop a transition implementation plan addressing how to deal with devices that have already been distributed.

The US Food and Drug Administration reissued the test's Emergency Use Authorization last week after the company modified the assay.

Codex DNA has released a full-length synthetic genome of SARS-CoV-2 for the highly mutated and contagious Omicron variant (B.1.1.529 lineage). The genome was built with the company's BioXp 3250 fully automated synthetic biology benchtop workstation for rapid, accurate, and reproducible writing of DNA and mRNA. With the Omicron variant, Codex DNA offers a full catalogue of 14 SARS-CoV-2 synthetic genomes as well as custom-made SARS-CoV-2 genomes to support researchers. The genomes are available to researchers who pass a rigorous biosecurity screening process to ensure their responsible use, the company noted.

The company also launched the first version of its GeneUS software for genetics-based health risk assessment for underserved populations.

Last week, readers were most interested in LabCorp's planned acquisition of Personal Genome Diagnostics, as well as FIND's $21 million investment in point-of-care MDx platforms.

The company had previously planned to develop IVD kits for the US market but is now aiming to launch a lab-developed test in the second half of 2022.

A model based on the results could predict treatment response but was less able to forecast resistance, suggesting heterogeneous mechanisms.

The US Food and Drug Administration has granted emergency use authorizations for two antiviral pills to treat COVID-19.

The Guardian reports that the UK health agency was aware of problematic COVID-19 test results for nearly a month before testing was halted.

Outgoing NIH Director Francis Collins discusses pressure he faced during the Trump Administration to promote unproven COVID-19 treatments and more at CBS Sunday Morning.

In Nature this week: analysis of wine grape genomes points to origins in western Asia, and more.

Hologic has launched Panther Trax, the latest addition to its Panther Scalable Solutions portfolio, making it available in several countries and regions. Panther Trax enables lab automation by physically linking multiple Panther instruments into a single workcell. It enables high-volume molecular testing and an increase of testing volumes without increasing staff. With it, labs can customize configurations to meet space constraints and minimize facility costs, the firm said. Panther Trax is now listed as a Class I medical device with the US Food and Drug Administration; CE-marked for diagnostic use in Europe; and will also be commercially available in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

The funding will allow Helix to develop increased surveillance capabilities for respiratory illnesses, initially at five health systems.

The deal will add to Labcorp's cancer genomic profiling portfolio, providing kit-based options that will allow hospitals and laboratories to run tests internally.

The firms expect the deal will lead to cost synergies of $90 million by end of year three, and revenue synergies greater than $100 million by 2025.

News items for the week of Dec. 20, 2021. 

Vincent Wong has been appointed to the board of directors of Bionano Genomics. He is the chief commercial officer at Geneoscopy, which he joined earlier this year after almost 18 years at Roche Diagnostics, where he held senior leadership roles in product marketing, sales, strategy, business development, market access, and communications.