NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – Affymetrix today announced a deal with the Centre for Proteomic and Genomic Research in South Africa to enable high-throughput genomics research and personalized medicine research across Africa.
Under the terms of the deal, CPGR will use Affy's GeneTitan Multi-Channel Instrument to provide gene expression and Axiom genotyping services to researchers in Africa. Further terms were not disclosed.
Genetic variation in African populations are "far greater" than in other regions in the world, Affy said, and in most studies of hereditary diseases and pharmacogenomics, African populations are underrepresented. Applying such genomic discoveries to clinical practices could improve the health of people across Africa, the Santa Clara, Calif.-based firm said.
"GeneTitan MC Instrument expands our genomics service capabilities and will further enable CPGR to support cutting-edge translational research in Africa," Reinhard Hiller, managing director of the center said in a statement. "We expect to progress to personalized medicine studies that aim to discover genetic markers specific in the African population for better diagnosis and drug treatment."
CPGR is a non-profit funded by the Technology Innovation Agency to provide services to the life science and biotechnology markets. It began offering genomic research services using Affy's GeneChip microarray platform in 2008.