NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – Genestack announced today that it has partnered with the Cancer Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory (CMDL) to develop a next-generation sequencing-based system for the prognosis and post-treatment monitoring of bone marrow transplant patients.
The partners will combine Genestack's bioinformatics platform with a next-generation sequencing assay to monitor donor cell engraftment after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. They will also use the platform to securely store and access patient data. According to Cambridge, England-based Genestack, this will be the first time its bioinformatics platform will be used in a clinical setting.
"If successful, this will be the first in a series of clinical collaborations with a range of partners," Genestack CEO Misha Kapushesky said in a statement. "There are many challenges with introducing new genomic technology to the clinic with analysis, interpretation, and storage often proving a significant block. However, through partnerships such as this, we aim to use the latest in genomic technology to provide real benefits for patients."
CMDL-Hematology lead clinician George Vassiliou added that this partnership "is enabling us to take what is a research tool into the clinic in a manner that is user-friendly for diagnostic scientists and doctors."
CMDL is a unit of the Cambridge Cancer Center, a public/private research alliance established by Cancer Research UK, the University of Cambridge, and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.