NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – Narayana Nethralaya and MedGenome announced a joint initiative to create a "multi-omics" diagnostic and basic research service laboratory in Bangalore, India.
The partners are investing $5 million into the effort with the goal of creating a one-stop solution for molecular diagnostic testing. Services provided at the lab will include gene testing, gene panels, exome sequencing, whole-genome sequencing, gene expression microarrays, proteomics, and immunohistochemistry.
A flow cytometry facility already exists for research purposes as well as for the diagnostic assessment of blood biomarkers.
Specialty eye hospital Naryana Nethralaya and genomics and diagnostics firm MedGenome said that most of the tests to be offered at the new lab will leverage DNA sequencing. The lab will also offer companion diagnostic testing to allow clinicians to determine the most appropriate treatments for diseases such as cancer.
The partners added that they are collaborating to create a proteomics facility for the analysis of small molecules, metabolites, amino acids, and proteins, for the diagnosis of metabolic syndromes and whole proteome analysis.
"Our mission is to make [genetic] testing available and affordable to people with cancers or genetic conditions and their families, thereby actively working toward guarding health," Sam Santhosh, chairman of MedGenome, said in a statement. "The market in India is still in the nascent stage while the US market is about $5 billion. The opportunities for growth are tremendous."
MedGenome is a division of SciGenom Labs with offices in Chennai, India and Kochi, India, as well as Pleasanton, Calf.