Singlera, Fudan University Announce Cancer Biomarker Collaboration

Fudan’s Taizhou Health Science Institute and Singlera Genomics will analyze the samples from a 200,000-person cohort to identify biomarkers for early stage cancer detection. In the Taizhou cohort study began in 2007, phenotypic information, health records and over 1.2 million biospecimens have been collected on 200,000 individuals in a 9-year period, during which the local residents experienced a rapid economic take-off and associated changes of lifestyle. It represents the largest regional cohort of (initially) healthy individuals in China. The jointly research team will adopt Singlera’s proprietary technology to analyze biofluids collected prior to disease onset in order to identify specific biomarkers for early cancer detection.  Combining the Taizhou cohort’s unique sample collection, rich phenotypic information and Singlera’s expertise on target sequencing, methylation analysis and bioinformatics, the team aims to develop early detection tests with high specificity and sensitivity for esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer and breast. The ultimate goal is to "predict cancer and/or detect early”, and eliminate cancer as a life threatening disease. 

Dr. Xingdong Chen, Deputy Director of Taizhou Institute of Health Sciences and Mr. Jiangli Zhang, CEO of Singlera Genomics signed the Agreement. 

Deputy Mayor of Taizhou City, Mr. Peimin Lu warmly congratulated the partnership at the signing ceremony, and praised the vision Professor Li Jin has on starting the Taizhou Cohort Project nine years ago. He believed that under the leadership of Professor Li Jin, both parties would make persistent efforts to contribute to the development of Taizhou’s healthcare industry, make contributions to improving the health of the people across Taizhou city as well as the whole country. 

Professor Li Jin, a renowned geneticist and member of Chinese National Academy of Sciences,  welcomed the signing of the agreement and summarized the progress of Taizhou Cohort Project: “Our large cohort study was launched to study the impacts of genetic factors, environmental factors, environment-genes interactions on major chronic diseases that threaten the health of Chinese population (such as malignant tumors, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic diseases), to develop procedures on disease prevention and treatments, and to promote precision medicine.  After nine years since the kickoff of the Taizhou cohort, it quickly became China's single largest regional cohort project; nearly 1.2 million biological samples from 200,000 participants have been collected; 10-million-plus level epidemiological survey databases were established. Singlera Genomics has leading sequencing and bioinformatics expertise, outstanding R&D research team in the United States and China, patented methylation sequencing technologies, as well as a seasoned management team. The signing of this strategic collaboration agreement will equip us with advanced technologies, and accelerate the development of new approaches for disease prevention and treatments.” 

Professor Kun Zhang said: "I am very pleased to witness the signing of this strategic collaborative agreement.  It is a great opportunity to participate in the Taizhou Cohort Project. In the course of nine years, Taizhou Research Institute has collected over 1.2 million biological samples, which are very valuable research resources. Singlera will make good use of these samples by utilizing Singlera’s cutting-edge technologies to develop cancer screening and early detection tests."