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Advalytix Assumes Lead of EU Project for Single Cell Analysis
Advalytix AG has taken over the coordination of the EU Project “Quantitative Analysis of Genes in Single Cells” (QuAGSiC).
Advalytix, a 100% subsidiary of Olympus Life and Material Science Europa GmbH, is responsible for the technical management of the project, part of the 6th EU framework programme for research. The partners have a total of around 2.5 million Euros available in order to develop and test methods for analysing genetic material in single cells.
Central to the QuAGSiC project is the analysis of the numbers of copies of nucleic acids (DNA) at single cell level. As well as Advalytix, the project partnership includes the companies Genewave (France) and Molecular Machines & Industries (Switzerland), as well as the University of Ulm (Germany) and the Estonia Biocenter (Estonia).
Prof. Claude Weisbuch from Genewave is responsible for communication with the project sponsor, whilst Dr. Wolfgang Mann from Advalytix has taken over the technical management of the project.
Together, the partners in the QuAGSiC project intend to develop a platform for the molecular genetic analysis of various single cell types. The analysis of the genetic material of single cells should show deviations in the number of copies of chromosomes which are connected with many hereditary diseases. In the case of trisomy, for example, there are three copies of a chromosome – hence the name of this hereditary disease.
Statistically, one in every 500 newborns in Germany suffer from trisomy 21, also called Down’s Syndrome, one of the most widely known disorders.
The recognition and observation of changes in copy number of shorter gene or genome segments are also the subject of the project. As well as the development of suitable methods for recognising deviations, the partners are also endeavouring to prove the reliability of the method and to test it in practical use.
“We are delighted to have such strong partners working together on this project to further develop future-oriented single cell analysis”, says Dr. Mann from Advalytix.
