Newcastle University Awards Large Genotyping Project to Geneservice

Geneservice (GSL) has announced that it has been awarded a large genotyping project by The Institute of Human Genetics at Newcastle University on behalf of two National Consortia, for a study into vesicoureteric reflux, a congenital condition which can lead to renal failure.

The MRC funded project, to genotype more than 1400 human samples from affected families in the UK and Slovenia was recently subject to an EU tender and Geneservice was selected on a range of criteria including: technical specification, price, quality and delivery terms. Financial details of the award were not disclosed.

GSL will initially amplify and quality check the DNA samples using Whole Genome Amplification. Samples will be analysed using high-density Affymetrix GeneChip® Human Mapping arrays to produce genotypes that will then used to perform a whole-genome linkage and association study.

The project will begin immediately. The number of samples genotyped in any genome scan is one of the most important factors in determining power. The reduced cost of the Affymetrix high-density arrays coupled with GSL's ISO 9001:2000 certified processes will enable more samples to be run, thereby increasing the power of genetic association studies.

Nick Leaves, Operations Director at GSL said “We're delighted to have been selected as the best Service Provider for this project. The Affymetrix - GSL partnership on this project will deliver an experimental investigation that could only have been dreamed of just a few years ago. In addition, the cost per genotype is very low because of recent price reductions by Affymetrix. This simply means the customer gets more great data for less money.”