Affymetrix Signs Three-Year Translational Medicine Agreement With Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.Research Team to Use Affymetrix GeneChip([R]) Technology to Develop Applications for Cancer and HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome SANTA CLARA Santa Clara, city, Cuba Santa Clara (sän`tä klä`rä), city (1994 est. pop. 217,000), capital of Villa Clara prov., central Cuba. , Calif. & NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Affymetrix Inc. (Nasdaq:AFFX) and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center announced today that they have entered into a three-year translational research collaboration to analyze genomic information across a large number of patient samples. Under terms of the agreement, researchers at Vanderbilt-Ingram and Vanderbilt University Medical Center The Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) is a collection of several hospitals and clinics associated with Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. It comprises the following units:[2]
"Cancer is a genetic disease. The technological capabilities that Affymetrix provides in gene expression and genotyping provides an important set of tools to examine the molecular and genetic basis of cancer," said Shawn Levy Shawn Adam Levy (born 1967) is a Canadian American director and actor. He was born in Montreal, Quebec. Levy is the director of Big Fat Liar, Just Married, Cheaper by the Dozen, The Pink Panther, and Night at the Museum. , Ph.D., assistant professor of biomedical informatics Biomedical informatics is a term used to describe the broad discipline that encompasses such subdomains as bioinformatics, clinical informatics, public health informatics, etc, and is most commonly used in this way in the USA[1]. and director of the Vanderbilt Microarray Shared Resource. "This partnership provides a mechanism to bring these technologies to the forefront of translational research in helping Vanderbilt understand not only the molecular basis for the disease but also the genetic disparities in various cancers and responses to therapy." The HIV/AIDS translational research project will aim to help clinicians avoid the often irreversible and costly complications of therapy. The Affymetrix Human Mitochondrial mitochondrial pertaining to mitochondria. mitochondrial RNAs a unique set of tRNAs, mRNAs, rRNAs, transcribed from mitochondrial DNA by a mitochondrial-specific RNA polymerase, that account for about 4% of the total cell RNA that Resequencing Array 2.0 will be used as a research tool to identify genetic variants that may make some patients more susceptible to adverse effects of certain drugs. The results of this study will potentially help clinicians select the most appropriate drug therapy for each patient, avoiding those most likely to cause toxicity. Such a tool could have important applications for HIV/AIDS treatment in both affluent and resource-limited settings, and for other diseases. "A number of important translational projects are underway, ranging from cancer research to HIV/AIDS drug toxicities to age-related macular degeneration Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) Degeneration of the macula (the central part of the retina where the rods and cones are most dense) that leads to loss of central vision in people over 60. ," said Jeff Canter M.D., M.P.H., assistant professor of molecular physiology and biophysics biophysics, application of various methods and principles of physical science to the study of biological problems. In physiological biophysics physical mechanisms have been used to explain such biological processes as the transmission of nerve impulses, the muscle at the Center for Human Genetics Human genetics A discipline concerned with genetically determined resemblances and differences among human beings. Technological advances in the visualization of human chromosomes have shown that abnormalities of chromosome number or structure are surprisingly Research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. "This is a very exciting time because new sequencing technologies allow us to explore real-world applications of discoveries from the revolution in genetics that until now have been confined to the laboratory." "Vanderbilt University's Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center is one of the premier cancer research facilities in the United States," said Fred Pollock, associate director of translational medicine translational medicine Molecular medicine The constellation of activities which seek to translate the science of gene discovery, gene transfer, and functional genomics into gene-targeted therapies at Affymetrix. "We are excited about moving forward with this translational medicine partnership that is designed to accelerate genetic research and bring better healthcare to patients." Affymetrix collaborates with academic institutions, advocacy groups and the pharmaceutical and diagnostics community through its Translational Medicine Program to develop molecular signatures for improving patient care. Affymetrix GeneChip microarray technology helps researchers diagnose and tailor treatments for individual patients by identifying and measuring the genetic information associated with complex diseases. The Translational Medicine Program complements the Powered by Affymetrix[TM] program, which enables companies to license GeneChip technology to create innovative, custom-designed microarray products based on signatures such as those of our Translational Medicine Program partners. This technology is already being used in many applications, including diagnostics, forensics See computer forensics. , animal, industrial and food testing. About Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC VICC Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center VICC Vehicle Information Center of Canada VICC Virtual Industry Capability Call VICC Voltage-Independent Calcium Channel (physiology) ) The Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center at Vanderbilt University Medical Center is dedicated to a comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach to cancer care, research, prevention and patient and community education. With nearly 300 investigators, Vanderbilt-Ingram is ranked among the top 10 centers in total research funding from the National Cancer Institute and generates more than $150 million each year in research support from public and private sources. Vanderbilt-Ingram is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in Tennessee and one of only 39 to achieve this distinction nationwide. The center is consistently recognized among the best places for cancer care by U.S. News & World Report U.S. News & World Report Weekly newsmagazine published in Washington, D.C. U.S. News was founded in 1933 by David Lawrence (1888–1973) to cover important domestic events; he founded World Report in 1945 to treat world news. The two magazines were merged in 1948. . For more information, visit us online at www.vicc.org. About Affymetrix Affymetrix scientists invented the world's first high-density microarray in 1989 and began selling the first commercial microarray in 1994. Since then, Affymetrix GeneChip([R]) technology has become the industry standard in molecular biology molecular biology, scientific study of the molecular basis of life processes, including cellular respiration, excretion, and reproduction. The term molecular biology was coined in 1938 by Warren Weaver, then director of the natural sciences program at the Rockefeller research. Affymetrix technology is used by the world's top pharmaceutical, diagnostic and biotechnology companies as well as leading academic, government and nonprofit research institutes. More than 1,400 systems have been installed around the world and more than 7,000 peer-reviewed papers have been published using the technology. Affymetrix' patented photolithographic manufacturing process provides the most information capacity available today on an array, enabling researchers to use a whole-genome approach to analyzing the relationship between genetics and health. Affymetrix is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., with manufacturing facilities in Sacramento, Calif., Bedford, Mass., and Singapore. The company maintains important sales and marketing operations in Europe and Asia and has about 1,100 employees worldwide. For more information about Affymetrix, please visit the company's website at www.affymetrix.com. All statements in this press release that are not historical are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act as amended, including statements regarding Affymetrix' "expectations," "beliefs," "hopes," "intentions," "strategies" or the like. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially for Affymetrix from those projected, including, but not limited to: risks and uncertainties associated with the agreement with Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center discussed in this press release; risks of the company's ability to achieve and sustain higher levels of revenue, higher gross margins and reduced operating expenses Operating expenses The amount paid for asset maintenance or the cost of doing business, excluding depreciation. Earnings are distributed after operating expenses are deducted. ; uncertainties relating to technological approaches, manufacturing and product development; personnel retention; uncertainties related to cost and pricing of Affymetrix products; dependence on collaborative partners; uncertainties relating to sole source suppliers; uncertainties relating to FDA FDA abbr. Food and Drug Administration FDA, n.pr See Food and Drug Administration. FDA, n.pr the abbreviation for the Food and Drug Administration. and other regulatory approvals; competition; risks relating to intellectual property of others and the uncertainties of patent protection and litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. . These and other risk factors are discussed in Affymetrix' Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2005, and other SEC reports, including its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q Form 10-Q See 10-Q. for subsequent quarterly periods. Affymetrix expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Affymetrix' expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based. NOTE: Affymetrix, the Affymetrix logo and GeneChip are registered trademarks owned or used by Affymetrix Inc. |
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