Affymetrix Technology Selected for World's Most Comprehensive Genetic Study on Autism; Autism Consortium Will Use Single GeneChip(R) Human Mapping 500K Array to Help Identify Genetic Causes Across 3,700 Samples.SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Affymetrix Inc. (Nasdaq:AFFX) announced today that the Autism autism (ô`tĭzəm), developmental disability resulting from a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain. It is characterized by the abnormal development of communication skills, social skills, and reasoning. Consortium has selected the single Affymetrix GeneChip(R) Human Mapping 500K Array for the world's most comprehensive study on the genes associated with autism. The Autism Gene Discovery Project will be conducted by scientific experts from the Autism Consortium and the Broad Institute of MIT MIT - Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard. The researchers will use the 500K Array to perform whole-genome association studies across 3,700 samples collected from autistic autistic /au·tis·tic/ (aw-tis´tik) characterized by or pertaining to autism. subjects. Autism is the fastest growing disability in the United States. According to the Autism Consortium, a child is diagnosed with autism every 21 minutes and it now affects one in every 166 children. A number of recent research studies indicate the underlying cause of this disease is strongly influenced by a person's genetics. However, definitive links to specific genes contributing to autism have not been fully elucidated, in part due to limitations of analytic technologies. The Affymetrix 500K Array enables researchers to perform studies across thousands of samples to find genes with subtle effects in a complex disease like autism. "We are extremely enthusiastic about the potential of this effort to increase our understanding of the root causes of autism Autism and autism spectrum disorders are complex neurodevelopmental disorders. Many causes of autism have been proposed, but its theory of causation is still incomplete.[] , which we hope will unlock new avenues for developing treatments and preventives," said Mark Daly, Ph.D., associate member of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and assistant professor at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School. Affymetrix' new single 500K Array further increases the power of association studies to quickly find disease-related genes. Researchers can analyze more samples because of the array's low cost. They can also extract more information because each array has about twice the SNP SNP Scottish National Party Noun 1. SNP - (genetics) genetic variation in a DNA sequence that occurs when a single nucleotide in a genome is altered; SNPs are usually considered to be point mutations that have been evolutionarily content as the earlier version of the 500K. The single 500K Array is a direct result of an ongoing collaboration between Affymetrix and scientists at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. The Boston-based consortium is also collaborating with scientists at Johns Hopkins University Johns Hopkins University, mainly at Baltimore, Md. Johns Hopkins in 1867 had a group of his associates incorporated as the trustees of a university and a hospital, endowing each with $3.5 million. Daniel C. , who are in the third year of an autism study using the 500K to scan 600 families. The two groups will be combining their data to avoid duplication of efforts and accelerate disease-gene discovery. The Hopkins study is led by Aravinda Chakravarti, Ph.D., and is funded through the National Institute of Mental Health The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is part of the federal government of the United States and the largest research organization in the world specializing in mental illness. , National Institutes of Health. "One only has to look at how far genetic discoveries have gone in driving the development of promising new therapies for other inherited diseases, e.g. Alzheimer's disease Alzheimer's disease (ăls`hī'mərz, ôls–), degenerative disease of nerve cells in the cerebral cortex that leads to atrophy of the brain and senile dementia. , to see that we cannot afford to wait any longer to do the same for autism," said Rudy Tanzi, Ph.D., a member of the Autism Consortium and professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School Harvard Medical School (HMS) is one of the graduate schools of Harvard University. It is a prestigious American medical school located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. . "We need to identify the genes underlying autism as soon as possible and then begin translating those findings into innovative treatments." "It is critical to analyze thousands of samples in order to identify genetic variations associated with complex diseases such as autism," said Tom Willis, Ph.D., vice president, DNA DNA: see nucleic acid. DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid One of two types of nucleic acid (the other is RNA); a complex organic compound found in all living cells and many viruses. It is the chemical substance of genes. Marketing at Affymetrix. "The Affymetrix 500K is making these studies possible today by enabling researchers to study both genotypes and copy number polymorphisms across this population, all at an affordable price." The Autism Consortium is a scientific and clinical collaboration of 11 Boston-area institutions, including Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Both an international and regional referral center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) in Boston, Massachusetts is a major teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. It was formed out of the 1996 merger of Beth Israel Hospital (founded in 1916) and , Boston University and Boston University Medical Center, the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge Health Alliance Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) is a health system in Cambridge, Somerville, and Boston, Massachusetts's metro-north communities. It includes three hospital campuses, more than 20 primary care and specialty practices, the Cambridge Public Health Department, and the Network Health , Children's Hospital Boston Children's Hospital Boston is a children's hospital located in the Longwood Medical and Academic Area of Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 300 Longwood Avenue, Children's is adjacent both to its teaching affiliate, Harvard Medical School, and to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. , Harvard University and Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital Massachusetts General Hospital Health care The major teaching hospital for Harvard Medical School, widely regarded as one of the best health care centers in the world , Massachusetts Institute of Technology Massachusetts Institute of Technology, at Cambridge; coeducational; chartered 1861, opened 1865 in Boston, moved 1916. It has long been recognized as an outstanding technological institute and its Sloan School of Management has notable programs in business, , and Tufts-New England Medical Center-Floating Hospital for Children. The Consortium is working together on research that will lead to breakthroughs for autism. The Autism Gene Discovery Project will look to identify genetic links that will help make it possible to treat and ultimately cure this disorder. 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 research. Affymetrix technology is used by the world's top pharmaceutical, diagnostic and biotechnology companies as well as leading academic, government and not-for-profit research institutes. More than 1,400 systems have been installed around the world and nearly 4,000 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., and Bedford, Mass. 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 the Autism Consortium project discussed in this press release; risks of the Company's ability to achieve and sustain higher levels of revenue, higher gross margins, reduced operating expenses; uncertainties relating to technological approaches, manufacturing, 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 for the year ended December 31, 2005, and other SEC reports, including its Quarterly Reports on Form 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. Aravinda Chakravarti sits on the Scientific Advisory Board of Affymetrix. |
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