PrecisionMed Launches New Alzheimer's Disease Genetic Collection.Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers BIOWIRE2K SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 22, 2003 PrecisionMed today announced the launch of a new PrecisionMed Sample Bank collection in Late Onset Alzheimer's Disease (LOAD) for genetics, proteomics and molecular diagnostics research. In this new collection PrecisionMed is compiling comprehensive cognition data including the following rating scales: Clinical Dementia Rating The Clinical Dementia Rating or CDR is a numeric scale used to quantify the severity of symptoms of dementia (i.e. its 'stage'). Using a structured-interview protocol developed by John C. (CDR (1) See CD-R and extension. (2) (Call Detail Reporting) See call accounting. (3) (Common Data Rate) A standard sampling rate for digital video for 480i and 576i systems. The rate is 13.5 MHz. See ITU-R BT. ), Mini Mental Status Exam (MMSE) and the ADAS-cog as well as detailed demographic information. This controlled collection will supplement an existing Alzheimer's disease sample collection, which includes matched control subjects collected over the past two years and stored in the PrecisionMed sample bank. PrecisionMed's sample bank is a repository of human blood, 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. , RNA RNA: see nucleic acid. RNA in full ribonucleic acid One of the two main types of nucleic acid (the other being DNA), which functions in cellular protein synthesis in all living cells and replaces DNA as the carrier of genetic , serum, plasma and other body fluid products linked to anonymous audited clinical data. All samples are collected from consented subjects under Institutional Review Board (IRB IRB See: Industrial Revenue Bond )-approved protocols. Sample and data collection and management procedures are compliant with 2003 HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act of 1996, Public Law 104-191) Also known as the "Kennedy-Kassebaum Act," this U.S. law protects employees' health insurance coverage when they change or lose their jobs (Title I) and provides standards for patient health, regulations. Samples are available to the pharmaceutical industry for use in drug discovery and development, therapeutic target validation and molecular diagnostic product development. PrecisionMed provides customer's access to samples with associated clinical information from a population of disease-specific subjects and healthy matched controls. PrecisionMed is rapidly expanding its collections to include additional neuropsychiatric neu·ro·psy·chi·a·try n. The medical study of disorders with both neurological and psychiatric features. neu , and neurodegenerative diseases. PrecisionMed contracts with major biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Immediately available collections with matched controls include depression, Late Onset Alzheimer's Disease, rheumatoid arthritis, cystic fibrosis, and schizophrenia. PrecisionMed has pending collections in mild cognitive impairment mild cognitive impairment (MCI), n memory loss generally associated with aging; does not affect normal independent functioning of an individual. and bipolar disorder. PrecisionMed's samples are provided to customers free of commercial incumbency, and all samples are appropriately consented. "The scientific value of genetic samples is a function of the integrity of the clinical phenotypic information," said Dr. John Flax, president and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of PrecisionMed. "Genotyping and other basic science aspects of this exciting approach to pharmaceutical development are often commoditized, but the selection of appropriate subjects and accurate subject phenotyping present special challenges." "Samples offered by PrecisionMed have been collected with full knowledge and understanding of the regulatory environment surrounding consent, sample collection and use of samples for scientific innovation," said Dr. Flax. "PrecisionMed sample bank provides researchers rapid access to genetic material and appropriate clinical data." About PrecisionMed PrecisionMed Inc., founded in 1994, is a privately held human biobank in the San Diego area. PrecisionMed collects, banks and markets human genetic material including proteins and metabolites linked to audited clinical phenotypic information. |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion