14 Nov 2008 07:00
14 November2008 Source BioScience plc (`Source BioScience' or `the Company') LondonDNA sequencing facility
Source BioScience plc , the provider of expert, quality services to the healthcare, pharma biotech and life science research sector, is pleased to announce the opening of its new DNA sequencing and genotyping facility based at University College London (`UCL').
Source BioScience, in collaboration with the UCL Genetics Institute (`UGI'), will offer Geneservice¢â€ž¢ DNA sequencing and genotyping services across UCL from its new laboratory facility located in the prestigious UCL Cancer Institute.
HIGHLIGHTS
* Source BioScience establishes a genomic services laboratory located within UCL * Collaboration with UGI to provide in-house DNA sequencing and genotyping services across UCL for an initial period of 3 years * Laboratory footprint in London provides platform for increased penetration of London life science research market
Source BioScience has established a strong track record as a commercial laboratory, operating a network of DNA sequencing and genotyping facilities in the UK. These facilities are based around a central reference laboratory hub in Nottingham with satellite operations in Cambridge and Oxford University.
The new facility at UCL extends the Company's reach as it continues to build on its expertise in the DNA sequencing arena and further expands the network of core DNA sequencing facilities embedded in leading academic and research institutions, through collaboration and partnership with those institutions. By operating these in-house facilities, the Company provides customers access to a high quality service centred on the best laboratory practices and latest research tools.
Source BioScience will provide infrastructure and technology platforms in addition to employing technical staff and expertise to operate the facility, with further support available from its main laboratory in Nottingham. This facility removes the significant barriers to entry to the London market and enables Source BioScience to expand its service offering across the South East.
Under an agreement with UGI, Source BioScience will offer Geneservice¢â€ž¢ DNA sequencing and genotyping services to customers within UCL for an initial period of three years. The Company will also provide UCL customers access to other services through the new facility, including access to its next generation DNA sequencing and genotyping platforms.
Dr Nick Ash, Managing Director of Source BioScience said "We are delighted that despite strong competition we were selected by UGI as their first commercial service partner. We are very much looking forward to working together as we realise the vision of providing the highest quality genomic services to support the cutting edge genetic research conducted throughout UCL.
"UCL has an outstanding reputation in both life science research and translation of that research into healthcare applications. UCL have recently partnered with four other medical research centres to create a ‚£2 billion research cluster, becoming Europe's largest Academic Health Science Centre. We are particularly looking forward to combining our expertise as a leading provider of diagnostic healthcare services with the research programmes being undertaken by UGI and across UCL."
Prof Steve Humphries, Director of UGI commented "A key step in achieving the vision for the development of Genetics at UCL was the establishment of a commercial collaboration to service the existing sequencing and genotyping needs within UCL whilst also providing access to next generation technologies to accommodate future service needs.
"In Source BioScience, through its Geneservice¢â€ž¢ life science research division, we identified a partner with a track record of delivering the type of high quality outsourced service provision that UGI requires. This is the first commercial collaboration for UGI and we are looking forward to the benefits that this relationship promises."
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For further information, please contact:
Source BioScience plcDr Nick AshManaging DirectorTel: +44 (0)115 973 9010www.sourcebioscience.comUCL Genetics InstituteJenny GimpelUCL Media RelationsTel: +44 (0)207 679 9726www.ucl.ac.uk/mediaBishopsgate CommunicationsNick Rome / Gemma O'HaraTel: +44 (0)207 562 3350
www.bishopsgatecommunications.com
About Source BioScience:
Source BioScience plc is a highly focused healthcare and biotechnology company offering expert, quality services and products to the healthcare, pharma biotech and life science research sectors. Its Healthcare division provides the latest cytology screening equipment and techniques as well as diagnostic testing for cancer and other diseases, including predictive testing for treatment optimisation for clinicians and patients. Pharma Biotech Services offers support for early stage therapeutic development, offering a 'one-stop shop' from tissue pathology, immunohistochemistry, sophisticated image analysis, biomarker determination and assay development to pharmacogenomics including genotyping and gene expression analysis. The Life Science Research division provides core laboratory research support from conceptualisation to implementation, calling upon a wide range of cutting-edge technology platforms including an online catalogue of biomolecular tools. This incorporates DNA sequencing, whole genome amplification and a comprehensive library of genomic reagents and clones including cDNA and RNAi, as well as facilitating rapid access to high quality antibodies, cell cultures, diagnostic assays for cancer and other genetic testing, and related research tools.
The Group has its headquarters in Nottingham where it operates state of the art reference laboratory facilities, with additional laboratory facilities in London, Cambridge and Oxford. Source BioScience is CPA, GLP and GCP accredited and is licensed by the Human Tissue Authority.
Further information is available on the Source BioScience website: www.sourcebioscience.com
About the UCL Genetics Institute
UGI has been established to create, at UCL, a world-leading centre, with multi-disciplinary outreach across UCL, which will develop and apply biostatistical and bioinformatics approaches to clinical and human population genetics. This will form a platform from which major challenges to the use of genetics in healthcare can be addressed.
UGI will create a body of between 75 to 100 scientists within the next five years and will provide the focal point of strategic development for human genetics at UCL. It will be involved in the training of uniquely equipped biomedical and social scientists who will take the lead in delivering science and guiding policy in the coming years. Further information is available on the UGI website: www.ucl.ac.uk/ugi
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