Geneservice will operate as a genomic reagents provider and continue to offer existing services that include sequencing, genotyping, microarray expression analysis and whole genome amplification
The current management of genomics specialist MRC Geneservice has announced it had reached agreement with the UK Medical Research Council (MRC) over a management buyout.
The assets and majority of staff of MRC Geneservice will be transferred into a new company Geneservice on 1 August 2005 to be based on the Cambridge Science Park.
Under a transitional services agreement, Geneservice has commenced trading, taking new orders and promoting itself with immediate effect.
Geneservice will operate as a genomic reagents provider and continue to offer existing services that include sequencing, genotyping, microarray expression analysis and whole genome amplification.
Geneservice will inherit from the MRC more than ten years pedigree as a biological resource centre and innovative genomics services provider.
The company says it will occupy a unique position, rapidly identifying potential services and products arising from the multitude of genomics projects worldwide and making them available to the genomic research community.
A wide international customer base including leading research centres and pharmaceutical companies has already been built.
Geneservice says its one-stop service for genomics researchers is highly regarded for its quality, turnaround time and competitive pricing.
A new website with enhanced features will make selection and ordering of products even easier.
The continuing mission of Geneservice will be to provide an archiving and distribution portal for emerging genomic reagents, such as bacterial clones and human DNA samples, generated by academic groups and consortia internationally.
The new entity will also provide access to state-of-the-art high throughput technologies for the study of gene expression and gene mapping, including disease gene identification.
Likewise, the initial product portfolio includes genomic clones from a wide range of organisms in various formats.
The Geneservice range of services includes DNA sequencing, micro satellite and SNP genotyping, whole genome amplification and RNA expression profiling.
According to Tom Weaver, CEO, the new company will look to build substantially on existing success: "In addition to maintaining our unique position in the market, we will now have the freedom to invest in new business opportunities as well as further strengthening our quality control and assurance schemes.
"It is our intention to work closely in partnership with originators to guarantee quality and the widest distribution of emerging resources (such as RNAi and protein expression libraries) into the research community.
"We also see a growing need for logistical and analytical support, particularly our DNA sequencing and gene expression microarray analysis services.
"With over 25 highly qualified staff and a clear business opportunity in an expanding market we look forward to 1 August with confidence".
For its part, the MRC welcomed the change.
Chief executive Colin Blakemore said: "The MRC approved the management buy-out at its council meeting in March 2005.
"MRC has supported the activities of MRC Geneservice for a number of years and it played an important role in ensuring there was widespread access to new biological reagents, tools and services as the UK genomics effort grew.
"The potential for MRC Geneservice to become an independent commercial company was always a possibility that we actively considered.
"This stage has now been reached and MRC looks forward to working with the new company in the future."
