Advalytix, a subsidiary of Olympus Life and Material Science Europa, has assumed responsibility for the technical management of the Quagsic project, part of the 6th EU framework programme for research
Advalytix has taken over the coordination of the EU Project 'Quantitative Analysis of Genes in Single Cells' (Quagsic).
The partners have a total of around euro2.5 million available in order to develop and test methods for analysing genetic material in single cells.
Central to the Quagsic project is the analysis of the numbers of copies of nucleic acids (DNA) at single cell level.
As well as Advalytix, the project partnership includes the companies Genewave (France) and Molecular Machines and Industries (Switzerland), as well as the University of Ulm (Germany) and the Estonia Biocenter (Estonia).
Prof Claude Weisbuch from Genewave is responsible for communication with the project sponsor, while Wolfgang Mann from Advalytix has taken over the technical management of the project.
Together, the partners in the Quagsic project intend to develop a platform for the molecular genetic analysis of various single cell types.
The analysis of the genetic material of single cells should show deviations in the number of copies of chromosomes which are connected with many hereditary diseases.
In the case of trisomy, for example, there are three copies of a chromosome - hence the name of this hereditary disease.
Statistically, one in every 500 newborns in Germany suffer from trisomy 21, also called Down's Syndrome, one of the most widely known disorders.
The recognition and observation of changes in copy number of shorter gene or genome segments are also the subject of the project.
As well as the development of suitable methods for recognising deviations, the partners are also endeavouring to prove the reliability of the method and to test it in practical use.
"We are delighted to have such strong partners working together on this project to further develop future-oriented single cell analysis", says Wolfgang Mann.
The 6th EU framework programme for research.
Within the framework of the main research focus 'Biosciences, genomics and biotechnology in the service of health' of the 6th EU framework programme, the European Union is supporting future-oriented projects which are based on researching the human genotype.
The objective of the framework programme for research is to reinforce the scientific and technological bases of European industry.
Advalytix (Munich) was founded in 2000 and has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Olympus Life and Material Science Europa since 2005.
Within the Olympus Group, Advalytix is the world wide centre of expertise for cell-based molecular diagnostics.
One of the company's main focuses is the miniaturisation of diagnostic and biological tests for research and development.
Advalytix products uniquely link imaging technologies such as microscopy with nucleic acid analysis, enabling Advalytix to offer turnkey system solutions consisting of both instruments and reagents.
Advalytix has developed a portfolio of products for these applications, based on proprietary microelectronics technologies, such as surface acoustic waves (SAW).
