VTT has developed a method that allows a single microchip to be used to screen the functions of tens of thousands of genes simultaneously by means of RNA interference.
Traditional methods only allow a few hundred genes to be screened with each microplate and therefore the new method will accelerate VTT's service offering in the field of drug development.
The primary benefit of the method is that it allows such a large number of samples to be analysed simultaneously, which saves money and human resources, and speeds up research considerably.
The findings of the study were published in March 2011 in BMC Genomics.
Ultra-high throughput screening (UHTS) techniques are used at VTT to study how one gene or groups of genes regulate the cell activities and how the cell functions promote health, or cause illnesses.
RNA interference technology allows genes to be 'silenced' and thereby inhibit protein production of genes.
Potential future use of RNAi technology includes also the diagnosis and treatment of illnesses.
The method developed by VTT is mostly used in genomic-scale analyses that have previously been very expensive.
The technology is believed to give VTT a competitive advantage in genome research, which is of special interest of the drug industry.
Other potential applications include studying the combined effects of genes and drugs.
Research scientists at VTT have also cited the method previously in a scientific publication focusing on the cell division of breast cancer cells.
