Top scientific researchers apply gene-expression techniques to improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment of leading cause of deaths
Agilent Technologies has announced a multi-year research agreement with the Donald Reynolds Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center at Stanford University designed to help deliver better care for heart disease.
Scientists at Stanford and Agilent Laboratories are applying Agilent's gene-expression technologies and computational expertise to analyse cardiovascular tissue samples from human patients.
The goal is to identify, characterise and validate potential diagnostic and drug targets that could significantly enhance the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States.
Agilent Labs is the central research facility of Agilent Technologies.
The Reynolds Center was established at Stanford in 2000.
The two research groups are using advanced molecular-biology techniques and tools, including Agilent's DNA microarray platform and custom arrays, to identify genes and gene-expression patterns associated with heart disease.
"Collaborating with Agilent Labs gives us access to a DNA microarray platform that provides leading-edge sensitivity and reproducibility, as well as accomplished molecular biologists who help us optimize our gene-expression experiments," said Thomas Quertermous, the William Irwin Professor and chief of research in Stanford's division of cardiovascular medicine. "Access to Agilent Labs' leading-edge computational experts and tools helps us to rapidly interpret the data from tens of thousands of genes simultaneously as they interact to produce heart disease.
"This enables the results to be delivered to clinicians and heart patients much more quickly. "Agilent's ability to provide microarrays with customised gene content offers researchers the opportunity to discover potential functions of both known genes and previously uncharacterised genes as they relate to specific disease processes".
By collaborating with the Reynolds Center at Stanford, Agilent Labs develops a clear understanding of how deep experts in cardiology discover cardiovascular disease mechanisms, including the issues they face when working with real patient samples such as heart and vascular tissue.
"Collaborative research between Agilent Labs and leading research centers such as the Reynolds Center at Stanford places the Labs at the forefront of life sciences innovation," said Darlene Solomon, vice president and director of Agilent Labs.
"This collaboration provides Agilent Labs with an in-depth understanding of the cardiovascular researcher's microarray needs and allows us to explore future uses of microarrays for diagnostic applications - and, thus, better ways to improve patient care."
