Fifth annual Rare Disease Day highlights the need for more research

Oxford Gene Technology (OGT)Today is the 5th annual Rare Disease Day, designed to raise global awareness amongst the general public and policy makers about rare diseases and their impact on patient's lives. Information recently released by EURORDIS, the organiser of Rare Disease Day 2012, suggests that "due to the low prevalence of each disease, medical experts are rare, knowledge is scarce, care offering inadequate, and research limited." To meet the need for further research into this area, Oxford Gene Technology (OGT), a provider of innovative clinical genetics and diagnostic solutions to advance molecular medicine, has recently announced a dedicated rare disease version of its GenefficiencyTM Targeted Sequencing Service, as many rare diseases have a genetic basis that is best studied using high resolution molecular tools. By utilising the service, it is now faster and easier than ever before for researchers and clinicians to investigate the biological nature of a given disease, so that more effective treatment strategies can be designed and implemented. 

OGT's Chief Executive Officer, Dr Mike Evans, commented: "The Rare Disease Day campaign plays a significant role in raising the awareness of debilitating and life-threatening diseases. Although in combination these diseases affect millions worldwide, their individual rarity combined with the relative complexity of carrying out in-depth genomic analysis has meant that these diseases have not traditionally attracted extensive research efforts. To help promote research in this area, our Genefficiency Targeted Sequencing Service includes an optimised offering for investigating rare diseases. Clinicians and researchers can now assess the genetic basis of any disease, without the need for expensive in-house hardware, or internal technical and bioinformatics expertise. By making such research easier to carry out, we hope to help improve the quality of life for rare disease patients."

OGT's Genefficiency Targeted Sequencing Service utilises OGT's independently accredited laboratory and quality control procedures, high-throughput capabilities, and easy-to-use analysis software to generate high quality data and rapid biological insight. Results are intelligently filtered, a feature unique to OGT's Genefficiency service, generating a user-friendly HTML report that places features such as insertions, deletions and single nucleotide polymorphisms into biological context. The report also includes links to external databases, providing the clear identification of affected genes and proteins, as well as potential disease associations.

For more information on Rare Disease Day, visit www.rarediseaseday.org

Visit OGT's website to learn more about its Rare Disease Sequencing Service and to watch a video about its unique reporting software.


If you have not logged into the website then please enter your details below.



 

Subscribe to any of our newsletters for the latest on new laboratory products, industry news, case studies and much more!

Newsletters from Lab Bulletin

 

Request your free copies HERE

 

 

 

Popular this Month

Top 10 most popular articles this month

 

 

Today's Picks

 


 

Looking for a Supplier?

Search by company or by product

 


Company Name:

Product:


 

 

 

 

Please note Lab Bulletin does not sell, supply any of the products featured on this website. If you have an enquiry, please use the contact form below the article or company profile and we will send your request to the supplier so that they can contact you directly.

Lab Bulletin is published by newleaf marketing communications ltd.