LabCorp signs collaboration agreement with Duke University

The collaboration agreement focuses on the operation of the facility, as well as the management of samples deposited by Duke University, and its clients and collaborators, including samples from the Murdock study, which is applying modern-day technologies to identify genomic linkages across major chronic diseases and disorders, said Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings (LabCorp).

The biorepository, which is expected to open later in 2009, will have the capacity to house up to 10 million samples and will offer both a high-security storage environment and on-site nucleic acid and sample preparation capabilities, added LabCorp.

The biorepository will be closely linked to Duke University, the David H Murdock Core Laboratory Building at the North Carolina Research Campus (NCRC) and LabCorp’s network of routine and esoteric laboratories for discovery and commercial testing.

David King, CEO of LabCorp, said: “The biorepository is an important addition to LabCorp’s biomarker development capabilities and our service offerings for our commercial clients. The biorepository is also an important addition to our long-standing relationship with Duke University and a new initiative for LabCorp at NCRC. The combined capabilities of our organizations through the biorepository will further our leadership in personalized medicine and will lead to new discoveries and new diagnostic tests that will benefit patient care.”