The collaboration aims to promote the value of the unique Hunt Study, which for the past 25 years has gathered blood samples from the general population of the Nord-Triondelag region in mid-Norway together with detailed phonotype and environmental data.
Per Foss, CEO of Hunt Biosciences, said: “We believe that the unique combination of biomedical and phenotypic information that has been collected over the past 25 years from a general population rather than a specific disease cohort can help accelerate biomarker discovery and validation. Furthermore, working from a general population base gives core strengths in a whole range of key public health areas such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obstructive lung disease, osteoporosis and mental health.
“Already Hunt samples are widely used in academic research, and through this collaboration with Tissue Solutions we aim to significantly increase our pharma and diagnostic industry customer base.”
Mr Foss also believes this collaboration with Tissue Solutions and Scotland could provide a major focal point for high quality, ethical tissue provision on the worldwide stage.
Ann Cooreman,CEO of Tissue Solutions, said: “We are delighted with this agreement with Hunt Biosciences which is a natural extension to our services. Having access to population biobank samples means, for example, that we can provide samples that predate onset of disease. We are sure both existing and new customers will share our excitement.”