University of Queensland, Life Technologies Collaborate On Cancer Studies In Australia

The University of Queensland’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) and Life Technologies have formed a scientific research collaboration to study pancreatic and ovarian cancer in Australia. The study is said to involve the genomic analysis of pancreatic and ovarian tumors, using advanced sequencing technology from Applied Biosystems (part of Life Technologies) to advance translational research. The study would utilize genomic information to potentially develop therapeutic solutions for cancer diseases.

Through the collaboration, IMB is scaling its use of the SOLiD System by acquiring nine new systems for a total of 11 instruments. The SOLiD System will be used by IMB to study 500 pancreatic and ovarian tumors, and will compare the genomic information with that of normal tissue samples. Applied Biosystems instrument service and support, along with bioinformatics analytical support, will also be utilized to better understand and identify the amount, kind, and specific location of genetic variations within the tumors.

Sean Grimmond, group leader in the genomics and computational group at the University of Queensland’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience, said: “The SOLiD System will enable us to conduct complete genomic surveys of cancerous tumors and better understand the factors, including structural variants and single nucleotide polymorphisms, which are promoting uncontrolled growth within the tumor. By discovering the genes that are the key suspects in driving a cancer, we can begin to develop targeted drug therapies.”