Expression Analysis Announces 2014 Grant Program

Two recipients to receive cutting-edge services from EA and Illumina to advance new applications in oncology research

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.-- Expression Analysis (EA), a Quintiles company, today announced that it is co-sponsoring a grant program that provides scientists with leading-edge products and services to advance genomics research. In the sixth year of the grant program, EA and co-sponsor, Illumina, will award two fully funded oncology research grants. Each grant will enable winners to investigate genomic data locked within Formalin-Fixed, Paraffin Embedded (FFPE) tumor samples - focusing on a largely untapped data pool in an effort to enhance researchers' understanding of cancer biology.

"Our grant program offers motivation, encouragement and resources to researchers who share our commitment to identify genetic factors that influence health and disease," said Steve McPhail, president of EA. "The grants serve to energize the quest for further advances in detecting biologically important genetic variations in oncology."

"We are once again pleased to join EA in providing grants to researchers to uncover novel genetic insights important to human health and the diagnosis and treatment of disease," said Tina Nova, senior vice president and general manager, oncology for Illumina.

The 2014 Oncology Research Grant Program is focused on helping oncology researchers unlock the potential within FFPE tumor samples through the assessment of methylation status using the Illumina Infinium® HumanMethylation450 BeadChip and next-generation sequencing based differential expression using the Illumina TruSeq® RNA Access Library Prep Kit.

Grant applications will be reviewed and scored by technical experts at EA and Illumina. Applications for the grant are due by September 26, 2014. For more information on the program, including application requirements and materials, please visit www.expressionanalysis.com/grant.

About EA

EA, a Quintiles company, provides cutting-edge genomic sequencing, gene expression, genotyping, and bioinformatics services to the world's largest pharmaceutical companies, diagnostic test developers, government agencies, and academic labs. All projects are conducted under clinical-grade quality control, ensured through CLIA certification, GLP compliance, and adherence to CLSI guidelines. EA's bioinformatics staff are key contributors to the Food and Drug Administration's MicroArray Quality Control (MAQC) and Sequencing Quality Control (SEQC) studies, which aim to improve standards and quality measures for reliable use of next-generation sequencing and gene expression technologies in clinical practice and regulatory decision-making. As part of its mission to improve human health, EA has donated more than $2.2 million towards academic genomic research grants and its "Leave Your Fingerprint on the Cure" Program for pediatric cancer hosted at the American Society for Human Genetics annual meeting.

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Source: Quintiles