University of Strasbourg adopts Life Technologies’ SOLiD™ sequencing platform to gain insight into diabetes, obesity, asthma, arterial hypertension and other common diseases.

Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ:LIFE) announced that its instruments are supporting the 1.1 million Euro Genomax project at the Haematology and Immunology Research Centre led by Professor Seiamak Bahram at the University of Strasbourg. This research platform will enable the sequencing of the human genome in the context of new research into major public health diseases, such as diabetes, obesity, asthma and arterial hypertension.

Genomax forms an integral part of the translational biobank project called Biomax, the purpose of which is to enable the storage and analysis of thousands of human biological samples. This project has been initiated and is run by Professor Seiamak Bahram and his team, which includes Doctor Raphael Carapito.

Seiamak Bahram, Professor of Immunology Strasbourg University Hospital said: “Using Life Technologies’ instruments, hundreds of blood samples could be sequenced in Strasbourg in the framework of research projects and provide an invaluable insight into the most common diseases.”

Life Technologies’ Director of Digital PCR in EMEA, Herve Pouzoullic, said: “Life Technologies is proud to be supplying our products to Genomax in this venture. It demonstrates the benefits of the SOLiD™ sequencing and Open Array™ Real-Time PCR platforms, as this is an area where our technology excels due to its high accuracy.”

The objective of Genomax is to make genomics more widely available, accepted in the health sector and to encourage further genomics education in the training of Masters students.

Genomax was jointly financed by the University of Strasbourg, within the framework of the State/Region plan contract, with the participation of the Alsace Region, the General Council of Bas-Rhin, the Urban Community of Strasbourg and the FEDER at a cost of 1.1 million Euros. Genomax is structured within Biomax; and this has been named “structuring platform” by the Alsace Biovalley cluster.

About Life Technologies

Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE) is a global biotechnology company dedicated to improving the human condition. Our systems, consumables and services enable researchers to accelerate scientific and medical advancements that make life even better. Life Technologies customers do their work across the biological spectrum, working to advance the fields of discovery and translational research, molecular medicine, stem cell-based therapies, food safety and animal health, and 21st century forensics.