ILLUMINA
19.2.2021 07:02:13 CET | Business Wire | Press release
February 19, 2021 -- Illumina, Inc. (Nasdaq: ILMN) today announced an agreement with the Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics at the University Hospital of Tübingen to assess the value of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) as a first-line diagnostic test for patients with genetic diseases and familial cancer syndromes. Illumina will support the new investigator-initiated study, called the Ge-Med Project, with sequencing, analysis and health economic expertise.
The Institute is the first laboratory in Germany accredited to perform clinical WGS. Previously, it used whole exome sequencing for the diagnosis of rare disease conditions which involves sequencing only around 1% of the genome known to contain the coding regions that provide instructions for making proteins.
The move to WGS is based on a two-year feasibility study by the Institute, supported by Illumina, which found that WGS provided improved diagnosis across a range of rare diseases. For example, as many as 75% of genetic eye diseases were accurately diagnosed using WGS, including some forms of disease that could only be identified by sequencing the entire genome. Similar results were found for rare childhood cancers and for conditions that cause developmental delay in children.
In addition to expanding the range of conditions for diagnosis, the new study will examine the ability of WGS to generate scores for the risk of common diseases based on genomic data. Known as a polygenic risk score, this will help identify individuals that may benefit from personalized healthcare management.
“We are delighted to be able to study whole genome sequencing as a diagnostic in an expanded range of conditions because we have demonstrated that it changes the management of patients who previously remained unresolved after whole exome and other sequencing approaches,” said Tobias Haack, Head of Molecular Diagnostics at the Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University Hospital of Tübingen.
“We are proud to support the University Hospital of Tübingen on this important step in their genomic work,” said Dr. Phil Febbo, Chief Medical Officer, Illumina. “Offering a clear diagnosis as well as disease risk for common conditions will give patients peace of mind and offer actionable steps to improve their overall health.”
Professor Olaf Rieß said, “We know that the exome isn’t the whole story when looking for answers to rare diseases and we have proven the value that WGS brings to families who otherwise would wait years for a diagnosis, or may never even receive one. Through the new study, we hope to help Germany lead the way in applying cutting edge genomics to improve healthcare.”
About Illumina
Illumina is improving human health by unlocking the power of the genome. Our focus on innovation has established us as the global leader in DNA sequencing and array-based technologies, serving customers in the research, clinical, and applied markets. Our products are used for applications in the life sciences, oncology, reproductive health, agriculture, and other emerging segments. To learn more, visit www.illumina.com and connect with us on Twitter , Facebook , LinkedIn , Instagram , and YouTube .
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210218006118/en/
Link:
About Business Wire
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Laserfiche Expands AI Data Capture with Auto-Classification to Transform Data into Business Intelligence28.1.2026 16:00:00 CET | Press release
New intelligent features automatically organize and classify documents, transforming how organizations manage information at scale. Laserfiche — the leading SaaS provider of intelligent content management — today announced major enhancements to its AI-powered data extraction tool, Smart Fields. The update introduces automated document classification and tagging, allowing organizations to move from unstructured content to informed decisions in seconds. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260128228490/en/ Using natural language prompts instead of rigid, ruled-based OCR, Smart Fields can now identify document type — such as invoices, taxpayer identification forms, or student transcripts — and automatically apply the correct metadata template using AI. Users can also use Smart Fields to automatically add informational and security tags to files that meet certain criteria, defined using a natural language prompt. Users
Intersolar Africa 2026 to Position Nairobi as East Africa’s Key Hub for Solar and Energy Storage28.1.2026 15:20:00 CET | Press release
East Africa is emerging as one of the world’s most dynamic regions for solar power and battery storage. On 3–4 February 2026, Intersolar Africa will take place at the Sarit Expo Centre in Nairobi, expanding from the successful Intersolar Summit Africa in 2025 into a full international exhibition and conference. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260128955267/en/ Intersolar Africa will take place on February 3-4 in Nairobi. East Africa’s Energy Market and Opportunities Rapid population growth, industrialization, and rising electricity demand are putting pressure on power systems across East Africa. Limited generation capacity, grid instability, and high electricity costs constrain economic growth. Solar photovoltaics combined with energy storage have emerged as the most cost-effective and scalable solution to expand capacity, stabilize supply, and strengthen long-term energy security for businesses and communities
Reply and the University of Milan Launch Experimental Research on Biological Computing Based on Cortical Labs’ CL1 Platform28.1.2026 15:10:00 CET | Press release
Reply [EXM, STAR: REY] today announced the start of a collaboration with the Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation of the University of Milan, together with the “Centro Dino Ferrari” of the University of Milan - Ospedale Policlinico, for a new research and experimental initiative in the field of biological computing. The project aims to explore innovative approaches to learning and information processing through the integration of biological systems and digital technologies. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260128715625/en/ This initiative represents the starting point of an advanced research programme aimed at exploring new computational paradigms. At the core of the initiative is the CL1 biological computer developed by Cortical Labs, an Australian biotechnology company. Unlike conventional silicon-based computing architectures, this technology leverages the processing capabilities of living human
Brown Brothers Harriman Investor Services and SimCorp Forge Strategic Alliance to Provide Integrated End-to-End Technology, Data, and Services Solution for Global Asset Managers28.1.2026 15:00:00 CET | Press release
New offering leverages BBH Infomediary® to combine the benefits of the SimCorp One enterprise platform, including SimCorp Managed Business Services, with BBH Investor Services’ fund servicing and custody product suite. BBH Infomediary used to integrate BBH and SimCorp’s platforms and to connect to third parties in a unique open architecture model. Addresses the needs of global asset managers seeking to streamline and modernize their operating model. Quoniam Asset Management, a leading systematic manager, is the first to benefit from this data-driven offering. Brown Brothers Harriman (BBH), a privately held global financial services firm, and SimCorp, a leading global financial technology company, today announced a new strategic alliance to address the needs of global asset managers requiring an integrated, end-to-end technology, data, and services solution. Enhancing both firms’ existing offerings, this solution uses BBH Infomediary to integrate SimCorp One’s front and middle office ca
Wunderkind Joins Klaviyo Marketplace, Bringing Identity-Based Personalization and Revenue Growth to E-Commerce Brands28.1.2026 15:00:00 CET | Press release
New integration unlocks greater site identification, real-time personalization, and scalable triggered messaging Wunderkind, the AI decisioning platform that delivers identity resolution and cross-channel personalization to scale performance and reach, today announced its official debut on the Klaviyo App Marketplace. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260128210560/en/ The integration brings Wunderkind’s identity insights directly into Klaviyo’s B2C CRM, powering real-time profiles, segments, and flows that help brands recognize more customers earlier in the journey and deliver relevant experiences across email, SMS and other Klaviyo-powered channels. By layering Wunderkind’s industry-leading Identity Network — built on more than 9 billion device profiles and over a billion unique user identities — into Klaviyo’s unified customer profile, marketers can strengthen their understanding of who customers are, unify id
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom