Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Affymetrix collaborate

SANTA CLARA, Calif.—Affymetrix Inc. announced that it entered into a five-year collaboration with the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (Peter Mac) in Melbourne, Australia, to ana­lyze genomic information across large patient samples. Under terms of the agreement, Peter Mac researchers will use Affymetrix GeneChip microarray technology for translational research projects, beginning with studies on ovarian cancer and carcinoma of unknown primaries.

 

Peter Mac researchers will use Affymetrix GeneChip technology to per­form large-scale clinical studies. The Affymetrix technology will enable them to more rapidly discover RNA and DNA patterns that can better classify, man­age and treat complex diseases.

 

"We are excited about the oppor­tunities created by the Translational Medicine Program, particularly the chance to apply new technologies to help us answer important clinical ques­tions," says Dr. David Bowtell, director of research at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. "We are keen to help our collaborators across Australia gain access to Affymetrix technology, as we continue to develop as a major center for cancer genom­ics and genetics. We also see the pro­gram providing opportunities to interact with other centers worldwide that are involved in translational research."

 

Affymetrix collaborates with aca­demic institutions, advocacy groups and the pharmaceutical and diagnos­tics community through its Translational Medicine Program to develop molecular signatures for improving patient care. Affymetrix GeneChip microarray technol­ogy helps researchers to diagnose and tailor treatments for individual patients by identifying and measuring the genet­ic information associated with complex diseases.