Illumina Announces the iHope Network, an Expansion of Its iHope Philanthropic Clinical Whole Genome Sequencing Program
February 28 2017 - 09:00AM
Business Wire
iHope Network Members Include Illumina, GeneDx,
Genome.One, and HudsonAlpha; Dedicated to Help Find Answers for
Underserved Families with Children Facing Rare and Undiagnosed
Diseases
Illumina, Inc. (NASDAQ:ILMN) today announced the
launch of the iHope Network, a consortium of member institutions
who have committed to providing clinical whole genome sequencing
(cWGS) to underserved families. Today, the iHope Network consists
of clinical laboratory members: Illumina, Genome.One, GeneDx,
HudsonAlpha and their affiliate healthcare partners.
Through whole-genome sequencing – the process of determining the
genetic code or instructions in the cells within a person’s body
– the iHope Network and their respective clinical partners
strive to end years-long diagnostic odysseys. These odysseys
average seven years in length and include multiple inconclusive
tests, surgeries and procedures, many of which do not result in
answers or treatment options for these children and their
families.
The iHope Network members have committed to a minimum
philanthropic donation of 10 whole genome tests per year (10
patients). Additionally, iHope Network organizations have agreed to
donate the variants identified through iHope to public databases,
like Clinvar, which are freely accessible, public archives of
reports of the relationships among human variations and their
related symptoms or diseases. By doing so, the public wealth of
knowledge will continue to grow and provide benefit to many more
patients who depend on the precision of genomic medicine.
With precision medicine and large-scale genomic initiatives
being launched across the globe, genomics is reaching an inflection
point in public awareness. The iHope program aims to build on that
public awareness by demonstrating how next-generation sequencing
can create a significant impact – by helping undiagnosed patients
and their families find long sought-after answers.
“We are delighted to become a participating partner of
Illumina’s iHope Network” said Jane Juusola, PhD, FACMG, Director
of the Clinical Genomics Program, GeneDx. “As a laboratory founded
to address the needs of patients diagnosed with rare genetic
diseases, the very principle of the iHope program aligns with our
founding mission. Through our donation of 10 whole-genome
sequencing tests, we hope to bring closure to the diagnostic
odysseys for children with undiagnosed rare diseases.”
“We’ve seen firsthand how a diagnosis can help families get a
clearer understanding of the journey ahead,” said Marcel Dinger,
CEO of Genome.One, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Garvan
Institute of Medical Research. “We’re very pleased to be part of
the iHope Network that will help people who are currently unable to
access clinical whole-genome sequencing and help to raise awareness
about the value of WGS for rare and genetic disease.”
“The evidence is clear that genomic medicine can directly
benefit patients. And there are millions of patients who need
whole-genome sequencing today, and who cannot afford it,” said
Howard J. Jacob, Ph.D., Executive Vice President for Genomic
Medicine and Chief Genomic Medicine Officer, HudsonAlpha Institute
for Biotechnology. “The more people who are helped through this
initiative, the better the likelihood whole-genome sequencing will
be integrated into clinical practice around the globe. We are proud
to join the iHope Network and help save lives.”
The ultimate goal of the iHope Network is to increase awareness
and adoption of cWGS and demonstrate to the community that clinical
whole genomes are a needed resource for all pediatric patients
facing rare and undiagnosed diseases. An iHope Network Summit will
take place later this year. To learn more about the program or to
become part of the iHope Network, please visit:
www.illumina.com/ihope.
About GeneDx
GeneDx is a world leader in Genomics with an acknowledged
expertise in rare and ultra rare genetic disorders, as well as one
of the broadest menus of sequencing services available among
commercial laboratories. GeneDx provides testing to patients and
their families in more than 55 countries. GeneDx is a business unit
of BioReference Laboratories, a wholly owned subsidiary of OPKO
Health, Inc. To learn more, please visit www.genedx.com.
About Genome.One and the Garvan Institute of Medical
Research
Genome.One (www.genome.one) is a pioneering health
information company providing genetic answers to life’s biggest
health questions through clinical Whole Genome Sequencing.
Genome.One aims to enhance the lives of patients, families and
communities across the world. Genome.One is a wholly owned
subsidiary of the Garvan Institute of Medical
Research, Sydney, Australia. Garvan’s mission is to make
significant contributions to medical science that will change the
directions of science and medicine and have major impacts on human
health.
About HudsonAlpha
HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology is a nonprofit institute
dedicated to innovating in the field of genomic technology and
sciences across a spectrum of biological challenges. Opened in
2008, its mission is four-fold: sparking scientific discoveries
that can impact human health and well-being; bringing genomic
medicine into clinical care; fostering life sciences
entrepreneurship and business growth; and encouraging the creation
of a genomics-literate workforce and society. The HudsonAlpha
biotechnology campus consists of 152 acres nestled within Cummings
Research Park, the nation’s second largest research park. Designed
to be a hothouse of biotech economic development, HudsonAlpha’s
state-of-the-art facilities co-locate nonprofit scientific
researchers with entrepreneurs and educators. The relationships
formed on the HudsonAlpha campus encourage collaborations that
produce advances in medicine and agriculture. Under the leadership
of Dr. Richard M. Myers, a key collaborator on the Human Genome
Project, HudsonAlpha has become a national and international leader
in genetics and genomics research and biotech education, and
includes more than 30 diverse biotech companies on campus. To learn
more about HudsonAlpha, visit: http://hudsonalpha.org/.
About Illumina, Inc.
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 follow @illumina.
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