Dr Tanney Discusses Challenges Faced in Fine Tuning Sample Preparation Techniques

April 29, 2009

At CHI’s “Genomics Tools & Technologies” meeting to be held from 8th to 10th June in San Francisco, Doctor Austin Tanney from Almac Diagnostic Services will be talking about the ever-changing and challenging issues around extracting, creating, and keeping samples and templates of highest quality.

Ahead of his talk, Dr Tanney took some time out to share his viewpoints with leading Genomics Journal, GEN.

Dr. Tanney comments on the challenges and issues involved in fine tuning sample preparation techniques to ensure high quality data and optimize RNA and DNA extraction.  He explains that advances in technology to enable DNA and RNA extraction are advancing the field.

“There are quite a few challenges,” comments Austin Tanney, Ph.D., scientific liaison manager, Almac Diagnostic Services . “But there are a number of really good reasons to work in this space, one of the chief reasons being what this can mean for personalized medicine.”

“One of the reasons we work with FFPE is that there are literally hundreds of thousands of samples available¿a huge amount of information to work with,”

“Doing retrospective studies can cut off years of development time for a diagnostic. What is most important, however, is that if a diagnostic test works from FFPE there is no required change to clinical practice to use this test. This is not a case when the test must be carried out on fresh frozen material.”

Almac has been able to use what they have found in FFPE samples to advance cancer studies.

“Cancer has always had a one-size-fits-all treatment regimen, even though it’s a heterogeneous disease,” continues Dr. Tanney. “Clearly, this is an area where treatment can be personalized”

For the full article see on http://www.genengnews.com/articles/chitem.aspx?aid=2876

 

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About Almac

The Almac Group comprises five closely integrated divisions offering a broad range of services from R&D, translational genomic services, API manufacture, product development, clinical trial supply and technology (IVRS/EDC), to commercial-scale manufacture.

The company has over 2,400 employees and is headquartered in Craigavon, Northern Ireland. US operations are based in Pennsylvania, North Carolina and California.

Construction of the company’s new $112m North American Headquarters commenced in July 2008 and is expected to be completed in 2010. Almac was awarded the Belfast Telegraph ‘Business of the Year’ award in 2009.

To find out more about Almac visit almacgroup.com.

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