Fulgent Genetics and Columbia University Irving Medical Center Partner on Expanded Carrier Screening
January 03, 2019 at 06:30 pm IST
Share
Fulgent Genetics and the Precision Genomics Laboratory (PGL), in collaboration with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, at Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) announced a new partnership to make on site performed, expanded carrier screening available to Columbia patients. This unique collaboration will leverage both parties’ expertise in laboratory management, bioinformatics, clinical genetics and next-generation sequencing to deliver an expanded carrier screening test with many advantages over other currently available tests. The PGL is jointly operated by the Institute for Genomic Medicine (IGM) and the Department of Pathology and Cell Biology and is designed to enhance patient care through genomic diagnostics, research, and education at CUIMC. Carrier screening is a genetic test used to identify whether individuals and carrier couples are at risk for passing genetic disorders to their children. These genetic disorders may result in physical disabilities, cognitive impairment, and other severe health problems in newborn babies. Traditionally, carrier screening tests targeted couples of certain ethnic groups that have historically been at higher risk for specific genetic disorders. This approach has presented difficulties for patients who are multiracial, adopted, or are unsure of their ethnic backgrounds. To address this challenge, expanded carrier screening (ECS) was developed to test for mutations that cause hundreds of different genetic disorders regardless of a patient’s ethnicity. Professional medical associations like the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) have published guidelines on ECS and its importance in reproductive care.
Fulgent Genetics, Inc. is a technology-based genetic company with a laboratory services business and a therapeutic development business. The Companyâs laboratory services business includes technical laboratory services and professional interpretation of laboratory results by licensed physicians. Its therapeutic development business is focused on developing drug candidates for treating a range of cancers using a nanoencapsulation and targeted therapy platform designed to improve the therapeutic window and pharmacokinetic profile (PK) profile of new and existing cancer drugs. Its technology platform for its laboratory services business includes gene probes, data suppression and comparison algorithms, learning software, and laboratory information management systems. The platform provides a test menu, the ability to rapidly develop and launch new tests and customizable test offerings. The Company also offers next-generation sequencing (NGS) services.