G3 Partners with Illumina on Cardiovascular Genomics
Monday, September 30, 2013
Richmond based Global Genomics Group (G3) and Illumina, Inc. have
entered into a partnership to investigate novel biomarkers and
biological pathways involved in the development and diagnosis of
cardiovascular diseases in a first of its kind clinical study being
conducted together with G3’s strategic partner Health Diagnostic
Laboratory. Under the terms of the agreement, Illumina will conduct
whole genome sequencing (WGS) in the GLOBAL (Genetic LOci and the Burden
of Atherosclerotic Lesions) clinical study. GLOBAL is the largest
pan-omic study combining genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics,
proteomics, metabolomics, lipidomics, lipoprotein proteomics and
glycomics with coronary computed tomographic (CT) angiography, an
advanced imaging technology for phenotyping that allows the precise
classification of disease in patients. "The development and
progression of conditions such as cardiovascular disease involves poorly
understood complex biological processes that require comprehensive
investigative approaches to identify new disease biomarkers and
therapeutic targets," said Szilard Voros, M.D., chief executive officer
and co-founder of G3. "This is the first study of its kind, analyzing
trillions of data points from 7,000 patients, designed to investigate
the biological basis behind the complex processes responsible for
atherosclerosis. We are applying the most advanced coronary CT
angiography techniques to precisely phenotype atherosclerotic disease,
while conducting a complete pan-omic analysis in every patient. WGS is a
centerpiece of this landmark study, and this collaboration with
Illumina and its most advanced next-generation sequencing technology is
essential to the success of the program. To date we have collected more
than 2,200 samples, and we anticipate completing enrollment by summer of
2014." Matt Posard, senior vice president and general manager of
Illumina's Translational and Consumer Genomics business, added,
"Consistent with Illumina's strategy of partnering with clinical thought
leaders, we are excited to expand our footprint in cardiovascular
genomics with G3. The GLOBAL study will be one of the largest patient
studies involving genomic sequencing and will be the largest pan-omic
WGS study Illumina has participated in to date. The sequencing data will
be a critical component in deciphering the complexities of the
development and diagnosis of atherosclerosis." The ongoing GLOBAL
study is an international, prospective, multi-center study recruiting up
to 7,000 patients to characterize novel disease networks and biomarkers
for coronary artery disease (CAD). The study is being funded by G3 and
conducted together with strategic partner Health Diagnostic Laboratory.
Eligible patients undergo coronary CT angiography providing an accurate
and detailed examination of the disease and disease status. This
precision phenotyping is combined with a pan-omic analysis, and the data
is then analyzed utilizing specifically developed systems biology-based
bioinformatics technology for identification of diagnostic biomarkers
and potential therapeutic targets. "The GLOBAL study will involve
the collection of 22 trillion data points used to decode the complex
biology underlying atherosclerotic disease," said Tonya Mallory, chief
executive officer, president and co-founder of Health Diagnostic
Laboratory, a strategic partner of G3. "The study will represent
validation of this technology and opens the door to similar analyses of
other diseases, such as oncologic, neurodegenerative and psychiatric,
with the goal of identifying novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets
for diagnosis, prevention and treatment of these serious and
debilitating diseases."
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