Researchers at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in partnership with a global genomics and human health company, Illumina will map 50 million human cells from 10,000 people to identify unique genomic fingerprints of diseases. This includes autoimmune diseases, heart diseases, and cancer and additionally builds on the early success of a clinical trial for Crohn’s disease.
More than 80,000 Australians are affected by Crohn’s disease. The challenge associated with many autoimmune diseases is to predict the most effective treatment for individual patients. However, the OneK1K clinical trial held across 10 Sydney hospitals shows how a genetic fingerprint project led at Garvan by Professor Joseph Powell can make this possible.
Garvan Institute of Medical Research announced in a statement, ‘Illumina is supporting the project with supplies, equipment, and specialist research support, which will provide a critical boost for Garvan’s single-cell and whole genome sequencing research and enable upscaling to make the TenK10K project the largest project of its kind.’
The investment will enable the Institute to enhance its accuracy in identifying disease-linked immune cell fingerprints. The project will develop commercial tests to identify the right therapy for challenging autoimmune diseases including multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, type 1 diabetes, spondylitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and Crohn’s disease.
The team will also conduct early trials of powerful new RNA therapies, identify potential early targets for treatments for cancers and long COVID-19 develop tests to track the aftermath of heart attacks, and also identify the risk of sudden death.
David Harris, NSW Minister for Medical Research congratulated this unique partnership of Garvan Institute of Medical Research and Illumina.
(Input from various media sources)
(Rehash/Dr. Vineesha V/ MSM)