SRMC Collaborates With Medgenome For Advanced Genomics Testing, Research
Shri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute (SRMC), one of India's premier clinical research institutions and deemed medical medical university, in collaboration with global genomics research leader MedGenome has opened an advanced genomics-based diagnostics and research centre at SRMC's Chennai campus. The centre, which was inaugurated by Sachdev Sidhu, professor of Molecular Genetics and founder of Centre for the Commercialization of Antibodies and Biologics (CCAB) at University of Toronto, will facilitate clinical researchers and doctors to translate cutting edge Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) based genomic solutions into new and actionable patient services.
Along with the genomics centre, the collaboration will also see launch of a genetic health clinic at SRMC to offer counselling to patients on hereditary cancers, pregnancy related matters, genetic and neurological disorders.
"This is an exciting step forward in our efforts to deliver the benefits of the latest technologies and research in genomics for better clinical care," said S P Thyagarajan, Dean of Research, at SRMC. "These advanced genomic based diagnostic solutions offered by MedGenome will enable our clinicians to identify the precise genetic causes for a disease and offer the best and most suitable treatments for the patients, besides provide researchers a great opportunity to advance their understanding of the human biology," he added. .
Commenting on the importance of genetic testing, V.L Ramprasad, COO, MedGenome, said that currently doctors are battling numerous diseases which often cannot be diagnosed through the regular diagnostics methods. "Since genetic analysis can reduce the ordeal of trial and error by detecting the disease precisely and early, with ease and lower cost, increase disease risk prediction and enable administering of personalized treatment to each patient," he said.
MedGenome, based out of US and India, currently offers more than 550 genetic tests across key disease areas at its lab in Bangalore. A genomics-driven research and diagnostics company, Medgenome's unique access to genomics data with clinical and phenotypic data that provides insights into complex diseases at the genetic and molecular level to facilitate research in personalized health care. Its Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology based clinical laboratory in Bangalore recently got accredited from the College of American Pathologists (CAP). Medgenome is also a founding member of GenomeAsia 100K, an initiative to sequence 100,000 Genomes in Asia.
