Agilent Technologies Inc. and Caliper Technologies Corp. have introduced the RNA 6000 Pico LabChip kit for the automated quality control of total and messenger RNA (mRNA) samples. The new kit can also be used for the analysis of microdissected samples for the comparison of gene expression in neighboring tissues, such as is used in cancer research. The kit is designed for use with the Agilent 2100 bioanalyzer, and allows for analysis of as little as 200 picograms of total RNA or 500 picograms of mRNA. The RNA 6000 Pico LabChip is a further development of the widely accepted RNA 6000 Nano LabChip kit.

Celera Diagnostics has entered into a breast cancer research initiative with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Celera plans to complete large-scale disease association studies in breast cancer with the goal of identifying novel genetic markers associated with the disease. A previous agreement between Celera Diagnostics and LabCorp, gives LabCorp an exclusive license to breast cancer markers found to have clinical utility for a defined time.

CytoGenix Inc. has formed a scientific collaboration with Dr. Madeleine Duvic, Professor of Internal Medicine and Dermatology, Division of Internal Medicine and Deputy Chair of Dermatology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, to investigate, test and evaluate a gene believed to be related to melanoma.

Epigenomics AG and Mayo Clinic have signed a two-year collaboration to identify and validate a panel of DNA methylation-based markers that would be applied in a test to improve the early detection of colorectal cancer. DNA Methylation is a natural switch that controls gene expression, giving rise to distinct patterns in cells, including those found in cancer and other diseases. Based on these methylation patterns, cancer may be detected and classified from tissue and bodily fluids, such as blood serum or urine samples.

MetriGenix, Inc. has launched its the 4D Array System that consists of MetriGenix’s patented Flow-thru Chip technology, which includes custom and branded chips, and its associated instrumentation. The initial array options include: a Proliferation chip designed to characterize the expression profiles of genes that are involved in cell cycle regulations in various cell proliferation phases and an Inflammation chip that contains oligonucleotide probes for genes associated with inflammatory response.

Molecular Staging Inc. has received a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant award from the Department of Energy (DOE) to develop methods for microbial DNA amplification using their proprietary Multiple Displacement Amplification (MDA) technology. MSI also received an additional SBIR grant to develop a biomarker chip for enhanced diagnosis of osteoarthritis.

Rubicon Genomics, Inc. has been awarded two Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants from the National Human Genome Research Institute of the NIH. The awards, worth $200,000 over four months, will be used to improve and validate Rubicon's proprietary OmniPlex technology as a universal solution to increase the speed and efficiency of human DNA analysis for drug development and diagnostics.

Vysis, Inc., an Abbott Laboratories company has introduced its LSI MALT1 (18q21) Dual Color, Break Apart Rearrangement Probe, which incorporates Vysis' patented FISH technology to detect chromosomal translocations of the MALT1 (MALT lymphoma-associated translocation 1) gene region on chromosome 18. The translocations have been observed in several types of lymphoma.

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