Affymetrix Announces Recipients of Its 2014 Tumor Profiling Grant Award to Support Translational Cancer Research

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Affymetrix AFFX announces the three recipients who have been awarded its 2014 Affymetrix Tumor Profiling Grant. The goal of this grant program is to support translational cancer research in discovery and analytical validation of biomarkers that may address current unmet clinical needs in cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. Research projects considered for the grant use the approach of parallel analysis of multiple molecular and cellular parameters which enables faster identification of the most robust biomarkers for applications in the clinic with impactful outcome.

The recipients are:

Dr. Francesco Caiazza, PhD, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
Discovery and validation of biomarkers of resistance to Cetuximab in metastatic colorectal cancer

Dr. Aditi Hazra PhD, MPH, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
Discovery and validation of genomic and transcriptomic biomarkers associated with rapid onset of inflammatory breast cancer

Dr. Neetu Singh, PhD, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, India
Genomics and transcriptomics of chronic myeloid leukemia in North Indians

The high level of interests from researchers around the world reflects the growing recognition of the value of ‘360° profiling' of tumor samples. The grant recipients are awarded with Affymetrix' tools to discover and validate at least two different analytes – DNA, RNA, or protein – from 30 tumor samples. The cancer types in these three projects are characterized by rapid onset and poor survival rates. The discovery of robust biomarkers from each of these projects has the potential to facilitate better selection of treatment for each patient, with the goal to increase survival rates and manage health care costs. “It has been extremely encouraging to see so many scientists expanding their research to look beyond just a single parameter to find clinically actionable cancer biomarkers,” says David Weber, Chief Commercial Officer at Affymetrix. “This parallel analysis approach increases the confidence in a newly discovered biomarker, and provides more biomarker options to take to the clinic. We are delighted that we can facilitate these selected research projects with a unique set of tools for analysis of copy number variation, gene expression, gene regulation, protein- and cellular-changes from biomarker discovery to clinical applications.”

To learn more about how Affymetrix' portfolio of solutions for gene, protein, and cell analysis can accelerate cancer research and rapidly translate discoveries into routine clinical practice, please visit www.affymetrix.com/translational.

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About Affymetrix

Affymetrix technologies enable multiplex and simultaneous analysis of biological systems at the cell, protein, and gene level, facilitating the rapid translation of bench-top research into clinical and routine use for human health and wellness. The Company provides leadership and support, partnering with customers in pharmaceutical, diagnostic, and biotechnology companies, as well as leading academic, government, and non-profit research institutes in their quest to use biology for a better world. More than 2,300 microarray systems have been shipped around the world and more than 65,000 peer-reviewed papers have been published citing Affymetrix technologies. Affymetrix is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, and has manufacturing facilities in Cleveland, Ohio, San Diego, Vienna, and Singapore. The Company has about 1,100 employees worldwide and maintains sales and distribution operations across Europe, Asia, and Latin America. For more information about Affymetrix, please visit www.affymetrix.com.

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