Affymetrix and Tokyo-based MTI Ltd., through its wholly-owned subsidiary, EverGene Ltd. (MTI-EG), will collaborate in genetic research and personal genomics services in Japan.
MTI-EG, a personal genome services (PGS) provider in Japan, announced their new research service under the supervision of Dr. Naoyuki Kamatani, Director, Tsukuba International Clinical Pharmacology Clinic (TICP) and Director, StaGen Co. Ltd. One of the research programs is a collaborative project with TICP in the ‘quality of life' area. More than 10,000 volunteers from the subscriber base of MTI's LunaLuna, a women's healthcare service mobile app in Japan, have applied to participate in this research program. The outcome of the research is expected to produce results that will enable MTI-EG to introduce, over time and new categories of PGS in several fields for quality of life improvement.
MTI-EG has launched ‘DearGene Starter Kit', which is an updated genotyping service for consumers. This service is a comprehensive genotyping analysis that provides diseases onset risk based on a risk calculation model developed by Dr. Kamatani. Affymetrix's Axiom genotyping platform will be used for generating the individual's genotyping data. Affymetrix will support MTI-EG in their genetic research and PGS programs in Japan by supplying its Axiom Genotyping Solution for the highly accurate measurement of genetic variation. Samples from MTI-EG will be processed exclusively by Takara Bio Inc. of Japan.
Affymetrix has begun providing MTI-EG with custom Axiom genotyping arrays for the collaborative research program, and will supply custom Axiom arrays for MTI-EG's personal genomics service (i.e. DearGene Starter Kit).
