Eureka Genomics Licenses Genome Analysis Tools From University of Houston (1/7/2008)

Personalized medicine, pathogen detection and next generation sequencing should take great strides forward with the development of computational tools that can be used as building blocks (much like LEGOsŪ) for a variety of applications requiring advanced genomic sequence analysis.

These computational tools, developed over six years, were recently licensed from the University of Houston by Houston-based Eureka Genomics on an exclusive worldwide basis.

Led by UH associate professor Yuriy Fofanov, the development of these computational tools coincides with the introduction of next generation sequencing instruments. The marriage of these two technologies will benefit commercial applications in health care, food, agriculture, emerging pathogen surveillance and biotechnology, as well as the broad life science research community.

"I expect that these new computational tools will be used to design a variety of practical life science applications," Fofanov said. "In many cases, these applications previously were not addressable, as only inadequate tools were available to do so."

"Improved understanding of genetic variation should lead to faster development of a variety of new personalized medical treatments, such as individual dosage levels, which will reduce the frequency of adverse drug reactions," said Eureka Genomics COO Didier Perez.

"The University of Houston is pleased to work with Eureka. UH's Center for Industrial Partnerships works diligently to provide intellectual property licensing and collaborative research contracts that fit industry's needs," said John Warren, executive director of the CIP.

Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by the University of Houston

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