News
12-Jan-2006 - LGC participates in EPSRC Think Crime
Programme
LGC is pleased to announce its participation in a research
project funded at Southampton University under the EPSRC Think
Crime Programme, entitled ´Simple, robust and very rapid DNA
profiling Crime Feasibility Study´
The work, undertaken within Professor Tom Brown’s group, will
look at the ways in which LGC´s HyBeacons® DNA probe technology,
already established for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)
analyses in both low a high throughput configurations at LGC, can
be further developed for the specific requirements of forensic
analysis. It is hoped that it will enable certain types of forensic
analysis to be undertaken away from the specialist analytical
laboratory in order to confirm an individual’s identity or
relevance to an investigation before their release from custody.
This feasibility study has been featured in New Scientist, issue 14
January 2006.
HyBeacon® probes were developed at LGC in response to the
requirement to identify key genetic differences between individuals
and have unique characteristics that make them suitable for very
rapid diagnostic and point-of-care applications. To date, HyBeacon
assays have been developed for use in genetic medical testing to
determine the ability of an individual to derive therapeutic value
from certain prescribed drugs and for the identification of the
polymorphism linked to deep vein thrombosis. Most recently, in
association with the Institute of Psychiatry at King´s College
London, LGC´s HyBeacons® technology has enabled the development of
a pharmacogenetic screening service which can predict whether a
patient with schizophrenia will respond positively to the
antipsychotic drug clozapine.
In December 2004, LGC granted its first HyBeacons® licence to
Osmetech plc, for use in medical genetic test applications for
analyte specific reagents that indicate inherited genetic traits.
LGC continues to advance its HyBeacons® technology, developed with
DTI support under the LINK Analytical Biotechnology programme,
across the spectrum of applications for which rapid point-of-care
testing is in demand.
Notes to Editors