Qiagen named as key collaborator on Genomics England project

Qiagen has been announced as one of the key technology collaborators on a new project to sequence and interpret 100,000 whole genomes from NHS patients.

The company's bioinformatics business has been named by Genomics England an assessment winner for the UK100K project, along with a number of other life science technology providers. 

Following this, the firm will provide project researchers with access to Ingenuity Variant Analysis, a web application that allows users to identify and prioritise disease-causing genetic variants, using analytics driven by biological evidence and sequenced genomes.

The first samples for sequencing are being taken from patients living in England and may also include patient data from residents of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Laura Furmanski, Qiagen senior vice-president and head of the bioinformatics business area, said: "Unlocking the full value of genomic data requires collaborations that bring together the best technology and minds from government, academic and commercial organisations."

The company has seen considerable growth during 2014 so far, meaning it is on track to meet its financial goals for the year.