Affymetrix (Santa Clara, California) Announces Research Collaboration With Centre for Proteomic and Genomic Research (CPGR) in South Africa

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Affymetrix, Inc. (NASDAQ: AFFX) today announced a research and service collaboration with the Centre for Proteomic and Genomic Research (CPGR) in South Africa. CPGR will provide gene expression and Axiom genotyping services to African researchers using GeneTitan® Multi-Channel (MC) Instrument. The Affymetrix and CPGR partnership aims to enable high-throughput genomics research and personalized medicine projects across Africa. The CPGR is a nonprofit organization funded by the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), which is based on an initiative by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) whose goal is to develop the bio-economy in South Africa. According to Dr Reinhard Hiller, Managing Director of the CPGR, “The high throughput capability of GeneTitan® MC Instrument combined with customizable Axiom® Genotyping Arrays is ideal for meeting the needs of scientists in Africa whose research projects range from small pilot to large-scale discovery to focused validation studies. GeneTitan® MC Instrument expands our genomics service capabilities and will further enable CPGR to support cutting-edge translational research in Africa. Further, it allows discovery and validation of disease-related biomarkers economically – even when searching for very rare genetic variants. We expect to progress personalized medicine studies that aim to discover genetic markers specific in the African population for better diagnosis and drug treatment.”