ATLAS Biolabs GmbH to Take Part in Ngsgoeshpc, a Publicly Funded Research Program to Improve the Computational Analysis of Next-Generation Sequencing Data

Berlin, September 27, 2011 – ATLAS Biolabs announces its participation in a joint bioinformatics project called NGSgoesHPC funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The project's aim is to develop new applications promoting the efficient use of modern high-performance computers (HPC) in the analysis and interpretation of DNA sequencing data. By taking part in NGSgoesHPC, ATLAS Biolabs seeks not only to advance an important aspect of computational biology, it is also laying the foundation for extending its services in the field of next-generation sequencing (NGS). The company offers quality-controlled sequencing services on all major platforms in the field (Illumina; SOLiD, 454). NGS services also include the provision of sequence enrichment and the analysis of NGS data, including raw reads, data assembly, mapping, genomics, transcriptomics and epigenomics.

Modern sequencing technologies make it possible to decode the genome at an ever-increasing pace. However, the rapid development of next generation sequencing leads to a flood of data which can hardly be evaluated in an efficient and timely manner using current computer systems. The use of high- performance computers is therefore indispensable. NGSgoesHPC will open up new possibilities for better and faster data analysis by adjusting current algorithms for the assembly and/or mapping of NGS data to the hardware architecture of high-performance computers. In addition, the project aims to develop new methods for presenting and processing NGS results.

“We are delighted to be part of this important program. Our task is to represent the user’s view,” explains Dr. Karsten R. Heidtke, Head of Bioinformatics at ATLAS Biolabs. “We’ll help to define the requirements and basic conditions for the algorithms to be optimized. In addition, we can bring in our knowledge about customer requirements regarding the visualization and evaluation of NGS data.” Moreover, ATLAS Biolabs will take part in evaluating and testing new software and integrating it into the high-scaling open-source program library that is to be developed within the framework of the project.

About NGSgoesHPC

NGSgoesHPC (ref. no. 01IH11003F) is being funded over a period of three years by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The project’s aim is to port applications and algorithmic kernels critical for next-generation sequencing (NGS) to modern HPC architectures. In addition to ATLAS Biolabs, the project partners include: Bull GmbH, Cologne; Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich; the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne; the Biotechnology Center (BIOTEC), Deep Sequencing Group and Center for Information Services and High Performance Computing at the TU Dresden; the Regional Computing Center (RRZK) and the Cologne Center for Genomics (CCG) of the University of Cologne; DataDirect Networks GmbH, Freiburg; and Intel’s ExaCluster Laboratory, Jülich.

About ATLAS Biolabs GmbH

ATLAS Biolabs GmbH is a leading provider of complex analyses in molecular genetics, including microarray-based genomic services, targeted sequence capture and next-generation sequencing in Europe. The company has access to the DNA chip platforms of all leading enterprises in this field (Affymetrix, Agilent, Illumina and Roche NimbleGen) and is a Certified Affymetrix, Agilent and Roche NimbleGen Service Provider. Based in Germany, ATLAS Biolabs started its business operations in August 2007. Its production processes are subject to rigorous quality control at all steps according to the international standards ISO 9001:2008 und ISO 13485:2003. Customers of ATLAS Biolabs include academic institutions, pharmaceutical and biotechnological enterprises, clinicians and registered physicians both in Germany and abroad. For more information, please go to www.atlas-biolabs.com.

Contact:

Mugele Kommunikation

Dr. Katrin Mugele

Phone: + 49 30 7816869

Fax: + 49 3212 7816869

E-mail: press@mugele-kommunikation.de

ATLAS Biolabs GmbH

Friedrichstr. 147 | 10117 Berlin, Germany

Registered Office: Cologne, Germany

Commercial Register: Amtsgericht Köln | HRB 59119

CEO: Prof. Dr. Peter Nürnberg

www.atlas-biolabs.com