SAN DIEGO, May 15 /PRNewswire/ -- GenVault, the leader in integrated biosample management, announced today that the Shafallah Genetics Medical Center (SGMC), the newly established research division of the Shafallah Center for Children with Special Needs, has purchased a Dynamic Archive biosample management system. The Center is located in Doha, Qatar.
GenVault technology will be a critical component of the Center’s mission to accrue and analyze genetic material from populations throughout the Persian Gulf region. The research program will work closely with the care and medical support provided to pediatric patients and their families at the Center. The Shafallah Center, located in the capital city of Doha, provides special education, intensive physical therapy and family support services to 1,000 children, including those with autism, learning disabilities and mental and physical disabilities.
In addition to these conditions, the SGMC will pursue research into genetic risk factors for diabetes and obesity. Qatar and other Gulf States now top the world in the incidence of obesity and diabetes among their nationals. Obesity, which has been classed as a chronic disease by the World Health Organization, affects over 50% of the nationals in the Gulf countries and 300 million worldwide.
GenVault Technology
Effectively managing and establishing the correct identity of thousands of biosamples are crucial to the integrity of research studies. Even low error rates in sample identification can have a significant, negative impact on results.
GenVault’s Dynamic Archive is a fully automated, robotic solution for biosample storage and retrieval at room temperature. By taking advantage of the streamlined height of the GenPlate and the dry state storage media for DNA, the Dynamic Archive is capable of storing thousands of biological samples in a fraction of the space required for traditional freezers or liquid nitrogen tanks. The Dynamic Archive is a modular system so capacity can be added incrementally as a biosample collection grows. Since Dynamic Archives are computer-driven and fully automated only one technician is required to operate the system, significantly reducing labor costs from conventional cryostorage systems. GenVault’s sample management software, GenConnect, allows for the storage of the physical biosample properties and also associates clinical data with that biosample. This software allows GenVault archives at different facilities to be networked enabling biosample sharing and exchange.
“We are both pleased and honored to be selected as the sample management platform for the pioneering mission of the Shafallah Center. With the enthusiastic support of the Center’s founder, Her Highness Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser al Misnad, Consort of His Highness the Emir of the State of Qatar, and her dedication to building state-of-the-art facilities in medical research, a lasting benefit will be realized for the Gulf region in genetic-based disease management. The ultimate objective of the Shafallah Center is to eradicate diseases that plaque its young patients and their families --- an objective that GenVault will help bring to reality,” said Mitch Eggers, Ph.D., M.B.A. Chief Executive Officer of GenVault.
About The Shafallah Center for Children with Special Needs
The Shafallah Center for Children with Special Needs (www.shafallah.org.qa) was established at the behest of Her Highness Sheikha Mozah, so that Qatari society could provide comprehensive services to children with disabilities. The Center is a non-profit, private institution, serving as a model for the provision of special education , therapeutic and health care support services for children with disabilities from birth to age 21.
About GenVault
GenVault is the leader in integrated biosample management. The company currently provides integrated archiving and retrieval solutions for organizations managing DNA collections. GenVault aims to serve customers including medical centers, academic institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and law enforcement agencies. Future systems will also accommodate proteins and RNA to provide a comprehensive solution. As a scalable and reliable alternative to traditional freezer networks and DNA purification systems, GenVault’s dry-state platform enables the extraction, preservation and recovery of DNA at room temperature. This novel sample management solution is configured for each customer’s workflow and the planned growth of their biosample archive. In December 2004, GenVault was named as one of Red Herring’s Top 100 Innovators. From its GenPlate to its Dynamic Archive solution, GenVault is continuously developing and refining best practices for integrated biosample management.
GenVault
CONTACT: David Wellis, +1-760-268-5214, or Mitch Eggers, +1-760-268- 5210,both for GenVault
