SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Illumina, Inc. (NASDAQ:ILMN) and the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) announced today a research collaboration to develop molecular diagnostic tests to screen newborn babies for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and hemoglobinopathies. These genetic diseases can lead to fatal health conditions, but can be managed and even prevented if caught at birth. The Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario currently conducts screening tests for 27 diseases for all of the approximately 135,000 babies born in Ontario each year. The Newborn Screening program is expanding its screening tests this year to also include testing for cystic fibrosis.
