Genomic Aging Study to Acquire Latest Generation Sequencing Systems

The next phase of a large genomic study that seeks to understand the genetic basis of age-related disorders and their risk factors will be carried out with the latest generation of automated sequencing systems.

The Rotterdam Study, which is being supervised by investigators at Erasmus University Medical Center (Rotterdam, the Netherlandsl) is a large prospective, single-center, population-based cohort study in a suburb of Rotterdam, which includes 15,000 participants aged 45 years or more who have been followed since 1990. The major focus of the Rotterdam Study has been the identification of genetic risk factors for age-related disorders such as osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer disease, and type II diabetes.

Recently the managers of the Rotterdam Study announced that the next phase of testing – on more than 3,000 samples – would be carried out using the latest generation automated sequencing systems. These tools will be provided by Roche NimbleGen (Madison, WI, USA) and Caliper Life Sciences (Hopkinton, MA, USA).

NimbelGen’s SeqCap EZ Library is a liquid-based enrichment technology, which enables the targeted capture for subsequent sequencing of the exome or a targeted subset of genes. SeqCap EZ Library is compatible with various sequencing chemistries and with the addition of the Caliper Sciclone NGS Workstation, provides a comprehensive high-throughput target enrichment solution.

“The automated Roche capture platform was in our case the most optimal solution to analyze these thousands of DNA samples,” said Dr. Andre Uitterlinden, head of the genetics laboratory at Erasmus University Medical Center. “It will bring the large database we have been creating over the years of the Rotterdam Study to a new and deeper level of genetic resolution, hopefully leading to further exciting discoveries in the field of complex genetics.”

“We are extremely excited to see our technologies selected for use in the Rotterdam Study,” said Frank Pitzer, CEO of Roche NimbleGen. “This sample cohort has been used to significantly advance our knowledge of age-related disorders and we are honored to have our technology adopted for use in such a comprehensive and well-organized study.”

Related Links:
Erasmus University Medical Center
Roche NimbleGen
Caliper Life Sciences