Illumina and Mayo ClinicTo Develop Molecular Diagnostic Tests

Illumina, Inc. (San Diego, CA, USA) and Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MI, USA) have signed a diagnostic collaborative agreement to enable the co-development of molecular diagnostic tests for the study of complex diseases.

Illumina will contribute its VeraCode technology and development expertise for the BeadArray and BeadXpress instrument platforms. Mayo Clinic will bring broad knowledge in clinical practice and patient outcome management, along with proficiency in establishing clinical utility of new diagnostic technologies. In addition, Mayo's ability to discover and validate biomarkers offers the potential for both parties to implement important new clinical tests.

Terms of the agreement enable the implementation of new clinical tests within Mayo's clinical practice and Mayo Medical Laboratories. Additionally, Illumina will manufacture and market tests worldwide on Illumina's BeadArray and upcoming BeadXpress Reader.

Illumina's patented BeadArray technology achieves a level of array miniaturization that allows for a new scale of experimentation. An array is a collection of miniaturized test sites arranged on a surface that permits many tests, or assays, to be performed in parallel. By arranging analytic devices into a multi-sample array of arrays format, one can process in parallel thousands to millions of assays, a throughput significantly beyond the capability of any technology known to us.

Illumina's VeraCode technology leverages the power of digital holographic codes to provide a robust detection method for multiplexed assays requiring high precision, accuracy and speed. This technology, combined with Illumina's BeadXpress Reader, supports the rapid detection and analysis of a wide range of assays with industry leading multiplexing capability.

The department of laboratory medicine and pathology at Mayo Clinic maintains an active diagnostic test development program. These activities also incorporate technologies from collaborations with diagnostic and biotechnology companies. Mayo utilizes these proven diagnostic technologies in the care of its patients and offers them to more than 5,000 health care institutions around the world through Mayo Medical Laboratories (MML). Revenue from MML testing is used to support medical education and research at Mayo Clinic.



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