CHEO Embarks on a Research Collaboration for the Development of Molecular Diagnostics for Newborn Screening
Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) and Illumina, Inc. have announced a collaboration to develop molecular diagnostic tests to screen newborn babies for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Under the terms of the research agreement, Illumina and CHEO will initially develop assays to screen newborns for SMA utilizing Illumina’s technology.
Dr. Alex MacKenzie, CHEO’s Vice President of Research and co-chair of FightSMA’s Scientific Advisory Board, said “The era of DNA-based newborn screening is beginning, and we look forward to working with Illumina to expedite this transition, tapping the potential of their powerful technologies.”
President and Chief Executive Officer of Illumina, Jay Flatley said, “Our research collaboration with the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario has the potential to expand the screening of newborns so that dangerous inherited diseases can be diagnosed, and one day may be treated before causing permanent harm.”
