GeneTech sets up lab for contract research foray

City-based GeneTech, which offers cytogenetics and pre-natal diagnostic services, has set up a state-of-the-art molecular and biochemicals laboratory to foray into the promising contract research services.

GeneTech founder and managing director Anuradha Udumudi said that the company had begun negotiations with research labs, pharmacological and biotechnology industries to offer its services.

"GeneTech will procure and execute contract research projects related to gene expression studies. GeneTech offers services to animal houses in certification of animal strains. GeneTech also offers turnkey contracts in transfer of genetic technologies. We are at present in the process of getting required national quality certification for executing the research projects."

Anuradha said that the research laboratory, set up at a cost of nearly Rs 1 crore, can take up diagnosis of several single gene disorders like thalassemia (an inherited blood disorder), duchene muscular dystrophy (a disease characterised by gradual weakening and wasting of muscle tissue), albinism (a total or partial lack of melanin or skin pigment in the skin), achondroplasia (an inherited pre-natal skeletal disorder) etc.

The lab offers cancer molecular diagnostic services with minimal residual disease analysis. It can also diagnose viral infections and also quantitates them using real-time PCR technology.

PCR stands for polymerase chain reaction, a technique used to quickly increase the amount of a specific DNA sequence or to detect the existence of a defined sequence within a particular DNA sample.

"The techniques used in such labs have a great value in genotyping of human variations, acquired genetic alterations in human diseases, infectious organisms, and plant gene products," Anuradha said.

Facilities at GeneTech include advanced microscopy, automated karyotyping (characterisation of the chromosomal complement of an individual or a species, including number, form, and size of the chromosomes) and image analysis systems etc.

The company has so far invested nearly Rs 2 crore on research lab and other facilities.

With the biochemicals laboratory facilities, Anuradha said, GeneTech can now use fluorimetry (the measurement of emission of one or more photons by a molecule or atom activated by electro magnetic radiation) and ELISA (diagnostic test to determine exposure to a particular infectious agent) technologies to provide pre-natal screening (screening for common genetic disorders before birth) and neo-natal screening (screening for common genetic defects in newborns).

GeneTech has already launched several screening programmes with hospitals and medical organisations in the country. It also has collaboration with University of Leeds, UK, and some laboratories in the US to further develop the screening programmes.

The company has over the past five years been offering cytogenetics and pre-natal diagnostic services.

Cytogenetic tests are carried out on leukemia patients to detect any chromosomal abnormalities associated with the disease. This helps in diagnosis and selection of optimal treatment. Cytogenetics is the study of the structure of chromosomes.

GeneTech operates through a network of 30 centres across south India for the past five years. It also has plans to expand to other regions. It works with gynecologists and pediatricians and has tested several cases of bad obstetric history, developmental problems, mental retardation, infertility and cancer.

Anuradha said genetic counseling was the most widely opted services of GeneTech. The company has so far conducted over 50 genetic awareness programmes in south India.

"GeneTech is the only independent medical genetics centre in the country today," she said.

Recognising the need for technical skills in the life sciences industry, GeneTech has commenced training in the leading genetic technologies used across the industry. It has already launched diploma in clinical genetics for medical graduates and diploma in molecular genetics for those from non-medical streams.

GeneTech has developed the curriculum in collaboration with University of Leeds, UK, and Tumtech University, Fritsing, Munich.