Predictive, Preventive and Personalized Medicine & Molecular Diagnostics

Biography

Biography: Manuel Perez Alonso

Abstract

Detecting gene mutations related to rare disease pathogenesis is a major need in patient healthcare. More than 3,000 rare diseases are known to be caused by mutations in the corresponding genes. Th is kind knowledge can be used for medical genetics and medical genomics, i.e., thousands of diff erent gene tests may be developed internally in reference laboratories. Despite the obvious medical interest of this kind of genetic tests, there are only a few global labs off ering more than 1,000 diff erent gene tests in their portfolios. In this talk the professional pathway leading to the creation of the Institute of Genomic Medicine as well as the fast evolution of this reference laboratory will be described. Aft er fi nding this genetics reference laboratory, in 2009, the Institute has developed into one of the main Reference Laboratories for the Genetic Testing of Rare Genetic Diseases, providing more than 6,000 gene tests per year. Only six years aft er establishment, the portfolio of available molecular tests from the Institute includes more than 1,300 genes corresponding to more than 1,200 rare genetic diseases. Th is list grows every week on demand, i.e., we accept requests from clinics or hospitals in Europe, America or Asia for new tests to be developed in our labs. Now the company includes a service for exome sequencing by Next Generation Sequencing. Th e key points for our development that can be summarized in (1) the creation of interdisciplinary teams between biologists, bio-informaticians and IT experts; (2) international collaboration; (3) active collaboration with the academia, small biotech companies worldwide and business people; (4) a strong commitment of the founders of the company on the idea that research has to benefi t the Society; and (5) strong commitment within our team with business ethics will be described