BWI: Ocimum Biosolutions Awarded US Patent for Gene Expression Data Quality Metrics

Press release from Business Wire India
Source: Ocimum Biosolutions
Tuesday, July 14, 2009 05:05 PM IST (11:35 AM GMT)
Editors: General: Consumer interest; Business: Business services, Healthcare, biotechnology & pharmaceutical, Information technology; Technology; Healthcare
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Ocimum Biosolutions Awarded US Patent for Gene Expression Data Quality Metrics
Patent for Method and System for Managing and Querying Gene Expression Data According to Quality

Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States, Tuesday, July 14, 2009 -- (Business Wire India) -- Ocimum Biosolutions has announced issuance of United States Patent No. 7,558,411 B2 for developing a method and system for managing and querying gene expression data according to quality.

The present invention relates generally to a method and system for managing the quality control process in the analysis of gene expression data from DNA probe arrays. The invention is aimed at providing a centralized application for viewing, masking and pass/failing DNA probe microarrays, or "chips", making use of image processing (IP) metrics and limits, and to provide methods for global and local evaluation within a single microarray and for multiple array evaluation for purposes of quality control. Further, this system provides enhanced functionality, permitting users to query on numerous chip parameters, and display as well as arrange results on a flexible grid.

An automated system and method are provided for analyzing gene expression data obtained from a plurality of microarrays having mismatch (MM) probe pairs and perfect match (PM) probe pairs. Image data for a plurality of scanned microarrays is stored in a database along with a set of microarray parameters, which includes one or more image processing metrics for quality control of the microarray and a pass/fail status of the microarray as determined by these metrics. The user can search the database records according to one or more microarray parameters. The image processing metrics include algorithms for removing local background effects from the probe measurements by determining a model for estimated background using PM probe values. Other image processing metrics utilize a modified Robust Multi-array Averaging (RMA) applied to PM probes to assign weights to probes for determining overall quality of a microarray.

"Gene expression data quality is a primary priority at Ocimum Biosolutions and Gene Logic. Over the years, we have taken a leadership role in setting benchmarks in data quality. This patent reiterates our commitment to provide quality integrated solutions through our range of platforms and services" says Ms. Anuradha Acharya, CEO, Ocimum Biosolutions.

Gene expression is the process by which information from a gene is used in the synthesis of a functional gene product. Gene expression is used in disease research, drug discovery, pharmacogenomics (how a person's genes respond to drug treatments), toxicogenomics (prediction of toxicity) and molecular diagnostics. To know more about our gene expression services, please visit www.genelogic.com/services.

About Ocimum Biosolutions

Ocimum Biosolutions is a global integrated genomics services company with over 250 employees in Hyderabad, India, Gaithersburg, MD in the US and the Netherlands. Ocimum provides comprehensive genomic reference databases, life science lab information management solutions, GLP-compliant microarray services and essential research consumables. Over 2/3rd of the top 25 pharma companies, leading research institutes and emerging biotech companies worldwide have chosen us as their preferred outsourcing partner and utilize our expertise for understanding underlying mechanisms of diseases, discovery and prioritization of gene targets and biomarkers.

Our global infrastructure, standardized procedures, capacity, expertise and highly skilled staff support drug development programs from pre-clinical target development and toxicogenomic assessment to clinical biomarker identification and patient stratification. In creating the world's largest commercial gene expression databases - BioExpress® and ToxExpress®, we have developed expertise and capabilities that are unparalleled in the genomic services industry. Ocimum has been consistently ranked as India's fastest growing biotechnology company and one of the fastest growing technology companies over the last four years by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu.

For more information, please visit www.ocimumbio.com.


CONTACT DETAILS
Ms. Dhanya Menon, Ocimum Biosolutions, +91 (40) 66986700, pr@ocimumbio.com

KEYWORDS
CONSUMER, BUSINESS SERVICES, HEALTHCARE, IT, TECHNOLOGY, HEALTHCARE

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