Genomic data firm Ovation.io has entered into a collaboration with Illumina to provide researchers with a genomics dataset for indications outside of oncology.
The collaboration will incorporate Illumina’s next-generation sequencing (NGS) platforms and Ovation’s biobank containing more than 1.6 million deidentified, consented, and tokenized samples, the companies said in a statement. The partners have chosen to focus on non-oncology indications, lacking sufficient datasets to enable genomically based research goals, they said, aiming to build a dataset of genomic data linked to longitudinal clinical data at scale (e.g., electronic medical records, laboratory results and claims).
The resulting dataset will enable the identification of optimal targets across different areas, the firms said, improving the success of existing treatments and aiding in the development of new therapeutics.
“Applying human genomic data in oncology and rare disease research has resulted in new personalized medicines that have proven transformative for patient outcomes. Our collaboration with Ovation will add to the depth and diversity of data available to drive research in metabolic diseases, cardiology, immunology and other indications,” said Todd Christian, senior vice president of the services, arrays, and genomic access businesses at Illumina.
The first phase of the collaboration will focus on creating pilot datasets in liver disease, chronic kidney disease, and patients being treated with glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists.
Illumina and Ovation said they plan to seek industry partners to sequence the most underrepresented and high-value patient populations.
