10,000 samples from Ommoord residents to be genotyped.
Illumina reported that Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre in Rotterdam has purchased two fully automated BeadStations that will use the Infinium HumanHap550 BeadChip in their study of late-age related diseases.
“The outstanding importance of these diseases is not only related to their increasing frequency but also their consequences, including their impact on disability, quality of life, and mortality,” points out Andre Uitterlinden of Erasmus MC, who will lead this project.
The Rotterdam study is a prospectively monitored population of individuals for the development of therapies for several late-age diseases, including neurological, cardiovascular, endocrine, locomotor, and ophthalmological conditions. In this cohort study, all residents of the Rotterdam suburb of Ommoord between 1990 and 1993 aged 55 and over were invited to participate. 80% agreed and have been monitored for more than 17 years. During this time participants were subject to detailed interviews and examinations every three to four years to collect baseline data and health status. “We chose to conduct a 17-year cohort study in the Rotterdam region because the preferred group was well represented in the early 1990’s and was known for its stability,” explains Uitterlinden. “This means that we anticipated few people would leave the city before we completed the study.”
The researchers will use Illumina’s technology to genotype more than 10,000 samples. “We hope that by working with Illumina and utilizing the HumanHap550 we will make important contributions in the field of genome-wide association analyses for these common diseases,” comments Uitterlinden. “The 10,000 sample study is expected to be completed within six to ten months.”
