Genome Study in Children Launched

A genome project focused on the genetics of childhood diseases will begin soon at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

The new Center for Applied Genomics will first address some of the most common diseases of childhood, including asthma, obesity, diabetes and cancer.

Hakon Hakonarson of deCODE Genetics, based in Reykjavik, Iceland, will head up the project, the center said in a statement.

deCODE has conducted genomic research on the entire population of Iceland and Hakonarson has extensive experience with genome-wide mapping, CAG said.

According to Hakonarson, the Center’s goals are to generate new diagnostic tests for childhood diseases, then use this diagnostic knowledge to guide physicians to the most appropriate therapies.

The center said it would form strategic partnerships with biopharmaceutical companies to develop the novel therapies.

We are following a trail blazed by the Human Genome and HapMap Projects, but tailoring our approach to children, said Philip Johnson, chief scientific officer at The Children’s Hospital.

The Center said it would do the work using Illumina’s automated BeadLab technology, which it said can process 264 patient samples per day and simultaneously analyze over 550,000 genetic variants for each sample.

Using the technology, CAG said it would analyze blood samples from more than 100,000 children and their parents over the next three years.