SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 9, 2006--Illumina, Inc.(NASDAQ:ILMN) announced today that it has installed a genotypingBeadLab in the Genetics Facility at the Shafallah Center for Childrenwith Special Needs in Doha, Qatar. The BeadLab will anchor the firstphase of the Shafallah Center's transformation into a world-classcenter of research excellence, integrating child-centered capabilitiesthat range from genomics and disease discovery to existing strengthsin clinical treatment, special education and related paramedicalservices.
The Shafallah Genetics Medical Center (SGMC) will have extensiveand unique access to samples from founder populations indigenous tothe Persian/Arabian Gulf Region (see note). These samples have well-documentedfamily histories that may accelerate the understanding of the geneticbasis of disease - not only those affecting children, but also thosethat are common to all population and age groups.
The research focus will include rare autosomal recessive diseases,of which many are unique or first-discovered in the Gulf, as well ascomplex diseases such as diabetes, the prevalence of which in the Gulfis among the worlds' highest. All diseases explored at the newfacility will involve the collection and analysis of clinical andgenetic as well as pedigree data.
The BeadLab is an end-to-end genetic analysis solution builtaround Illumina's proprietary BeadArray(TM) technology and featuringextensive automation, parallel sample throughput, multiplexed assayprotocols, positive sample tracking, allele-calling software, lowrunning cost per sample and industry-leading performance. The SGMCplans initially to conduct genome-wide disease association studiesusing Illumina's Sentrix(R) HumanHap BeadChips, which are designed togenotype between 100,000 and 550,000 SNP loci per sample on a singlemicroarray.
"We're tremendously honored to be a part of this important newresearch facility - the first of its kind in the Gulf region," statedJay Flatley, Illumina President and CEO. "As employees of Illumina,we're proud to be associated with the important research targetingchildren at the Shafallah Center and the hope for accelerateddiscovery of disease-causing genes. We look forward to supporting theShafallah Center in building a world-class disease researchoperation."
About Shafallah Center
The Shafallah Center for Children with Special Needs(www.shafallah.org.qa) was established at the behest of Her HighnessSheikha Mozah bint Nasser al Misnad, Consort of His Highness the Emirof the State of Qatar, with the intent of providing comprehensiveservices for need-based Qatari children. The Center is a non-profit,private institution and it is chaired by Hassan Ali Bin Ali. Amongoutreach activities of the Shafallah Center is a pioneering, AnnualInternational Forum on children with special needs. Information aboutthe 2006 Forum can be found athttp://www.shafallah.org.qa/shafallahforum.htm.
About Illumina
Illumina (www.illumina.com) develops and markets next-generationtools for the large-scale analysis of genetic variation and function.The Company's proprietary BeadArray technology -- used in leadinggenomics centers around the world -- provides the throughput, costeffectiveness and flexibility necessary to enable researchers in thelife sciences and pharmaceutical industries to perform the billions oftests necessary to extract medically valuable information fromadvances in genomics and proteomics. This information will help pavethe way to personalized medicine by correlating genetic variation andgene function with particular disease states, enhancing drugdiscovery, allowing diseases to be detected earlier and morespecifically, and permitting better choices of drugs for individualpatients.
Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities LitigationReform Act of 1995: this release may contain forward-lookingstatements that involve risks and uncertainties. Among the importantfactors that could cause actual results to differ materially fromthose in any forward-looking statements are the costs and outcome ofIllumina's litigation with Affymetrix, the Company's ability to scaleand integrate CyVera technology, the ability to further scale oligosynthesis output and technology to satisfy market demand deriving fromthe Company's collaboration with Invitrogen, Illumina's ability tofurther develop and commercialize its BeadArray technologies and todeploy new gene expression and genotyping products and applicationsfor its platform technology, to manufacture robust Sentrix(R) arrays -including HumanHap BeadChips -- and Oligator(R) oligonucleotides, andother factors detailed in the Company's filings with the Securitiesand Exchange Commission including its recent filings on Forms 10-K and10-Q or in information disclosed in public conference calls, the dateand time of which are released beforehand. Illumina disclaims anyintent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements beyondthe date of this release.
Editor's Note
Founder populations are modern groups descended from a fewindividuals who long ago may have left one area and settled somewhereelse, and who have not married significantly outside that population.Besides the Gulf region, founder populations are found in Iceland,Quebec and Utah among other areas. Family histories, includingdisease, are often well-documented in Founder Populations, providing apotential shortcut in the search for disease-causing genes andpathways.
The SGMC was unveiled to the world this week as part of the FirstAnnual International Forum on Children with Special Needs, held on May8 and 9 in Doha, Qatar.
CONTACT: Illumina, Inc.
Jay Flatley, 858-202-4501
jflatley@illumina.com
William Craumer, 858-202-4667
bcraumer@illumina.com
SOURCE: Illumina, Inc.