Bangalore, Dec 7 (IANS): Leading Indian bioinformatics firm Strand Life Sciences has tied up with the US-based El Camino Hospital to set up a centre for genomics and personalised medicine in San Francisco, the city-based company said Saturday.
"The centre at the genomics medicine institute of the hospital in the Bay area of San Francisco will conduct genomic tests in cardiology and oncology for the local community, which has been an early adopter of technology solutions," Strand chief executive Vijay Chandru said in a statement here.
Bioinformatics uses computer science, mathematics and engineering to process and analyse complex biological data such as genetic codes.
A joint agreement was signed by Chandru and El Camino hospital chief medical officer Eric A. Pifer here Dec 4 in the presence of visiting San Francisco Mayor Edwin M. Lee and delegates from the hospital and Palo Alto Medical Foundation, as part of the San Francisco-Bangalore sister city initiative.
The pact also envisages early adoption of next generation sequencing based research panels and counselling services by doctors at El Camino hospital and its partner clinics.
"The centre will provide genomics-based analysis and interpretation for improved health outcomes. Our team of 200 scientists and researchers are already working here to create solutions in genomics and personalised medicine," Chandru said on the occasion.
The genomics medicine institute has been engaged in continuing education in genomics for physicians and genetic counselling of patients.
"Our hospital is known for South Asian heart study, which addresses the disproportionate risk of cardiac disease seen in the South Asian population located in the Bay Area," Pifer said in the statement.
As a pioneer in delivering clinical genomics solutions for healthcare institutions in India, Strand combines visualisation, predictive systems modelling, data integration and scientific content management.
Ranked among top next generation sequencing informatics providers, Strand is a portfolio company of Biomark Capital Partners, a San Francisco based global fund for health and life sciences.