Avesthagen Limited and the Department of Genetics at the Harvard Medical School (HMS) have entered into a long-term collaboration in the field of Genomics. The agreement includes data analysis, population structure and various other studies.

Avesthagen, which has been involved in extensive research activities, entered into a partnership with HMS for the development of Avestagenome Project and other projects. The Avestagenome Project is a path-breaking research study initiated by Avesthagen that will be instrumental in establishing linkage between genes, disease and environmental factors. It aims to predict disease risk and play a catalytic role in the development of new therapies and diagnostics, according informed sources.

Under this MoU, Avesthagen will be involved in providing data sets from genome wide array experiments along with other data sets that arise from other experiments analyzing population structure. In addition, to providing data sets to HMS, Avesthagen will also deliver genotype data from anonymized individuals.

On signing the Memorandum of Understanding, Dr Villoo Morawala Patell, founder & CMD, Avesthagen said, "We are very privileged and excited to partner with Harvard Medical School in this collaborative effort. The Institute's vast experience in pioneering and supporting research work will ensure that internationally due recognition will be given to the Avestagenome Project."

Speaking on the occasion, Dr David Reich, associate professor, Harvard Medical School, said, "We are thrilled by the chance to work collaboratively with Avesthagen. Our goal in this collaboration is to understand the structure of Parsi populations and the historical and genetic relationship with groups in India and elsewhere. Hopefully these analyses will be able to help in searches for genes that cause disease at unusual rates in the Parsi population."