Exiqon A/S announced the launch of its 2011 global research grant programme, open to researchers from academic and non-profit institutions.

“We at Exiqon aim to support our customers around the world in their daily life at the laboratories and are proud of offering excellent products for identifying the role of microRNAs in developmental and pathological pathways. With this grant programme we give them access to a cutting edge technology that cannot be missed in any research institution”, said executive vice president Sales & Marketing, Dr Elisete Pedrollo.

The Exiqon grant programme has been established with an internal seed funding of $40,000 / €30.000 from which awards will be given to researchers to drive projects enhancing the understanding of how microRNA expression and function relates to normal cellular development, and/or disease-related cellular pathways.

Recipients will use Exiqon grant programme awards for the purchase of any Exiqon microRNA product or service. Exiqon offers a complete product line for microRNA investigation, including products for RNA isolation, Microarray analysis, qRT-PCR analysis, Northern Blotting, In Situ Hybridization, and Knockdown studies. Exiqon also offers microRNA profiling services for both microarray and qRT-PCR analysis, complete with full sample QC and customized data analysis and reporting.

Researchers are invited to submit an abstract, outlining their research area, project goals, and proposed workflow no later than Monday, 28 February 2011. Award conveyance through the Exiqon grant programme does not influence, and is not influenced by, any other existing or potential sources of project funding.