Geospiza and Maryland-based SAIC-Frederick Inc. are collaborating to adapt Geospiza's software platform to a new generation of rapid, high-resolution gene sequencing technology to potentially accelerate cancer research and help develop new treatments.

SAIC-Frederick is an early adopter of cutting-edge, third-generation sequencing technology designed to provide faster, high-resolution DNA sequences for use in cancer research. The newest second-generation gene sequencers can rapidly produce huge amounts of genetic data, in some cases approaching 3 billion sequences — the equivalent of an entire human genome — in just two days. This advance holds great promise for advancing scientists' understanding of the genetic basis of cancer. It also presents new challenges, especially in regard to managing unprecedented volumes of data and accurately correlating them with patient information.

Geospiza and SAIC-Frederick are collaborating to address these challenges by integrating Geospiza's GeneSifter Lab Edition product for data acquisition and analysis with a third-generation sequencer, PacBio RS, Pacific Biosciences' Single Molecule Real Time (SMRT) biological detection platform.

SAIC-Frederick will use GeneSifter interfaces already in place in its labs to create custom workflows and data analysis unique to SMRT sequencing. SAIC-Frederick will also provide enhancements for systems analysis and for automation. The result will provide researchers with a productive data management system tailored to their needs.

Having in place a rapid, third-generation sequencing system is expected to accelerate studies into the genetic basis of cancer and to pave the way for more effective treatments. SAIC-Frederick, a contractor for the National Cancer Institute's laboratories in Frederick, Maryland, is facilitating the collaboration as part of NCI's Advanced Technology Partnerships Initiative, which seeks to reduce the time and cost of developing new cancer treatments.

SAIC-Frederick, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Science Applications International Corporation, is the operations and technical support contractor for the National Cancer Institute's research and development centre in Frederick, Maryland.

Geospiza's products are configured to reflect best practices and to work out-of-the-box, so that researchers can focus on their science.