New from febit: The Huge world of microRNAs on one Chip

febit today announced a new application for its Geniom Microarray Technology. With immediate effect febit offers a Geniom Biochip for all known microRNA sequences. In addition to the miRNA from the most recent version of the Sanger Institute’s public miRBase database, researchers can include oligonucleotides for detection of non-published sequences connected to their studies. Researchers will be able to use up-to-date miRNA arrays with the possibility to incorporate changes as they occur - virtually on a daily basis.

They have two possibilities to create these microRNA-Biochips. The Biochip can be chosen from a Geniom database, adjusted to special needs if required, and ordered from febit as a Ready-to-Go-Biochip or can be made on site by users of febit’s flagship product, the Geniom One Instrument. The Geniom approach offers its users a unique editing option to include further miRNA targets from other sources, such as proprietary research. The Geniom One Instruments complement this feature with the on site synthesis of the Biochips to create 100% privacy of sensitive data if required.

Creating these Geniom Biochips on demand meets the requirements of the miRNA research field for profiling methods that can keep pace with the rapid and regular expansion in the number of miRNAs being identified by researchers.

The Geniom Technology is based upon a high-end microfluidic system and enables several unique assay for research: PCR-on-Chip, Chip², Dynamic Detection (Melting Curves), signals enhancing protocols (CSE), Longmer synthesis – the wide variety of methodologies leads to new ways of application. Additionally, the small sample requirements benefit researchers by reducing sample usage.

The launch of the Ready-to-Go Biochips further enhances the recent announcement that febit will be releasing the Geniom Analyzer in summer 2007, for the hybridization and analysis of Geniom Chips, independent of the Geniom One Instrument.

As part of the launch of the RNA-application, febit biotech recently held a miRNA profiling workshop at their headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany, for researchers from Germany, Switzerland and Ireland. The participants, who came from both industry and academia had the chance to test the Geniom microRNA biochips with their own samples. Attendees at the workshop spent three days working with their samples, presenting data and listening to guest speakers, culminating with analysis on miRNA arrays produced on the Geniom One Platform. “The microRNA analyses made with the Geniom Platform have once again demonstrated its’flexibility and the high quality of data obtainable on the platform“, commented Dr. Markus Beier, Director Customer Care at febit, on the positive feedback from the workshops.