Business
Bionano Genomics Announces Pre-Clinical Evaluation of Optical Genome Mapping by the Foundation for Embryonic Competence
SAN DIEGO, April 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bionano Genomics, Inc. (Nasdaq: BNGO) announced the launch of an IRB-approved preclinical evaluation study using
About this update from Bionano Genomics, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"SAN DIEGO, April 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bionano Genomics, Inc. (Nasdaq: BNGO) announced the launch of an IRB-approved preclinical evaluation study using optical genome mapping (OGM) by the Foundation for Embryonic Competence (FEC) based in Basking Ridge, NJ. FEC is a nonprofit organization providing preimplantation embryo diagnostic tests for patients who are undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). In the study, FEC will use OGM with the Saphyr system as a research tool to analyze the genomes of couples who have experienced recurrent pregnancy loss or recurrent embryo implantation failure. The study’s objective is to determine whether the improved resolution of OGM, compared to traditional methods, can identify structural rearrangements that could form the basis of downstream targeted testing the embryos before implantation, and thereby potentially lead to improved outcomes of the IVF procedure. Richard T. Scott, Jr, MD, HCLD FACOG, Founding Partner of IVIRMA Global and the Clinical Director, Andrology and Endocrinology Laboratory Director, of RMANJ said, “This study is anticipated to demonstrate the improvements in the structural variation detection in couples when there is difficulty to conceive, or where there is recurrent pregnancy loss or unexplained failure during embryo preimplantation. In such cases, the genome of the parents is usually analyzed to identify structural variants in the genome that can predispose to failed pregnancies after which embryos created through IVF can be screened for unbalanced derivatives”. Better preimplantation testing can reduce the risk of having a child with a genetic condition and may improve significantly the pregnancy and delivery rate per embryo transfer. Currently, karyotyping is the standard of care method to identify structural variants in the parents, but this methodology has a low resolution and is imprecise. “The utility of OGM is being evaluated to comprehensively characterize the structural variations in the genome, including balanced translocations and inversions. The added advantage is the ability to identify cryptic structural variations typically missed by standard of care methods,” said Chaim Jalas, CTO of FEC labs. “The preclinical IRB approved validation study of OGM by FEC for IVF applications is an example of what we are seeing as continued, ongoing growth of the ...