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Cypher, Pennsylvania University partner to discover genetic factors in PSP

Cypher Genomics and the University of Pennsylvania have entered into a joint research project to discover genetic causes of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a neurodegenerative brain disease.

The joint research is funded by a grant from CurePSP, a nonprofit organization, which will support the collection and analysis of exome sequencing data from more than 700 PSP patients and their closely related family members.

PSP affects nerve cells that control walking, balance, mobility, vision, speech, and swallowing and has no known cause, treatment, or cure.

Principle investigator for the CurePSP Genetics Consortium is University of Pennsylvania professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine in the Perelman School of Medicine Gerard Schellenberg.

Cypher Genomics co-founder and CEO Ashley Van Zeeland said: "We are excited to collaborate with Dr. Schellenberg’s research group on this large-scale project and apply Cypher’s technology and our team’s expertise in genome interpretation.

"We believe by working together we can accelerate the discovery of genetic variants involved in progressive supranuclear palsy."

The CurePSP grant will help identify possible genetic factors and biomarkers to elucidate mechanisms of disease and novel targets for future drug development.

Dr Schellenberg’s lab will use the company’s Mantis technology and scientific expertise to analyze whole exome sequencing data collected.