A Medical Device Daily

Genomas (Hartford, Connecticut) a biomedical company advancing DNA-Guided medicine, reported the award of a 3-year Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grant totaling $1.4 million. The grant, entitled MRI DNA Biomarkers for Neuropsychiatric Disease, was awarded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIH).

This Phase II program integrates the Genomas physiogenomics technology with the leading fMRI research of Godfrey Pearlson MD, at Hartford Hospital's Institute of Living, and the advanced neuro-informatics capabilities of Vincent Calhoun PhD, at the Mind Research Network of the University of New Mexico (Albuquerque, New Mexico). The research leading to this award has been published by this collaborative group in the renowned journals Human Brain Mapping and Annals of Biomedical Engineering.

To date, Genomas has secured $4.8 million of NIH SBIR funding for PhyzioType product development. PhyzioType Systems are composed of an ensemble of inherited DNA polymorphisms genotyped by arrays and interpreted by a bioclinical algorithm in order to convey to physicians predicted comparisons of efficacy and side effect risk among drugs for the individual patient.

They are currently available for DNA-Guided Medicine in the prescription of antidepressants and in advanced development for antipsychotic, lipid-lowering, and hypoglycemic drugs. The company's clinical phrarmacogenetic tests and consultation service are provided through its Laboratory of Personalized Health (LPH), an accredited and licensed high-complexity molecular diagnostic center.