Strand Genomics Inc. And BioHealth Innovation, Inc. Partner To Expand Strand Centers For Genomics & Personalized Medicine In The U.S.

ROCKVILLE and BALTIMORE, Md., March 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Strand Genomics Inc. (Strand) and BioHealth Innovation, Inc. (BHI) today announced a strategic partnership designed to expand the Strand Centers for Genomics & Personalized Medicine into the U.S. This effort is intended to help revolutionize access to genomic interpretation services in cardiovascular disease, oncology, rare diseases, and many other indications. Strand Genomics is a wholly owned subsidiary of Strand Life Sciences, a Bangalore, India-based bioinformatics, clinical genomics, and diagnostics company.

Strand operates clinical genomics and diagnostics laboratories in India that perform end-to-end clinical genomics services, such as testing and diagnostics, to healthcare systems in that country. Strand now provides diagnostic tests based on next-generation sequencing to more than 50 major hospitals in India. Strand is expanding globally and is actively seeking partnerships with hospitals, molecular diagnostic companies and academic medical centers looking to offer genomics-based diagnostics tests. In December 2013, Strand had announced its collaboration with El Camino Hospital in Mountain View, CA.  BHI, a Maryland-based innovation intermediary, will be integral in supporting the market penetration of Strand's services into the U.S. healthcare system by connecting Strand with key market channels, thus providing access to genomic services to more patients and healthcare providers.

Dr. Vijay Chandru, Chairman & CEO, Strand Genomics Inc., said, "We are excited about this partnership with BHI in Maryland. We believe this can accelerate the implementation of genomics-based diagnostics in the clinical setting, particularly in the Eastern U.S., and can establish Strand's innovative models as a standard of care for helping to diagnose many disease states."

To support the expanded presence of Strand Genomics in the U.S., representatives from the company will be at booth #931 at the 2014 American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics meeting (ACMG), to be held March 26-28 in Nashville, and at the 2014 International Collaboration for Clinical Genomics (ICCG) in Bethesda, Maryland, June 10-12, 2014.

Richard Bendis, President & CEO of BioHealth Innovation, said, "As an intermediary for driving healthcare innovation into the U.S. marketplace, BHI is embracing the opportunity to work with Strand Genomics. Building off of the success the company has had in India, Strand can make a meaningful difference in the integration of genomics-based diagnostics in the U.S. healthcare system. Strand offers end-to-end clinical genomics services via a validated, efficient model and at a pricepoint that will be attractive to U.S. healthcare providers."

About Strand Genomics Inc.

Strand was founded in 2000 by professors from the prestigious Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore. Over 2000 research laboratories worldwide are licensees of Strand's genomics software products. With a recent investment by Biomark Capital, Strand now operates on over 25,000-square-feet state-of-the-art next-generation sequencing laboratories in Bangalore and has established Strand Centers for Genomics and Personalized Medicine, serving over 50 hospitals across India with growing presence in the U.S. By enhancing sequence-based diagnostics and clinical genomic data interpretation using a strong foundation of computational, scientific, and medical expertise, Strand is accelerating the implementation of genomics in community clinics worldwide. For more information, visit www.strandls.com.

About BioHealth Innovation, Inc.

BioHealth Innovation, Inc., is a regional innovation intermediary focused on commercializing market-relevant bio-health innovations and increasing access to early-stage funding in Maryland. Learn more at www.biohealthinnovation.org.

SOURCE BioHealth Innovation, Inc.