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VmatchNL - a user-friendly graphical interface for large-scale genome analysis

Award Information
Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Branch: National Institutes of Health
Contract: 1R43HG004021-01
Agency Tracking Number: HG004021
Amount: $99,722.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N/A
Solicitation Number: PHS2006-2
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2006
Award Year: 2006
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
NEWLINK GENETICS CORPORATION 2901 S LOOP DR, BLDG 3, STE 3900
AMES, IA 50010
United States
DUNS: N/A
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 CHARLES LINK
 (515) 296-3530
 sjohnson@linkp.com
Business Contact
 CHARLES LINK
Phone: (515) 296-3530
Email: CLINK@LINKP.COM
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The availability of a reference human genome sequence provides the foundation for studying the genetic and molecular basis of human health and disease. Using a variety of modern technologies to study differential gene expression, large numbers of researchers in both academic and industrial settings look for causative effects of activation or repression of particular genes and gene products with respect to the onset and progression of disease. Bioinformatic and computational approaches play a critical role in such studies. NewLink Genetics Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company developing novel drugs and functional genomics solutions with a primary focus on cancer. The company has its own proprietary technology for target gene discovery. To facilitate its in-house bioinformatic analysis, NewLink has licensed software for gene structure prediction from Iowa State University and software for genome-scale sequence matching ("Vmatch") from Prof. Stefan Kurtz, University of Hamburg, Germany. These programs are key components of NewLink's internal target-discovery bioinformatics pipeline. Vmatch is a versatile string matching application based on enhanced suffix arrays. Recognizing that there are hundreds of other companies with similar bioinformatics needs, NewLink acquired the exclusive distribution and development rights to Vmatch and is now licensing this program to for-profit customers (an academic version of the programs remains freely available to non-profit researchers). This SBIR proposal seeks funds to develop VmatchNL, a GUI driven application of the Vmatch software. The overall goals of our business are to integrate all software into a GUI-driven, industry-quality, comprehensive platform for target gene discovery ("TargetSeqerNL"). The market for these products includes other small companies that do not have the resources to develop similar capabilities in-house, big companies that look for the superior performance of GeneSeqer and Vmatch relative to other programs, and also to academic researchers with similar needs to organize and analyze their gene expression data.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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