OpGen, Inc. announced the company has entered into a scientific and technical partnership with the University of California, Davis, (UC Davis) in cooperation with the FDA supported 100K Genome Project to create high resolution microbial genetic maps. The 100K Genome Project is a collaboration that was initiated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), UC Davis, and Agilent Technologies to sequence the genetic code of at least 100,000 infectious organisms and accelerate the diagnosis of foodborne illnesses. UC Davis will integrate OpGen's Argus Whole Genome Mapping System into its current DNA sequencing workflow for sequence assembly and validation of the genomes. Through the integration of OpGen's Whole Genome Mapping technology, The 100K Genome Project will create a new gold standard for high-quality microbial reference genomes. These data will be used in the surveillance and management of international foodborne microbial outbreaks, and to establish a high-fidelity global reference database for microbial genomes. The 100K Genome Project will publish the genomes that are completed and validated using OpGen's Whole Genome Maps to a database, providing access to the genomic maps for public health agencies throughout the world. The FDA is advocating rigorous quality control standards for this reference database whereby genomic information should be validated by two independent methods. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that each year roughly one in six Americans (or 48 million people) become sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die of foodborne diseases.(1) There are 31 known foodborne pathogens, including Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli, among others.(1) Many of these pathogens are tracked by public health systems that track diseases and outbreaks.(1) Rapid identification and detection of these pathogens can lead to more effective control and management of microbial disease outbreaks.

UC Davis, John Laird Presents at 2012 Stem Cell Meeting on the Mesa, 2nd Annual Investor and Partnering Forum, Oct-29-2012 04:15 PM. Venue: Sanford Consortium, 2880 Torrey Pines Scenic Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037, United States.

University of California, Davis announced the appointment of Terrence J. "Terry" Tumey, who has served as athletics director at Dominican University of California in San Rafael since 2009, will become UC Davis athletics director starting on August 1, 2012.