Roche Supports the Smithsonian's National Zoo with Next-Generation Sequencing Instrument for Animal Conservation Research

BRANFORD, Connecticut, February 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Roche and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Washington, DC announced today a collaboration agreement to use Roche's GS Junior benchtop sequencing system for research in SCBI's Center for Conservation and Evolutionary Genetics. SCBI's state-of-the-art genetics laboratory, based at the National Zoo in Washington, DC, will house the next-generation sequencing instrument and will use its deep DNA sequencing powers for a variety of research projects in areas of animal disease resistance, population genetics and molecular ecology.

The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute plays a key role in the Smithsonian's global efforts to understand and conserve species and train future generations of conservationists, while specializing in areas of animal ecology, management, health and breeding. Researchers at SCBI plan to use the GS Junior System's DNA sequencing technology to gain deeper insight into the genetics of dangerous pathogens that threaten animal species. Specific projects include:

• Sequencing strains of the deadly amphibian chytrid fungus that has devastated amphibian populations worldwide.
• Sequencing highly pathogenic strains of the elephant endotheliotropic herpes virus (EEHV1).
• Sequencing invasive avian malaria strains that are devastating most species of native Hawaiian birds.

"The power of next-generation sequencing is remarkable," said Rob Fleischer, head of SCBI's Center for Conservation and Evolutionary Genetics. "We are thrilled to work with Roche to bring the GS Junior System into our laboratory. The system is perfectly sized for our research and the long read lengths are critical to our particular areas of focus in pathogen detection and viral/bacterial comparative genomics."

"We are honored to support the Smithsonian Institution and the National Zoo's animal conservation projects, which are vital to the future health of our planet," said Thomas Schinecker, President of 454 Life Sciences, a Roche Company. "This collaboration demonstrates the tremendous potential of our sequencing technology to broaden understanding of all species on earth - from humans to plants and animals."

About Roche

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is a leader in research-focused healthcare with combined strengths in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. Roche is the world's largest biotech company with truly differentiated medicines in oncology, virology, inflammation, metabolism and CNS. Roche is also the world leader in in-vitro diagnostics, tissue-based cancer diagnostics and a pioneer in diabetes management. Roche's personalized healthcare strategy aims at providing medicines and diagnostic tools that enable tangible improvements in the health, quality of life and survival of patients. In 2011, Roche had over 80,000 employees worldwide and invested over 8 billion Swiss francs in R&D. The Group posted sales of 42.5 billion Swiss francs. Genentech, United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche has a majority stake in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more information: http://www.roche.com.

Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Center for Conservation and Evolutionary Genetics

The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute plays a key role in the Smithsonian's global efforts to understand and conserve species and train future generations of conservationists. Headquartered in Front Royal, Va., SCBI facilitates and promotes research programs based at Front Royal, the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., and at field research stations and training sites worldwide.

For life science research only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

454, 454 LIFE SCIENCES, 454 SEQUENCING, and GS FLX are trademarks of Roche.

All other product names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

For further information please contact:

Roche Diagnostics 454 Life Sciences Corporation, a Roche Company

Dr. Burkhard Ziebolz
Phone: +49-8856-604830
Email: burkhard.ziebolz@roche.com

Katie Montgomery
Phone: +1-203-871-2300
Email: katie.montgomery@roche.com
Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute

Lindsay Renick Mayer
Phone : +1-202-633-3081
Email: RenickMayerL@si.edu