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The conceptual design of the National Genome Research Network implies a close interaction between fundamental genomic research and applied clinical research to elucidate the etiology of major diseases. Division of labour and exchange of data and material are key issues in this respect, because they admit each group to concentrate on their scientific strength while there are simultaneously fertilized by insights from other research areas.

The “Central Unit for Services and Resources” is a genuine service platform unit for validated research or sharing material and data, contributing to NGFN-2 an immense portfolio of validated clones, clone collections, services and other research resources that are stably maintained for open access. All these materials can be instantly used for systematic functional genomic research as well as for medical research. All validated materials (e.g., cDNA clones from microarrays, full length clones, full ORF clones, siRNA resources, genomic clones for promoter analysis) are linked to available scientific data and may be retrieved by reference to the underlying gene.

Most notably amongst RZPD’s comprehensive service offers for functional genomics is the expression profiling and screening platform. Expression profiling service is offered on three different platforms: sequence-verified cDNA clones spotted on glass slides, Affymetrix GeneChip technology (for whole genome applications), and NimbleGen technology (preferentially for flexible, customized applications or research on model organisms where no standardized arrays are available yet. The Affymetrix platform is also employed for large scale SNP genotyping while the NimbleGen platform offers the possibility for ‘ChIP on chip’ chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments. To increase the value of the expression profiling and screening platform for proteomics approaches, RZPD also offers a protein profiling service on antibody arrays (applicable to determine the actual expression level, e.g. for protein with extraordinarily long or short half-life) and target protein identification, using antibodies and sera.

RZPD is a potent collaboration partner that continuously develops new services by teaming up with reknown research institutions and innovative companies. RZPD puts considerable effort in the validation of material to ensure highest quality of its products. To that end, RZPD complies with the international quality standards ISO 9001:2000. All material provided is free of IP claims, i.e., the exploitation of results is being done via the researchers.