Australian Phenomics Network to launch microRNA screening platform

The Australian Phenomics Network (APN) is set to launch a new microRNA screening platform that will encompass all known microRNAs currently identified in the human genome.

Like the rest of the APN's services, it will be made available to Australian and international researchers.

The service in being established in cohorts with the Victorian Centre for Functional Genomics (VCFG) situated at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.

The platform will be an extension of the APN's already established RNA interference (RNAi) capabilities.

“MicroRNA is an exciting scientific development," said Dr Kaylene Simpson, Head of VCFG from the RNA interference node, in a statement.

"It consists of small pieces of RNA that bind to messenger RNA and reduce gene expression. This is another mechanism of gene regulation which is getting exciting attention because we are finding a lot of diseases, such as breast cancer, can be regulated by microRNA.”

The VCFG is one of the newest nodes for the APN that provides genome-wide discovery technology and infrastructure to mouse researchers.

“We provide researchers with the opportunity to identify novel genes which after characterisation can ultimately provide new mouse models. This fits well with the goal of the APN to discover new genes via mouse models,” Simpson said.

The APN receives infrastructure funding from the Australian government, which helps reduce the cost to Australian researchers using its services.

The microRNA platform is already in operation, and is expected to be fully functional by March 2011.