NEWS 

05.2008 Asper Ophthalmics has updated the BBS chip.  

70 new positions have been added to the BBS chip. Currently the test can be used for screening 307 mutations in 14 genes: BBS1, BBS2, BBS3, BBS4, BBS5, BBS6, BBS7, BBS8, BBS9, BBS10, BBS12, PHF6, ALMS1 and GNAS1.

04.2008 Asper Ophthalmics will be represented at the 15th Retina International World Congress "Research into practice" with its exhibition stand. 

The congress will be held in Finlandia Hall, Helsinki, Finland on 4th-5th July, 2008. Asper welcomes all existing partners and everyone interested in collaboration with Asper to attend the congress and meet in its booth.

03.2008 Leber congenital amaurosis chip updated
  
44 new mutations and 1 new gene (LCA5) can be analyzed by  LCA  chip. Currently the test can be used for the screening of 495 mutations in 12 genes: AIPL1, CRB1, CRX, GUCY2D, LRAT, MERTK, CEP290, RDH12, RPGRIP1, RPE65, LCA5 and TULP1.

02.2008 Corneal dystrophy assay updated
  
Corneal dystrophy chip has been updated by adding 68 new mutations to the test. The current test version covers 297 different mutations from 12 genes: COL8A2, TGFBI, VSX1, CHST6, KRT3, KRT12, GSN, TACSTD2, CYP4V2, SOD1, TCF8/ZEB1, SLC4A11. 

02.2008 Asper Ophthalmics will be represented at the ARVO 2008 - Eyes on Innovation - in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, on April 27-April 30.
 
As last three years, Asper will be represented at the meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) 2008. The meeting will be held in Broward County Convention Center, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA on April 27-April 30. Asper welcomes all existing partners and everyone interested in collaboration with Asper to attend the conference and meet in its booth #715.

The genetic test has been developed for screening mutations of three forms of CSNB: autosomal dominant (ad), autosomal recessive (ar) and X-linked (xl) CSNB. Currently the test can be used for screening of 126 mutations in 9 genes: RHO, PDE6B, GNAT1, CABP4, GRM6, SAG, NYX, CACNA1F and CACNA2D.
Development and chip validation experiments have been performed in collaboration with Dr. Christina Zeitz and Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Berger, Division of Medical Molecular Genetics and Gene Diagnostics, Institute of Medical Genetics of the Univeristy of Zurich.

10.2007 Asper Ophthalmics announces the availability of its new Corneal dystrophy test.

Currently the test can be used for screening of 229 mutations in different genes: COL8A2, TGFBI, VSX1, CHST6, KRT3, KRT12, GSN, TACSTD2, CYP4V2. Genetic variations in the 9 listed genes have been associated with several corneal dystrophies, which are linked to epithelium, stroma and endothelium.
Development of the chip has been performed in collaboration with Columbia University.  

08.2007 Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) microarray chip updated.

28 new mutations and 1 new gene (TULP1) can be analyzed by  LCA  chip. Currently the test can be used for the screening of 451 mutations in 11 genes: AIPL1, CRB1, CRX, GUCY2D, LRAT, MERTK, CEP290, RDH12, RPGRIP1, RPE65 and TULP1.

07.2007 Autosomal dominant optic atrophy (OPA1 gene) test is available

Autosomal dominant optic atrophy (OPA1 gene) test enables to analyze 118 genetic variations within OPA1 gene. The chip is designed in collaboration with Dr. Marcela Votruba from Cardiff University, School of Optometry & Vision Sciences (United Kingdom).

   Stargardt disease, age
    related macular 
    degeneration, cone-rod
    dystrophy testing

   Usher syndrome testing
 
   Leber congenital
    amaurosis (LCA) testing
          
 
   Autosomal recessive
    retinitis pigmentosa 
    (AR-RP) testing

   Autosomal dominant
    retinitis pigmentosa 
    (AD-RP) testing
  
   Bardet Biedl syndrome
    (BBS) testing

   Autosomal dominant
    optic atrophy testing

   Corneal dystrophy
    testing

   Congenital stationary
    night blindness testing