Introduction: A Game-Changing Partnership
Verogen Inc. and QIAGEN have announced a groundbreaking partnership to provide laboratories with state-of-the-art tools and comprehensive support for implementing next-generation sequencing (NGS) workflows in human identification. This collaboration marks a significant advancement in forensic science, combining Verogen’s innovative NGS solutions with QIAGEN’s industry-leading automation and sample preparation technologies.
Empowering Human Identification Laboratories
The partnership, structured as a distribution and development agreement, grants QIAGEN global rights to distribute Verogen’s existing and future products. Together, Verogen and QIAGEN will create an end-to-end solution for human identification laboratories, integrating Verogen’s forensically validated NGS workflows with QIAGEN’s sample preparation automation.
Key Features of the Partnership:
- Comprehensive Solutions: Combining Verogen’s NGS instrumentation and proprietary library prep reagents with QIAGEN’s extraction and automation technologies.
- Global Reach: Expanding the availability of Verogen’s ForenSeq® library prep kits through QIAGEN’s extensive distribution network.
- Enhanced Efficiency: Optimizing workflows for forensic labs to transition seamlessly from sample preparation to DNA identification.
Driving Innovation in Human Identification
Brett Williams, CEO of Verogen, emphasized the importance of the partnership in delivering impactful results for human identification laboratories:
Our mission is to empower the human identification community with innovative tools that deliver an identification, not just a DNA profile.”
Thierry Bernard, CEO of QIAGEN, highlighted the transformative potential of the collaboration:
By combining Verogen’s NGS workflows with QIAGEN’s Sample to Insight solutions, we aim to provide better insights from casework samples, ultimately strengthening justice systems worldwide.”
Key Benefits of the Verogen-QIAGEN Collaboration
- Turnkey NGS Solutions:
- Verogen’s ForenSeq® library prep kits, sequencing consumables, and application-specific software will streamline forensic workflows.
- NGS-based identification goes beyond traditional DNA profiling, enabling detailed insights into ancestry, phenotype prediction, and more.
- Automation and Efficiency:
- QIAGEN’s gold-standard sample extraction and automation solutions will enhance Verogen’s workflows, reducing processing time and improving accuracy.
- Global Distribution:
- Leveraging QIAGEN’s distribution network will ensure forensic laboratories worldwide have access to these innovative solutions.
- Accelerating NGS Adoption:
- This partnership aims to drive the adoption of NGS in forensic operations, making advanced tools more accessible to forensic labs.
Transforming the Future of Forensic Science
The Verogen-QIAGEN partnership represents a significant step toward modernizing human identification in forensic science. By combining cutting-edge NGS technology with streamlined workflows, forensic laboratories can achieve faster, more accurate results, supporting justice systems globally.
This collaboration is poised to revolutionize forensic labs’ operations, ensuring that criminal investigations benefit from the most advanced tools available.
