Presented to a collaboration between BIOBASE, a German-based leading provider of expertly curated biological databases and software tools, and the School of Medicine, Department of Medical Genetics, for the development of the Human Gene Mutation Database (HGMD).
The database was originally established for the scientific study of mutational mechanisms through the collation of known gene lesions. It is now significantly enhanced and embodies an up-to-date and comprehensive reference source for the spectrum of inherited human disease which can be searched using interrogatory software tools and then analysed by subscribers. The database is proving to be an invaluable resource not only for researchers, clinicians and genetic counsellors but also for businesses working in the spheres of biopharmaceuticals, bioinformatics and personalised genomics.
Just three years into this five year collaboration, BIOBASE and the team from the School of Medicine have successfully taken HGMD and made it financially secure and sustainable. With 25,000 registrations from over 150 different countries and an average of 14,000 queries for genes received each month, this is believed to be the very first example of a molecular genetics database becoming financially self-sufficient. Such is the impact of the partnership, the European Commission is using the model as a basis for other similar database initiatives.
This unique resource has brought about academic collaborations within Europe and further afield, and has allowed the team from the School of Medicine to contribute to several international genome sequencing projects.
For BIOBASE, exposure to new market sectors and bringing in new know-how and ideas has offered opportunities for developing business in new areas. In addition, the company has also been able to test new revenue-generating models.
Further Information
BioBase GmbHSchool of Medicine