Research & Development

Innovations in HLA genotyping begin in the R&D team, where work is done on constantly evaluating primers for the genotyping loci and ensuring their smooth integration into the high-throughput workflow. The team also explores new technologies such as long-read sequencing for better profiling of the HLA system. Toward this, the team works intimately with the Bioinformatics team. These explorations also aid in characterizing heretofore unknown HLA alleles, which subsequently contribute to expanding current knowledge and understanding of the HLA system.

Together with the DKMS Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) and other national or international partners, the team engages in clinical and basic research studies or assay development projects to improve future leukemia diagnostics and therapies. To achieve these highly ambitious goals, the R&D group combines the lab's deep knowledge of assay development, sequencing, bioinformatics, and lab automation, to create innovative solutions for blood cancer patients.