Illumina (Nasdaq:ILMN) announced today that it launched a new state-of-the-art solution center in São Paulo, Brazil.
San Diego-based Illumina selected Brazil as a location for the facility to reflect the increasing demand for and interest in clinical genomics as it seeks to expand access to such genomics in Latin America.
According to a news release, Illumina’s customers and partners in Brazil include researchers, applied markets and clinical labs and healthcare institutions, meaning the new facility can allow the company to offer its partners an ideal environment for demonstrations and training sessions. The company believes this will optimize education and experience with next-generation sequencing and array technologies.
The 11,000 square-foot facility includes a fully operational lab with cutting-edge Illumina technology to train customers and partners. The company said it works with 14 channel partners operating across more than 25 countries in the region.
“Illumina has operated in Brazil for over 10 years and we’re excited to facilitate deeper engagement with our customers and partners in the region,” Illumina CCO Susan Tousi said in the release. “Through our Solution Center, we aim to better understand their needs and partner with them to help expand access to genomic testing and data with the aim to improve patient outcomes.”
Illumina also announced a partnership with Brazil’s Ministry of Health to build a public health network for tracking the spread of COVID-19. The company said 26 of 28 laboratories throughout Brazil use Illumina’s sequencing systems.
“We’re proud of our joint effort with health and government leaders in Brazil during the pandemic, which resulted in the accelerated adoption of next-generation sequencing (NGS) for genomic surveillance for infectious disease,” Illumina GM of the Americas Nicole Berry said. “Brazil’s growing clinical market makes São Paulo an ideal hub from which to serve new and existing customers and channel partners across Latin America.”