Published on 19.12.2019
Support
On Thursday, December 19, Imagine thanked Fati & Michel Rosenberg for their long-standing support at a ceremony that brought together the Major Donors who contributed to the acquisition of the NovaSeq. The NovaSeq is a next-generation DNA sequencer that has significantly increased the diagnostic capabilities of genetic diseases. Yet today, nearly 50% of patients who come to Imagine for consultation still do not have a name for their disease. Thanks to NovaSeq, it is now possible to reduce the number of patients who are not diagnosed.
The naming program, launched at Imagine as part of its fundraising campaign, is an opportunity for the Institute to recognize the generosity of a corporate or individual donor who has made a major financial contribution to a research program, project or equipment acquisition.
Faithful supporters of Imagine, Fati and Michel Rosenberg are essential members of the Heroes Gala, a charity sale initiated in 2015 by gallery owner Kamel Mennour to benefit Imagine. This exceptional event in the landscape of charity events gives an exceptional boost to the projects and dreams of the Institute's doctors, researchers and patients.
It was thanks to the bold initiative of Fati and Michel Rosenberg, during the last Heroes evening, that the necessary funds were raised to acquire this very high throughput DNA sequencer. Since its installation, the NovaSeq has enabled the genomics platform to accelerate the identification and understanding of mutations responsible for diseases that affect patients, with more reliable data, of better quality, at lower cost, and much faster. A whole genome sequencing is now completed in 24 hours, compared to several weeks or months with previous technologies, and at a cost reduced by 66%.
We are extremely sensitive to the distress of children and families affected by genetic diseases, but also to the excellence of the researchers and doctors who fight daily at Imagine to treat them. We know that the first step is the diagnosis. Giving a name to a child's disease is an immense hope for the families. Naming the disease is the first step in treating it.
"We are very honored that our platform can pay a worthy tribute to Fati and Michel Rosenberg in this way. This recognition, as well as the plaque bearing the names of all the NovaSeq donors, reminds us every day that our work and our hopes are supported by people who believe in us and have the capacity to help us. Thanks to them, with NovaSeq, we will be able to increase our diagnostic capacities, open up new avenues of understanding and therefore new therapeutic avenues, for the benefit of sick children," adds Christine Bole-Feysot, head of the Genomics Laboratory.
For any questions about naming and the donor recognition program, please contact Laurent Mellier, Director of Development and Communication at Institut Imagine.