IRIS Gets NIH Grant for Detectionof Subtle Genetic Abnormalities

CHATSWORTH, Calif., Oct. 21 -- International Remote Imaging Systems Inc. reported that its Perceptive Scientific Instruments subsidiary has received a Phase 1 Small Business Innovative Research Grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, one of the National Institutes of Health. The grant will fund the company's efforts to determine the feasibility of using automated instrumentation to detect cryptic chromosomal rearrangements, which are too small to be detected through conventional cytogenetic examination. The project, entitled Automated Detection of Cryptic Rearrangements, aims to develop an image-analyzing system that can detect the tiny rearrangements thought to cause otherwise unexplained mental retardation and multiple congenital abnormalities.