The decoding of the human genome in 2001 gave rise to an explosion of new knowledge and technologies that are revolutionising our capacities to identify and treat a growing number of human illnesses. The major challenge of the post-genomic era lies in capitalising upon this vast field of knowledge, developing better tests for diagnosis and prognosis, and new therapeutic approaches.

It is in this context that GenoMed arises, a spin-off from the IMM, created in 2004 with the aim of promoting the transfer of technology and scientific knowledge in the areas of molecular biology and genetics to clinical practice.

GenoMed provides specialised services in molecular diagnosis in all medical areas, such as infectious diseases, metabolic diseases, cardiology, oncology and paediatrics, among others, making over 450 diagnostic tests available for doctors and health entities.

GenoMed’s providing of services to the community also includes kinship and paternity studies. Through a simple genetic test it is possible to obtain information about the existence or not of a relationship of paternity, to investigate a suspicion of kinship or to get to know the history of pre-historic ancestors on the maternal or paternal side.

GenoMed’s strong component of diagnosis is allied to the development of clinical research projects. These are carried out in collaboration with services from the Santa Maria Hospital (HSM), such as the services of neurology, gastroenterology and nephrology. The projects currently ongoing include research into molecular markers in Alzheimer’s disease, the study of the genetic diversity of the hepatitis B virus, and the determination of the impact of genetic polymorphs in diseases such as Familial Amyloid Lateral Sclerosis or Diabetic Nephropathy.

“GenoMed possesses a team of sixteen specialised collaborators, four of whom PhDs, who work in strict collaboration with IMM researchers and doctors from the HSM and the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon. Our main aim at GenoMed is to achieve a position in the front line of service providing in molecular diagnostics both in Portugal and on the international level”, adds Professor Maria do Carmo-Fonseca, Executive Director of GenoMed.

GenoMed is guided by high standards of quality, has implemented a system of quality management and regularly participates in external assessment programmes made available by international organisms. It is currently the only Portuguese laboratory exclusively licensed for Genetics and Molecular Pathology.


GenoMed, Diagnósticos de Medicina Molecular, SA
Edifíco Egas Moniz
Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
Tel: +351 21 7999 95 01
Fax: +351 21 7999 95 00
E-mail: genomed@genomed.pt
www. genomed.pt

 

Cheila Almeida
Marta Agostinho (marta-elisa@fm.ul.pt)
Communication and Training Unit
Institute of Molecular Medicine
http://www.imm.ul.pt