Sampled Wins Five-Year, $27.1 Million Contract to Enhance Genomic Research for Veterans

Sampled Wins Major Contract for Veteran Genomics Research

Sampled, a leading analytical laboratory and biorepository service provider, has been awarded a significant five-year contract worth up to $27.1 million from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This contract focuses on providing vital genomics analyses for the Million Veteran Program (MVP), the largest research initiative of its kind, aimed at understanding how various factors influence the health of veterans.

The Million Veteran Program, launched in 2011, has achieved remarkable success, enrolling over a million veterans to study the impact of genetics, lifestyle, and military experiences on health outcomes. Veterans often face heightened risks for numerous health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), cardiac diseases, and specific cancers. Through this program, researchers seek to uncover molecular insights that can lead to better health interventions not just for veterans, but for all patients.

Since its inception, MVP has generated valuable data that have significantly advanced our understanding of health conditions prevalent among veterans. The findings have shed light on the factors associated with PTSD, cardiovascular diseases, suicide risks, and substance use disorders, thereby holding potential for transformative impacts in both clinical practices and policy-making.

Sampled has been integral to the success of the MVP, providing advanced services like array genotyping, long-read whole genome sequencing, DNA methylation analysis, and proteomics assays tailored to the needs of the program. With state-of-the-art technology, including several PacBio Revio long-read sequencing platforms, Sampled is among the top users of this technology in the United States. This positions them uniquely to fulfill the demands of the contract, ensuring high-quality genomic data for critical longitudinal studies.

John DelliSanti, CEO of Sampled, expressed their commitment to supporting the MVP's mission, stating, "We are honored to continue supporting the Million Veteran Program and its mission to advance our understanding of veteran health. The renewed trust placed in Sampled by the Department of Veterans Affairs reflects the quality, reliability, and scale of our genomics capabilities, and underscores our commitment to advancing large-scale longitudinal research that generates meaningful insights into human health and disease."

In addition to their genomic analysis capabilities, Sampled offers a complete biobanking service that meets stringent CAP accreditation and CLIA licensing requirements. Their facilities are equipped for scalable automated processing of various biological samples, ensuring efficient management and analysis aligned with high-quality standards. This holistic approach ensures robust support for large-scale research initiatives and clinical trials.

Overall, this contract not only reinforces Sampled's position as a leader in genomic research support but also highlights the critical role that advanced research plays in enhancing the health outcomes of veterans. By leveraging their expertise and state-of-the-art technology, Sampled aims to make meaningful contributions toward understanding the health challenges faced by veterans and ultimately improving care for this important population.

As Sampled embarks on this new phase of partnership with the VA, both veterans and the research community can anticipate significant advancements in our understanding of what drives health outcomes in this unique demographic. With the resources and capabilities secured through this multi-million dollar contract, the future of veteran health research looks promising.