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Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a monogenic disease characterized by a lifelong exposure to high LDL-C levels that can lead to early onset coronary heart disease (CHD). The main causes of FH identified to date include loss-of-function mutations in

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a monogenic disease characterized by a lifelong exposure to high LDL-C levels that can lead to early onset coronary heart disease (CHD). The main causes of FH identified to date include loss-of-function mutations in LDLR or APOB, or gain-of-function mutations in PCSK9. Early diagnosis and genetic testing of FH suspects is critical for improved prognosis of affected individuals as lipid lowering treatments are effective in preventing CHD related morbidity and mortality. In the present manuscript, we developed a comprehensive next generation sequencing (NGS) panel which we applied on two different resources of FH in the Icelandic population: 62 subjects from 23 FH families with known or unknown culprit mutations, and a population-based sampling of 315 subjects selected for total cholesterol levels above the 95th percentile cut-point. The application of the NGS panel revealed significant diagnostic yields in identifying pathogenic LDLR mutations in both family and population-based genetic testing.

Screening for ADME/Tox properties of compounds is a key step in the drug development process. Three applications defining such properties, namely Cytochrome P450 Inhibition, Serum Protein Binding and P-glycoprotein Interaction were developed and the performance of each was evaluated on Tecan's LabCD-ADMET System. The LabCD-ADMET System is an automated platform which integrates microfluidics, in the form of the centrifugally driven LabCD device; liquid handling and assay robotics, in the form of a modified GENESIS liquid handling workstation; an incubation, spinner, and detection system, the ULTRA LabCD; and platform/application-specific software. The assay approach and the data for each application are presented. Two applications, Cytochrome P450 inhibition and serum protein binding assays, have also been externally validated at leading pharmaceutical companies within Tecan's Early Access Program (EAP). The LabCD-ADMET System provides a miniaturized, integrated, and automated turnkey solution for various ADME/Tox applications.