The molecular diagnostics laboratory will be one of the first centers of excellence to offer physicians and patients some of the latest and most advanced molecular technologies, such as Roche's cobas 4800 BRAF V600 Mutation Test, a companion diagnostic recently approved by the FDA to identify patients who are eligible for treatment with the drug Zelboraf (vemurafenib) for inoperable or metastatic melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer.

"Roche is very pleased to welcome Cedars-Sinai Medical Center into the Molecular Center of Excellence alliance," said Whitney Green, senior vice president, Molecular Diagnostics at Roche Diagnostics Corporation. "We value their expertise in implementing molecular technologies in the advancement of personalized medicine."

The MCOE relationship offers Cedars-Sinai a focal point to bring together many existing initiatives related to personalized medicine diagnostics, as well as a newly created Advanced Biorepository and Morphology Translational Core. It also complements the Medical Center's Molecular Genetics Pathology fellowship program, one of only 30 such fellowships offered by the 346 residency programs nationwide.

Cedars-Sinai is nationally recognized for technology-based research and clinical molecular diagnostics. The laboratory focuses on new prognostic and diagnostic tools for individualized molecular testing for personalized treatments in such key areas as cancer.

Roche is a world leader in in-vitro diagnostics, tissue-based cancer diagnostics, and a pioneer in diabetes management. Roche's personalized healthcare strategy aims at providing medicines and diagnostic tools that enable tangible improvements in the health, quality of life, and survival of patients.

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