manager, corporate public relations
San Diego - CA United States
The big idea: In 25 words or less, please tell us how this Fast 50 Nominee is helping to address the planet's problems.
Illumina’s products have ignited a revolution of genetic discoveries, providing insight into complex diseases such as cancer and diabetes at an unprecedented pace.
Please describe how this nominee is using business as a force of positive change. What technology, idea, or strategy is the nominee using -- and what problem, such as global warming, poverty, or pollution, does it address? (suggested length: 100 words)
Illumina scientists have engineered genetic tools and technologies, including small microscope-like slides called BeadChips to study genetic variations found in DNA. These BeadChips contain hundreds to thousands to millions of genetic factors that help researchers study the genetic basis for complex diseases like diabetes, heart disease and prostate cancer.
In recent years, whole-genome association studies have become increasingly more popular among the research community because they enable cheap and rapid comparison of “healthy” genomes to genomes with genetic factors linked to disease.
Ultimately, the information collected from these studies is helping the medical community correlate genetic variation to biological function, which will enhance drug discovery and clinical research, allow diseases to be detected earlier, and permit better choices of drugs for individual patients.
What are the results, both financial and social? How has the nominee's business performed, and what impact has it had on the problem it addresses? (suggested length: 100 words)
Within the last couple of years the research community has used Illumina’s tools to publish more than 50 studies that reveal genetic insights into a number of complex diseases. With an average time-to-publication of only 10 months, a rapidly growing genetic-testing industry has emerged, promising to transform how consumers take care of their health.
According to Dr. Eric Topol, head of the Scripps Genomic Medicine Program and a well-respected expert in genetic research, “The study of the human genome and its variations has advanced to the point where there were more breakthroughs last year than in several of the past decades combined.” He continues, “Illumina’s technology enables him to look further into the genome and is more reliable than competing technologies.”
Illumina’s financials also reflect the success of the Company’s genetic research technologies. In 2007, Forbes ranked Illumina as the fastest growing high-tech company – displacing eBay and rising above Google. Illumina yields a $4.3B market cap and has reported continued revenue growth for the last six years.
Comments that readers have made about this submission:
Illumina is the fastest growing company in this field
I vote for ILMN!
Great work Illumina
10
Illumina has enabled researchers to accelerate their pace of discovery. Their customer support team has been instrumental in tranfering knowledge to the customer so we can begin generating results and publishing quickly.
Extraordinary company in the field of Biotechnology
10 Excellent company with incredible technology that will contribute to changing the personalized medicine game.
10 - Great company!
Illumina leaves the competition in the dust.
Illumina has extended the horizons of life science research to new levels. Good Job!
!
10. As Moore's Law provides exponentially faster computers, so too Illumina provides exponentially faster genetic breakthroughs. Sequencing and genotyping will perpetually stand as hallmarks of our generation. The light of personalized medicine is just at the end of the tunnel.
An extraordinary company. It is the fastest growing company in this field. 10.
Great Employer! Values individual contributions and provides a collaborative work environment. Morale is high and employees inspired to high productivity. Strong leadership and mentoring provide employees the direction and resources they need to meet the increasing needs of Life Science Researchers. The employees and the management that hired them, are the reason that Illumina is the fatest growing company!
"10"
From a scientific perspective, look at the large numbers of publications in high impact journals with research based on Illumina technology across genotyping, gene expression and regulation, and sequencing applications. And the rate seems to be increasing. Wow. That's fast.
Wait to see what sequecing can do!
Illumina's commitment to customer satisfaction and innovative technologies is what makes them an industry leader.
Clever technology + a dynamic development team + a foothold in all core genetic analysis markets = CONTINUING SUCCESS for this company to come. We are just seeing the tip of the iceberg.
Illumina's whole genome genotyping platform has openned avenues of research. The combination of sequencing, whole genome genotyping, and focused genotyping will lead to development of diagnostic tools.
Illumina is a great company made up of great employees who contribute amazing innovations for the biotech field.
Absolutely incredible!
Illumina is a standout in the Genetic Research field and is a wonderful place to work.
Improving life, one gene at a time (very quickly!)
10- Illumina is on fire!
Illumina is responsive to the needs of the market, developing innovative technology at a fast pace. Outstanding!!
go illumina!
I L L U M I N A = record breaking results.
Illumina is an amzing & innovative company
Defintely a powerhouse! 10+!!!
Defintely a powerhouse! Illumina deserves the top spot!
Illumina- great company with great technology and great people
I am not surprised to see illumina at the top. Amazing technology!
Illumina provides the best products and tech supporting in the field.
10
10 for Illumina!
Great technology, implemented exceptionally.
Illumina has new innovatieve technologies.
small but strong; I vote for Illumina
10, definitely
10-GREAT TECHNOLOGY
10 - no question about it!
Great company...
Company & values & culture are leading the way for generations to come.
I Rate this entry 10. Love the study of human genome, need more research community out there. Go going Illumina!
10
10+ Go Illumina!!
An absolute 10!
An absolute 10!
10
A definite 10. Great company employing great people!
I vote for Illumina
Absolutely great company - the best company for genetic research tools. Illumina's products will be absolutely essential for developing personalized medicine.
The Best!!
10
10+ !!
10, of course.
10! Illumina is a phenomenal company that cares about changing lives on many different levels.
10 Great Company
Great company...GoGo Illumina1
Great company...GoGo Illumina1
Great company...GoGo Illumina1
Great company...GoGo Illumina1
Great company...GoGo Illumina1
lightning!
Illumina is awesome.
10!!!
They have my vote!
Illumina's innovations are amazing. At some companies, you're encouraged to "dream big." At Illumina, we're encouraged to "dream bigger."
10
10 for Illumina. Great company with innovative technology.
Great company with innovative technology.
10! Great company with unbelievable technology!
Illumina - Rock On!
Innovative technology. Great company.
Illumina is superior in the field of cutting edge technology!
Illumina is "Shinning light on the solution"
Definite 10!
10
Superior technology, excellent technical support and lowest price per data point; we have an superb on-going relationship with Illumina.
Illumina has and continues to grow and expand very quickly.
10
I vote for Illumina Inc! The employees are really professional and they are super nice!
Margaret Carino, Temp Aerotek San Diego, California
!
A company driven without conscience
How to progress using fail safe technology. abuse someone else s patent .
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