Overview
DNA microarrays are widely believed to have played a large role in reshaping molecular biology because they have allowed scientists to greatly increase their experimental throughput. In addition, scientists can now see a much more complete picture of gene function in a single experiment. The wealth of information obtained as a result of the Human Genome Project and the sequencing of many other genomes is helping to fuel the increased usage of DNA microarrays. Life science suppliers are positioning themselves to support DNA microarrays with a broad spectrum of microarrays, scanners and software. Based on a 29-question survey of 563 scientists who currently use DNA microarrays, The Market for DNA Microarrays: Core Lab & End-User Perspectives provides suppliers with insights into the types of products required to support this research. In order to benchmark the current state of the market for DNA microarrays, scanners and data analysis software, this report details researchers' experimental parameters, current and future levels of sample throughput and choice of supplier for each particular product category. It reveals respondents' satisfaction with their DNA microarrays and data analysis software, and determines the attributes of these products that are of the greatest importance, as well as areas where these products perform above or below expectations. Many scientists do not utilize commercial microarrays, and instead obtain them from either their own lab or from a core lab. Understanding this segment of the DNA microarray market¾including their satisfaction with their microarrays as compared to respondents' satisfaction with commercially available microarrays¾is vital for suppliers trying to increase their stake in the commercial microarray market. Additionally, this report examines the factors that contribute to a lab's decision to purchase one microarray scanner over another. In order to provide more insight into future directions for the field of DNA microarrays, respondents stated areas where suppliers can make improvements as well as ways to best ensure the future of DNA microarrays in clinical applications. One significant challenge facing the field of DNA microarrays is the difficulty of data analysis¾the ability to integrate with other databases and to compare experimental results across instrument platforms, between different labs or between experiments performed in the same lab. When contemplating the advantages and disadvantages of the various data analysis software packages, one can become easily overwhelmed by the options available. Many researchers design custom in-house software, and do not utilize commercial solutions. In order to address some of the challenges involved with data analysis, this report reveals the respondents' satisfaction with data analysis software, particularly the attributes of their data analysis software that are of the greatest importance and highlights areas where the software performs above or below expectations. To provide more detailed insight into this important aspect of a DNA microarray experiment, respondents disclosed difficulties they encounter with their data analysis software as well as desired improvements both to software and to their ability to share microarray data. The tremendous attention and money directed towards microarrays is likely to attract both new customers and suppliers to the field. In this expanding market, successful competitors are likely to be those who practice careful positioning to appeal to the extremely diverse needs of their customers. By using this report to understand the actual experiences, needs and preferences of researchers, suppliers of DNA microarrays, scanners and data analysis software will be better able to make refinements to existing products to appeal to the diverse needs of their target market and extend the use of their DNA microarray products into additional laboratories. Report Highlights
The Market for DNA Microarrays: Core Lab & End-User Perspetives contains over 40 charts and/or tables and more than 20 cross-tabulations for the 29 survey questions (see Page 4). Based on Question 1, 563 respondents who currently use DNA microarrays in their research completed all relevant questions. Below is a glimpse of the key findings derived from just a few of the survey questions:
· The applications for which scientists most commonly use DNA microarrays in their research are expression profiling/monitoring to determine tissue-specific patterns of gene expression (45%) and expression profiling/monitoring to elucidate patterns characteristic of disease states (35%). (Question 3)
· Half of respondents expect the number of arrays hybridized per month to increase over the next 12 months. (Question 8)
· Affymetrix is a supplier of commercial DNA microarrays for seventy-five percent of respondents who use commercial arrays. (Question 11)
· Affymetrix (29%) and Agilent (16%) are the two suppliers from which respondents most commonly obtain DNA microarray analysis software. (Question 17)
Respondents state that they have the most data analysis difficulties when trying to integrate results with other databases (42%), normalize. |
