The firm, based in Cambridge, said its objective is to provide a "one-stop shop" for genomics contract research in the Oxford area, offering extra benefits such as online ordering, comprehensive template recovery, direct sample collection and local customer service support. "There is a growing demand for high quality sequencing services in the area and this partnership with the University of Oxford will enable us to improve our offering," Nick Leaves, Geneservice's operations director, told Outsourcing-Pharma.com

"When it comes to sequencing services, customers want a quick turnaround time. We can now offer them the immediacy they need."

There are not currently any DNA sequencing companies in Oxford which is also the reason why Geneservice picked this specific area.

In addition, the company said it plans to grow the hub and its service offerings, while the existing university staff within the facility will transfer to Geneservice.

"In the next few months we hope to offer our customers additional new contract research services such as proteomics," said Leaves.

"We are in discussion with the university to foresee and understand the market demand."

In addition, the company is launching a new quality management scheme and a new Laboratory Information Management system (LIMS), said Leaves.

Leaves wouldn't comment on any financial aspects of the acquisition but said his company "paid a good deal of money" for the facility.