Epstein enrolls in Church's genome program — cell lines, sequencing, and the PGP biobank
June 28, 2013: Church arranged for Epstein to undergo a skin cell biopsy and blood draw at Massachusetts General Hospital. "Jeffrey's skin biopsy resulted in several successful, viable fibroblast cultures. Those cell lines are now stored in liquid nitrogen and slated for iPS cell line creation."
Thakuria: "Jeffrey's skin biopsy resulted in several successful, viable fibroblast cultures... stored in liquid nitrogen"
Thakuria proposed $324K/year for genomic services — Epstein rejected it. Eventually paid $11,400 for full genome sequencing via Illumina, plus $2,000 for exome work. Epstein: "give him 10k." Total documented: $13,000+ for genome, cell cultures, and liquid nitrogen storage.
Thakuria proposed $324K/yr, Epstein paid $13K total for full genome + exome + cell cultures
Church described the PGP biobank in explicitly commercial terms: "the only [stem cell samples] in the world properly consented for broad commercial use." Epstein's cells were in this collection.
Church: "the only ones in the world properly consented for broad commercial use"
