Developing fully automated sequencing preparation for molecular diagnostics

CHALLENGE & OPPORTUNITY

Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) analysis is a relatively new and complex method of molecular diagnostic testing, but one that is growing rapidly in popularity. It has the potential to significantly increase standards of care through “personalized medicine,” or customized disease treatment based on an individual’s particular genes or the mutant genes present in a tumor. 

Genomic and transcriptomic testing can already be used to rapidly diagnose many types of illness including infectious diseases like COVID-19, cardiovascular and neurological diseases, hereditary genetic disorders and cancer. But today’s standard methods for DNA and RNA library preparation for NGS involve a complex and time-consuming multi-step workflow with a high cost per sample.

UB SUPPORT

Working with UB, Rheonix gained access to the university’s leading-edge sequencing core facility and high-performance computing center, along with invaluable feedback from research experts, market analyses and project funding. UB experts were instrumental in helping Rheonix identify user requirements, fine-tune product development and provide critical data and advice to enhance, simplify and expedite library preparation. Rheonix also received guidance from UB in navigating the FDA regulatory approval process. With UB’s help, the life sciences company was able to rapidly develop a new product line, the NGS OnePrep™ solution, with the potential to accelerate biomedical research and diagnosis.