DNAnexus Launches NGS Platform-as-a-Service

By Bio-IT World Staff 

 

September 17, 2013 | DNAnexus has launched a specialized platform-as-a-service (PaaS) designed to eliminate the common challenges and costs that enterprises face when building clinically compliant analysis pipelines for next-generation sequencing (NGS) data.  DNAnexus provides a configurable API-based platform that enables clinical testing labs to efficiently move their analysis pipelines into the cloud, using their own algorithms alongside industry-recognized tools and resources to create customized workflows in a secure and compliant environment. 

 

The platform enables genomic R&D enterprises to easily expand their data analysis and storage infrastructure needs into the cloud and to transform large capital expenditures into transparent operating expenses. Using DNAnexus, labs of any size can build and run their data analysis apps and workflows from anywhere in the world, and work securely with research and clinical collaborators.

 

“DNAnexus has leveraged its years of experience in cloud-based technologies to develop a unique enterprise solution that eliminates the many headaches and capital costs that burden labs when rolling out traditional, on-premise data centers,” said Andreas Sundquist, CTO and co-founder of DNAnexus, in a statement. “Not only has our engineering team focused on building a robust and industrial-scale platform, but we have also addressed security and compliance to ensure that the DNAnexus solution meets HIPAA, CLIA, and other complex regulatory requirements related to utilizing DNA-based information in a healthcare environment.”

 

Genomic data has only recently been introduced to the clinical setting, and as demand for patient testing soars, diagnostics companies that have traditionally used on-premise solutions are facing increasing challenges to scale their resources while meeting HIPAA and other regulatory requirements. 

 

"Working with the DNAnexus team has been invaluable for us as we deploy our data analysis pipeline to the cloud and work toward a production-grade clinical test,” said Boris Bastian, professor at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, and early adopter of the solution. “The DNAnexus platform is well-suited for rapid pipeline development and enterprise-readiness. We have relied heavily on their expertise in cloud-based solutions and benefited from their experience in managing data in a clinically appropriate manner.”