Dovetail Genomics, Illumina, The Broad Institute, And More: News From February 2018
February 28, 2018 | February featured exciting new, products, and partnerships from around the bio-IT community from innovating companies, organizations, and universities, including Dovetail Genomics, Illumina, The Broad Institute, and more.
Dovetail Genomics introduced Dovetail Hi-C and Fix-C with Selva SV Detection Software as a Service. Dovetail's Fix-C enables researchers, for the first time, to successfully recapture genome-wide long-range information in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples; Dovetail Hi-C enables the same information to be gleaned from non-FFPE samples. The company also announced that it is accepting a limited number of customers into its Early Access Development Program for TAD Analysis, an application of the Dovetail Hi-C data type that enables researchers to evaluate the three-dimensional structure of the genome and genome folding. Press Release
The Broad Institute and Deerfield announced the advancement of two projects through their research partnership, which is aimed at solving complex, early-stage therapeutic challenges related to serious unmet medical needs. In the first projects, the collaboration will focus on novel targets that reveal underlying vulnerabilities in acute leukemia and common genetic alterations in cancer. In October, the Broad Institute and Deerfield announced a collaboration to jointly pursue transformative, early-stage therapeutics research by establishing funding for early-stage academic research, and with longer-term support to create new entities to develop therapies out of promising projects. Press Release
Twist Bioscience announced the commercial availability of several new products to enhance next-generation sequencing including its Twist Human Core Exome Kit, an innovative and comprehensive library preparation and target enrichment kit, and its Custom Panels offering, that can be tailored to individual requests. The new exome and custom target enrichment solutions are designed to provide improved performance, versatility and maximum capture efficiency to reduce the overall cost of NGS. “This product line demonstrates the true platform nature of our technology, bringing the power of DNA writing to amplify and enrich the process of DNA reading,” said Emily M. Leproust, CEO of Twist Bioscience, in a written statement following the announcement. “By leveraging our DNA synthesis technology to deliver precision at scale, we are excited to introduce a new line of next-generation sequencing tools focused on exome and custom capture. We believe these steps in the sequencing workflow are pivotal to effective genome analysis but have traditionally been less than efficient until now.” Press Release
Optalysys announced the formation of its first Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) comprising experts in AI/machine learning, bioinformatics/genomics and optical pattern recognition. The inaugural SAB members include Douglas Kell of The University of Manchester, Timothy Wilkinson of University of Cambridge, and ex-senior NASA scientist, Richard Juday. “Collectively, these experts have deep knowledge in areas most critical to our long-term success,” said Nick New, founder and director, Optalysys, in a press release. “We’re excited to work closely with them through the process of bringing to market our unique optical approach to super-fast, low-power computing to enable more tech innovators and scientists to create a better world.” SAB members will serve as strategic and scientific advisors as Optalysys commercializes its patented optical co-processing technology that delivers sophisticated pattern recognition and convolution-based processes for deep-learning applications. Complementary to conventional computer hardware, Optalysys’s technology is designed to spur advancements in the Internet of Things (IoT) (e.g., self-driving cars) and edge computing, genomics, medical imaging, weather forecasting, and similar industries looking to improve the quality of life and commerce around the globe. Press Release
Illumina launched the highly anticipated S1 flow cell to provide faster sequencing runs and additional flexibility to meet study needs, enabling smaller sample runs and same day turn-around for most high-throughput applications. By delivering similar output levels and number of reads as HiSeq instruments, the S1 flow cell offers current HiSeq customers a smooth transition to NovaSeq 6000, and facilitates faster runs and more cost-effective sequencing. Press Release
Saphetor and Genomenon have signed an agreement to share genomic variant data between their software platforms. Genomenon’s Mastermind Genomic Search Engine connects patient’s genomic data with the evidence from the scientific literature. The Mastermind search results include a link to VarSome for gene and variant information. Mastermind, through the VarSome link, can provide a breadth of genomic knowledge about the specific gene or variant search including transcript information, and its entries in 30 databases, such as ClinVar, gnomAD, Uniprot, ICGC, CIViC and dbNSFP. “The VarSome connection in Mastermind provides a richer view and understanding of variant data that previously wasn’t available in our search engine” said Mike Klein, CEO of Genomenon, in a press release. “Linking the two products provide this mutual benefit to our users, and it was an easy decision on our part to collaborate on this project.” All VarSome users will get free access to the Mastermind Genomic Search Engine. Press Release
Quantabio announced the launch of its compact Q cycler. The Q complements Quantabio’s ToughMix and PerfeCTa reagents, enabling customers to generate high-quality data and overcome common PCR inhibitors in basic and translational research, as well as applied testing applications. The plug and play instrument features a unique magnetic induction technology and spinning rotor that ensure temperature accuracy and well-to-well uniformity, eliminating any variability caused by edge effects associated with block-based cyclers. Available in two or four channel models, the robust optical system acquires all channels simultaneously, resulting in the fastest multiplexed assays. Press Release
Gilson launched Gilson Connect, a cloud-connected platform that powers a product line of Bluetooth-enabled, smart liquid handling devices designed to help scientists achieve verifiable science. The first smart products include the TRACKMAN Connected and PIPETMAN M Connected. These new lab instruments give scientists the ability to record and track pipette performance data in real-time and transmit them to sciNote, a free, open-source electronic lab notebook (ELN). The new TRACKMAN Connected is an all-in-one kit that includes a tablet with PipettePilot, a microplate pipetting tracker application. The easy-to-use app interacts in real-time with the new PIPETMAN M Connected, a Bluetooth-enabled smart electronic pipette, to guide researchers through their pipetting protocol. By tracking and storing performance, scientists can review the data for errors and export experiment results, accelerating their report sharing capabilities. Press Release
Quartzy announced the launch of its Quartzy Catalog, creating a centralized place online where labs can research and buy supplies, find competitive pricing, coordinate buying across multiple centers, track supplies all the way through the order process, and organize their inventory once it arrives. Combined with Quartzy’s free online laboratory management platform, labs now have an easy, cost-efficient way to order supplies and manage inventory from end to end across all of their multiple centers. Quartzy also announced the opening of a warehouse in Redwood City, CA to store supplies from vendors and ensure they get to labs as quickly and efficiently as possible. Quartzy is also identifying an East Coast warehouse location to continue its commitment to exceptional customer service fulfillment nationwide. Press Release
Melissa launched Melissa Informatics, fueled by its acquisition of semantic technology firm, IO Informatics (IOI). IOI’s software and services support global leaders in life sciences, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical industries, reducing time and cost to benefit from clean, richly connected data. The firm helps realize value from complex, changing data by revealing deeper data relationships through machine learning and reasoning operations. Melissa Informatics, operating as a division of Melissa, integrates a global intelligence toolset to extend these capabilities in healthcare markets and beyond, buoyed by a worldwide enterprise sales and support infrastructure. Semantic technology is optimized for data management environments rich in variables, diversity, and complexity. Because semantic processes consider context clues to evaluate structured or unstructured data, a single request can efficiently query numerous disparate or siloed data sources – or inconsistent data in the same database – and deliver more meaningful results than traditional relational data methods. “Melissa Informatics is removing risk inherent in high-value, high-complexity data integrations, connecting with existing data that is underused and hidden in applications, files, and databases,” Bob Stanley, formerly CEO of IO Informatics and taking on the role of senior director, customer projects, with Melissa Informatics, said in a press release. “Informatics provides a way to turn normal working data into research quality data without expensive, hands-on electronic data capture. Our virtual data capture technique can save pharma firms billions of dollars by avoiding clinical trials and augmenting data with freely available clinical enrichment data.” Press Release
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital announced the development of a $412-million advanced research center. Designed as an interactive hub of exploration and discovery, the more than 625,000-square-foot center will cultivate transformative research and collaboration and attract scientists and clinicians to St. Jude. Slated to break ground in spring 2018 and open in 2021, it is a major component of a $1 billion capital expansion of the St. Jude campus. The advanced research center builds on the St. Jude legacy of innovations for understanding and treating childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Architecturally, it will be an interactive and interdisciplinary environment designed specifically for generating new ideas and teamwork. Its labs and spaces will enable researchers to collaborate openly and across departments. The center will stream natural light through open atriums and courtyards and will feature numerous interaction zones uniting key disciplines of science. Press Release