NCCHD in Japan Demonstrates Improved Diagnostics Rate for Rare Disease Diagnostics using OmniTier’s CompStor® Genomic Analysis Platform

Benchmark WES re-analysis study with OmniTier’s AI-based variant interpretation platform achieves around a 42% diagnostics rate, a 7% improvement in the average rate  for diagnosing rare diseases

San Jose CA, USA: February 2, 2023 –The National Center for Child Health and Development (NCCHD), Japan, and OmniTier Inc., USA, working collaboratively have demonstrated notably improved diagnostics rates for rare disease diagnostics. In a benchmark re-analysis study using its proprietary methodology and database implemented on OmniTier’s CompStor Insight variant interpretation and custom database creation platform, NCCHD achieved a diagnostics rate of approximately 42% compared to its previous rate of 35%.  This marked improvement is enabled by OmniTier’s CompStor® platform, which features a proprietary AI classifier that more accurately identifies the causal variants. It achieves this by searching over an expanded set of annotated variants derived from a larger number of standard and custom annotation databases, before applying ACMG guidelines and other ranking factors, to prepare the clinical draft report.        

“Achieving highly accurate diagnostics for rare genetic diseases is vital for us in pediatric healthcare.  We are very pleased to achieve the significant increase in the diagnostics rate for our methodology using OmniTier’s powerful variant interpretation platform,” said Dr. Tadashi Kaname, Director of Genome Medicine at NCCHD.  “We have been seeking for some time a customizable platform for our diagnostics methodologies and clinical report preparation.  OmniTier’s CompStor® appliance provides us a high level of automation and sophisticated filtering, along with dramatically reduced runtime and cost.”

The re-analysis study by the Department of Genome Medicine at NCCHD used a cohort of 1,293 proband WES datasets generated by Illumina short-read NGS sequencing.  The proband set comprised 47 individuals, 67 duos, and 1179 trios.  All datasets were analyzed using OmniTier’s CompStor Novos® for secondary analysis and CompStor Insight® for tertiary analysis.  Of the 1,293 datasets, causal variants for 543 probands were successfully identified.  The causal variants were identified by SNVs in 523 cases, and CNVs in the remaining 20 cases.  Relative to its previous analysis, NCCHD achieved 42%, a 7% higher diagnostic rate, with the CompStor® platform, representing successful diagnosis of 90 more probands in the cohort. 

CompStor^® platform is a customizable and scalable end-to-end genomic analysis appliance, designed for on-premise, edge, or hybrid cloud deployments, ideal for locations with limited or no internet connectivity. The CompStor Novos® secondary analysis appliance supports variant calling for both long- and short-read sequencing technologies.  The CompStor Insight® tertiary analysis appliance features an easy-to-use, manual, Web browser interface as well as automated workflows for annotation, filtering, visualization, querying variant data, and clinical report preparation. Utilizing OmniTier’s proprietary tiered memory acceleration technology, CompStor Insight can perform annotation across a large number of standard and custom databases to improve the probability of identifying true causal variants.  The end-to-end Compstor® platform (secondary analysis and variant interpretation) can analyze a typical 30x WGS dataset—from FASTQ-to-draft report-- in about 3 hours, and WES datasets in about 30 minutes.

Besides supporting accelerated variant and GWAS analysis, CompStor Insight® is designed to efficiently create custom databases derived from local population and ethnic groups.  This feature is one of the drivers for the improvement in NCCHD’s diagnostic rate.   

“We have enjoyed our collaboration with NCCHD, a leader in developing genomics diagnosis methodologies for pediatric rare diseases,” said Hemant Thapar, CEO and founder of OmniTier. “For the highest possible diagnosis rate, local population and specific ethnic variant data will be critical. Our platform is architected for maximal flexibility, to enable our customers to use their own methodologies and custom databases along with local best practices for delivering affordable genomic healthcare.”

CompStor genomics analysis appliances are shipping now. For more information or to request pricing please visit www.omnitier.com.

About Department of Genome Medicine, NCCHD

Established in April 2015, the department aims to identify disease-causing or disease-associated genes and reveal pathological mechanisms for rare diseases of unknown cause using advanced technologies and systems in genomics, and to apply those research outcomes to clinical use through translational research. The overarching goal of the department is to achieve predictive, preventive and personalized medicine in pediatric diseases through basic and translational research using various genetic and genomic approaches.

About OmniTier Inc.

OmniTier develops proprietary genomics analysis algorithms and workflows based upon advanced, proprietary AI and data acceleration technologies. These are incorporated into the company’s high-capacity genomics analysis appliances and solutions for clinical and academic research, population studies, pharmaceutical, and consumer genomics applications. Founded in February 2015, the company is headquartered in the Bay Area, CA USA.

For more information, visit OmniTier.com

CompStor®, CompStor Insight^® and CompStor Novos® are registered trademarks of OmniTier, Inc.

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Justin Cowling
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