Oxford Nanopore Technologies: against COVID-19 Company
Entity: Oxford Nanopore Technologies
Category: COVID Research
Description: Oxford Nanopore Technologies develops nanopore-based electronic systems for analyzing single molecules, including DNA, RNA and proteins. Oxford Nanopore Technologies aims to disrupt the paradigm of biological analysis by making high performance, novel DNA/RNA sequencing technology that is accessible and easy to use. Their novel, electronics-based DNA/RNA sequencing technology is being used in more than 80 countries, for a range of biological research applications. These include large scale human genomics, cancer research, microbiology, plant science and environmental research. Nanopore sequencing is also being explored beyond research, where it has the potential to provide rapid, meaningful information in the fields of healthcare, agriculture, food and water surveillance and education. Oxford Nanopore’s proprietary technology is fully scalable for any requirement. Small formats such as Flongle address the need for on-demand, rapid, smaller tests or experiments, and can be used in labs or in the field. The pocket-sized MinION is a powerful and portable sequencing device that can deliver high volumes of long read sequence data. The benchtop GridION X5 can run up to five MinION Flow Cells at a time, on-demand, for larger genomics projects. The recently launched PromethION is the largest format for nanopore sequencing, designed to offer on-demand use of up to 48 Flow Cells – each of which can offer more than 100Gb of sequencing data. Focusing on ease of use, nanopore sequencing offers easy and rapid preparation, including a ten minute library preparation kit and the automated, programmable VolTRAX. Supported by a broad patent portfolio, the Oxford Nanopore pipeline includes multiple generations of nanopore-based sensing technologies, including those based on both biological and solid-state nanopores.
Project: Oxford Nanopore's sequencing products suite to countries worldwide
Summary: Oxford Nanopore Technologies has provided its suite of sequencing products to countries worldwide, to help with the research and genetic epidemiology of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Gordon Sanghera, CEO, Oxford Nanopore said “The scientific community has been quick to use sequencing technologies to understand the transmission of coronavirus, and whether the SARS-CoV-2 virus itself is changing, as well as the effect of other pathogens that are present alongside the virus. This information will also be a vital tool for public health authorities as they manage a responsible lifting of restrictions, in countries across the world. We are committed to supporting scientists using Oxford Nanopore’s technology for this important work, and while we do that our R&D teams continue to innovate for coronavirus.”
+ Investors:
Amgen
Hostplus
CCB International
GIC
IP Group Plc
Woodford Investment Management
