SAGE SCIENCE, INC. — Department of Health and Human Services SBIR Phase II: 172

Description

DESCRIPTION provided by applicant Sample preparation for next generation sequencing NGS is an inefficient complex multistep process that is difficult to automate Sequencing library construction consists of around a dozen biochemical operations Currently automation of these steps requires highly customized automation equipment and highly trained technicians to manage the workflow There are only a couple of automation products that address this problem but these only perform part of the overall library construction process they do not perform DNA purification from the biological sample As NGS technology begins to move into the diagnostic world there is an urgent need for walkaway closed automated systems that dramatically simplify the NGS sample prep process In addition pioneering NGS companies and researchers are pushing the sequencing field toward very long read single molecule sequencing technologies This move to longer read sequencing methods poses new challenges for NGS sample prep Most popular DNA extraction methods do not produce long genomic DNA molecules and many andquot third genandquot sequencing companies are actively seeking new reliable methods for extracting large intact DNA molecules and converting them into sequencing libraries In the course of developing new DNA size selection technologies for NGS we have conceived of a powerful technology for automated rapid purification of very long genomic DNA In addition the technology can be easily adapted to also produce NGS libraries for both traditional short read and third gen long read sequencing platforms By combining these two capabilities our phase II application seeks to produce a system capable of producing finished NGS libraries from crude blood samples in a single completely automated workflow Such a system will dramatically reduce the cost and complexity of NGS sample prep and speed the application of NGS to diagnostics PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE In our phase II application we propose to develop an automated system capable of producing finished DNA sequencing libraries from crude blood samples in a single completely integrated workflow Such a system will dramatically reduce the cost and complexity of sequencing sample preparation and speed the application of DNA sequencing in diagnostics