MICROSONIC SYSTEMS INC — Department of Health and Human Services SBIR Phase I: 172

Description

DESCRIPTION provided by applicant Genetic analysis is the driving force behind andquot Personalized Medicineandquot and has become an essential tool in advancing all areas of biology medicine and behavioral biology This project will provide instrumentation to streamline sample preparation needed for genetic sequence analysis Currently multiple instruments are used in sample preparation for genomics analysis The major focus of the Randamp D effort in this field is in methods for sequencing e g Next Gen Sequencing etc with very little advancement being in the area of sample preparation prior to sequencing Microsonic Systems Inc has developed a patented piezoelectric transducer chip that produces bulk ultrasound waves with lateral vortices called BLUandquot bulk lateral ultrasound energy The transducer ultrasound output is incrementally controllable and can aid in all steps in DNA library prep from cell lysis through PCR Our approach combines multiple capabilities into one multifunctional fully integrated instrument platform that improves sample prep process efficiency thus saving time and money Microsonics intends to bring to market an position and subsequently in Phase II a high throughput position robotic sample preparation platform that will enable all of the steps of sample prep to be completed on one instrument in a traceable sample vessel standard D bar coded plastic tubes The company currently has a prototype of an position Personal DNA Sample Preparation Instrument ST which includes a centrifuge and integrated temperature control The user friendly interface is an Android powered touch screen from which the user can operate the different applications apps driven by Microsonicsandapos patented BLU energy The first app will be for DNA shearing The specific aims for SBIR Phase I are to finish development of the instrument and bring it to the marketplace by first quarter of with a DNA shearing app that improves the accuracy of shearing targets and reduces sample loss add an additional app by third quarter of that decreases hybridization time in protocols used for high throughput sequencing and by first quarter of show that BLU energy can be used to perform many of the multiple steps needed in high throughput sequencing library prep from genomic DNA to sequencer ready molecular library PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE This project will provide instrumentation to streamline sample preparation needed for genetic sequence analysis In the era of personalized medicine this will be necessary so that genetic sequence information can be rapidly made available to aid treatment strategy decisions of health care providers