Understanding Sequencing and Sample Prep

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PathoGenetix CEO Ann Merrifield and I are just back from the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference held last week in San Francisco. Now in its 32nd year, this annual meeting is the premier investor conference for companies in the healthcare, life science and diagnostics industries, and a unique, opportunity for investors and industry leaders to meet in one setting.

Because of its focus on healthcare investment, the conference includes a wide range of companies interested and involved in clinical diagnostics and biotechnology, so of course discussions of next generation sequencing dominate. For PathoGenetix, it was a great opportunity to network with potential investors and partners, and with more than 4000 attendees and 300 companies presenting, there certainly was a lot going on. Six presentation rooms at the Westin St. Francis ran pretty much nonstop last week Monday through Wednesday, and half-a-day on Thursday.

All in all, it was a fantastic opportunity to hear current announcements and future plans from companies across the spectrum of healthcare from hospitals and health plans to drug companies and diagnostics manufacturers.

It also was a great way for us to inform current and potential partners and investors about progress with our Genome Sequence Scanning (GSS) technology and commercialization of the RESOLUTION Microbial Genotyping System, our first application targeted to food industry testing and public health foodborne illness investigations.

Along with excitement about the system as a whole, we’re seeing some real interest in the sample preparation component of the GSS technology, both in terms of its capability and automation. Called the Genome Processor, the sample preparation component extracts and purifies genomic DNA while maintaining the integrity of long DNA fragments.