Scripps research team wins $5.1 million to develop DNA sequencing technology
Scripps Research Institute Professor Reza Ghadiri, Ph.D., has been awarded a four-year, $5.1 million grant as part of a National Institutes of Health (NIH) initiative to spur the development of the next generation of DNA sequencing technologies, which could enable biomedical researchers and health care workers to routinely sequence a person's DNA. With the new grant, funded by the NIH's human genome Research Institute (NHGRI), the team will further develop an approach they call "nanopore strand sequencing."
In nanopore strand sequencing, a single strand of DNA moves through a narrow pore and the bases are identified as they pass a reading head. Ghadiri notes that this is a rapid real-time technology; it does not require the time-consuming cyclic addition of reagents.
"After implementing a chip with a million pores, we expect nanopore sequencing to achieve a 15-minute genome by 2014 with a very short sample preparation time," said Ghadiri, whose group will work with the laboratories of Hagan Bayley of the University of Oxford and Amit Meller of Boston University on the project. "In addition, nanopore sequencing will be able to identify modified bases and to sequence RNA directly."
The new grant is part of an $18 million round of funding announced this week by the NHGRI, whose current goal is to make it possible to sequence a genome for $1,000 or less.
Over the past decade, DNA sequencing costs have fallen dramatically fueled in large part by tools, technologies and process improvements developed as part of the successful effort to sequence the human genome. NHGRI subsequently launched programs in 2004 to accelerate the development of sequencing technologies and the rate of reduction of genome sequencing cost. Last year, the program surpassed the goal of producing high quality genome sequence of 3 billion base pairs – the amount of DNA found in humans and other mammals – for $100,000. The cost to sequence a human genome has now dipped below $40,000.
The new grants will fund ten investigator teams to develop revolutionary technologies that would make it possible to quickly and cost-efficiently sequence a genome, enabling the use of sequencing as part of routine medical care.
Other news from the department science
Most read news
More news from our other portals
Last viewed contents
The evolution of cancer cells decoded - "Our vision is a new type of early cancer detection"
Protagen Deepens Cooperation With Bayer Schering Pharma
Seeing a diagnosis: How an eye test could aid Alzheimer's detection
C-mo Medical Solutions raises €4.1 million aiming to transform cough monitoring
New technique for testing drugs to treat cystic fibrosis and epilepsy
Neuronal Parkinson inclusions are different than expected - Study raises new questions about the etiology of Parkinson’s disease
Analytik Jena Sells Site in Eisfeld - New investor acquiring entire Optics business unit as well as component production for analytical technology
Toxic agents behind Parkinson's disease seen at work for the first time - First look at how toxic protein clusters disrupt the membranes of healthy brain cells.
Ocean Optics Employee Wins Global Technology Award - Nelson Chandler takes £20K top prize from multi-national technology company
Measuring the magnetism of antimatter - Researchers measure antiprotons more accurately than ever before
KRÜSS is one of the innovation leaders in 2018 - TOP 100 competition success
