BioNanomatrix, Inc., a developer of breakthrough whole genome imaging and analysis platforms for biomedical research, molecular diagnostics and personalized medicine, today announced that its low-cost nanofluidic genome analysis technology, along with founder and chief scientific officer Han Cao, Ph.D., has been included in Technology Review magazine's 2009 list of 10 emerging technologies ("the TR10") that will change the way we live and do business. The revolutionary innovations included in this year's TR10-each represented by a researcher whose vision and work leads the field-promise fundamental shifts in areas from energy to health care, computing to communications.
BioNanomatrix is applying its expertise in nanochips, nanodevices and nanosystems to develop its proprietary technology providing comprehensive analysis of genomic and epigenomic information with sensitivity at the single-molecule level. Among its current development efforts is a five-year federally funded project to sequence the human genome in eight hours at a cost of $100.
"We are thrilled that the transformative potential of our nanoscale whole genome analysis technology has been recognized by our inclusion in the 2009 TR10," said Michael Boyce-Jacino, Ph.D., chief executive officer of BioNanomatrix. "By dramatically decreasing the time and cost needed to obtain very accurate and highly informative genomic information, we believe our technology has the potential to greatly increase the utility of genomic data for a wide range of medical and research applications. We also want to acknowledge our scientific colleagues at the NIH and Princeton University and our business partners and investors who are helping to make this vision a reality."
BioNanomatrix's pioneering technology enables nanoscale identification and analysis of the genome, delivering single-molecule sensitivity in a massively parallel format. It can uniquely isolate and image very long strands of completely linearized DNA molecules in a dynamic flow, making it possible to survey the genome in its native state, in context and at ultra-high resolution, without the need for DNA amplification. Key to this revolutionary technology is BioNanomatrix's patented nanochannels--tiny nanoscale channels incorporated in a nanofluidics device that separates and directs vast amounts of genetic information. The design of the nanochip makes it possible to conduct millions of these genetic analyses simultaneously. The technology's ability to image very long individual strands of DNA is also expected to facilitate such important analyses as structural variations, copy number variations and complex de novo and cancer genomic analyses.
"The annual TR10 spotlights the emerging technologies we find most exciting. These are the innovations most likely to alter industries, fields of research, and even the way we live and work," said Jason Pontin, editor-in-chief and publisher of Technology Review magazine. "We celebrate the innovators making these accomplishments possible and look forward to their continued advancement within their respective fields."
The 2009 TR10 will be presented during a dedicated session at the inaugural EMTech India conference. BioNanomatrix's technology is featured along with the complete TR10 list in the March/April edition of Technology Review. Information about the 2009 TR10, including BioNanomatrix, is posted on the Web at www.technologyreview.com/specialreports/TR10.