Abstract

Development of a Handheld DNA Sequencer & the Internet of Life

Jonathan O'Halloran, Chief Scientific Officer/Co Founder, QuantuMDx Group Ltd

Despite dramatic advances in the fields of DNA sequencing & MDx, capillary electrophoresis (CE) is still routinely used for targeted sequencing and costly PCR devices remain the work-horse of the MDx laboratory. QuantuMDx is developing a mobile, handheld DNA sequencing device for infectious disease, PGx and tumour profiling applications. We expect to roll these devices out throughout resource limited areas and network the disease data, enabling a real-time epidemiology platform we call the 'Internet of Life'™. The device specifications were informed by two years in Cape Town observing the obstacles faced by mobile TB & HIV clinics, and proprietary sample preparation, amplification and sequencing technologies have been developed based on co-founder Jonathan O’Halloran’s inventions in his garage lab. QuantuMDx has now grown to over 40 people, with a research base in Newcastle, UK and offices in USA and Singapore. The technology is in an alpha format and a handheld beta device will be available for trials in 2014.