BGI Genomics and Pryzm Health Form Strategic Partnership
BGI Genomics and a digital health start-up, Pryzm Health (Pryzm), signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 14 May 2019 for collaboration to advance precision public health in Australia. With their complementary expertise and technology, BGI Genomics and Pryzm will develop foundational capabilities to drive equitable access to precision medicine approaches across the health system. This movement, termed precision public health, will enable more rapid diagnoses, improved efficiency, better patient outcomes and more economically-sustainable health practices. Pryzm is an innovative digital health start-up focused on guiding personal and clinical health decisions by accelerating diagnosis of rare and inherited diseases. The collaboration aims to improve the utility of cost-effective genomic testing for the clinic and lower the barriers for access to precision healthcare in Australia by harnessing the synergy between the complementary technologies of BGI Genomcs in genomics and Pryzm in the integration and analytics of genomic information and electronic health data. BGI Genomics, a subsidiary of BGI, provides a wide range of next generation sequencing services and a broad portfolio of genetic tests for medical institutions, research institutions and other public and private partners.
Pryzm Health
Pryzm is a digital health company focused on identifying and accelerating patient diagnosis, particularly of rare and inherited diseases. Pryzm fulfils its mission by developing secure and clinically-compliant software to support phenotyping and phenotype analysis to serve patients and the healthcare industry.
First Commercial MGISEQ-2000 Genetic Sequencer in Australia
MGI, a division of BGI Group, announced that Micromon Genomics is the first Australian commercial user of its high-throughput genetic sequencer MGISEQ-2000. Monash University’s Micromon Genomics, a next-generation sequencing facility located in the university’s Biomedical precinct at the Clayton campus in Melbourne, provides sequencing services to Australian researchers, including DNA, RNA, single cell and customised applications. “This instrument precisely fits our yield requirements, giving us the flexibility and scope to complete both small and large projects, without the necessity to queue large numbers of samples before commencing sequencing runs,” Micromon Genomics’ NGS Manager Mr. Scott Coutts said. “Data quality is equal to or better than the data we currently generate on alternative platforms, as well as bringing about substantial service price reductions.” MGI has a strong local support team based in Brisbane providing commercial support, technical training and after-sale services to Australia and New Zealand. To provide better product and service for users in the region, MGI authorised Decode Science as the distributor for next generation sequencers and related products. MGI and DS jointly provide after sales applications and service support to new and existing units in the region, utilising MGI's dedicated local support team. MGI instruments are gaining more recognition from local scientists and researchers. MGI has delivered over 1,000 sequencers to more than 300 users in 16 countries worldwide.
Micromon Genomics
Micromon is a not-for-profit facility located in the Biomedical precinct at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. As a specialist facility, Micromon offers expertise in DNA and RNA technologies where Sanger long-read sequencing and Next-Generation short-read sequencing form the key services, along with allied technologies. With more than 35 years of experience, Micromon has a long history of excellent project design and management, and a strong focus on personalised customer service and support.
BGI Genomics & genomiQa sign wgs services agreement
genomiQa and BGI Genomics formed an agreement, on 25 March, on clinical whole genome cancer sequencing utilising BGI’s ISO15189 accredited laboratory sequencing facilities. Dr Bicheng Yang, Director of BGI Australia said, “We are really pleased with the growth of our sequencing services on DNBseqTM technology platform, and the opportunity to support innovative companies like genomiQa. By working together with genomiQa, researchers and physicians can use whole genome analysis to unlock potential new treatments and support the best patient outcomes similar to the “Immunotherapy Outcomes Predication” project we are working together on." genomiQa's CEO Colin Albert said “We have been working with BGI on a number of research projects and validation studies to reach this exciting milestone. More importantly we will start to help patients who have only had access to comprehensive panels, where up to 38%1 of breast cancer patients may not have received the best treatment options, as actionable information was not available’’. genomiQa also intends to use BGI’s facility in Australia, once it has completed the ISO 15189 accreditation process, which is anticipated within the next 12 months. Keep reading
About genomiQa
genomiQa is a start-up company out of the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, which provides computational pipeline services to analyse whole genome data, DNA/RNA. The high-quality genomic pipeline was developed by founders Dr Nic Waddell and John Pearson and offered clinicians and companies high-quality analysis of genomic data to inform health care decisions.
BGI's MGI Announces Early Access Customer of MGISEQ-T7
January 2019 - MGI, a subsidiary of BGI Group, announced WeGene, one of the largest companies providing direct-to-consumer genetics testing in China, as its first early access customer for the new ultra high-throughput sequencer, MGISEQ-T7, saying it has driven down sequencing cost to $5 per Gigabase, with exceptionally high accuracy. MGI also launched the MGI global sequencer user program to support collaborators to begin using MGISEQ-T7. MGI also announced a global partnership with Paragon Genomics, a leader in amplicon-based target enrichment and library preparation solutions for next-generation sequencing assays. To date MGI has reached a new milestone of 1,000 MGI sequencers installed in 16 countries. MGI's proprietary technologies include DNBseq™ patented gene sequencing technology and patterned array technology, BGI Australia reports. Keep reading
MGISEQ-T7 Highest Throughput Sequencer Brings Power of Choice to the Market
BGI Research & Macquarie University Deepen Cooperation
BGI-Research and the Macquarie University of Australia formally signed a cooperation agreement during the 7th International Yeast 2.0 and Synthetic Genomes Conference 2018 in Sydney, on 26th November. The two sides will jointly promote scientific research and education in synthetic biology, and focus on engineering bacteria transformation of natural products in synthetic biology. In the next five years, BGI Research and Macquarie University will fully leverage their resources to focus on bilateral cooperation in the fields of synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, and natural product synthesis. The two parties will work together with the goal to jointly opening new channels for talent training, to explore opportunities for industrialization of scientific research projects and drive related areas development in China and Australia. Keep reading
About Macquarie University
Founded in 1964, Macquarie University is a public research university located in Sydney. It has been given five stars by the international QS stars rating system in teaching, research, facilities, innovation and specialist subjects. Macquarie University is ranked among the top 1% of universities in the world.
Research Collaboration on Personalised Healthcare
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between a global leader in genomics and gene sequencing BGI and Xing Technologies is signed on 22 Aug 2018 supporting collaborative research and product innovation in the following areas: DNB technology: optimise current DNA nanoball technology to improve sequencing data quality and throughput resulting in reduced sequencing costs;
Point-of-care product: based on XING’s patented “Laboratory in a Drop” technology, undertake joint research into, and manufacturing of, a transformative diagnostic product developed by XING to offer the world, including millions of Australians, an accurate, rapid and inexpensive point-of-care disease screening, diagnosis & monitoring kit, which will revolutionise current practice. The applications even extend to human health as well as animals and plant material, such as agriculture, aquaculture, veterinary science.
Xing Technologies, the bio-nanotechnology innovator, is a UQ spin-off enterprise specialising in world-leading disease diagnosis and monitoring technologies, including cancer. Its proprietary nano-technologies are transforming the future practice of medicine and healthcare.
MGI and Decode Science Form Distribution Partnership
MGI is pleased to announce the appointment of Decode Science as the distributor for the MGI range of next generation sequencers and related products in Australia and New Zealand regions. This partnership levers the strengths of both organisations to provide strong local support for customers. In true partnership the MGI Australia team and Decode Science will jointly provide after sales applications and service support to new and existing units in the market. The key contact details for Decode Science are listed below:
Decode Science Pty Ltd
ABN: 24 615 709 245
Add.: Eastern Innovation Centre, 5a Hartnett Place, Mulgrave 3170
Email: sales@decodescience.com.au
Phone: 1800 724 3625
Contact: Joshua Warburton
About Decode Science
Decode Science is a privately owned Australian organisation specialising in the Life Science market. Founded in 2016 Decode Science has rapidly grown to provide national coverage of Australia and New Zealand. Decode Science has a vision to enable discovery amongst the scientific community by providing the best products from around the globe aligned with best-in-class local support.
About MGI
MGI Tech Co. Ltd. ("MGI" hereinafter), a subsidiary of BGI, is specialised in R&D and manufacturing of proprietary instrumentation, medical devices, ancillary consumables and biological reagents e.g. genetic sequencers, mass spectrometers, medical imaging systems, and comprehensive solutions for scientific research and applications in life sciences. MGI owns over 100 patents. Headquartered in China, MGI has established localised technical support teams in Australia, Europe, Americas, and South-east Asia. With a vision to "enable effective and affordable healthcare solutions for all", MGI has more than 800 employees worldwide and strives to be a leading innovator in life science technologies.
