LONDON: Oxford Nanopore Technologies plc (LSE: ONT), the company delivering a new generation of nanopore-based molecular sensing technology, today announced a new collaboration with UK Biobank to create the world’s first comprehensive, large-scale epigenetic dataset.
Oxford Nanopore technology will be utilised to analyse the epigenome using 50,000 participant samples to unlock crucial insights into disease mechanisms. This research project is expected to run for up to 24 months, deploying 15-30x coverage of epigenetic sequencing to characterise potential causes of diseases including cancer, neurological diseases and other common complex diseases.
Epigenetics is the study of how external factors and lifestyle choices can modify an individual’s DNA. Epigenetic changes play a critical role in how genes are expressed and influence risk in diseases such as cancer and neurodegeneration. Oxford Nanopore’s technology provides a comprehensive view of up to 98% of the epigenetic methylation markers, enabling richer insights than traditional sequencing technologies, without the need for additional complex chemical processes, such as bilsufite conversion.
This epigenetics programme follows the previously announced strategic partnership with the UK Government, including the creation of the first real-time, pathogen-agnostic biosurveillance system across as many as 30 hospitals in NHS England-creating an early warning framework to detect and respond to emerging pandemics and biological threats.
These partnerships will not result in a change to the Group’s already stated 2024 and medium-term financial guidance, with the incremental revenues supporting the Group’s previously stated revenue target of more than 30% constant currency growth on a compound annual growth rate between FY24 and FY27.
Gordon Sanghera, Chief Executive Officer of Oxford Nanopore, commented: “This project represents a significant leap forward in epigenetics research, an increasingly important area of study related to causes of disease, disease progression and response to treatment. Working with UK Biobank to create the world’s largest epigenetic dataset aligns with our commitment to drive discovery in healthcare and genomics. By capturing comprehensive methylation data, we aim to open new doors for understanding disease, especially cancer and dementia, and ultimately enable more personalised, effective treatments for patients.”