Mayo Clinic and Oxford Nanopore Technologies have announced a multi-year development partnership which aims to increase understanding and improve the treatment of cancer and genetic disorders.

The companies said they have identified several areas of development, spanning applications from translational research in human genetics to detection of genetic predisposition to cancer.

Under the collaboration, Oxford Nanospore will bring its expertise in nanopore-based sequencing while Mayo Clinic will bring its clinical and diagnostic testing knowledge to “help further advance patient care.”

Nanospore-based sequencing is technology that facilitates the analysis of long DNA or ribonucleic acid fragments by detecting changes in electrical current as nucleic acids pass through a protein nanopore.

“We are proud to work with Mayo Clinic to support the development of new tests that will assist clinical decision-making and improve patient lives,” said Gordon Sanghera, chief executive at Oxford Nanopore Technologies. “This collaboration shows that Oxford Nanopore’s technology is ready to support development and validation of assays for clinical care, and it underscores our maturity and long-term vision to transform this space.”

The collaboration activities will take place on Mayo Clinic’s campus in Rochester, Minnesota.

“Pairing Oxford Nanopore’s innovative nanopore sequencing with Mayo Clinic’s world-class clinical and diagnostic testing knowledge further helps advance patient care,” said Bobbi Pritt, MD, interim chair of Mayo Clinic’s department of laboratory medicine and pathology. “We are excited to collaborate with Oxford Nanopore on this effort to develop new clinical tests that will provide the right answers for patients at the right time.”

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