HHS embarks on $52 million genetic sequencing platform development
The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, ASPR, is allocating money to advance the development of a next-generation genetic sequencing platform.
It is the first next-generation genetic sequencing platform supported by ASPR’s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority – BARDA.
Next-generation sequencing describes technology that has enabled DNA and RNA to be read much more quickly than the previously used Sanger sequencing method, HHS officials said.
Under the $8.5 million, one-year contract with BARDA, DNA Electronics – DNAe – of London, United Kingdom, and Carlsbad, Calif., will develop its Genalysis sequencing platform, which determines the genetic code of a sample and identifies the organism within two to four hours.
HHS noted that the contract could grow to a total of $51.9 million over four years.
The information that BARDA and DNA Electronics are looking to provide could enable clinicians treating infected patients to anticipate antimicrobial resistance associated with the bacteria or diagnose the specific strain of influenza virus.
DNAe will help with development and testing of the platform. The testing will support the company’s applications to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for clearances of the platform for a series of applications.
“More rapid diagnoses will allow clinicians to ensure the right treatment is being given, providing faster care for their patients and potentially curbing the spread of pathogens,” BARDA acting director Richard Hatchett, MD, said in a statement. “This platform could help enable a faster and more accurate public health response to pandemic influenza and antibiotic resistant infections.”
BARDA plans to couple this platform with another technology it is already sponsoring that produces purified samples for testing and genomic analysis from a blood draw, nasal swab or other samples.
The combination could one day make it possible for clinicians to identify pathogens by testing blood or other fluids from an infected patient without needing the sophisticated training required to operate genomic sequencers, potentially bringing this capability closer to patient's point-of-care.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that a flu pandemic in the U.S. could result in between 89,000 and 207,000 deaths, and could cost the economy $71.3 billion to $166.5 billion. The CDC also estimates that more than 2 million people per year suffer antibiotic resistant infections in the U.S. resulting in more than 23,000 deaths.
Helpful advice for planning to purchase a population health platform:
⇒ Experts explain what to look for when choosing a population health platform
⇒ Comparison chart of 8 population health products
⇒ An in-depth look at 8 population health software programs
