Genetic sequencing giant Illumina, a provider of assays for diagnosing disease and developing new drugs, also runs an accelerator that supports genomics-focused startups.On Thursday, Illumina Accelerator launched its Fourth round of financinghas invested in seven startups.
The accelerator has two six-month funding cycles per year. Selected startups receive seed investment, access to Illumina sequencing systems and reagents, business mentoring, genomics expertise, and lab space adjacent to Illumina’s campuses in the Cambridge, UK, or San Francisco areas. Illumina Accelerator said it has invested in a total of 68 companies worldwide to date. Below are the latest additions to the accelerator portfolio.
4SR Biological Sciences.: A spin-out company from the University of Chicago, 4SR Biosciences is developing technologies to explore new tRNA-based modalities. The company’s technology can be used to develop new diagnostics and cancer treatments.
B4X: Atlanta-based B4X is turning biological big data into models of the human brain. Through this model, the startup aims to develop new treatments and precise diagnostics for brain diseases.
Cache DNA: The MIT startup bills itself as a nucleic acid software and storage company. Cache DNA is designed to unlock the information stored in nucleic acids, which its life sciences customers can use for insights.
CRISP-HR Therapeutics: San Carlos, California-based CRISP-HR Therapeutics is developing CRISPR-based treatments for rare diseases. CRISPR editing results in double-strand breaks that must be repaired through one of two repair pathways. Cells often take error-prone paths. CRISP-HR said its technology guided them to homology repair, an efficient and error-free approach.
Non-Exomics: The startup, which has sites in Cambridge, UK, and Boston, uses artificial intelligence to analyze the “dark” regions of the genome that lie outside the currently defined genes, where RNA and proteins are made. NonExomics says its analysis can be used to develop new diagnostics and treatments.
Purpose Health: This Northern Virginia-based startup analyzes the effects of stress on the microbiome and body, aiming to provide insights into rebalancing the microbiome and supporting mental health.
Rethink biology: This synthetic biology company based in Pune, India aims to develop sustainable food solutions using microalgae.
The application deadline for the next global funding cycle is April 1. Up to five startups will be selected for each accelerator location.
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