Hubbard Center Helps ZS Genetics Prepare for Archon X PRIZE Race
May 14, 2008
ZS Genetics, Inc. will pursue its molecular approaches at the Hubbard Center
for Genome Studies at UNH as it prepares for the Archon X PRIZE for Genomics
race. ZS Genetics, Inc., of North Reading, Mass., is the seventh team to be
accepted into the $10 million Archon X PRIZE for Genomics competition.
ZS Genetics and the Hubbard Center for Genome Studies will build on their
development relationship as ZS Genetics readies itself for its attempt at the
Archon X PRIZE. This is an example of the positive results of the long-term
development agreement for technology and intellectual property that ZS Genetics
and the university announced last fall.
W. Kelley Thomas, Hubbard chair and director of the Hubbard Center, said, “We
are very pleased that our relationship with ZS Genetics, a company at the cutting
edge of genetic analysis technology, is supporting such a significant scientific
undertaking. We think that ZS Genetics’ uniquely different approach holds
great promise to attain the goals of the Archon X PRIZE and bring us closer
to an age of proactive medicine.”
William R. Glover, III, president of ZS Genetics, said, “It is a pleasure
to work at the top-notch facilities and with the fantastic team of the Hubbard
Center. We believe the center’s commitment to promote the development
of the biotechnology industry in the region, as well as the university’s
commitment to partnerships for technology-based economic development, are manifest
in the strong support they provide for our development work.”
About ZS Genetics
ZS Genetics (www.zsgenetics.com) is a privately held company based in Massachusetts
that is finalizing development of a technology platform for directly creating
detailed images of individual DNA or RNA molecules, using modified transmission
electron microscopes and atomic labeling. ZS Genetics’ technology offers
the prospect of revolutionary advancements in genetic analysis, with applications
in the sequencing, expression and diagnostics markets. The technology shows
the promise of sequencing whole human genomes in days instead of months, for
thousands of dollars instead of millions; and with long base pair read-lengths,
which allow the detection of long repeating patterns in a genetic code. The
technology could change the multi-billion-dollar marketplace dynamics for genetic
information applications, including enabling widespread adoption of genetics-based
medicine, and driving important innovation in disease research, drug discovery,
forensics, environmental impact studies, agriculture, anthropology and history.
About the Hubbard Center for Genome Studies
Established in 2001 to lead the development of genomics research at UNH, the
Hubbard Center for Genome Studies is a leader in comparative and environmental
genomics, with a special emphasis on novel model species. The center plays
a leading role in genetic research, education and training within the College
of Life Science and Agriculture at UNH.
About the Archon X PRIZE for Genomics
The goal of the Archon X PRIZE for Genomics is to greatly reduce the cost
and increase the speed of human genome sequencing. The winning team will demonstrate
the ability to sequence 100 human genomes in 10 days for $10,000 or less per
genome. Rapid, affordable human genome sequencing will create a new era of
personalized, predictive and preventive medicine, eventually transforming medical
care from reactive to proactive.
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