Los Altos, CA – October 6, 2011 -- Enabling genetic analysis of the most challenging samples in life science research, metagenomics, and forensics.
Boreal Genomics, a growing life sciences company and developer of the SCODA nucleic acid extraction technology, announced today release of the Aurora nucleic acid purification system to researchers worldwide. The instrument delivers unparalleled yield and purity of nucleic acids from low abundance samples, removes all species of PCR inhibitors, and also offers recovery of high molecular weight DNA from 50 kb up to 1 Mb. “Aurora enables genetic analysis of the most challenging samples in life science research, metagenomics, and forensic casework; and we continue to demonstrate the unique advantages of this technology for agricultural biotechnology and clinical applications,” said David Broemeling, Director of Marketing.
Aurora utilizes Boreal’s proprietary electrophoretic technology to simultaneously concentrate and purify nucleic acids from environmental samples, which provides an ideal methodology for purifying template for next-generation sequencing or large-insert metagenomic library preparation. Dr. Josh Neufeld, Assistant Professor at the University of Waterloo, has indicated that “Compared to alternative purification methods we have tested, Boreal provides a solution that maximizes yield, purity and molecular weight while minimizing hands-on time.”
“In our hands, Boreal’s system has demonstrated exceptional capability to effectively remove a number of PCR inhibitors suggesting that the technology can be an important tool for analysis of difficult forensic samples,” said Dr. Bruce Budowle, Professor of Forensic and Investigative Genetics at the University of North Texas. “An additional desirable aspect of Boreal’s technology is its ability to concentrate low level nucleic acids that promises to facilitate analysis of limited quantity evidentiary samples.”
The system’s revolutionary workflow offers the flexibility to use various lysis techniques, including chemical and mechanical cell disruption, or can extract nucleic acids directly from liquid and gel matrices. Up to 5 mL of sample is placed in the Aurora cartridge and following electrophoretic concentration, the purified sample is removed in 60 uL of buffer ready for analysis in qPCR, sequencing, or for cloning.
Boreal is currently accepting orders for the Aurora system with units ready to ship immediately.
June 29, 2011
Boreal Genomics announces the appointment of Nitin Sood to CEO
Vancouver, BC, Canada – June 29, 2011
Boreal Genomics, the developer of the SCODA nucleic acid purification and sequence specific target enrichment technology, announced today that Nitin Sood has been appointed Chief Executive Officer and member of the company’s Board of Directors. Sood joins founder and Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Andre Marziali, who will continue serving as a Board member and on the company Executive Team.
Sood joins Boreal from Agilent Technologies, Life Science Group, where he most recently served as General Manager in charge of the Automation business. In his 5 years at Agilent, he led the growth of business units in both Automation (Santa Clara, CA) and Electrophoresis (Waldbronn, Germany) demonstrating successful launch of new products, increases in revenue and profitability, and development of emerging markets. Sood brings more than 15 years of experience in product development and commercialization, which includes senior management experience at Applied Biosystems. Sood holds master’s degrees in computer science and molecular biology.
“We are delighted to have Nitin join the Boreal team as our new CEO. As Boreal has grown beyond the research stage to product commercialization and distribution, we feel fortunate to have attracted someone of Nitin’s caliber to drive Boreal toward commercial success. Nitin’s outstanding successes at Agilent, his proven leadership skills, and extensive experience in instrument commercialization will power the next stages of growth at Boreal as we move toward new markets in forensics and clinical diagnostics,” said Marziali.
We are very excited about the innovation and application progress Boreal has made to date. Coupling this remarkable progress and the Boreal team with first tier commercial leadership in the person of Nitin Sood, is a powerful combination and one that will lead Boreal to important commercial successes,” said Keith Crandell, Co-founder and Managing Director, ARCH Venture Partners.
December 15, 2010
Boreal Genomics Secures $6.9 Million in Series B Funding
Commercial vendor of SCODA nucleic acid purification and enrichment technology delivers benefits to purification of challenging samples in life science and forensics applications.
Vancouver, BC, Canada – December 15, 2010
Boreal Genomics, the developer and commercial provider of the SCODA bio-molecule separation technology, announced today that it has secured its first institutional financing, a Series B round totaling $6.9 million. ARCH Venture Partners, Kearny Venture Partners and GrowthWorks Capital Ltd led the round with participation from InQTel. Funding will be used to accelerate the commercialization of the Aurora instrument and cartridge product line to customers in need of high performance nucleic acid purification and concentration methods and to further develop additional bio-molecule separation capabilities.
Boreal had previously raised a Series A round from angel investors including the President and Co-founder, Dr. Andre Marziali, and Chairman of the Board, Dr. Tom Willis. The SCODA technology was developed at the University of British Columbia, with financial and infrastructure support from a number of sources including the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the US National Institutes of Health, Genome BC, and the Canadian Institutes for Health Research. These, and additional grants and contracts directly to Boreal, allowed substantial company growth and development of the technology through non-dilutive funding.
“Dr. Marziali ‘s team has done remarkable work pioneering and building out this breakthrough nucleic acid purification platform. The University of British Columbia is a powerhouse of a commercialization partner”, says Keith Crandell, Co-founder and Managing Director, ARCH Venture Partners.
With its recent shipment of the first Aurora nucleic acid purification instruments, Boreal has entered a beta trial program, and plans to ship instruments broadly in 2011. Initial target markets will include environmental sample processing, with applications in life science research, bio defense, and forensics. Boreal envisions broadening its product offerings to clinical research applications, as it simultaneously expands the throughput of the instrument.
“Kearny is very excited about the Boreal technology developed by Andre and his team. SCODA completely changes the paradigm of nucleic acid separation and purification. Current technologies utilize physical binding properties of nucleic acids and inherently have a trade-off between efficiency of recovery and purification. By using the physical behavior of nucleic acids in a gel matrix, SCODA does not have this trade off and can both purify and concentrate at the same time. We believe this characteristic will be revolutionary in the next few years for research and forensic markets. Additionally, SCODA can be applied to nucleic acid sequence specific enrichment which longer term may enable multiple diagnostic tests. We are excited about the prospects of Boreal and look forward to helping this young company grow” says Caley Castelein, General Partner, Kearny Venture Partners.
As part of the Series B investment, Dr. Nick Naclerio, Keith Crandell, and Dr. Caley Castelein join Drs. Marziali and Willis on Boreal’s Board of Directors.
“We are excited to support world-class opportunities such as this undertaking by Dr. Marziali and team which continue to advance the presence of British Columbia as a technology centre.”, says Maria Pacella of GrowthWorks Capital.
