ROCHESTER, N.Y., Jan. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Trillium Group, a Rochester, N.Y.-based venture capital and commercial development firm, today announced it is investing in Thermal Gradient, Inc., a Rochester bio-technology start-up company. Thermal Gradient is developing a DNA amplification technology that will result in much faster and less expensive DNA testing products than have ever been available.
DNA amplification is a process for replicating large amounts of DNA from just a few original strands. Thermal Gradient’s technology greatly simplifies and accelerates the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the most popular DNA amplification method available and the basis of a multi-billion dollar segment of the clinical diagnostics business.
Financial support comes from Trillium’s University Technology Seed Fund (UTSF), a fund focused on facilitating commercialization of new inventions and discoveries, such as Thermal Gradient’s DNA amplification technology, that offer high potential for commercial success.
“We are excited with the opportunities associated with this technology,” said Jose J. Coronas, general partner, Trillium Group. “It will solve the most significant problems associated with PCR-based diagnostics and it will catalyze tremendous growth in this segment of the diagnostics industry.” Most PCR reactions are currently run by highly-trained technicians in single batches that may take hours to complete. But, with Thermal Gradient’s technology, it will be possible to develop automated instruments capable of running many different tests simultaneously, with results available in minutes instead of hours.
Other potential applications for this technology exist in such areas as DNA fingerprinting, forensics, food and water testing, and even bio-warfare. Thermal Gradient was founded in 2004 by Dr. Joel Grover, CEO, and Robert Juncosa, chief technical officer and the inventor of the technology. Both Rochester residents, Dr. Grover has worked for Johnson & Johnson’s Ortho Clinical Diagnostics and Xerox Corp. Mr. Juncosa previously worked for Ortho Clinical Diagnostics and several other bio-technology companies. “We’re creating a micro-fluidic device less than half the size of a paper clip that can perform DNA amplification as fast as nature will allow,” said Dr. Grover. “Testing instruments based on our technology will be able to detect infected blood, food, water, soil, and air in the fastest, most efficient way possible. We will be able to detect within minutes, for example, whether someone has a disease such as HIV or whether we are under attack with an air-born pathogen such as anthrax.”
“It’s very important, with a seed venture such as ours, to have investors who can understand and share our vision,” added Mr. Juncosa. “Trillium is uniquely poised in this sense because one of its general partners, Jose Coronas, ran Ortho Clinical Diagnostics for several years. He grasped our concept immediately and could see its potential.”
Earlier this fall, Thermal Gradient formed a partnership with the Infotonics Center in Canandaigua, N.Y. to design and fabricate these devices. The first prototypes have been fabricated and will be tested at the University of Rochester Medical Center’s Functional Genomic Center starting in February.
For more information on Thermal Gradient, visit http://www.thermalgradient.com/.
About Trillium Group
Trillium Group specializes in startup, early stage, and high growth businesses, with a concentration on technology-based companies. Trillium invests through venture capital funds under management, including the University Technology Seed Fund, the Monroe Fund, and the Trillium Lakefront Partners III Fund. Depending on business needs, equity investments range from as little as $50,000 to several million dollars. For more information on Trillium, visit http://www.trillium-group.com/.
Trillium Group
CONTACT: Jose Coronas, Trillium Group, +1-585-383-5680, or Dr. JoelGrover, Thermal Gradient, Inc., +1-585-248-9598, or Kristine Thompson, DixonSchwabl Advertising, +1-585-899-3224
