Collaboration to identify and support high-potential genomics-focused start-ups and research ventures
The Illumina Ventures inaugural Irish Genomics Business Plan Competition, is an initiative established to identify and support high-potential genomics-focused start-ups and research ventures emerging from Ireland’s rapidly growing life sciences ecosystem.
The CRT collaborated with Illumina Ventures to design and promote the competition within the Irish genomics community and following a competitive review process of submitted entries from across Ireland involving leading scientific, business, intellectual property, and legal experts, NAX Bioscience and Imragen were selected as the two winners of the competition in recognition of their innovative genomics-driven technologies and strong commercial potential.
NAX Bioscience is transforming the efficiency of Next-Generation Sequencing. By developing an innovative nucleic acid extraction technology, NAX is working to ensure superior input quality to deliver more reliable, cost-effective sequencing results.
Imragen is a new commercial venture being spun out of the Campbell lab at TCD’s Smurfit Institute of Genetics. Imragen will develop a range of methodologies to restore the integrity of the blood-brain and blood-retina barriers. The technology was developed using an advanced functional genomics-based approach and will seek to treat a range of neurological and ophthalmological conditions.
Illumina Ventures is an independently managed venture capital firm focused on genomics and precision health investing. The firm invests in early-stage companies
spanning life science tools, clinical diagnostics, therapeutic platforms, and planetary health.The Irish Genomics Business Plan Competition was launched by Illumina Ventures in collaboration with Illumina, the Research Ireland Centre for Research Training in Genomics Data Science, PurdyLucey Intellectual Property, and Pinsent Masons Ireland LLP. The competition was designed to support early-stage companies and advanced research projects leveraging next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies to address challenges in human and planetary health.
NAX Bioscience and Imragen will each receive a comprehensive support package that includes access to Illumina sequencing consumables and technical expertise, strategic mentorship from Illumina Ventures, intellectual property guidance, legal support, and access to Ireland’s genomics data science ecosystem..