Phase Genomics Explained

Phase Genomics
Type:	Startup company
Industry:	Biotechnology
Founded:	2015
Founders:	Ivan Liachko, Shawn Sullivan
Location City:	Seattle, Washington, US
Key People:	Ivan Liachko (CEO, president), Shawn Sullivan (CTO)

Phase Genomics is an American biotechnology company based in Seattle, Washington. The company develops proximity ligation kits and Hi-C sequencing technology used to analyze chromosomes. Phase Genomics sells proximity ligation kits, scientific services, and computational analyses.

History

The company was founded by Ivan Liachko and Shawn Sullivan in 2015. It was originally housed in the CoMotion biotech incubator at University of Washington before relocating to a separate facility. It develops proximity ligation kits and Hi-C sequencing technology used to analyze chromosomes. The company sells proximity ligation kits, scientific services, and computational analyses.^[1]

Research

Phase Genomics developed a library preparation kit for the Hi-C sequencing method previously developed by researchers Job Dekker and Eric Lander. The kits are used to study the architecture of genomes.^[2] In 2018, Phase Genomics received a $1.5 million SBIR grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) to research antimicrobial resistance using Hi-C technology. In January 2020, it was awarded an additional $1.5 million from NIAID for phase 2 SBIR funding.^[3] In 2019, Phase Genomics received $200,000 from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to improve computational methods of extracting genomic data in microbiome samples. Later in 2019, the company was awarded $325,000 from the U.S. Department of Energy to research algae biofuels using proximity litigation technology for metagenome assembly.^[4] In 2020, Phase Genomics received 2 grants totaling $3.9 million from the National Human Genome Research Institute and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. The 3-year grants fund research on chromosomal abnormalities causing cancer, infertility, and reproductive issues.

In June 2021, the company released a platform for discovering new viruses in microbiome samples.^{[5] [6]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: Stiffler. Lisa. 2020-09-30. Phase Genomics lands $3.9M in grants to improve testing for chromosomal abnormalities. 2021-01-31. GeekWire. en-US.
2. LeMieux. Julianna. 2018-11-15. Precision Medicine Looks beyond DNA Sequences. Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News. en. 38. 20. 1, 22, 24–25. 10.1089/gen.38.20.02. 239781336 . 1935-472X.
3. Web site: January 7, 2020. Phase Genomics Wins $1.5M for Proximity Ligation-Based AMR Tracking. 2021-01-31. GenomeWeb. en-us.
4. Web site: Kotrba. Ron. October 22, 2019. Phase Genomics awarded DOE grant for algae biofuel research. 2021-01-31. Biodiesel Magazine. en.
5. Gounot . Jean-Sebastien . Chia . Minghao . Bertrand . Denis . Saw . Woei-Yuh . Ravikrishnan . Aarthi . Low . Adrian . Ding . Yichen . Ng . Amanda Hui Qi . Tan . Linda Wei Lin . Teo . Yik-Ying . Seedorf . Henning . Nagarajan . Niranjan . 2022-10-13 . Genome-centric analysis of short and long read metagenomes reveals uncharacterized microbiome diversity in Southeast Asians . Nature Communications . en . 13 . 1 . 6044 . 10.1038/s41467-022-33782-z . 36229545 . 9561172 . 2022NatCo..13.6044G . 2041-1723.
6. Web site: 2021-06-15 . Phase Genomics Releases Platform for Discovering New Viruses in Microbiome Samples . 2022-12-07 . www.businesswire.com . en.