Oxford Nanopore Technologies is a leading Oxford-headquartered life science company led by Gordon Sanghera as its CEO. As part of a new research partnership, the company will use its pioneering technology to conduct genetic sequencing of 50,000 samples from UK Biobank – the world’s most advanced source of data for health research.
The UK Biobank Epigenetics Project will mean that the root causes of diseases like cancer, dementia and heart disease are set to be better understood thanks to the development of a world-first “epigenetic map” of the human genome – which could lead to breakthroughs in new diagnoses and treatments.
Sanghera explained: “This project represents a significant leap forward in epigenetic research, an increasingly important area of study related to disease progression and response to treatment. Working with UK Biobank to create the world’s largest epigenetic dataset aligns with our commitment to drive discovery in healthcare and genomics.
“By capturing comprehensive methylation data, we aim to open new doors for understanding disease, especially cancer, and ultimately enable more personalised, effective treatments for patients.”
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This new resource for medical researchers will be created thanks to the UK government’s new strategic partnership with Oxford Nanopore, UK Biobank, NHS England and Genomics England. Epigenetics is the emerging study of how inheritable traits – such as the risk of developing a certain disease – can emerge and change without actual changes in our DNA code, but rather as a result of modifications that change how our genes are expressed. These modifications can arise randomly, but also in response to environmental factors like smoking or UV exposure. Put simply, if our DNA is the instructions in the cookbook, our epigenome is the chef. Different chefs will interpret the cooking method in their own way, and as a result, the meal produced will be different.
UK Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “Our 10 Year Health Plan will shift the focus of healthcare from sickness to prevention, to tackle the root causes of devastating diseases like cancer and dementia.
“We will marry the care and compassion of the NHS with the ingenuity of our country’s leading scientific minds, to develop new cutting-edge treatments and technologies, and make our NHS fit for the future.”
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The research partnership announced last week comes just a few weeks on from the Budget, where the government announced investment of £40 million over five years in a Proof of Concept Fund for spinouts, companies formed based on academic research generated within and owned by a university. This will build on the excellent example set by Oxford Nanopore, one of the UK’s most successful spinout companies, having been founded at Oxford University in 2005.
The UK’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology hopes the fund could help to unleash a raft of innovative new spinouts like Oxford Nanopore, helping to drive job creation and economic growth.
*Info: Oxford Nanopore Technologies
