UCC Innovation today announced the launch of SeqBiome a spinout from APC Microbiome Ireland, SFI Research Centre, University College Cork and Teagasc (the Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority). SeqBiome provides high-quality and interactive sequencing and microbiome analysis for academia and industry. The offering is comprehensive and spans the microbiome project continuum with an aim of creating meaningful microbiome insights for clients across industries such as Pharmaceuticals, Nutrition, Sport, Healthcare, Agriculture and other Life Sciences.
The distinguished Co-Founders of SeqBiome, Dr Marcus Claesson (CEO), Prof Paul Cotter (CTO) and Brad Wrigley (Executive Director) have over 40 years of combined published microbiome experience, with over 350 papers and 23,000 citations.
Prof. Anita R. Maguire, VP Research & Innovation, UCC today commented on the launch of SeqBiome
The launch of SeqBiome as the most recent spin-out company to emerge based on the excellent research underway within APC is very welcome - bringing this capability in sequencing and bioinformatic analysis of microbiome to commercial reality is a tremendous milestone for those involved in this research area within APC.
Dr Marcus Claesson, SeqBiome founder and CEO also commented;
"For many Pharma, Nutrition, Sport, Agriculture and Healthcare companies, microbiome analysis is a complex and time-consuming process. It requires the support of expensive sequencing facilities, significant computational power and an extensive expertise in bioinformatic analysis and interpretation.Without these in-house capabilities, commercial organisations struggle to derive meaningful and reliable information about their products and their impact on microbiomes.We are incredibly excited to officially launch SeqBiome and provide a range of world class sequencing and analysis services to support our clients with these challenges. After a short few months our existing clients and partners already include Nestle, MARS Petcare, Atlantia, Alpinia Institute, Microbion and the PrecisionBiotics Group. We're building a vastly experienced team with a shared vision to help these and other organizations develop world class products that make a real difference to microbiome health.
The spin-out wouldn't have been possible without the support from Enterprise Ireland, UCC, APC and Teagasc."
UCC Innovation has played a key role in the launch of new UCC spin out SeqBiome Ltd and I am delighted to see the establishment of this exciting company which has seen first-class research and state-of-the-art capability transition into a commercial reality with endless possibilities for growth and expansion''
Dr Rich Ferrie, UCC Innovation Director
APC Director Paul Ross commented:
"APC Microbiome Ireland is delighted with the launch of its new spin out company SeqBiome Ltd - a company dedicated to custom sequencing and bioinformatic analysis of microbiome-related samples. The establishment of the new company is testament to the vision and courage of the main APC co-founders Professor Paul Cotter and Dr Marcus Claesson and is the latest spin out company associated with the APC following in the footsteps of Atlantia Food Clinical Trials Ltd, Artugen Therapeutics, 4D Pharma Cork Ltd, and PrecisionBiotics Ltd. SeqBiome is a great example of the APC's ambition to translate high-quality research and state-of-the-art capability into commercial reality with the creation of increased critical mass, hi-tech jobs and economic success - centred around microbiome science. This is perfectly aligned with SFI objectives and government strategy to deliver economic impact built on a world-class scientific knowledge base."
Welcoming the announcement, Prof Mark Ferguson, Director General, Science Foundation Ireland and Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government of Ireland, said:
"I am delighted to see SeqBiomelaunch in the areas of sequence analysis and bioinformatics, as a spin-out from theAPC Microbiome Ireland SFI Research Centre.It demonstrates the strength of the Irish research ecosystem in supporting the commercialisation and transfer of cutting-edge research into the marketplace and highlights the important role played by the SFI Research Centres in advancing knowledge, enhancing enterprise and industry, developing critical skills and growing Ireland's international reputation for research excellence."
Teagasc Director, Professor Gerry Boyle said:
"Teagasc is delighted to see the launch of the spin-out company, SeqBiome Ltd. It's a further reflection of the cutting-edge nature of the applied microbiome-, DNA sequencing- and bioinformatics-related research that is carried out at Teagasc. It also exemplifies another route through which Teagasc can contribute to high quality job creation to support the Irish economy. We wish co-founder and CTO, Prof Paul Cotter, who is the Head of Food Biosciences at Teagasc, and his APC Microbiome Ireland colleague and CEO, Dr Marcus Claesson, and executive Director, Brad Wrigley, the very best with this venture and note the important contributions of Dr Orla O'Sullivan and Dr Fiona Crispie of Teagasc in the establishment of SeqBiome."
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