Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SIMDEQ (SIngle Molecule DEtection and Quantification (SIMDEQ): A new platform for genetic and epigenetic analysis)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2014-11-01 al 2016-04-30
Through the research conducted under our original DNA Tools ERC grant we have already devised and validated a number of powerful approaches that allow the extraction of novel and valuable information from DNA molecules, including detection of the number, location, and type of epigenetic base-modifications. Although these techniques have demonstrated the potential of SIMDEQ to open up these currently inaccessible areas of important research, planning for the development and commercialisation of this technology was beyond the scope of the original grant, hence the need for this ERC Proof-of-Concept project.
We have now concluded work on this grant, and successfully completed the primary objectives set forth in the original proposal:
1. To perform a competitive analysis in order to build up a detailed picture of the genetic and epigenetic markets at both macroeconomic and micro-economic levels, and understand the needs of future SIMDEQ customers
2. To develop a technical development strategy for commercial implementation of the SIMDEQ technology
3. To better understand the IP landscape and freedom-to-operate (FTO) status of the SIMDEQ approach
4. To build a strong network of contacts among key opinion leaders in the epigenetics field
The outputs from this ERC Proof-of-Concept grant have been invaluable in putting together a solid business plan for a spin-out company, Depixus (formerly PicoSeq), and subsequently successful completion of a seed financing round.