Within this ERC POC we developed, patented and initiated the commercialization of SENSEI a novel single cell genomics platform for classifying individual cell types from their native context, without the need for any markers. We have developed and established the technology to showcase it for potential customers. We presented SENSEI potential for personalized medicine and drug discovery. In various conferences and described how it can have profound impacts on the future of healthcare. One such example is the use of SENSEI in cancer diagnostics by suggesting immunotherpahy sensitivity. Thus, an accurate and in-depth analysis of tumor niche with SENSEI would enable researchers and clinicians to patrician patients into responding versus none responding groups.
We demonstrated the technology viability by designing and implementing a commercial prototype and patenting the technology through a close co-operation with YEDA the independent technology transfer company of the Weizmann Institute of Science. Currently, we have identified an high potential path for successful commercialization. Through license or sell the protected IP to interested companies, in this case we have presented the technology to Merck for personalized medicine and drug discovery . YEDA will provide valuable guidance on protecting patents arising from the proposed POC. Should the commercialization vehicle be a spin-off company, the IP in question is licenced to the company by WIS, typically in return of partial ownership of the company. WIS then provides professional support for both R&D and business development e.g. by granting the spin-off access to its facilities. Thanks to reasonable initial infrastructure costs and the other in-house services available, the WIS spin-offs have also a viable possibility to efficiently continue their post-POC R&D and business development efforts.
