US-based R&D clinical laboratory Wasatch Biolabs (WBL) announced on Friday that it has partnered with Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT), a UK-based company delivering a new generation of nanopore-based molecular sensing technology.

The partnership is aimed at developing a Direct Whole Methylome Sequencing product that addresses key limitations related with traditional bisulphite sequencing and methylation microarrays.

WBL develops proprietary methylation and genomic assays for mass-market research and customised clinical applications incorporating Oxford Nanopore's rich genomic insights and rapid, accessible, and affordable sequencing technology. This collaboration is designed to build on Wasatch BioLab's existing proprietary methylation assays and create market-leading offers to drive innovation in genomic and epigenomic analysis, accelerating breakthroughs in research and clinical applications.

Chad Pollard, Wasatch BioLabs CEO and co-founder, said, 'Through this collaboration, we are utilising Oxford Nanopore's industry-leading sequencing technology and additional technological expertise to accelerate product development and bring groundbreaking innovations to market faster. These products are poised to redefine the standard for epigenetic research and revolutionize the field.'