Acuity Spatial Genomics Announces Formation to Open up New Frontiers for in situ, Spatial 3D Genomics
18 March 2021 - 10:00PM
Business Wire
Acuity Technology Enables the Possibility to
See the 3D Genome in situ and at Single-Cell and Sub-Cellular
Resolution
Acuity Spatial Genomics, Inc. today announced the completion of
a majority investment by Bruker Corporation (Nasdaq: BRKR). Acuity
is a new venture focused on opening a new frontier in spatial 3D
genomics and multiomic analyses for discovery. The novel technology
platform of Acuity Spatial Genomics, enabled by an exclusive
license to innovations from Harvard University, allows progress in
genome-wide visualization of spatially resolved 3D chromatin
architecture in individual cells and cell populations in situ. The
company’s single-cell technology of OligoFISSEQ™ and accelerated
super-resolution technology of OligoFISSEQ HD™ will make it
possible for researchers to make a range of in situ
discoveries—gaining insight into the 3D relationships between
chromosomes, gene identities and their spatial position in the
nucleus; physical gene positioning on chromosomes; chromosome 3D
conformation; chromosome and gene copy number variation;
chromosomal compartments, TADs and loops; and spatially resolved
enhancer-promoter interactions. These unique spatially resolved
genomic measurements and their relationships to information in the
transcriptome and proteome provide critical context in
understanding the complete multiomic picture.
Acuity Spatial Genomics leverages patented innovations developed
in the lab of Ting Wu, PhD, Professor of Genetics in the Blavatnik
Institute at Harvard Medical School (HMS). Wu’s lab and her
collaborators developed innovations that multiplex Oligopaint
pipeline protocols and reagent methods and analysis techniques to
create a shorter time-to-result and more cost-effective approach to
directly visualize the genome—spatially and in situ. Many aspects
of this capability were highlighted in a 2020 publication in Nature
Methods. The Harvard Office of Technology Development facilitated
the license agreement.
Dr. Wu commented, “Together with our collaborators, we have
pursued the mission of chromosome and chromatin structural
visualization over several years. I hope that our approach will
allow many others to explore and probe the mechanisms of disease
and health toward uncovering insights that can transform our
understanding and, eventually, treatment of disease.”
The licensed innovations at the core of the OligoFISSEQ and
OligoFISSEQ HD technologies will be further developed and
commercialized by Acuity Spatial Genomics. The mission for the new
company is that, with deeper understanding of 3D chromatin
architecture, researchers can gain critical insight into
transcription regulatory programs that drive cell type, state,
pathogenesis, and function. There is ongoing research today
applying spatial biology techniques to the transcriptome and
proteome; however, the ability to perform spatial analyses of the
genome in situ, in the nucleus, has been limited. Acuity Spatial
Genomics brings forward the technologies to allow that—providing
much needed direct measurement and visualization of genome
organization in situ, at the single-cell and sub-cellular level, in
3D, and where needed, in super-resolution. These genomic insights
can help further the understanding of complex questions in
oncology, neuroscience, infectious disease, and cell
development.
Mark R. Munch, PhD, the President of Bruker Corporation’s Bruker
Nano Group, worked to form this venture and will serve additionally
as the Acuity CEO. Two postdoctoral members of the Wu Lab—Huy Q.
Nguyen, PhD, and Shyamtanu Chattoraj, PhD—are joining the company
as cofounders, lending their expertise in the technology to the new
venture. Dr. Wu will serve on the Scientific Advisory Board, as
will George Church, PhD, Professor of Genetics in the Blavatnik
Institute at HMS.
“We are thrilled to form the company and accelerate the pathway
for enabling scientific discoveries in basic and translational
research leveraging these technologies,” said Dr. Munch. “We have
an exciting future and know we will be contributing to significant
advances in these fields. I am very pleased to be starting this
pioneering endeavor with Huy and Shyamtanu.”
Acuity Spatial Genomics is a new venture supported by Bruker
Corporation as part of its strategic investment in spatial biology.
Development of the technology at Harvard Medical School was
supported in part by a research collaboration between the Wu Lab
and Bruker, and Acuity’s transformative spatial 3D genomics
platform is part of a larger initiative by Bruker to develop and
expand emerging spatial analysis technologies that can empower
researchers with the ability to delve deeper and advance discovery
in basic life science and translational research.
About Acuity Spatial Genomics
Acuity Spatial Genomics, Inc. provides a ground-breaking
platform designed for simultaneous, genome-wide visualization of
the 3D genome in single cells and opens new frontiers in spatial
multiomic analyses for discovery. Based on patented technologies
developed at Harvard University, the company’s OligoFISSEQ™ and
OligoFISSEQ HD™ technologies empower researchers to visualize the
genome organization and 3D chromatin architecture of individual
cells, directly in situ, and in an accessible time-to-result and
cost-effective approach. The Acuity technology platform enables the
possibility to delve deeper and gain critical insight into
transcription regulatory programs that drive cell type, state,
function, and pathogenesis—and thus advance discovery in areas such
as oncology, neuroscience, and infectious disease. The company
plans to operate from facilities in Massachusetts and
California.
About Bruker Corporation (Nasdaq: BRKR)
Bruker is enabling scientists to make breakthrough discoveries
and develop new applications that improve the quality of human
life. Bruker’s high performance scientific instruments and high
value analytical and diagnostic solutions enable scientists to
explore life and materials at molecular, cellular and microscopic
levels. In close cooperation with our customers, Bruker is enabling
innovation, improved productivity and customer success in life
science molecular and cell biology research, in applied and pharma
applications, in microscopy and nanoanalysis, as well as in
industrial applications. Bruker offers differentiated, high-value
life science and diagnostics systems and solutions in preclinical
imaging, clinical phenomics research, proteomics and multiomics,
spatial and single-cell biology, functional structural and
condensate biology, as well as in clinical microbiology and
molecular diagnostics.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210318005226/en/
For more information: www.acuitygenomics.com
Acuity Media Contact: media@acuitygenomics.com
Bruker Investor Contact: Miroslava Minkova Bruker
Director of Investor Relations & Corporate Development T: +1
(978) 663-3660, ext. 1479 E: Investor.Relations@bruker.com
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