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Category Archives: Transhuman News

Astronauts need a fridge. Engineers are building one that works in zero gravity and upside down. – Purdue News Service

Posted: April 15, 2021 at 6:30 am

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. For astronauts to go on long missions to the moon or Mars, they need a refrigerator. But todays fridges arent designed to work in zero gravity or upside down if oriented that way when a spacecraft lands on another planet.

A team of engineers from Purdue University, Air Squared Inc., and Whirlpool Corporation is working on building a fridge for zero gravity that operates in different orientations and just as well as the one in your kitchen, giving astronauts access to longer-lasting and more nutritious food.

In May, the team will test their fridge design on Zero Gravity Corporations (ZERO-G) unique weightless research lab. The only testing space of its kind in the United States, the specially designed plane will fly in microgravity dozens of times for 20-second intervals during each of four flights. Data from these flights, which are supported by NASAs Flight Opportunities program, will help the team determine if the design is ready to be used in space.

The canned and dried food that astronauts currently eat during missions have a shelf life of only about three years. The teams project, funded by NASAs Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, aims to give astronauts a supply of food that could last five to six years.

Astronauts need to have better quality food that they can take along. And so thats where a refrigerator comes into play. But its still a relatively novel technology for space, said Eckhard Groll, a professor and head of Purdues School of Mechanical Engineering.

The engineers are not the first to attempt building a fridge like those used on Earth for space missions, but they are among the few who have tried since astronauts walked on the moon in 1969. Even though fridge experiments have been in space before, they either didnt work well enough or eventually broke down.

Cooling systems currently on the International Space Station are used for experiments and storing biological samples rather than for storing food, and they consume significantly more energy than fridges on Earth. The team is aiming to design a fridge that could be sent into space ahead of a mission and operate at freezer temperatures to meet the needs of astronauts. (Watch a YouTube video.)

The engineers May flights will test possible solutions to making the type of cooling process that a typical fridge uses vapor compression refrigeration reliable enough for space missions.

When I jumped on this project, it wasnt completely clear what the problems would be, since there havent been many vapor compression refrigeration experiments in microgravity in the past, said Leon Brendel, a Purdue Ph.D. student in mechanical engineering. In a typical fridge, gravity helps to keep liquid and vapor where they are supposed to be. Similarly, the oil lubrication system inside of a fridges compressor is gravity-based. When bringing new technology into space, making the entire system reliable in zero gravity is key.

Brendel and Paige Beck, a Purdue junior majoring in mechanical engineering, and three other members of the team from Air Squared will be flying with experiments testing various aspects of the fridge design. For each flight, the plane will perform 30 parabolas including Martian, lunar and micro gravities. During and after the peak of the parabola, the engineers will experience a microgravity environment, allowing them to float around to observe their experiments and collect data.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me. I cant wait to board the plane, Brendel said.

The teams fridge prototype is about the size of a microwave, ideal for potentially fitting onto the International Space Station and plugging into an electrical outlet like on Earth. The prototype, built by Air Squared, will fly as one of the teams three experiments.

Purdue researchers built two other experiments to fly that will help them understand in detail how well the prototype operates. One of these experiments is a larger version of the prototype with sensors and other instruments to measure the effects of gravity on the vapor compression cycles, while the other experiment tests the prototypes vulnerability to liquid flooding that could damage the fridge. The experiments were built at Purdue's Ray W. Herrick Laboratories, facilities for research on heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration.

The Purdue team is testing the ability of the fridge design to operate in different orientations, such as upside down and sideways, by rotating the larger version of the prototype in the lab. Rotating this experiment gives the team a sense of how gravity affects the design before flying in May.

Nowhere on the ground can you find microgravity to run an experiment, but we can change the relative direction of gravity to our fridge by rotating it, Brendel said.

If the researchers prove in their lab that gravity has a negligible impact on the vapor compression cycle, then the design might also work in zero gravity. And if the fridge can work in any orientation then space crews wouldnt have to worry about making sure the fridge is right side up at a landing.

To avoid the problem of how a zero gravity environment would affect the flow of oil throughout the fridge, Air Squared developed an oil-free compressor. The compressor will be tested both in the prototype and in its larger, more instrumented counterpart built by Purdue researchers.

No gravity means that oil isnt flowing where it should. Our design provides a higher reliability by not requiring oil in the compressor so that the fridge can run for a long period of time and not be challenged by a microgravity environment, where oil might leave the compressor, become trapped in the system and render the compressor inoperable, said Stephen Caskey, a project engineer at Air Squared, principal investigator for the teams NASA SBIR award and an alum of Purdues School of Mechanical Engineering.

Whirlpool Corporation provided other components for the fridge experiments as well as expertise on how to integrate these components, run the experiments and package the prototype in a way that would meet requirements for use on the International Space Station.

If you have a problem with a fridge in space, you cant just call a service team to come fix your fridge like you can on Earth, said Alberto Gomes, senior principal engineer at Whirlpool Corporation. When we develop fridges for household applications, reliability is a very important piece. You need the fridge to last for several years. Weve brought in some expertise to this project on how to make these systems more reliable for space.

If these experiments are successful, it shouldnt be long before astronauts have a reliable fridge in space, the researchers said.

During the last two years of this project, we have made tremendous strides in moving the technology forward, Groll said. If these parabolic flights check out as we imagine they will and prove our system works in microgravity, were just a couple years away from having a refrigerator for spaceflight. Were excited to provide the refrigerator for that flight. I think we have all the tools in place to do so.

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to todays toughest challenges. Ranked the No. 5 Most Innovative University in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap athttps://purdue.edu/.

Writer, Purdue University media contact: Kayla Wiles, 765-494-2432, wiles5@purdue.edu

Air Squared media contacts: Ryan Riebau, r.riebau@airsquared.com; Kirk Shaffer, k.shaffer@airsquared.com

Whirlpool Corporation media contact: Cean Burgeson, cean_m_burgeson@whirlpool.com

Zero Gravity Corporation (www.gozerog.com) contact: kleeds@kirvindoak.com

Sources:

Eckhard Groll, groll@purdue.edu

Leon Brendel, lbrende@purdue.edu

Stephen Caskey, s.caskey@airsquared.com

Alberto Gomez, alberto_r_gomes@whirlpool.com

Michelle Peters, michelle@gozerog.com

Journalists visiting campus: Journalists should followProtect Purdue protocolsandthe followingguidelines:

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As International Space Station shows signs of falling apart, Putin approves ambitious plan for Russia to make its own replacement – RT

Posted: at 6:30 am

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed off on plans for the country to begin the construction of a manned orbital satellite to eventually replace the International Space Station (ISS), which appears to be on its last legs.

In recent years, the ISS has begun to fall apart, with astronauts now frequently discovering cracks. Last week, it was revealed that Russian cosmonauts were still working on plugging a leak first noticed in 2019. The ongoing problems with the international station have prompted Moscow to begin creating a replacement.

Called ROSS, the Russian orbital satellite will consist of three to seven modules and will be able to carry up to four people. Although only approved by Putin on Monday, on the 60th anniversary of Yuri Gagarins landmark first human spaceflight, the project has been in the works for some time. Last November, the first deputy designer general for space contractor RSC Energia revealed his belief that Russia needed to get started on a new station, saying the ISS was already falling apart.

Until 2025, Russia has obligations to participate in the ISS program, Vladimir Solovyov told the Russian Academy of Sciences. There are already a number of elements that have been seriously damaged and are out of service. Many of them are not replaceable. After 2025, we predict an avalanche-like failure of numerous elements onboard the ISS.

Russia has a long history of making its own satellites, with Sputnik 1 being the first to ever be launched into low Earth orbit, all the way back in 1957. In 1986, the Soviets launched a domestically made space station named Mir, which at the time was the largest artificial satellite in orbit.

Last May, Russian space agency Roscomos revealed that the proposed ROSS could be ready for deployment after 2024.

Despite Moscows willingness to go it alone, Roscosmos has reaffirmed its commitment to international cooperation in recent months. Earlier this month, Russia signed off on a plan to continue to collaborate with the US in space, and the two nations are due to use each others rockets to head into the cosmos. Roscosmos also signed a moon exploration deal with China in March, with the space agency agreeing to share a lunar station with Beijing.

While space has often been a place for international competition, both Washington and Moscow regularly help each other in times of need. For example, earlier this year, American astronauts donated food to their Russian counterparts when supplies from Earth were delayed.

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As International Space Station shows signs of falling apart, Putin approves ambitious plan for Russia to make its own replacement - RT

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113-year-old Michigan train station to be redeveloped into mixed-use community space – MLive.com

Posted: at 6:30 am

LANSING, MI A 113-year-old former train station in Michigans capital city is on deck to become a mixed-use community space if a brownfield redevelopment plan is approved, according to a news release from the city mayors office.

Most recently occupied by Claras Restaurant, the historic train station, 637 E. Michigan Ave., sits vacant in downtown Lansings Michigan Avenue Corridor just a few blocks from the Capitol building. The Gillespie Group has plans to develop it.

The redevelopment of the train station on the Michigan Avenue Corridor will be the latest project to further revitalize the Stadium District in downtown Lansing, Mayor Andy Schor said in a statement.

Recent development in the area includes the opening of the Capital City Market and the Courtyard by Marriott hotel.

The repurposing of this now vacant building will help create an even more vibrant Michigan Avenue, while still allowing residents to enjoy its historic charm, Schor said.

The news release was short on details about what the redeveloped building would offer, but said plans include mixed-use space for the entire community to enjoy.

The Gillespie Group has invested in and redeveloped downtown Lansing for more than a decade, including the BLOCK600 brownfield project across the street from the train station, which redeveloped several vacant, contaminated parcels, including a former gas station.

Brownfield plans are used to capture new property taxes generated by private investment as reimbursement for the cost of cleaning up contaminated sites.

The Gillespie Group has asked the City of Lansing and Lansing Brownfield Redevelopment Authority to amend the Michigan Avenue brownfield plan to include train station property.

LBRA approved the amended plan during a meeting on Friday, April 9. The Lansing City Council received the plan from the mayors office during its meeting on Monday; no action was taken.

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113-year-old Michigan train station to be redeveloped into mixed-use community space - MLive.com

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Elon Musk is an alien who tries to escape from earth, bizarre theory goes viral on internet – IBTimes India

Posted: April 13, 2021 at 6:52 am

Was Pentagon researching on alien and UFO-related incidents?

In an attempt to make humans a multi-planetary species, South African billionaire Elon Musk has several times detailed his plans to build a permanent colony on Mars. Musk believes that humans are the only conscious beings in the universe, and using this consciousness, the species should try to colonize other planets for a better tomorrow. As Musk continues his efforts to colonize other planets, a section of conspiracy theorists has started claiming that Elon Musk is an alien who is trying to escape from earth.

Is Elon Musk an alien?

According to conspiracy theorists, the ultimate aim of Elon Musk is to escape from planet earth, as he has accidentally reached earth, just like Superman visited earth in the Hollywood movie Man of Steel. These conspiracy theorists believe that Elon Musk's recent attempts to pursue Mars colonization is an indication that the billionaire wants to escape from planet earth by any means.

Representational Image of alien (Left), Elon Musk (Right)YouTube

Earlier, Elon Musk himself has revealed that he will visit Mars despite narrow chances of survival. He also made it clear that the future government that will be set up on the Red Planet will be based on direct democracy.

Moreover, in several tweets, Elon Musk had sarcastically claimed that he is an alien. Several users had recently asked Musk whether he is from Mars or from other planets from star systems like Alpha Centauri. To all these queries, Musk responded that he is an alien.

Alien existence on earth

A few months back, Haim Eshed, a former Israeli space security chief had claimed that alienexistence on earth is real. According to Eshed, an advanced alien species from a distant planet has been working together with world powers like the United States and Israel for several years. He also revealed that there is a galactic federation and a secretive base on Mars where representatives of humans and extraterrestrialsare working together.

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Elon Musk is an alien who tries to escape from earth, bizarre theory goes viral on internet - IBTimes India

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Bionano Genomics Announces Record Number of Presentations on Optical Genome Mapping and Structural Variation at the 2021 Annual Clinical Genetics…

Posted: at 6:42 am

Sixteen talks and posters, fourteen of which are from US institutions, to be presented across all four of Bionanos main target growth markets: prenatal, postnatal/constitutional genetics, blood cancers and solid tumor analysis

SAN DIEGO, April 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bionano Genomics, Inc. (Nasdaq: BNGO) today announced it largest presence to date at the 2021 Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), which is being held in a virtual format from April 13-16, 2021. The meeting features a total of sixteen presentations by Saphyr customers and Bionano scientists, almost three times the number presented last year and nearly all based on work done in the United States.

ACMG this year has the greatest number of presentations featuring Bionano data to date, commented Erik Holmlin, PhD, CEO of Bionano Genomics. We believe this multitude of presentations shows how significant Bionanos presence and that of optical genome mapping (OGM) has become in the medical genetics community. The progress we are seeing here from the US market, where almost all the data being presented at ACMG comes from, is particularly encouraging since the US has a higher barrier to adoption that could be addressed with data outlining the value proposition of our products and technology. We are thrilled to share this important clinical data in all four main target segments (prenatal, postnatal/constitutional genetics, blood cancers and solid tumor analysis) at the meeting.

Blood Cancers Oral and Poster Presentations:

Platform Presentation, Thursday, April 15, 2021, 5:30 pm. OP340 Optical Genome Mapping for Assessment of Genomic Aberrations in Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Multicenter Evaluation

eP085 Efficient workflow for detection of clinically relevant abnormalities in leukemias according to NCCN guidelines

eP068 Optical Genome Mapping Detects Rare Genetic Drivers in Pediatric B-Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Prenatal Oral and Poster Presentations:

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Product Theater (available on demand): Next-Generation Cytogenomic Characterization of Prenatal Cases by Optical Genome Mapping

eP501 Generation of a Prenatal Workflow for Identification of Structural Variation by Optical Genome Mapping (OGM)

eP502 Next-Generation Cytogenomic Characterization of Prenatal Cases by Optical Genome Mapping

Post-Natal Oral and Poster Presentations:

Platform Presentation, Wednesday, 4/14, 4:15 pm, part of Scientific Concurrent Session Hot Topics: Pushing the Boundaries of Genome Sequencing Clinically Relevant Genes Hiding In Plain Sight And How Long Range Technologies Resolve Them

eP436 Identification of Structural Variation in Constitutional Disorders by Optical Genome Mapping

eP406 Optical Genome Mapping Enables Constitutional Chromosomal Aberration Detection: Proof-of-Principle Study with 85 Samples

eP294 High Throughput Analysis of Disease Repeat Expansions and Contractions by Optical Mapping

eP447 Improving and Accelerating Clinical Molecular Diagnosis of Severe Hemophilia A with Optical Genome Mapping Technology

eP370 Fascioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy Genetic Testing by Optic Mapping

Solid Tumors Poster Presentations:

eP083 Clinical Utility of Optical Genome Mapping (OGM) in Cytogenetic Analysis of Brain Tumors

eP388 Optical Genomic Mapping Reveals Balanced and Unbalanced Cytogenetic Findings Associated with Tumor-forming Potential in a Prostate Cancer Cell line (M2205)

Global Whole Genome and Exome Sequencing Markets Report 2021-2025 Including Updated Whole Genome Sequence of Sars-Cov-2 – ResearchAndMarkets.com -…

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TipRanks

The investing game is rarely plain sailing. While no doubt investors would like the choices that make up their portfolio to always go up, the reality is more complicated. There are periods when even shares of the worlds most successful companies have been on a downward trajectory for one reason or another. While its no fun watching a stock you own drift to the bottom, any savvy investor knows that if the companys fundamentals are sound to begin with, the pullback is often a gift in disguise. This is where the chance for strong returns really comes into play. Buy the Dip is not a clich without reason. With this in mind, we scoured the TipRanks database and picked out 3 names which have been heading south recently, specifically ones pinpointed by those in the know as representing a buying opportunity. Whats more, all 3 are rated Strong Buys by the analyst consensus and projected to rake in at least 70% of gains over the next 12 months. Here are the details. Flexion Therapeutics (FLXN) Lets first take a look at Flexion, a pharma company specializing in the development and commercialization of therapies for the treatment of musculoskeletal pain. The company has two drugs currently in early-stage clinical trials but one which has already been approved by the FDA; Zilretta is an extended-release corticosteroid for the management of osteoarthritis knee pain. The drug was granted regulatory approval in 2017, and Flexion owns the exclusive worldwide rights. FLXN stock has found 2021 hard going and is down by 30% year-to-date. However, the recent weakness, says Northland analyst Carl Byrnes has created a unique buying opportunity. Like many biopharmas, Flexions marketing efforts took a hit during the height of the pandemic last year, as shutdowns and restrictions impacted its operations. However, Byrnes anticipates Zilretta to exhibit stellar growth in 2021 and beyond. We remain highly confident that the demand for ZILRETTA will continue to strengthen, bolstered by product awareness and positive clinical experiences of both patients and HCP, augmented by improvements in HCP interactions and deferral of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) surgical procedures, the analyst said. Byrnes expects Zilrettas 2021 sales to surge by 45% year-over-year to $125 million, and then increase by a further 50% to $187.5 million the following year. That revenue growth will go hand in hand with massive share appreciation; Byrnes price target is $35, suggesting upside of ~339% over the next 12 months. Needless to say Byrnes rating is an Outperform (i.e. Buy). (To watch Byrnes track record, click here) Barring one lone Hold, all of Byrnes colleagues agree. With 9 Buys, FLXN stock boasts a Strong Buy consensus rating. While not as optimistic as Byrnes objective, the $20.22 average price target is still set to yield returns of an impressive 153% within the 12-month time frame. (See FLXN stock analysis on TipRanks) Protara Therapeutics (TARA) Staying in the pharma industry, next up we have Protara. Unlike Flexion, the cancer and rare disease-focused biotech has no therapies approved yet. However, the picture should soon become clear regarding the timing of a BLA (biologics license application) for TARA-002, the companys investigational cell therapy for a rare pediatric indication - lymphatic malformations (LM). TARA-002 is based on the immunopotentiator OK-432, currently approved as Picibanil in Japan and Taiwan for the treatment of multiple cancer indications as well as LM. Currently, Protara is seeking to get the FDAs acceptance that TARA-002 is comparable to OK-432. If everything goes according to plan, the company anticipates potential BLA filing in H2:2021 and potential approval in H1:2022. Protara shares have tumbled 40% year-to-date. That said, Guggenheim analyst Etzer Darout believes the stock is significantly undervalued. We estimate risk-adjusted peak sales of ~$170M (75% PoS) in the US alone (biologics exclusivity to 2034-2035), the 5-star analyst said. The company has outlined a no additional study scenario that estimates a US launch in 2022 and an additional registration study scenario that estimates a 2023 launch and we see current levels as a buying opportunity ahead of regulatory clarity on LM. Furthermore, Tara is expected to submit an IND (investigational new drug) for a Phase 1 trial for TARA-002 in 2H21 for the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Darout notes 80% (~65K) of all newly diagnosed bladder cancer patients suffer from this specific condition including ~45% that are high grade with high unmet need. The company also owns IV Choline, a Phase 3-ready asset, for which the FDA has already granted both Orphan Drug Designation and Fast Track Designation for IFALD (intestinal failure-associated liver disease). Based on all of the above, Darout rates TARA a Buy and has a $48 price target for the shares. The implication for investors? Upside of a strong 225%. (To watch Darouts track record, click here) Overall, with 3 recent Buy ratings under its belt, TARA gets a Strong Buy from the analyst consensus view. The stock is backed by an optimistic average price target, too; at $43.67, the shares are anticipated to appreciate by ~198% in the year ahead. (See TARA stock analysis on TipRanks) Green Thumb Industries (GTBIF) Last but not least is Green Thumb, a leading US cannabis MSO (multi state operator). This Chicago-based company is one of the stalwarts of the rising cannabis sector, boasting the second highest market-cap in the industry and exhibiting impressive growth over the last year. In 2020, revenue increased by 157% from 2019, to reach $556.6 million. That said, despite delivering another excellent quarterly statement in March, and being well-positioned to capitalize on additional states legalizing cannabis, the stock has pulled back recently after the company was hit by a damning Chicago Tribune article. According to Chicago Tribune, the company is being investigated by the fed over "pay to play" payments regarding the procurement of cannabis licenses in Illinois. Countering the claims, GTBIF management said the allegations are unfounded and that there is no factual evidence to support them. Furthermore, the company pointed out it has not even been contacted by the authorities regarding the matter. Who to believe, then? Its an easy choice, according to Roth Capitals Scott Fortune. We believe these tenuous claims create an opportunity to own the best-in-class operator currently off 25% from recent highs, the 5-atar analyst opined. In our view, the GTI business and track record of execution is not at risk in terms of the seemingly baseless accusations. We will continue to monitor any new additional incremental evidence potentially surfacing but believe the allegations are unfounded. We believe the upside opportunity remains compelling at these levels. Going by Fortunes $45 price target, shares will be changing hands for a 70% premium a year from now. Fortunes rating remains a Buy. (To watch Fortunes track record, click here) The negative news has done little to dampen enthusiasm around this stock on Wall Street. The analyst consensus rates GTBIF a Strong Buy, based on a unanimous 12 Buys. The average price target, at $47.71, suggests an upside of 79% over the next 12 months. (See GTBIF stock analysis on TipRanks) To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.

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Global Whole Genome and Exome Sequencing Markets Report 2021-2025 Including Updated Whole Genome Sequence of Sars-Cov-2 - ResearchAndMarkets.com -...

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Ark Invest analyst breaks down Adaptive Biotechnologies and Invitae – CNBC

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Chad Robins, CEO of Adaptive Biotechnologies.

Anjali Sundaram | CNBC

Ark Invest analyst Simon Barnett on Monday explained the firm's approach to what it calls the genomic revolution, breaking down two of its favorite holdings: Adaptive Biotechnologies and Invitae.

In an interview on CNBC's "Closing Bell," Barnett said the Cathie Wood-led Ark Invest sees major potential for investors in the branch of molecular biology known as genomics, calling it "one of the most transformative investment opportunities of the century."

Ark's family of funds includes the Genomic Revolution ETF (ARKG), which seeks to offer investors exposure to areas such as DNA sequencing technology and molecular diagnostics.

ARKG is down about 7% year to date.

However, in the past 12 months, the ETF has risen roughly 160%. The firm's flagship fund is theArk Innovation ETF(ARKK), which has fallen about 1.6% so far in 2021. ARKK also is up nearly 160% in the past 12 months.

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Genomic testing services in pathology & immunology department to be expanded Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis – Washington…

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Changes aimed at improving diagnosis of cancer, inherited diseases

Genetic and genomic testing is driving advances in precision medicine. Such testing provides the data that, when combined with information about disease status and environmental factors, enable doctors to move away from one-size-fits-all treatment plans to personalized therapies tailored to individual needs.

The Department of Pathology & Immunology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis is reorganizing and expanding its genomic medicine testing services to take advantage of advances in genetic and genomic sciences and improve clinical care. Several new tests for cancer and inherited diseases are in the works. The department also is redesigning its website to make it easier for physicians to quickly identify the most appropriate tests for their patients.

As part of the reorganization, the department is establishing two new sections: a molecular oncology section, led by Eric Duncavage, MD, and an inherited diseases section, headed by Jonathan Heusel, MD, PhD.

The School of Medicine has been at the forefront of genetics research for many years, including leadership in whole genome sequencing, saidRichard Cote, MD, the Edward Mallinckrodt Professor and head of the Department of Pathology & Immunology. We have long had a major stake in translating these discoveries into clinically actionable tests to better define prognosis and treatment for a wide variety of diseases. We are delighted that Jon Heusel and Eric Duncavage, widely recognized for their research, are leading the effort to enhance the departments genetic and genomic testing services.

A wide variety of different mutations can give rise to cancer, and the specific mutations carried by a particular tumor affect its susceptibility to a particular treatment. These mutations also can be used to track a tumor during therapy to determine how it is responding to therapy. Clinical cancer genomics aims to use information on tumor mutations to help identify the therapies most likely to benefit the patient and avoid those least likely to help.

Duncavage

Duncavage and his Washington University colleagues recently developed a diagnostic test, ChromoSeq, for blood cancers, based on sequencing the whole genome. This comprehensive analysis has greater sensitivity than traditional testing, providing additional information that could help clinicians assess each patients risk of severe disease and choose the best treatment plan. The test was evaluated in a clinical trial of patients treated at Siteman Cancer Center, based at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine. Results of that trial were published in March in The New England Journal of Medicine. ChromoSeq whole genome sequencing for blood cancers will be available as a clinical test through the Department of Pathology & Immunology.

Until recently, we could only analyze a limited set of genes or chromosomes because whole genome sequencing was too expensive for routine clinical use, Duncavage said. But recent advances in sequencing technologies and data analysis techniques have driven down the cost of whole genome sequencing in both time and resources. We showed that the technology could be used for blood cancers, and we are working on applying it to other kinds of cancers.

In addition, Heusel and Duncavage are spearheading an effort to develop tests to identify people with an inherited predisposition to cancer. Most famously, variations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer, but dozens of other genes have been linked to a range of cancers. In the interest of efficiency, the tests under development are based on sequencing only the 2% of the genome that codes for proteins. This tiny fraction of the genome known as the exome is where nearly all mutations associated with disease risk are found.

Heusel

As chief of the inherited diseases section, Heusel will oversee the development and operation of tests for rare genetic diseases. Some of the people most in need of whole genome testing are babies born with mysterious ailments that appear to have genetic causes. Sequencing an affected newborns entire genome and often the genomes of both parents, too can be the fastest way to find an explanation for a babys condition.

Heusel and colleagues also are working on an improved test for disorders of somatic mosaicism, a group of conditions characterized by mutations in some cells but not others. Patients can have a wide range of symptoms, including overgrowth of one part of the body, such as the hand; skin spots or rashes; and abnormal tangles of blood vessels. The symptoms depend not only on what mutation has occurred but in which cells it has occurred. The researchers are building a faster, cheaper test that will allow more genes and more conditions to be screened.

Genetic testing particularly what we call next-generation sequencing, which involves sequencing dozens or hundreds of genes or whole exomes or whole genomes its transforming medicine, transforming the way we understand the basis of disease, how to diagnose it and how to treat it, Heusel said. What were really trying to do in the department now is make it easier for clinicians to take advantage of all the new genetic and genomic diagnostic tools that are becoming available.

Washington University School of Medicines 1,500 faculty physicians also are the medical staff of Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Childrens hospitals. The School of Medicine is a leader in medical research, teaching and patient care, consistently ranking among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Through its affiliations with Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Childrens hospitals, the School of Medicine is linked to BJC HealthCare.

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Genomic testing services in pathology & immunology department to be expanded Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis - Washington...

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Bionano Genomics Announces Presentations on Optical Genome Mapping at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2021 – Yahoo…

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Publication Outlines Potential for Optical Genome Mapping with Bionanos Saphyr System to be the Foundation of a New Workflow in Prenatal Genetic…

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SAN DIEGO, April 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bionano Genomics, Inc. (Nasdaq: BNGO) announced today a publication in the peer-reviewed journal Genes describing an analysis by optical genome mapping (OGM) of representative examples of common genetic syndromes that are the basis of prenatal genetic testing recommended by medical associations in the US and around the world. The papers authors have outlined a potential framework for OGM to be developed as the basis of a new standard of care in prenatal genetic analysis because of its ability to identify all types of structural variants (SVs).

What we are seeing now, on a consistent basis, is the demonstration of utility for OGM in a variety of applications. Development and validation of OGM assays for pre-natal analysis is an area where the field could transform itself and help physicians and their patients, commented Erik Holmlin, PhD, CEO of Bionano Genomics. Over the last year alone, we have seen a great number of publications and presentations that demonstrate Saphyrs prowess in cytogenetic analysis of genetic diseases, leukemias and solid tumors. While there remains significant work for these proof-of-concept studies to translate into broader, mainstream adoption, we believe the momentum is strong.

The publication is presented as a commentary in the special issue of Genes titled "Advances in Prenatal Genetic Screening and Diagnosis Technologies", which addresses the increasingly complex decisions physicians and couples face about the quality and quantity of genetic information they wish to access as the technology for genetic testing advances. As non-invasive prenatal screening tests (NIPT) become the standard screening tool for pregnancies around the world, OGM could provide a high-throughput, comprehensive and high-resolution follow up genome analysis in case of a positive NIPT screen or for high-risk pregnancies following an abnormal ultrasound. The study authors led by Bionano chief medical officer Dr. Alka Chaubey and Augusta University professor Dr. Ravindra Kolhe state that development and validation of assays based on OGM would enable clinicians to accurately detect all types of genetic disorders with a single technology, resulting in a workflow that is both cost-effective and has a fast turn-around time.

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Global medical associations including ACOG, ISUOG, ACMG recommend prenatal testing for the detection and prevention of genetic disorders using cytogenetic methods such as karyotype analysis, fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), and chromosomal microarray (CMA). Additionally, multiple molecular methods are used to identify repeat expansion and contraction disorders in routine clinical laboratories.

In this study OGM with Saphyr was used to detect a variety of genetic abnormalities in amniotic fluid and chorionic villus samples collected during pregnancy. The paper shows examples of how different OGM assays identified cases of trisomy 21 or Down syndrome, sex chromosome aneuploidy where additional copies of the X chromosome were present, DiGeorge syndrome, the most common microdeletion syndrome affecting about 1 in 4,000 births, a repeat expansion causing fragile X syndrome, and an unbalanced translocation in the fetus caused by a balanced translocation in the parent. The site-to-site reproducibility of the OGM prenatal workflow was also evaluated by analyzing 5 samples in replicates at two different sites, on different instruments, and with different operators, showing concordance across both sites.

The publication is available at https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/12/3/398/htm

About Bionano GenomicsBionano is a genome analysis company providing tools and services based on its Saphyr system to scientists and clinicians conducting genetic research and patient testing, and providing diagnostic testing for those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental disabilities through its Lineagen business. Bionanos Saphyr system is a research use only platform for ultra-sensitive and ultra-specific structural variation detection that enables researchers and clinicians to accelerate the search for new diagnostics and therapeutic targets and to streamline the study of changes in chromosomes, which is known as cytogenetics. The Saphyr system is comprised of an instrument, chip consumables, reagents and a suite of data analysis tools. Bionano provides genome analysis services to provide access to data generated by the Saphyr system for researchers who prefer not to adopt the Saphyr system in their labs. Lineagen has been providing genetic testing services to families and their healthcare providers for over nine years and has performed over 65,000 tests for those with neurodevelopmental concerns. For more information, visit http://www.bionanogenomics.com or http://www.lineagen.com.

Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as may, will, expect, plan, anticipate, estimate, intend and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or circumstances) convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes and are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our intentions, beliefs, projections, outlook, analyses or current expectations concerning, among other things: the potential for OGM with Saphyr to serve as a foundation for a new standard of care in prenatal genetic analysis; our expectations or beliefs regarding past and potential future publications and presentations that demonstrate Saphyrs capabilities; the potential for OGM with Saphyr to improve outcomes for physicians and patients, including in the field of prenatal analysis; our beliefs regarding the potential benefits of Bionanos Saphyr technology; Saphyrs capabilities in comparison to and in conjunction with other genome analysis technologies, including in prenatal genetic testing; the potential for Saphyr to reduce or eliminate sequential and confirmatory assays and expedite patient treatment; expectations that Saphyr can allow clinicians to accurately detect all types of genetic disorders with a single technology; and the execution of Bionanos strategy. Each of these forward-looking statements involves risks and uncertainties. Actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected or implied in these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such a difference include the risks and uncertainties associated with: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and the global economy; general market conditions; changes in the competitive landscape and the introduction of competitive products; changes in our strategic and commercial plans; our ability to obtain sufficient financing to fund our strategic plans and commercialization efforts; the ability of medical and research institutions to obtain funding to support adoption or continued use of our technologies; the loss of key members of management and our commercial team; and the risks and uncertainties associated with our business and financial condition in general, including the risks and uncertainties described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and in other filings subsequently made by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made and are based on management's assumptions and estimates as of such date. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of the receipt of new information, the occurrence of future events or otherwise.

CONTACTSCompany Contact:Erik Holmlin, CEOBionano Genomics, Inc.+1 (858) 888-7610eholmlin@bionanogenomics.com

Investor Relations andMedia Contact:Amy ConradJuniper Point+1 (858) 366-3243amy@juniper-point.com

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Publication Outlines Potential for Optical Genome Mapping with Bionanos Saphyr System to be the Foundation of a New Workflow in Prenatal Genetic...

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