BeyondSeq · Project

DNA Barcoding Devices for Faster Cancer and Infection Diagnosis Without PCR

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Imagine reading a book but only being allowed to see one word at a time — that's roughly how current DNA sequencing works. It chops DNA into tiny pieces and loses the big picture, including chemical marks that tell you whether a gene is switched on or off. BeyondSeq built optical tools that read long, intact DNA strands like scanning a barcode, catching details that get destroyed when you copy DNA the traditional way. The result is faster, more accurate diagnosis for things like antibiotic-resistant infections and early-stage cancer.

By the numbers

Types of diagnostic challenges addressed (loss of info from PCR, long-range genomic variations, low sample limitations)

Clinical application areas (bacterial infections, hematological malignancies, spinal muscular atrophy, colorectal/lung cancer)

Consortium partners across 5 countries

Industry/SME partners in the consortium

Total project deliverables

The business problem

What needed solving

Current DNA diagnostics force a painful trade-off: you get either big-picture chromosome views (low resolution) or detailed sequencing (loses epigenetic marks and struggles with low samples). For hospitals fighting antibiotic resistance or screening for early-stage cancer, this means missed information, slower results, and unreliable readings from tiny biopsy samples. There is no mainstream tool that reads long, intact DNA molecules while preserving the chemical modifications that matter for diagnosis.

The solution

What was built

The project built a comprehensive toolbox including automated sample preparation for native unamplified DNA, prototype optical DNA barcoding hardware devices, data analysis software, and proof-of-principle diagnostic assays for 4 clinical areas. A key demo deliverable is the fully working and validated software with experimental protocols adapted to clinical situations for identifying bacteria and characterizing antibiotic resistance.

Audience

Who needs this

IVD companies developing rapid antibiotic resistance testsLiquid biopsy startups working on early cancer detection from bloodHospital reference laboratories seeking faster pathogen identificationGenetic testing companies expanding into epigenetic diagnosticsPharmaceutical companies needing companion diagnostics for oncology drugs

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Clinical Diagnostics

mid-size

Target: IVD companies developing rapid infection testing platforms

If you are a diagnostics company struggling with slow turnaround times for identifying antibiotic-resistant bacteria — this project developed a fully working and validated toolbox for identification of bacteria and plasmids using optical DNA barcoding. It reads native DNA without PCR amplification, meaning faster results and detection of resistance patterns that PCR-based methods miss. The validated software and experimental protocols are adapted to clinical situations and ready for integration.

Oncology Diagnostics

mid-size

Target: Liquid biopsy and early cancer screening companies

If you are a cancer diagnostics company working with circulating tumor DNA from blood draws — this project built proof-of-principle assays for early diagnosis of colorectal and lung cancer using optical DNA mapping. The technology works with very low sample amounts like micro biopsies, solving one of the biggest bottlenecks in liquid biopsy: not enough DNA to get a reliable reading without amplification bias.

Hospital Laboratory Services

enterprise

Target: Hospital microbiology labs and reference laboratories

If you run a clinical microbiology lab dealing with inhomogeneous bacterial cultures and rising antibiotic resistance — this project developed automated sample preparation for native unamplified DNA plus hardware and software platforms for readout and analysis. The system characterizes antibiotic resistance directly from clinical samples, helping labs deliver actionable results to clinicians faster than culture-based or sequencing methods.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to license or integrate this technology?

The project does not publish licensing fees or pricing. The consortium includes 2 SME partners who may hold commercialization rights. Interested companies should contact the coordinator at Tel Aviv University or the industrial partners to discuss licensing terms.

Can this technology work at industrial scale in a high-throughput lab?

The project developed automated sample preparation and prototype DNA barcoding devices with data analysis software described as ready for large-scale validation. However, full industrial-scale deployment would require additional validation beyond the project scope.

Who owns the intellectual property?

IP is distributed across the 8-partner consortium spanning 5 countries (BE, FR, IL, SE, UK). With 2 industry partners and 6 universities involved, licensing negotiations would likely involve multiple parties. Standard Horizon 2020 rules give each partner ownership of their contributions.

What clinical areas does this cover?

The project developed proof-of-principle diagnostic assays for 4 areas: bacterial infections and antibiotic resistance, hematological malignancies, spinal muscular atrophy, and early diagnosis of colorectal and lung cancer. Each uses optical barcoding of individual DNA molecules.

How close is this to regulatory approval?

The project delivered reagents, prototype devices, and data analysis software described as ready for early-stage commercialization. The demo deliverable confirms fully working and validated software with protocols adapted to clinical situations. However, full regulatory clearance (CE-IVD or FDA) would still be required.

What advantage does this have over existing sequencing methods?

It reads long individual DNA molecules without PCR amplification, which means it preserves epigenetic information and avoids amplification bias. It also resolves large genomic rearrangements that short-read sequencing cannot detect, and works with very low sample amounts.

What is the implementation timeline for a diagnostics company?

Based on available project data, the technology reached prototype stage with validated software and clinical protocols by project end in 2019. A diagnostics company would need to plan for large-scale clinical validation and regulatory submission beyond what the project completed.

Consortium

Who built it

The BeyondSeq consortium brings together 8 partners from 5 countries (Belgium, France, Israel, Sweden, UK), led by Tel Aviv University. The mix leans heavily academic with 6 universities and only 2 industry partners (both SMEs), giving a 25% industry ratio. This is typical for a research-intensive diagnostics project where the core science originates in university labs. The 2 SME partners signal there is commercial intent, but a company looking to adopt this technology should expect to work closely with academic partners who hold significant portions of the know-how. The geographic spread across Europe and Israel provides regulatory pathway familiarity for both EU and non-EU markets.

TEL AVIV UNIVERSITYCoordinator · IL
LUNDS UNIVERSITETparticipant · SE
IMPASARA LIMITEDparticipant · UK
THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAMparticipant · UK
TECHNION - ISRAEL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYparticipant · IL
KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVENparticipant · BE
CHALMERS TEKNISKA HOGSKOLA ABparticipant · SE

How to reach the team

Tel Aviv University, Israel — reach out to the genomics/bioengineering department for project leads

Order a report on this consortium See TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the BeyondSeq team? SciTransfer can connect you with the right researchers and help you evaluate fit for your diagnostic pipeline. Contact us for a matchmaking consultation.

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