Roche has announced the global launch of the new HEAT-Seq Target Enrichment Systems that provide rapid and accurate enrichment methods designed to improve the detection of variants in human genetics and cancer research.
Roche's HEAT-Seq Target Enrichment Systems offer researchers speed and reliability through a streamlined workflow by combining Molecular Inversion Probe (MIP) technology with molecular barcodes. Molecular barcodes, or Unique Identifiers (UIDs), enable users to more accurately measure how much sequence data came from the sample itself, how much was unique and how much was redundant due to amplification during the PCR process. This capability, which cannot be provided by traditional PCR-based methods, offers a clearer understanding of the original sample's complexity and in turn, provides a quicker route to variant discovery and interpretation.
"The launch of our HEAT-Seq Target Enrichment Systems builds on Roche's commitment to driving the development of new tools for genomic medicine," said Neil Gunn, Head of Roche Sequencing Solutions. "They simplify the process of finding and validating mutants, allowing laboratories to use their resources more efficiently. The systems complement our existing SeqCap product line, enabling Roche to meet the needs of a wider set of labs and applications."
"Molecular Inversion Probe-based technologies offer many advantages, such as an easy-to-use workflow and the ability to scale. It's exciting to see that Roche has combined MIPs with molecular barcoding in a convenient commercial package. I think it will accelerate scientists' progress in making important discoveries in fields such as human genetics," said Alexander Hoischen, Assistant Professor, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
In addition to a number of next generation sequencing (NGS)-related acquisitions and partnerships announced in the last two years, Roche continues to invest in the development of innovative target enrichment products, an important part of an end-to-end sequencing solution. The development of the HEAT-Seq Target Enrichment Systems is a result of this investment.