Base to Base biotech podcast 72: Cell-free DNA bioproduction

This week, we have a conversation about the Flexible Automation for Scalable Health (FLASH) programme, focused on the development of scalable cell-free DNA bioproduction capabilities. Our guests are John Schiel, program manager at ARPA-H; DNA Script co-founder and CTO, Xavier Godron; and John Nelson, senior biosciences principal and FLASH program lead at GE HealthCare’s Healthcare Technology and Innovation Center.$26m ARPA-H funding for cell-free DNA bioproductionDNA Script and prime awardee GE HealthCare have been awarded up to $26m in funding for a four-year initiative from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H).The award will support the advancement of the FLASH programme, focused on the development of scalable cell-free DNA bioproduction capabilities and powered in part by DNA Script’s enzymatic DNA synthesis (EDS) technology and SYNTAX platform.Led by GE HealthCare, FLASH aims to develop a modular, automated platform for the rapid, distributed manufacturing of high-fidelity DNA to support research and potential future applications in personalised medicines, vaccines, and other genetic health technologies. DNA Script’s EDS technology supports this goal by enabling faster and more flexible DNA manufacturing workflows.DNA Script is contributing its EDS technology and acting as the technical solution integrator for the project. It has adapted its solution to incorporate GE HealthCare’s DNA scaling technology, complementing DNA Script’s EDS technology, with the goal of eventually deploying the integrated platform across US medical research centres, universities, and federal agencies.John Schiel, program manager at ARPA-H, said: “ARPA-H solutions are designed to address hard problems with bold, practical approaches. Projects like FLASH exemplify how scalable, platform-based technologies can transform the way health solutions are developed, produced, and delivered.”Marc Montserrat, DNA Script CEO, said: “Our enzymatic DNA synthesis platform is ideally suited for the on-demand manufacturing model FLASH is pioneering. Collaborating with GE HealthCare on an ARPA-H program of this scale shortens the path from research bench to patient bedside for next-generation therapies, personalized vaccines, and the broader genetic-medicine pipeline.”John Nelson, senior biosciences principal and FLASH program lead, GE HealthCare’s Healthcare Technology and Innovation Center, said: “GE HealthCare’s Technology & Innovation Center drives exploratory and translational research focused on addressing healthcare challenges through federal funding, academic collaboration, and private-sector research and development. As personalized and time-sensitive genetic medicines continue to advance, there is a growing need for manufacturing approaches that are faster, more flexible, and more accessible. Our vision for the FLASH program is to develop new DNA-based medicines on demand quickly, safely, and at scale.”To get in touch with guest suggestions, or to sponsor or advertise on the podcast, please email [email protected]