The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) has awarded $26 million in funding towards a programme focused on the development of scalable cell-free DNA bioproduction capabilities.
The programme, called the Flexible Automation for Scalable Health (FLASH), is powered by DNA Script’s enzymatic DNA synthesis (EDS) technology and Syntax platform.
Led by GE HealthCare, the Flash programme aims to develop a modular, automated platform for the rapid, distributed manufacturing of high-fidelity DNA. This could be useful to support research and potential future applications in personalised medicines, vaccines and other genetic health technologies.
“As personalised 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 programme is to develop new DNA-based medicines on demand quickly, safely, and at scale,” said FLASH programme lead and senior biosciences principal, GE HealthCare.
DNA Script is contributing its EDS technology to enable faster and more flexible DNA manufacturing workflows.
“Our enzymatic DNA synthesis platform is ideally suited for the on-demand manufacturing model FLASH is pioneering,” said DNA Script CEO Marc Montserrat. “Collaborating with GE HealthCare on an ARPA-H programme of this scale shortens the path from research bench to patient bedside for next-generation therapies, personalised vaccines, and the broader genetic-medicine pipeline.”
The company has adapted its solution to incorporate GE HealthCare’s DNA scaling technology, with the goal of eventually deploying the integrated platform across US medical research centres, universities and federal agencies.
ARPA-H solutions are designed to address hard problems with bold, practical approaches,” said ARPA-H programme manager John Schiel. “Projects like FLASH exemplify how scalable, platform-based technologies can transform the way health solutions are developed, produced, and delivered.”
