Chinese biotechnology company MGI Tech Co Ltd announced on Thursday that it has formed a partnership with Negedia, an Italian initiative born from Fondazione Telethon, to expand access to DNBSEQ-powered genomic sequencing and Stereo-seq spatial transcriptomics for precision medicine and biomedical research in Italy.

Under this collaboration, MGI will provide advanced DNBSEQ sequencing technology to expand Negedia's operational and analytical capacity for sample. Negedia has acquired MGI's DNBSEQ-T7 high-throughput sequencing platform, which enables high-resolution spatial transcriptomic analysis, allowing for the acquisition of the entire transcriptome, i.e. the RNA molecules transcribed from the genome, without compromising tissue integrity. The DNBSEQ-T7 platform will allow Negedia researchers to explore disease mechanisms at an unprecedented level, opening new research pathways.

This collaboration is claimed to mark a significant milestone in advancing precision medicine and rare disease research in Italy by empowering scientists with tools to analyse gene expression within the spatial context of tissues -- a crucial dimension for understanding complex biological processes and disease mechanisms. By expanding access to advanced genetic sequencing technologies, it enables more accurate diagnoses and personalised treatments based on each patient's genetic profile.

"In rare disease research and precision medicine, understanding gene expression in the spatial context of tissues is essential. Until now, achieving this level of detail was extremely difficult. Thanks to our technology, we can now overcome this limitation, giving Negedia scientists a new tool to deepen biological and molecular understanding of various diseases," said Dr Christian Zimmerman, MGI vice president of sales, Europe and Africa.