Oxford Nanopore Technologies Ltd

Oxford Nanopore is developing the GridION™ system, complemented by the miniaturised MinION™ device, for the analysis of a range of target analytes. These include DNA/RNA, proteins and small molecules.

Oxford Nanopore intends to commercialise the 'strand sequencing' system for DNA analysis on both the GridION and MinION systems. Further information will be issued in due course, however please find below answers to a selection of frequently asked questions. If you are interested in registering your details to receive further information about the system as it becomes available, please use our contact form. 

Frequently asked questions: These refer to the GridION and MinION systems for strand sequencing of DNA

What is the throughput of the GridION and MinION system?
The GridION system is designed to be scalable. An individual unit, a node, is designed to work alone as a benchtop instrument or in conjunction with other nodes to provide a faster result/more power.

• Throughput is influenced by multiple factors including how fast the DNA is processed through each nanopore and the number of simultaneous nanopore experiments per array chip. Through combining many factors the first generation commercial system is designed to achieve tens of Gb per day. The system does not have a fixed run time; users may choose to run for minutes or days according to the experimental need. This is using a cartridge that performs 2,000 nanopore experiments at one time; an additional configuration is in development that performs 8,000 nanopore experiments. Further projects are underway to develop higher-throughput systems beyond these.
• The MinION system is a miniaturised, disposable device designed to conduct hundreds of nanopore experiments at one time. Further guidance on specs will be provided in due course.

What is the run time?
There is no fixed run time; the system may be run for a short or long period of time according to the experimental need.

• Because full length read data is streamed in real time, it may be analysed in real time. Primary analyses are performed locally on each node and the secondary analyses may be run in parallel on the user's network. GridION nodes can therefore be run until sufficient data has been collected to answer the experimental question. More.

What read lengths does the system give?
The system is designed to give ultra-high read lengths. At the recent AGBT conference, examples were shown of tens of kb in a single read of a sense and antisense strand of a single genome, using a hairpin sample prep.

How much will GridION and MinION systems cost?
Pricing structures for GridION technology will be different from conventional systems. It will be available in packages that include nodes and consumable cartridges. These packages will be designed to suit customers with different needs and different budgeting considerations. For example some customers may have a more substantial capital expenditure budget and some may have more freedom around consumable consumption; pricing will be designed so that both types of customer are able to access the system.

• For those considering the minimum resources that may be needed to acquire and operate a GridION system, they may assume that at the time of commercial launch this will be lower than other commercially available systems on an absolute level and that the cost per base will also be lower than other systems. The system is modular so customers may add nodes to their installation. No accompanying server will be needed as each node contains the required local computing hardware.
• Pricing will be transparent and orders will be taken and fulfilled through an online portal. Larger packages will be subject to transparent discounts.
• A single MinION device is expected to retail at under $900

Will I need to purchase any additional kit to run a GridION system?
GridION nodes are fitted with local computing hardware; you will not need to purchase a dedicated server for the system

• Oxford Nanopore recommends Accelrys' Pipeline Pilot® NGS Collection software to accompany the GridION system
• Sample preparation will be simple; no library preparation is required and double-stranded DNA is needed to present to the system.
• MinION devices will be operable directly with a PC/laptop

Can I order a GridION system or MinION device now?
Orders are not yet being taken for the system, however you may register your interest using our contact form and we will keep you updated.

What about GridION and MinION systems for exonuclease sequencing?
Oxford Nanopore has not disclosed information about the status of the development of the exonuclease based sequencing system. 

What about GridION and MinION systems for protein analysis?
Oxford Nanopore has developed methods of analysing proteins using its proprietary nanopore based system. The product is not yet commercially available, as the Company continues to develop these methods and the commercial product. More information will be disclosed in due course.