NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) — UK genomic research and data-sharing startup Sano Genetics has raised £500,000 ($653,615) in seed financing, the company said today.
The funding was provided by Seedcamp and Cambridge Enterprise, as well as a number of individual investors.
Cambridge-based Sano said it will use the money to support its data-sharing platform, through which individuals can submit their medical history and available genetic data, and be matched with studies that could benefit from the information. The company noted that it works to match participants with research projects that offer cost-free genome sequencing. In exchange, participants receive free personalized health and wellness reports based on their genetic profiles.
Sano — formerly known as Heterogeneous — said it aims to enroll over 10,000 participants to support six new research projects by the end of 2019.
"Our platform allows scientists to do research into personalized medicine and access dynamic health and genetic data sets, while still giving individuals transparency and control throughout the process," Sano CEO Patrick Short said in a statement. "When people trust in the system and see the benefits from their participation, they are more likely to take part again in the future."