NEW YORK — UK genomic research and data-sharing firm Sano Genetics said on Sunday that it has raised £2.5 million ($3.4 million) in seed funding.
The financing round was led by Episode1 Ventures and included Seedcamp, Cambridge Enterprise, and January Ventures, as well as several unnamed angel investors based in the UK, elsewhere in Europe, and the US.
Sano said it will use the new funding in combination with a grant from Innovate UK to provide 3,000 free at-home DNA testing kits to individuals affected by chronic, long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection, also known as Long COVID.
The company will also use the money to continue development of its data-sharing platform, which is designed to allow individuals to submit their medical and genetic data for matching them with clinical studies. Sano also offers free genomic sequencing and analysis for people who participate in its partnered research programs.
Sano also said that it has partnered with Genomics England to develop software for use in national-scale precision medicine initiatives.
"This tranche of funding will help us further develop the end-to-end experience for the many people keen to contribute to personalized medical research, including clinical trials of potentially life changing medicines and, in doing so, improve the outlook for people living with chronic and often debilitating conditions," Sano Chief Operating Officer Charlotte Guzzo said in a statement.
In October, Sano, which raised £500,000 in early 2019, partnered with the University of Manchester to translate genetic eye disease research into clinical applications.