Next-generation sequencing (NGS)
Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is a powerful tool for tackling unanswered questions. By providing comprehensive and detailed genetic information, today’s NGS solutions are helping researchers uncover the hidden layers of biology that make breakthroughs possible.
As excitement for the promise of NGS grows, Roche has responded to the demand for greater speed, flexibility and accuracy by creating an entirely new class of NGS:
SBX offers ultra-rapid, high-throughput sequencing that is both flexible and scalable.
Designed to accelerate science, it has the potential to transform genomics, empowering researchers to make groundbreaking discoveries that expand our understanding of disease and treatment.
SBX technology will pave the way for the scientific community to address today’s most urgent and complex challenges, while bringing to light the new questions that will shape the future of healthcare.
SBX addresses the limitations of current NGS technologies and provides a space that helps researchers dive deeper, accelerate results and explore experiments that may have been out of reach.
Current on-market nanopore technology works by threading a DNA strand at high speed through the nanopore. A systemic issue with this method, however, is that the DNA’s nucleotide “bases” (adenine, cytosine, guanine and thymine) are so close together that it’s easy to mistake one base for another.
SBX has solved this foundational problem by converting DNA information into an “expanded” synthetic surrogate molecule called an Xpandomer, which is 50 times longer than the target DNA. High signal-to-noise “reporters” that have been encoded with the information of the original DNA sequence are incorporated into the Xpandomers.
As the Xpandomer passes through the nanopore, the reporters provide clear signals with minimal background noise, making it easier to identify the original nucleic acid sequence with high accuracy.
The technology allows hundreds of millions of bases to be accurately detected every second, reducing the time from sample to genome from days to hours, even in a standard laboratory.
SBX has several key features that help scientists overcome challenges with other techniques. Here are some of its unique aspects:
One of the primary goals of SBX is to offer faster sequencing times. This means that scientists and clinicians can get their results more quickly, which is especially important when timely decisions are critical.
Real-time analysis delivers usable data to customers faster than with conventional technologies where the instrument can take 1–2 days to provide an actionable data file.
SBX is suitable for various applications, including whole genome sequencing (WGS), whole exome sequencing (WES), RNA sequencing and more. This versatility allows scientists to choose the best approach for their specific needs. It also makes SBX suitable for diverse research and clinical purposes, as well as cross-discipline studies.
Previously, researchers needed separate platforms for different read lengths. With SBX, however, the read length can be adjusted based on the users’ needs, from short- to mid-range and potentially also for longer read sequences – all on a single system. This flexibility is important because different applications benefit from different read lengths.
Small to large batch sizes are possible, giving researchers the freedom to run sequencing when they need to and not having to wait until they have enough samples for a large batch.
Once the technology is available for clinical labs in the future, operational flexibility will be especially important for labs that frequently encounter small batches of urgent, critical samples but also need to quickly respond to surges in samples requiring high levels of throughput.
SBX technology is scalable, which means that SBX can handle different sizes and types of sequencing projects, from small-scale studies involving a few samples to large-scale genomic projects involving thousands of samples.
As research demands grow or new project opportunities arise, a scalable system can expand to meet new requirements without needing entirely new equipment or technology.
SBX is designed to provide highly accurate sequencing data for applications where accuracy is essential, such as cancer research and testing and genetic diseases.
With its immense technological potential and rich future roadmap, SBX will continue to evolve alongside the needs of the NGS market and its customers.
Because it allows scientists to read and understand the order of DNA, NGS has tremendously advanced our understanding of how genes work and interact.
NGS will become increasingly important in deciphering the genetics of complex diseases like cancer, diabetes and neurodegenerative conditions, where hundreds – and even thousands – of genes influence their progression.
Given this, NGS will undoubtedly be at the forefront of many scientific and medical discoveries over the next decade.
With the power of SBX, we can already envision the scientific community potentially finding new ways to:
Boost treatment efficacy, reduce side effects and improve patient outcomes through more personalised medical treatments based on genetic profiles
Ensure early intervention and personalised prevention strategies
Diagnose rare and genetically complex diseases faster and more accurately
Curb the spread of infectious diseases through quick identification of a virus or bacterium
The future is a wide-open space of unlimited possibilities, and innovative diagnostic tools like our SBX technology, which will be a part of a complete sequencing portfolio, are paving the way towards tomorrow’s questions.
This is just the beginning of harnessing the power of space in sequencing. It’s time to let it guide us to the next big breakthroughs in healthcare.
Learn more about Roche’s breakthrough SBX technology:
Roche has responded to the demand for improved performance by developing a new category of NGS technology, called sequencing by expansion (SBX). This powerful approach to NGS has been designed for flexibility and performance, with headroom to scale into the future.
Roche's innovative sequencing by expansion (SBX) technology represents a leap forward in next-generation sequencing (NGS), which will play a vital role in decoding complex diseases like cancer, immune disorders and neurodegenerative conditions.
A blurry band on a chemistry gel sparked a new journey in science. This is the story of Mark Kokoris and his team, the scientists behind the newly introduced DNA sequencing technology called sequencing by expansion (SBX).
Disclaimer: The SBX technology and platforms are in development and not commercially available. This page reflects design goals and may be subject to change.