Nabsys has announced new OhmX Platform installations under Hitachi High-Tech America’s RAMP UP programme, supporting research applications in hematologic malignancies with a focus on acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes.
The collaboration includes Brynn Levy, Ph.D., FACMG, of Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, who has joined the programme to advance the use of electronic genome mapping in cancer research. Multiple OhmX Platforms have been installed in Dr. Levy’s laboratory under a sponsored research agreement.
The initiative addresses a recognised gap in leukemia research and cytogenetic workflows. Current cytogenetic methods such as FISH may be limited to selected loci, while karyotyping can provide lower-resolution and more subjective structural analysis. Broader genome-wide technologies may offer more comprehensive data but can be complex to apply in targeted studies of known disease-associated regions.
Nabsys’ OhmX Platform is designed to analyse ultra-long DNA molecules using electronic detection through a nanochannel-based architecture. This enables detailed characterisation of structural variants while integrating broader copy number context. In AML and MDS, where chromosomal abnormalities and structural variation play an important role in disease biology, the platform could support more complete investigation of clinically relevant genomic changes.
A key differentiator is the platform’s positioning as a compact and cost-effective research-use technology that may reduce workflow complexity for laboratories. By supporting structural variant and copy number variation analysis, the OhmX Platform aims to improve access to genome-wide structural information across laboratories of different sizes.
The initial focus of the collaboration will be targeted structural variant analysis of well-characterised regions in AML and MDS. Over time, the research may expand into broader hematologic malignancy applications, supporting cohort-based studies and translational research.
Adoption will depend on the ability to generate robust data demonstrating the platform’s utility in research workflows, particularly compared with established cytogenetic and sequencing-based methods. Integration into existing laboratory processes, cost-effectiveness, and evidence of added value in structural variant analysis will also be important factors.
Looking ahead, the RAMP UP programme reflects growing interest in tools that can bridge conventional cytogenetics and next-generation genomic analysis. If the research demonstrates practical advantages in AML, MDS, and broader myeloid disorders, electronic genome mapping could play a larger role in advancing precision oncology research and improving the understanding of structural variation in blood cancers.
