# Novel microfluidic platform for versatile, fast, low-cost DNA synthesis and assembly

> **NIH NIH R44** · ELEGEN CORPORATION · 2020 · $1,210,045

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Elegen Corporation proposes to develop a novel instrument that will quickly and inexpensively synthesize
DNA. Elegen's approach exploits an innovative microfluidic platform, enabling us to create a simple benchtop
system that can be deployed in the laboratory. Development of many biomedical applications – as well as the
entire field of synthetic biology – typically involves iterating through a design-build-test loop requiring large
quantities of custom synthetic DNA with every iteration. The turnaround time (TAT) between ordering and
receiving DNA products from vendors can be several weeks and thus remains as the critical bottleneck in this
loop. This long TAT severely impedes the pace of development of new diagnostics and therapeutics. Elegen's
technology will shorten TAT from weeks to days by increasing flexibility in fulfilling orders and will also reduce
cost. These improvements will have a transformative impact on research efficiency and will enable scientists to
bring biomedical innovations to patients much faster than is currently possible. Elegen has already separately
demonstrated all the key technology components needed to implement the proposed system. In this project,
the company will integrate and optimize these components and demonstrate a fully-functional prototype
system.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10076585
- **Project number:** 1R44HG011433-01
- **Recipient organization:** ELEGEN CORPORATION
- **Principal Investigator:** Matthew Hill
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $1,210,045
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-23 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10076585

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10076585, Novel microfluidic platform for versatile, fast, low-cost DNA synthesis and assembly (1R44HG011433-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10076585. Licensed CC0.

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