Berlin startup focuses on ‘whole genome’ analysis to identify genetic variations with greater accuracy.
German healthtech startup Lucid Genomics has secured €1.3 million in pre-seed funding to advance its AI-driven platform focused on diagnostics and biomarker identification. The Berlin-based company, a spin-off from the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics and Berlin’s Charité University Hospital, aims to enhance our ability to analyze and understand genomic data, supporting more precise drug discovery and diagnostics.
Founded by Uirá Souto Melo and Hossein Moeinzadeh, Lucid builds on the research of Professors Stefan Mundlos and Martin Vingron, prominent scientists in the fields of medical genetics and molecular biology.
“Our unique strength lies in our expertise across three key areas: cutting-edge DNA sequencing technologies, advanced AI in genomics, and a deep understanding of the dark genome,” said the founders in a statement.
The core technology behind Lucid focuses on analyzing both the “coding” and “non-coding” regions of the genome. The company says that most genome analysis techniques typically focus on around 2% of the human genome – the coding regions – overlooking the remaining 98%, which includes the non-coding “dark genome.” However, these non-coding regions of our DNA are increasingly recognized for their potential role in disease and other biological processes yet remain underexplored due to the complexity of interpreting them.
Lucid claims its machine learning algorithms uncover patterns in the dark genome to identify genetic variations with greater accuracy, extracting new insights from these previously neglected areas. The company’s platform is designed to process whole genome datasets, offering solutions for the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries via a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model.
Lucid’s platform is designed to support applications in precision medicine, gene editing, and pharmacogenomics, areas where full-genome analysis could lead to more effective therapeutic strategies. The startup’s ambition is to create a digital solution capable of analyzing 100% of DNA sequencing data, which it says could transform clinical trials, disease screening, and drug discovery.
The funding round was led by Caesar Ventures with support from BIF Partners, Another.Vc, and the MPF Accelerator Program. Lucid plans to use the funds to refine its machine learning models and further develop its comprehensive DNA analysis platform, which has received an exclusive license from the Max Planck Society and Charité for commercialization.
“We are confident that this entrepreneurial team is going to create a big impact by bringing extraordinary research into the market for better patient care and accelerated drug developments.” said Bram Wijlands, Managing Director of Max Planck Innovation.
