This blog authored by Genomenon’s Founder and Chief Scientific Officer, Mark Kiel, MD, PhD, reflects on the journey of Genomenon over the past decade, and how a vision to bridge the gap between genomic research and clinical practice has evolved into a thriving company at the forefront of genomic breakthroughs.
As I reflect on the journey of Genomenon over the past decade, I am filled with a sense of pride and gratitude for all that we have accomplished together. What started as a vision to bridge the gap between genomic research and clinical practice has evolved into a thriving company at the forefront of genomic medicine.
Since our inception in 2014, Genomenon has experienced remarkable growth and success. From receiving multiple best tech startup awards to launching the world’s leading genomic search engine, the Mastermind Genomic Search Platform, in 2017, we have continuously pushed the boundaries of what is possible in the field of genomics.
One of our proudest moments came in 2019 when we began curating genomic data for Pharma customers, allowing them to leverage our platform to accelerate their research and drug development efforts. This marked a significant milestone in our journey towards making genomic information more accessible and actionable for all.
In 2022, we took another leap forward by curating genes for newborn sequencing pilots, laying the groundwork for early detection and intervention in rare genetic diseases. And in 2023, we announced our ambitious goal to curate the human genome at the variant level, a feat that has the potential to revolutionize personalized medicine as we know it. In order to achieve this goal, we made the decision to acquire Boston Genetics, and prioritized growing our team of curation experts.
But perhaps our most significant achievement to date came in 2023 with the release of the clinical exome at the gene level, two decades ahead of NIH’s project health?. This groundbreaking tool has already begun to transform the way doctors diagnose and treat cancer patients and babies with rare diseases, saving countless lives in the process.
Last month, we gathered teams in Ann Arbor, Michigan and Bosnia for our Spring Summit for three days of collaboration, knowledge sharing, and meeting co-workers I’ve only had the privilege to work with via Zoom. I was able to share with the team the story of Genomenon’s journey – growing an idea that was quite literally written on a cocktail napkin, to now a company of 170 employees across the globe – which was fitting for our ‘Genomenon Odyssey’ theme.
We also announced last week the news that Genomenon has acquired Clinical KnowledgeBase (CKB), and I’m looking forward to sharing more on this new partnership, and how CKB’s somatic variant database & offerings perfectly complement Mastermind in the near future.
Looking ahead, our mission remains clear: to make genomic evidence actionable to save lives. In an era of precision medicine, where every patient’s genetic makeup holds the key to their diagnosis and treatment, this mission has never been more important. By equipping doctors, researchers, and pharmaceutical companies with the tools they need to unlock the potential of genomic data, we can usher in a new era of personalized medicine that holds the promise of better outcomes for all.
As we continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in the field of genomics, I am excited to see what the next decade holds for Genomenon. Together, we can harness the power of genomic information to transform the future of healthcare and save lives around the world.
