Danaher companies Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT), a global leader in genomics, and Beckman Coulter Life Sciences, a global leader in laboratory automation and innovation, are forming a strategic partnership to automate IDT’s wide range of customizable next generation sequencing (NGS) assay solutions on the newly launched Biomek i3 Benchtop Liquid Handler. The collaboration marks a significant step forward in enabling labs to streamline oncology research workflows with enhanced precision, scalability, and reproducibility, as oncology labs rely on reproducible NGS workflows to identify variants and drive precision medicine.

Through this partnership, IDT and Beckman Coulter Life Sciences will work to automate Archer™ FUSIONPlex™ and VARIANTPlex™ targeted sequencing assays, and xGen™ Hybrid Capture workflows, from IDT, on the Biomek i3 instrument. By pairing IDT’s trusted NGS assay chemistry with the precision and flexibility of the Biomek automation platform, researchers will benefit from reduced hands-on time, improved reproducibility, and throughput options tailored to their specific needs. The Biomek i3 system offers a compact footprint and advanced capabilities including optional on-deck thermocycling and intuitive software for rapid protocol development—making it an ideal solution for labs processing lower-throughput sample volumes without compromising data quality.

“At IDT, we’re redefining what walk-away automation means by optimizing NGS workflows and enhancing automation compatibility and scalability to empower labs to focus more on discovery and less on manual processing,” said Ajay Gannerkote, president at IDT. “We develop these innovations in close collaboration with automation partners like Beckman Coulter Life Sciences, to democratize precision medicine and accelerate researchers’ ability to generate and interpret genomic data at scale.”

“The Biomek i3 instrument was built to bring powerful automation to the benchtop,” said Ewan Grant, senior director of automation at Beckman Coulter Life Sciences. “Partnering with IDT allows us to deliver a robust solution that reduces the complexity of targeted sequencing workflows and supports labs of all sizes in achieving consistent, high-quality results.”

This collaboration builds on IDT’s broader work with automation leaders to deliver platform-agnostic, automation-ready solutions to accelerate cancer research. Automated methods for IDT’s NGS assay solutions are currently in development through joint IDT and Beckman Coulter Life Sciences technical support teams. Consultation appointments can be scheduled through either organization.