Oxford Nanopore Technologies plc (LSE: ONT), a provider of nanopore-based molecular sensing technology, announced on Wednesday that it has partnered with UK Biobank, a biomedical database and research resource, to develop the world's first comprehensive, large-scale epigenetic dataset.

The project will use Oxford Nanopore's advanced nanopore-based technology to analyse the epigenomes of 50,000 UK Biobank participants, aiming to unlock key insights into disease mechanisms, including those related to cancer, dementia and other complex diseases.

Expected to run for up to 24 months, the project will apply 15-30x coverage of epigenetic sequencing to better understand how external factors and lifestyle choices influence gene expression and disease risk. Oxford Nanopore's technology can capture up to 98% of epigenetic methylation markers without the need for complex chemical processes, providing more comprehensive insights than traditional sequencing methods.

This project builds on Oxford Nanopore's strategic partnership with UK Biobank, Genomics England and NHS England, which also includes the creation of a pathogen-agnostic biosurveillance system across NHS hospitals to detect emerging biological threats. While these initiatives are expected to support long-term growth, they will not impact the company's 2024 and medium-term financial guidance, which targets over 30% constant currency revenue growth from FY24 to FY27.

Oxford Nanopore's technology is widely used globally, enabling real-time, scalable analysis of DNA and RNA to improve understanding in healthcare, agriculture and environmental research.