UAlbany Researcher and Spinoff Company Awarded NIH STTR Grants to Advance RNA Sequencing Technology

Source: UAlbany News Center

Dr. Shenglong Zhang (The RNA Institute, UAlbany)

Shenglong Zhang, associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and a faculty member of the RNA Institute (UAlbany), has secured over $620k in Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants from the National Institutes of Health. The two grants were jointly awarded to UAlbany and DirectSeq Biosciences, Inc., a UAlbany spinoff company founded and led by Zhang.

DirectSeq Biosciences specializes in direct RNA sequencing-a powerful technique that captures the full range of RNA modifications in biological samples such as cells, tissues, and fluids. Zhang's cutting edge research detects all RNA modifications with high fidelity, providing a more complete and unbiased molecular profile. This breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize diagnostics, treatment decisions, and RNA-based therapeutics. The funding will support the expansion and application of this technology to broader audiences, including academic researchers, biopharmaceutical companies, regulatory agencies, and clinical users focused on RNA-based diagnosis.

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