Illumina Stepping It Up in Gene Sequencing Innovation with Global Launch of New Tech—MiSeq i100 Series in Taipei

The world’s top gene sequencing instrument company, Illumina, held a product launch event at Syntrend Creative Park in Taipei on October 11, unveiling its latest MiSeq i100 Series desktop gene sequencer. Nearly 200 distinguished guests attended the event. With two key features, “room-temperature storage of consumables” and “same-day reporting,” the new product not only offers more efficient and flexible sequencing solutions for laboratories worldwide but also has broad applications in scientific research and medical fields. This is expected to elevate next-generation sequencing technology to new heights.

From left to right: Jerry Cheng, Commercial Head, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau & Regional Marketing Director; Jack Pan, Senior Regional Marketing Manager for Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau; Tony Cao, Global Senior Director; Click Wang (PhD), Taiwan Business Leader; and Vincent Hsieh (PhD), Senior Regional Marketing Manager for Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau. (Photo / Gene Online)

MiSeq i100 Series: Merging Medium and High Throughput Power for Next-Level Sequencing

The event gathered five key speakers from Illumina, including Tony Cao, Global Senior Director; Jerry Cheng, Commercial Head, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau & Regional Marketing Director; Jack Pan, Senior Regional Marketing Manager for Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau; Click Wang (PhD), Taiwan Business Leader; and Vincent Hsieh (PhD), Senior Regional Marketing Manager for Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau. They provided detailed insights into the technological innovations, applications, and market prospects of the MiSeq i100 Series.

During his welcoming remarks, Jerry Cheng, Commercial Head, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau & Regional Marketing Director emphasized that Taiwan is the first location globally to host a physical launch event for the MiSeq i100 Series. Additionally, this marks Illumina’s first large-scale event in Taiwan since establishing its subsidiary in 2021, reflecting Taiwan’s significant strategic position in the biotechnology field. With the mission to “unlock the power of the genome to improve human health,” Illumina has launched various series of instruments and products over the years. The company aims to reduce sequencing costs and make related research applications more accessible. As the clinical applications of genomics become increasingly widespread, their impact on enhancing the cost-effectiveness of healthcare systems becomes more apparent. Illumina eagerly anticipates closer collaboration with Taiwanese experts to align Taiwan’s biotechnology and medical industries with global standards.

The MiSeq i100 Series leverages the advantages of the high-throughput NovaSeq X Plus and the medium-throughput NextSeq 2000 sequencing instruments. The consumables can be stored at room temperature, and the system utilizes XLEAP-SBS technology, built-in DRAGEN secondary analysis hardware, and a dry system. Additionally, the new product features a compact design and user-friendly operation, allowing for report generation within a single day. This development offers laboratories requiring low-throughput sequencing a more economical and efficient instrument option.

The MiSeq i100 Series launch event was not only the global debut of this new product but also Illumina Taiwan’s first large-scale event since its establishment in 2021. (Photo / Gene Online)

MiSeq i100 Series Boasts 6 Key Innovations, Breaking Barriers to Boost Cost Efficiency

The MiSeq i100 Series includes two models: MiSeq i100 and MiSeq i100 Plus. It offers a maximum sequence read length of 100 million bases and a data output capacity of up to 3 billion bases. This flexibility meets the demands of molecular diagnostics, precision medicine, and genetic research, while enhancing operational efficiency. 

During his presentation, Global Senior Director Tony Cao highlighted the technical features of the new product and shared positive feedback from customers who participated in trials. He emphasized that MiSeq i100 Series is extremely user-friendly, requiring only three steps to complete setup. The consumables and reagents can also be stored and transported at room temperature. The product uses Illumina’s latest XLEAP-SBS chemistry and DRAGEN secondary analysis hardware, making it 3 to 4 times faster than previous MiSeq models, with significantly improved data accuracy. Additionally, the MiSeq i100 Series has a smaller footprint, reducing equipment space by 54% and packaging waste by 85%. The new product also uses recyclable plastic and buffer containers, eliminating cold-chain storage and reducing energy consumption, aligning with the biotech industry’s growing focus on sustainability.

Senior Regional Marketing Manager Jack Pan further elaborated on the six key advantages of the MiSeq i100 Series:

1. Room Temperature Consumable Storage: Eliminating cold-chain storage not only simplifies lab management but also reduces costs for storage and logistics. For small labs or biotech startups, the new product lowers operational costs, enabling flexible, on-demand sequencing.
2. New Chemistry Technology: The XLEAP-SBS chemistry technology improves sequencing speed, accuracy, and stability using a synthesis-based approach. Unlike previous methods that required days, this breakthrough allows sequencing to be completed in one day, enabling researchers and clinicians to quickly obtain high-quality data.
3. Built-in DRAGEN Secondary Analysis Hardware: The MiSeq i100 Series integrates industry-leading bioinformatics tool DRAGEN, seamlessly processing raw data to results within two hours. This automation simplifies workflows, allowing users to focus on data interpretation and discoveries.
4. Easy-to-Use Design: With just three steps, users can prepare samples and start sequencing in 20 minutes. The low technical barrier allows beginners or small lab staff to efficiently perform gene sequencing, reducing setup and training time, thus broadening its applications.
5. Dry System Design: Unlike traditional sequencers, the MiSeq i100 Series does not require cleaning after each run. This reduces maintenance workload, speeds up the readiness for the next run, and minimizes the risk of sample contamination due to improper cleaning.
6. Multiple Flow Cell Options: Illumina offers flow cells ranging from 5M to 100M bases, providing flexibility for various research scenarios.

The MiSeq i100 Series sequencers feature two major selling points: “room temperature consumable storage” and “same-day reporting,” offering more efficient and flexible sequencing solutions for laboratories worldwide. (Photo / Gene Online)

MiSeq i100 Series: Versatile Applications, Inside and Out

Dr. Wang (Taiwan Business Leader) and Dr. Hsieh (Senior Regional Marketing Manager for Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau) each shared their perspectives on the diverse applications of next-generation sequencing (NGS) and how the new MiSeq i100 Series can contribute. Dr. Wang highlighted that NGS is applied throughout a person’s life, from pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT) and non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) to various cancer gene screenings. In oncology, genetic sequencing allows medical institutions to swiftly identify gene mutations and adjust treatment plans based on specific genetic information, enabling personalized precision medicine. With the launch of the MiSeq i100 Series, many labs previously lacking the necessary resources to engage in NGS can now enter the field. Illumina aims to collaborate with pharmaceutical companies, research institutes, and medical organizations worldwide to offer faster, simpler, and more affordable sequencing solutions. By leveraging the MiSeq i100, they hope to address clinical challenges and provide innovative diagnostic and treatment options for patients suffering from genetic diseases, blood cancers, and solid tumors.

Dr. Hsieh further noted that the rapid advancement of gene sequencing technologies, such as 16S rRNA sequencing, mRNA sequencing, and transcriptome analysis, has allowed researchers to explore microbial diversity and track infectious disease outbreaks and pathogen mutations in public health. The MiSeq i100 Series’ fast sequencing capabilities assist health authorities in monitoring environments, food, and wastewater, enabling timely public health interventions, particularly amidst emerging infectious diseases. Its precise gene sequencing data supports vaccine and drug development, helping reduce disease transmission and combat resistance threats. Moreover, the MiSeq i100 Series offers flexible sequencing options across genomics, transcriptomics, and epigenomics, catering to various research needs. For biotech startups with limited resources, its ease of use and cost-efficiency make it a valuable tool for supporting drug development, gene editing, and synthetic biology, accelerating research outcomes.

Illumina has incorporated the latest XLEAP-SBS chemistry technology into its low-throughput MiSeq, mid-throughput NextSeq, and high-throughput NovaSeq X platforms, aiming to provide more efficient and accurate sequencing solutions for both research and clinical applications. Commercial Head, Jerry Cheng emphasized at the event’s conclusion that Illumina is committed to breaking down technological barriers, creating open and modular biological platforms that simplify the sample-to-insight process. The event showcased the company’s leadership in the NGS space and its broad applications in healthcare, underscoring how Illumina is driving the future of personalized healthcare and drug development. He stated, “Illumina will continue to push the boundaries of genomics, empowering scientific breakthroughs and accelerating the global transition to precision medicine.”

Illumina’s global debut of the MiSeq i100 Series sequencers was successfully held in Taipei on October 11. (Photo / Gene Online)

In addition to keynote presentations, the launch event featured interactive product demonstrations. Illumina also offered promotional discounts for companies or research institutions interested in being early adopters of the MiSeq i100 Series sequencers. For more information, please contact Illumina Taiwan through the details below.

Contact: [email protected] (Phone: 02-8729-1315)

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GeneOnline