BILLERICA, Mass. and PISCATAWAY, N.J. -— RainDance Technologies, Inc., a genomics tools company simplifying the analysis of complex genetics, today announced that RUCDR Infinite Biologics® is now a RainDance Center of Excellence, making it a premier reference site and service provider for RainDance products. RUCDR is a unit of the Human Genetics Institute of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, in Piscataway, N.J.

The team at RUCDR, the world’s largest university-based biorepository, plays a key role in research aimed at understanding the genetic causes of common, complex diseases. Currently, RUCDR uses the ThunderBolts™ Cancer Panel for rapid and cost-effective profiling of tumor samples stored in RUCDR’s biorepository. These Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) samples can be scarce, degraded and highly challenging to analyze using previous technologies. RUCDR is also using the RainDrop® Digital PCR System for quality scoring and quantitation of DNA prior to next-generation sequencing (NGS), as well as for highly precise follow-up analysis. The addition of RainDance’s products to its technology portfolio provides RUCDR with powerful new tools to undertake cancer studies. This technology is also an important component of RUCDR’s role in the development of assays and services provided to the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey.

Dr. Andrew Brooks, Chief Operating Officer of RUCDR Infinite Biologics, said: “The combination of the ThunderBolts Cancer Panel and the RainDrop Digital PCR System provide us with a solution for ultra-sensitive nucleic acid detection in tissue, FFPE, and plasma. RainDance offers us a unified platform that is central to our work with researchers globally, by extending the use of valuable samples and allowing us to extract critical insights from limited quantities of biomaterial.”

RUCDR has been perfecting the science of biobanking, bioprocessing and analytics since 1999. RUCDR forged the strategic and innovative Bioprocessing Solutions Alliance with BioStorage Technologies Inc. to provide the bioscience industry with an integrated, state-of-the-art scientific approach and technology infrastructure for the delivery of advanced sample bioprocessing and biobanking solutions. RUCDR’s mission is to engage with major pharmaceutical companies and research labs that will enable gene discovery leading to diagnoses, treatments and, eventually, cures for diseases.

Cancer Genomics Research Platform

RainDance Technologies enables ground-breaking research with an innovative product portfolio to study cell-based and cell-free cancer biomarkers for disease risk predisposition, initial detection, pathology and residual disease. The company’s products include:

•RainDrop System: Ultra-sensitive digital PCR system for research of early detection and monitoring of cancers, viruses, pathogens, and immune markers.

•ThunderBolts Cancer Panel: Comprehensive NGS panel enabling researchers to profile a wide range of tumor samples (FFPE, tissue and plasma) with as low as 10 ng of starting DNA in less than two days, with a streamlined workflow and a low overall cost per sample.

•ThunderStorm® System: High-throughput, fully automated NGS content enrichment solution enabling researchers to generate best-in-class data on large-scale disease panels, while delivering the simplest and most affordable workflow for high-volume studies.

“As one of the largest biobanks worldwide, RUCDR sets the standard for implementing novel technologies to lead breakthroughs in disease research,” said Roopom Banerjee, President and CEO at RainDance Technologies. “We are pleased to work with the RUCDR team to showcase the performance advantages of sensitivity, ease of use and affordability that our products are truly capable of delivering for our customers.”

RainDance Center of Excellence

As a RainDance Center of Excellence, the team at RUCDR will act as a reference and best practices demonstration site, and will also provide fee-based lab services to other cancer researchers and collaborators who wish to run studies at RUCDR using RainDance products. In exchange, RainDance will collaborate with RUCDR for scientific validation studies and for the development of novel genomic content and research applications.

About RUCDR Infinite Biologics

RUCDR Infinite Biologics offers a complete and integrated selection of biological sample processing, analysis and biorepository services to government agencies, academic institutions, foundations and biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies within the global scientific community. RUCDR Infinite Biologics provides DNA, RNA and cell lines with clinical data to hundreds of research laboratories for studies on mental health and developmental disorders, drug and alcohol abuse, diabetes and digestive, liver and kidney diseases. RUCDR completed an $11.8 million expansion and renovation of its facilities last year. Read more at www.rucdr.org.

The RainDrop Digital PCR System, ThunderBolts Cancer Panel, and ThunderStorm Targeted DNA Sequencing System are for Research Use Only; not for use in diagnostic procedures.

RainDance Technologies, the RainDance Technologies logo, ThunderBolts, RainDrop, and ThunderStorm, are trademarks of RainDance Technologies, Inc. All other brands may be trademarks of their respective holders.