LaserGen’s History
LaserGen was founded in 2002 by Dr. Michael Metzker (see bio below) following his
invention of the Pulsed Multi-line Excitation (PME) method in collaboration with colleagues
including Nobel Prize Laureate Robert F. Curl, Jr., PhD. Based on the concept that DNA
sequencing could be greatly improved with this instrumentation, LaserGen was formed to
develop PME while also searching for other areas of improvement in the sequencing space.
In 2005, LaserGen scientists realized that important structural changes to reversible
terminators could allow for a faster, more accurate chemistry. This discovery resulted in
the development of Lightning Terminators which enable faster, cheaper, and more accurate
genome sequencing than any existing technology. We are currently commercializing a
sequencing platform to take advantage of the specialized nature and unleash the potential
of the Lightning Terminators.
Ideally situated in the Texas Medical Center in Houston, LaserGen has had the opportunity
to work with top scientists in nucleotide chemistry and genomics. In addition to the
initial PME collaboration, we have participated in strategic collaborations, technology
development, and license agreements with both Baylor College of Medicine and Rice
University.
LaserGen is funded through small business and research grants from the National Human
Genome Research Institute, the Texas Emerging Technology Fund (TETF), and several angel
investors.
Michael L. Metzker, PhD – Founder
Dr. Metzker has 20 years of experience in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries,
as well as with leading academic institutions. He is an Associate Professor of Molecular &
Human Genetics at the Human Genome Sequencing Center at Baylor College of Medicine,
and Adjunct Associate Professor of Chemistry at Rice University. Dr. Metzker has served
as an expert witness for several criminal cases involving HIV-transmission, presenting a
breakthrough method of phylogenetic analysis of HIV-1 DNA sequences, which resulted in
multiple convictions. He has also served as an expert witness for several law suits related
to infringement and interference in the NGS field. During his career, he has held senior-
level research positions with Merck Research Laboratories and Applied Biosystems (now Life
Technologies). He received his PhD at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, has
published over 40 research papers in leading scientific journals, authored numerous book
chapters, and obtained multiple patents.