Boston-based venture capital (VC) investment companies have raised $2.4million for Biotia's NGS-powered AI software Chelsea™ which can perform a 'precision metagenomic' test, providing clinicians with a detailed report on microbial profile and predicted drug resistance from clinically-cultured samples. 

Biotia's mission is to fight infectious disease by deploying the leading reference library of microbes worldwide. Biotia has built one of the worlds largest precision metagenomics clinical databases which have been collected worldwide across various medical environment samples and patient samples, including urine, stool and blood, sputum and soft tissue by working with hospitals internationally. 

With one test, Chelsea can identify known and emerging bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses from a clinically-curated and annotated database of over 16,000 microbial species, as well as antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genetic markers and virulence genetic markers. 

The company plans to launch new CAP/CLIA clinical diagnostic tests in early 2020. "We are excited for the next chapter at Biotia. After extensive validation, we are expanding our offerings from environmental testing and research-use patient tests to patient diagnostics to provide hospitals with better tools to diagnose and control infectious disease, improve health outcomes, and save lives," said Dr Niamh O'Hara, CEO of Biotia.

Biotia is also announcing an expansion to their scientific and clinical advisory board to include key industry leaders Barry T. Zeman, F.A.C.H.E., Dr. Don Goldmann and Dr. Steven Salzberg. Mr. Zeman was previously the CEO of three NY-based teaching hospitals, a board member of the Greater New York Hospital Association and is currently a member of a national study team to reduce HAIs. Dr. Goldmann is a Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School as well as a Professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, and Epidemiology at Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health. Dr. Salzberg is the Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science and Biostatistics at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Salzberg is also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a member of the Board of Scientific Counselors of the National Library of Medicine.