#Netherlands #Utrecht #Volta Labs #Prinses Máxima #Callisto™

Enhancing Pediatric Oncology with Callisto™

In a significant leap for pediatric oncology, the Prinses Máxima Center has successfully implemented Callisto™, an innovative platform developed by Volta Labs. This move aims to streamline the complex workflows associated with genomic sample preparation, which is crucial for providing precise diagnostics and tailored treatments for children battling cancer. By incorporating Callisto™, the center hopes to advance its capabilities in genomic sequencing, particularly with leading platforms such as Illumina and Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT).

The Prinses Máxima Center is recognized as the largest pediatric oncology facility in Europe, dedicated to integrating cutting-edge research with comprehensive patient care. As part of its mission to improve outcomes for young cancer patients, the center has embraced automation to enhance both efficiency and reproducibility in laboratory practices. The implementation of the Callisto™ system is expected to significantly reduce the time required for laboratory staff to prepare samples, allowing them to focus more on critical aspects of patient care.

Bastiaan Tops, head of Pediatric Cancer Pathology at the center, remarked on the importance of this advancement, stating, “Complete automation through Callisto™ across multiple sequencing workflows will establish Illumina as the standard of care for all pediatric patients, while also supporting the swift adoption of Oxford Nanopore sequencing for rapid diagnosis.” With the complexities of sequencing workflows simplified through this technology, Tops and his team can dedicate their expertise to what truly matters: improving survival rates and quality of life for children diagnosed with cancer.

Callisto™ is designed with user-friendliness in mind, automating essential tasks such as extraction, library preparation, and target enrichment in a compact system. Its flexibility enables both clinical and research laboratories to optimize a variety of sequencing applications across different platforms without the need for specialized technical skills. This is particularly relevant in today's fast-evolving field of genomic medicine, where the demand for efficiency and accuracy is continuously rising.

Udayan Umpathi, CEO of Volta Labs, expressed his excitement about the partnership, saying, “Working with the Prinses Máxima Center is a tremendous honor for us. I have been inspired by how the team at Prinses Máxima applies advanced genomic technologies as a standard of care, particularly for children with cancer. We take pride in collaborating to advance technologies that deliver faster information to these patients.”

The adoption of the Callisto™ platform highlights the increasing global demand for automation solutions that enhance efficiency, precision, and scalability in Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS). As laboratories strive to keep pace with the growing need for rapid and accurate genomic analysis, innovations like Callisto™ play a crucial role in redefining standards for pediatric cancer care.

About the Prinses Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology

Located in Utrecht, the Netherlands, the Prinses Máxima Center is dedicated to merging the finest possible care with leading scientific research for children fighting cancer. By focusing on collaboration, innovation, and excellence, the center aims to cure children with cancer while ensuring they maintain an optimal quality of life.

About Volta Labs

Volta Labs is a pioneer in genomic applications, having developed a cutting-edge digital fluidic platform that maximizes sample preparation performance and scalability in genomics while ensuring unparalleled consistency. To learn more about their innovative products and services, please visit Volta Labs.