AsianScientist (Jan. 09, 2026) – When Element Biosciences launched in 2017, the current state of genomics forced labs to choose either performance or affordability. Today, the company has proven that researchers can have the best of both. Element’s products deliver high-accuracy sequencing and integrated multi-omics at significantly lower operating costs, empowering labs of all sizes to pursue ambitious research.
Across the Asia-Pacific region, 50 Element platforms are now accelerating discoveries in research institutions, clinical labs and biotech companies. Molly He, co-founder of Element Biosciences, discusses how the company built an ecosystem for biological discovery and what’s next for genomics innovation.
1. Element Biosciences was founded in 2017. What gap did you and your co-founders identify, and how did you envision addressing it?
My co-founders and I saw a clear gap between what scientists needed and what legacy technologies could deliver. ‘Democratize’ gets used a lot in this space, but it genuinely captures our mission: bringing high-quality sequencing and multi-omics tools to labs of all sizes and resource levels. Ultimately, we want to shape the future of precision medicine into something both affordable and accessible.
At our core, we’re a biology company. We start by asking, “What does the scientist need to understand biology better?” Then we build the technology to answer those questions.
2. Why is accessibility so critical to Element’s mission?
Science is iterative by nature. Each discovery enables the next. But when breakthrough tools are accessible only to the most well-resourced labs, progress slows for everyone.
Greater access to high-quality sequencing and multi-omics accelerates research, fuels earlier disease detection and supports faster drug development. It ensures that transformative science isn’t limited by geography or resources.
3. Element’s growth has been remarkable. What do you credit for the company’s rapid success?
I learned early on that momentum is built on trust. Everyone in the organization needs to trust each other. Sometimes that means making important decisions without complete information. That shared confidence enables us to act quickly in solving real scientific challenges. The momentum we have today is a direct reflection of a team unified by purpose and trust.
4. Your AVITI system was Element’s first DNA sequencing platform. What challenge was it designed to solve?
AVITI was designed to eliminate the trade-off between performance and cost that long limited genomics. It delivers exceptional accuracy, flexible throughput, and significantly lower operating costs. This combination empowers labs of all sizes to scale sequencing without compromising research goals.
The system was also engineered for simplicity. Labs can adopt it quickly without changing existing processes. This ease of integration has been a key driver of global uptake.
5. How do your Trinity™ sequencing kits complement AVITI, and what impact do they have together?
Trinity sequencing kits streamline one of the most time-consuming steps in targeted sequencing. They move key capture, wash and sequencing steps directly onto the AVITI system, which eliminates specialized equipment. In turn, up to five hours of manual work is reduced, enabling same-day sequencing with fast hybridization.
Together, Trinity and AVITI make advanced targeted sequencing dramatically faster, simpler and more accessible.
6. What makes AVITI24 transformative?
AVITI24, our 5D multi-omics system, is the first platform that allows scientists to integrate spatial and single-cell multi-omics. It captures DNA, RNA, protein, and morphology in a single run. When combined with our high-quality sequencing, researchers gain a complete view of cellular biology –both spatially and genomically.
We really believe this is the future of how scientific discovery will be done, and it’s available today. AVITI24 empowers researchers to drive therapeutic breakthroughs in ways no other technology can.
7. How have partnerships contributed to Element’s growth, especially in Asia?
Breakthrough science rarely happens in isolation. It requires shared expertise, open platforms, and global networks. Collaboration helps ensure that powerful technologies reach more scientists and translate into meaningful impact.
Partnerships with innovators across sequencing, analysis, and diagnostics have helped broaden adoption and accelerate new applications. By working with leaders across the ecosystem, we ensure our technology helps researchers with the questions they’re seeking to answer, wherever they are. These collaborations have been instrumental in our global expansion because they help us stay attuned to specific customer needs.
8. Looking ahead, what’s your vision for Element over the next five years?
Over the next five years, we’ll continue expanding our sequencing and multi-omics platforms, bringing even richer biological information to researchers at lower cost. We see Element becoming a global leader in integrated genomics and multi-omics analysis.
Whether we’re supporting research into the next diagnostic breakthrough or accelerating drug development, our focus is on empowering science everywhere and creating technology that advances human health on a global scale.
—
Source: Element Biosciences
Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.
