Hartwig Medical and Ultima Genomics Scale Whole-Genome Cancer Testing

The Hartwig Medical Foundation is adopting the second-generation UG200 sequencing system from Ultima Genomics, a move designed to lower the cost of clinical diagnostics while accelerating the use of whole-genome sequencing in routine oncology care across the Netherlands and global markets.

The partnership focuses on integrating Ultima’s Solaris 2.0 technology, which replaces traditional emulsion-based amplification with an isothermal process. This shift simplifies laboratory workflows and improves coverage uniformity, allowing for high-resolution genomic data collection at a scale previously restricted by high costs and operational complexity. By incorporating the UG200, Hartwig aims to transition its OncoAct WGS service from static therapy selection at the time of diagnosis to longitudinal disease monitoring.

A core objective of this collaboration is the validation of ppmSeq, an ultrasensitive technology capable of detecting minimal residual disease at single-digit parts-per-million sensitivity. Unlike bespoke, patient-specific assays that require specialized manufacturing, this decentralized approach allows clinical laboratories to perform whole-genome-informed circulating tumor DNA monitoring in-house. Researchers at the Netherlands Cancer Institute are already evaluating the clinical and economic impact of these methods, testing how routine blood-based monitoring can influence long-term treatment decisions.

To support broader adoption, the two organizations are extending the Hartwig-developed OncoAnalyser software to support Ultima’s sequencing data. This effort aims to provide the clinical genomics community with a standardized, open-source infrastructure for end-to-end data processing, from sample preparation to longitudinal ctDNA analysis.