Avant Genomics Raises $3M+ in Funding

The company plans to use the funding to continue research and development, accelerate manufacturing, and expand its team through new hires.

Today, liquid biopsy sample preparation is mostly done manually, involving dozens of time-consuming and expensive steps that can vary between labs. These inconsistencies can reduce the recovery of tumor-derived cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and compromise test accuracy.

Avant Genomics developed the Avant Source™ platform to automate, and standardize this process. The system reduces more than 50 manual steps down to just two, increases DNA yield by up to 70% compared to semi automated tools, and cuts processing time in half. By reducing variability early in the workflow, the company aims to make liquid biopsy testing more reliable, scalable and widely accessible.

Avant Genomics was founded as a spin-out from the University of Virginia by CEO Rachelle Turiello and COO Renna Nouwairi. The company is based on their research in microfluidics and nucleic acid detection, with a focus on improving DNA preparation for clinical and forensic applications.

Turiello has experience in forensic DNA analysis and automated sample preparation research, while Nouwairi has led the development of scalable microfluidic and diagnostic platforms for laboratory use. The broader team and advisors bring experience in laboratory technology and have previously helped build companies acquired by organizations such as Quest Diagnostics, Labcorp, and Eli Lilly and Company.

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“We invested in Avant because the future of diagnostics and personalized medicine depends on automation,” said Jill Enos, TitletownTech Managing Partner. “As technology advances, what labs are capable of is moving faster than the workflows supporting them. Avant is helping close that gap by bringing consistency and scalability to a step that has historically limited the field.”

“Avant Genomics is exactly the kind of company Virginia Venture Partners was designed to back,” said Alex Euler, Senior Investment Director, Virginia Venture Partners. “With a world-class technical team, deep roots in the Virginia research ecosystem, and a platform that addresses a real and urgent unmet need in liquid biopsy sample preparation, we’re proud to support the team and their journey.”

Rachelle Turiello, CEO of Avant Genomics, said the company believes precision cancer care begins with high quality sample preparation. She explained that liquid biopsy results are only as reliable as the preparation process and Avant is building a platform that standardizes, and automates this workflow to deliver more consistent, scalable results for broader clinical use."

About Avant Genomics™

Founded in 2023 by Rachelle Turiello and Renna Nouwairi, Avant Genomics is a female founded company focused on improving liquid biopsy sample preparation to support better cancer detection and care. Its platform, Avant Source™, automates the extraction of cell free DNA from blood samples, helping improve consistency, accuracy and processing speed.

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