Executive Summary

The mission of Morph Bioinformatics is to create a product and service offering that will drive improvements in the R&D performance of academia and pharmaceutical firms over the coming years. Codon Usage Optimizer (CUO) is a software solution devised purposefully to tackle chronic issues plaguing current gene codon optimization. We are innovating the process by removing the black box that has once hindered scientists from knowing what has been done to their sequences, and turning it into an open source platform to create software that is usable, high-impact and helpful to a broad scientific community aiming for excellence. Our vision is to expand this into a bioinformatics hub to provide the tools, services and platform for the translation of bioinformatics into world-changing science.

CUO is a GUI-based (Graphical User Interface) multiplatform software written in Java. The main function of the software is to optimize genes to be transformed into the Chlamydomonas reinhardtii chloroplast genome using an original set of algorithms for calculation, data processing and automated reasoning. Furthermore, it can be used as an electronic drawboard for gene sequence analysis and design. While the software focuses on the C. reinhardtii genome, it can also be used to optimize genes into other hosts as well. In addition, services are included such as one-on-one & group training, consulting and technical support tailored to tackle issues around the genome optimization project. We are collaborating with the UCL Bioinformatics Group (one of 8 research groups in the Department of Computer Sciences) to host introductory lectures & workshops, proffer bioinformatics expertise to develop collaborative research and assist in software maintenance.

CUO operates under a GPLv3-licensed open source platform, giving it an inherent level of transparency and choice that contrasts with the proprietary software development model. We differentiate ourselves from our competitors through having a service-oriented architecture built on top of our open source platform to generate revenue; via providing regular essential services to our clients instead of one-off acquisitions. In a nutshell, while customers are given free access to our online software, we anticipate the emergence and subsequent demand for maintenance and implementation services to provide useful leverage.

There are multiple factors contributing to a strong competitive advantage for our business. Being based at UCL (a member college within the greater University of London) gives Morph Bioinformatics access to a giant talent pool within a world-class academic environment, granting us with the opportunity to “pick the brains” and fuel CUO’s healthy growth. The company also has the backing from UCL Bloomsbury Centre for Bioinformatics (BCB) to help bring CUO into the spotlight of interdisciplinary research for much needed beta testing. The unique combination of exemplary human resources and paradigm shift of product values gives us a strong competitive advantage and selling proposition – innovation that is here to set the trend

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