Cepheid and Oxford Nanopore Expand Partnership for Rapid Pathogen Identification

Phase two collaboration aims to streamline genomic workflows for infectious disease research.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 7:33am

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A bold, abstract painting in earthy tones of green, brown, and blue, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise spirals, conveying the structural complexity of genomic analysis and its applications in infectious disease research.A conceptual illustration capturing the transformative potential of advanced genomic workflows to unlock critical insights for infectious disease research and patient care.Sunnyvale Today

Cepheid, a leader in molecular diagnostics, and Oxford Nanopore Technologies, a pioneer in nanopore-based genomic analysis, have announced an expansion of their partnership to develop a workflow for rapid bacterial and fungal pathogen identification. Building on a successful phase one collaboration, the companies will now focus on enabling pathogen identification, antimicrobial resistance profiling, and genomic antibiotic susceptibility testing predictions for bloodstream infection and sepsis research.

Why it matters

This partnership aims to make advanced infectious disease research more practical and widely accessible by combining Cepheid's GeneXpert platform with Oxford Nanopore's sequencing technology. The goal is to provide researchers with faster and more streamlined access to critical genomic insights that can improve patient care and strengthen public health surveillance of emerging infectious strains.

The details

The updated workflow will enable analysis using both culture isolates and positive blood cultures, with additional user-friendly design elements and expanded access through a co-commercialized research use only (RUO) launch. Multiple infectious disease researchers already have early beta access, and the workflow will be available through an early access program to several leading physician-scientists by Q3-2026.

  • The initial phase one collaboration was announced at the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Global 2025 conference.
  • The phase two collaboration will be showcased at the ESCMID Global 2026 conference this week.

The players

Cepheid

A Danaher company and a leader in molecular diagnostics for infectious diseases.

Oxford Nanopore Technologies

The company delivering a new generation of nanopore-based molecular sensing technology for real-time genomic analysis.

Dr. Rahul Batra

Deputy Director of the Centre for Clinical Infection & Diagnostics Research (CIDR) at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust.

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What they’re saying

“Phase two reflects our shared commitment to making advanced infectious disease research more practical and widely achievable.”

— Vitor Rocha, President of Cepheid

“We are very encouraged by the success and early feedback from the first phase solution and are excited to broaden the workflow's transformative possibilities to additional research labs.”

— Francis Van Parys, CEO of Oxford Nanopore Technologies

“Rapid genomic testing for infectious diseases has the potential to improve patient care by enabling prompt, accurate prediction of antibiotic resistance, while also strengthening public health surveillance of emerging strains.”

— Dr. Rahul Batra, Deputy Director of the Centre for Clinical Infection & Diagnostics Research (CIDR) at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

What’s next

Cepheid and Oxford Nanopore will be present at ESCMID Global 2026 this week, showcasing research-stage progress and engaging with the scientific community.

The takeaway

This partnership between Cepheid and Oxford Nanopore aims to democratize access to advanced genomic insights that can improve infectious disease research and patient care, demonstrating how innovative collaborations can drive meaningful progress in the life sciences.