About Us

Pacific Biosciences' mission is to transform the way humankind acquires, processes, and interprets data from living systems. We have developed a disruptive technology platform for the real-time detection of biological events at single molecule resolution. Single Molecule Real Time (SMRT™) Biology promises to revolutionize the life sciences by revealing the underlying molecular interactions and associated networks that define living systems. Unraveling the complexity of biological systems will usher in a greater understanding of the fundamental causes and potential cures for disease, and contribute to progress in other important fields dedicated to improving the health of our planet and its inhabitants.

The first application for the SMRT Biology platform is a paradigm changing approach to DNA sequencing. The SMRT Sequencing System will ultimately make it possible to sequence individual genomes as part of routine medical care. DNA sequencing is expected to be the first of many transformative SMRT Biology applications that will benefit society by driving radical advances in personalized medicine, agriculture, clean energy, and global health.

We believe our ultra-fast, cost effective, and highly sensitive SMRT sequencing technology will replace both the established and second-generation technolgy platforms, and enable a new era of genome discovery that will ultimately make personalized medicine a reality. The SMRT technology also offers unique advantages such as long readlengths, highly informative data, and built-in flexibility that could advance other important causes such as more rapid and accurate detection of pandemic-causing viruses, the development of environmentally friendly biofuels, and supporting the development of more disease-resistant crops.

Pacific Biosciences has raised approximately $266 million to date through a combination of grants and venture capital. Investors include Deerfield Management, Intel Capital (Intel Corporation's global investment organization), Wellcome Trust, Monsanto, Morgan Stanley, Redmile Group, T.Rowe Price, Fidelity, Mohr Davidow Ventures, Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers, Alloy Ventures, Maverick Capital, AllianceBerstein, DAG Ventures, Teachers' Private Capital, Blackstone Cleantech Venture Partners, and Sutter Hill Ventures. The company is based in Menlo Park, California.

Company Backgrounder [PDF]