Implementation, Not Technology, Remains Genomics’ Biggest Challenge
A generation ago, sequencing a single human genome took years and cost several hundred million dollars. Today, the same process can be completed in a matter of days by a mid-sized laboratory. Despite these advances, genomics specialist Manan Chandra, who has spent nearly eleven years in the sequencing industry, believes many laboratories still struggle to translate this technological capability into reliable and scalable results.
According to Chandra, the challenge is not the sequencing technology itself but the processes that support it.
“In practice, many organisations struggle not because the technology itself is unavailable, but because implementation, workflow standardisation, and technical interpretation can become bottlenecks,” Chandra said.
A Career Bridging Science and Industry
Chandra holds a Master’s degree in Functional Genomics from North Carolina State University, where he completed a thesis in the field. His experience spans Illumina short-read sequencing, Oxford Nanopore long-read sequencing, Sanger sequencing, qRT-PCR and cloning.
Throughout his career, he has worked across laboratory operations, technical sales and scientific consulting, collaborating with academic institutions, biotechnology companies and clinical organisations. According to Chandra, this broad experience has given him a perspective that extends beyond a single sequencing platform or workflow.
Much of his practical work has focused on addressing the operational challenges that often disrupt sequencing projects. These include variations in sample quality between batches, library preparation failures that become apparent only during data analysis, differing expectations between laboratory teams and research clients, and normalisation processes that become increasingly difficult as sample volumes expand from dozens to thousands.
He has also worked on protocols for low-input and lower-quality DNA and RNA samples, recognising that researchers often have to work with less-than-ideal materials. In addition, Chandra has helped develop dilution and quantification approaches suitable for semi-automated processing. He believes that even small improvements at these early stages can significantly influence the outcome of an entire sequencing workflow.
Scientific Contributions Supporting Practical Experience
Alongside his industry work, Chandra has remained active in scientific research. He is a co-author of a PLOS ONE study examining how Arabidopsis plants respond to pathogen infection at the transcript-isoform level rather than solely at the gene level. The publication has received approximately 150 citations.
His experience spans both the scientific and commercial sides of genomics. In addition to hands-on laboratory work involving next-generation sequencing, molecular biology and workflow optimisation, he has worked in technical sales and scientific consulting, helping academic, biotechnology and clinical organisations identify sequencing solutions that meet their research and operational objectives.
Chandra says this combination of scientific and commercial experience has provided valuable insight into how new sequencing technologies move from research laboratories into routine application.
While he views his research contributions as supporting evidence of his approach to sequencing data, he believes the industry’s greater challenge lies in solving implementation issues that affect day-to-day laboratory operations.
The Future of Genomics
Chandra identifies two major developments shaping the future of genomics. The first is the continued shift from short-read sequencing toward long-read platforms such as Oxford Nanopore, which he says are expanding opportunities in genome assembly, structural variant analysis and microbial genomics.
The second is the growing integration of automation and machine learning into sequencing workflows, particularly in quality control and downstream data interpretation.
However, Chandra believes that neither advancement alone will resolve the industry’s implementation challenges. Instead, both increase the need for professionals who understand sequencing as an integrated system rather than simply operating individual instruments.
For laboratories seeking to scale their operations, he argues that the question is no longer whether sequencing technology will continue to improve—it undoubtedly will. The greater challenge is ensuring that practical aspects such as sample handling, protocol development, troubleshooting and data interpretation evolve at the same pace.
According to Chandra, laboratories that succeed in the years ahead will be those that recognise operational expertise as a discipline in its own right rather than treating it as a secondary consideration to the science.
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