Illumina and the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance partner to sequence the Frozen Zoo®, supporting critical conservation genetics efforts globally
Rhea-AI Summary
Illumina (NASDAQ: ILMN) announced a sequencing agreement with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance to sequence up to 4,000 samples representing 1,300 species from the Frozen Zoo®, a 50-year-old biodiversity biobank. A subset will receive multiomic analysis, with whole-genome data made available to SDZWA and collaborators to support conservation research.
Positive
- Commitment to sequence up to 4,000 individual samples across 1,300 species
- Whole-genome sequencing data to be made available for SDZWA research collaborations
- Subset of samples designated for multiomic research to advance wildlife medicine and evolutionary biology
- Leverages existing iConserve experience, including a 91-koala whole-genome project with published results
Negative
- None.
News Market Reaction – ILMN
In the Feb 3 session, ILMN declined 4.04%, reflecting a moderate negative market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 30 | Acquisition close | Positive | -3.3% | Completion of SomaLogic acquisition to expand proteomics and multiomics stack. |
| Jan 20 | Reimbursement win | Positive | +3.9% | CMS reimbursement secured for TruSight Oncology Comprehensive at set test price. |
| Jan 13 | AI data launch | Positive | +1.0% | Launch of Billion Cell Atlas dataset to support AI-driven drug discovery. |
| Jan 13 | Prelim earnings | Positive | +1.0% | Preliminary Q4 and FY25 revenue and EPS ranges ahead of full earnings. |
| Jan 12 | Earnings date set | Neutral | +3.2% | Announcement of date and time for Q4 and full-year 2025 results call. |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Recent ILMN news often sees the stock move with positive items like reimbursement and product launches, while acquisition news has coincided with negative reactions.
Over the last month, Illumina reported preliminary Q4 and FY25 results with revenue of about $1.155B for Q4 and $4.34B for FY25, plus GAAP EPS ranges up to $2.17 for Q4 and $5.45 for FY25. It also completed the SomaLogic acquisition for $350 million cash plus up to $75 million in milestones, and secured CMS reimbursement of $2,989.55 per TruSight Oncology test. Against this backdrop of multiomics expansion, today’s conservation‑focused sequencing collaboration extends use cases for Illumina’s platforms beyond human health and drug discovery.
Key Terms
multiomic medical
whole-genome sequencing medical
biobank technical
retrovirus medical
genetic risk scores medical
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
Illumina will sequence up to 4,000 unique individual animals across 1,300 species, unlock genomic insights from 50-year-old biological samples
Sequencing connects decades of preserved biodiversity with the latest multiomic technologies
"Illumina is proud to partner with SDZWA to power the next era of the Frozen Zoo," said Cande Rogert, vice president and global head of Advanced Sciences at Illumina. "This collaboration is a wonderful example of the way multiomic technologies can activate the potential of these critical biodiversity biobanks."
Conservation scientists across the globe are racing against time to collect samples from threatened and endangered species. Those samples are preserved in biobanks like the Frozen Zoo®, where they serve as a repository of increasingly fragile biodiversity. Sequencing those biobanked samples gives researchers genomic insights that are useful to help protect species and promote ecological resilience.
"This collaboration marks a new era of genomic discovery that will accelerate our capacity to halt and reverse biodiversity loss," said Megan Owen, SDZWA's Benirschke Endowed Vice President of Conservation Science. "The next fifty years of the Frozen Zoo will rely on a global network of conservation scientists, as well as scalable multiomic technology to maximize the impact of biobanked samples."
The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance has partnered with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission as a Center for Species Survival focused on biodiversity banking. The partnership with Illumina aims to illustrate the value of sequencing in conservation efforts globally. To make the effort possible, Illumina will generate whole-genome sequencing data from samples representing wildlife in the Frozen Zoo®, which will be made available for research to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and its collaborators.
A selection of the samples will be available for collaborative research projects, where Illumina's multiomic solutions will help conservation researchers unlock information about genetic diversity and population history. The collaboration will also help to validate multiomic workflows for conservation science, ensuring they perform reliably with non-human samples.
"My father, Dr. Kurt Benirschke, founded the Frozen Zoo way back in 1975, believing it was important to preserve the DNA of rare and endangered species, but not knowing exactly why or how," said Rolf Benirschke, the board chair of the SDZWA Board of Trustees. "If he were alive today, he would be smiling knowing that his vision has led to this important collaboration with Illumina that will dramatically expand and amplify the science of conservation."
Genomics insights are driving a deeper understanding of koala cancer risk
Illumina collaborates with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance through its iConserve program and, in addition to the Frozen Zoo® collaboration, has also worked on lemur conservation in
One recent iConserve project, published last month in Nature Communications, demonstrates how sequencing koala genomes can inform conservation management decisions for koalas in zoos and in the wild. Koalas are susceptible to a retrovirus associated with cancers that are difficult for zoo veterinarians to detect and treat. Through the iConserve program, Illumina generated high-coverage whole-genome sequencing data for 91 San Diego Zoo koalas, from samples collected over multiple decades. Those sequences show how these viruses integrate into the koala genome across populations. This collaborative effort led to the identification of inherited and newly arising viral integrations in koala DNA. It also advanced the development of genetic risk scores, and the creation of a longevity breeding index—tools that can help reduce cancer risk and support healthier outcomes for koala populations in zoos and in the wild.
About Illumina
Illumina is improving human health by unlocking the power of the genome. Our focus on innovation has established us as a global leader in DNA sequencing and array-based technologies, serving customers in the research, clinical, and applied markets. Our products are used for applications in the life sciences, oncology, reproductive health, agriculture, and other emerging segments. To learn more, visit illumina.com and connect with us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
About the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, a nonprofit conservation leader, inspires passion for nature and collaboration for a healthier world. The Alliance supports innovative conservation science through global partnerships and groundbreaking efforts at the world-famous San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park, both leading zoological institutions and accredited botanical gardens. Through wildlife care expertise, cutting-edge science and continued collaboration, more than 44 endangered species have been reintroduced to native habitats. The Alliance reaches over 1 billion people annually through its two conservation parks and media channels in 170 countries, including San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorers television, available in children's hospitals across 14 countries. Wildlife Allies—members, donors and guests—make success possible.
About the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance's Frozen Zoo®
The Frozen Zoo® is the world's first large-scale cryogenic biological bank dedicated to preserving living cells and reproductive material from wildlife—and remains the largest, most diverse collection of its kind. Founded in 1975 by Kurt Benirschke, M.D., the Frozen Zoo today holds over 11,500 samples from 4,000 unique individuals across 1,300 species. Stored in liquid nitrogen at minus 320 degrees Fahrenheit, the collection includes cells, embryos and gametes from mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, plants, marine invertebrates and insects. The Frozen Zoo® is one of six unique San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance biobanking collections that make up its Wildlife Biodiversity Bank. Together these collections offer a variety of approaches to preserving biodiversity. Learn more at sdzwa.org/frozen-zoo.
Contacts
Illumina
For media:
Christine Douglass
PR@illumina.com
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
For media:
Meghan Breen
mbreen@sdzwa.org
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SOURCE Illumina, Inc.