History
Bas Reichert and Erna Barèl, the managing and commercial directors of BaseClear to this day, founded BaseClear in 1993. The idea for the foundation of BaseClear arose during their student years. Bas and Erna both studied biology at Leiden University. During an internship at TNO, they discovered that they enjoyed applied and commercial research much more than fundamental research. The fact that the laboratories of TNO outsourced a number of activities, gave them the idea to start a research service company. At that time, DNA sequencing technology was just emerging. Bas Reichert had done some DNA sequencing jobs during a previous internship. Bas and Erna foresaw that the DNA sequencing technology would play an increasingly important role in life sciences, even though it was difficult to carry out and even though expensive equipment was needed. Outsourcing DNA sequencing would be interesting for many life science laboratories, they thought. The idea for BaseClear was born.
Bas Reichert and Erna Barèl in 1993.
Steady growth
While finishing their study, Bas and Erna discussed their plans with many people and wrote a business plan. In 1993, they founded BaseClear and started their company in a small laboratory in Rijnsburg. Half a year later, they moved to the Academic Business Centre (ABC) in Leiden. They expanded rapidly, and when BaseClear left the ABC nine years later, the company occupied six laboratories and five offices. In 2003 BaseClear moved to its current location at the Einsteinweg, in the Bio Science Park in Leiden. The number of employees has also increased over the years. Having started with only two people, the company now has over 25 employees. Bas and Erna expect to increase to a level of 40 employees in 2010.
Extended service package
In 1993, the idea of a DNA sequencing service company was unique. Notwithstanding the limited competition however, it proved difficult to get the first customers since most laboratories did everything on their own and bought their own DNA sequencing machine. Sometimes, it seemed as though the machine was just a gadget, since certain laboratories bought a machine in spite of the fact that they neither had the expertise nor the time to do the sequencing correctly.
Over the years, BaseClear extended its service package although all the services are still based on routine DNA tests. The mycoplasma detection service was the first non-sequencing service, which was started in 1997. In 1998 the gene synthesis service was added, and in 2000 the cloning, genotyping and microbiological services came in. BaseClear's customers were offered more and more possibilities for customised projects. One of the most recent examples is the protein expression and purification service that BaseClear offers. Since 2008, BaseClear offers not only services for DNA research, but also for forensic DNA profiling and DNA-based quality assurance, for example via microSEQ. The latest extension of the service package is a set of services for next generation sequencing.
Milestones
- 1993: Foundation BaseClear
Start with LiCor model 400 sequencer - 1994: Move to ABC building in Leiden
- 1995: Participation in Arabidopsis sequencing project
First employee - 1996: First capillary sequencer
- 1997: First website
New mycoplasma test service - 1998: New gene synthesis service (8 guilders/bp)
- 1999: Introduction LIMS
- 2000: Service package extended with cloning, genotyping and microbiological services
- 2001: Six sequencers in production
- 2002: Expansion of the robotics
- 2003: Move to the Einsteinweg
New 3730 multicapillary sequencer - 2004: Participation in ESA-MAP project
- 2005: Start construction extended synthetic gene libraries
- 2006: ISO 17025 accreditation
- 2007: Start ZF-tools project
- 2008: Start next generation sequencing services
Start forensic laboratory
Official MicroSEQ service provider
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