Diagnostic Biochips
Diagnostic Biochips designs and manufactures high-channel-count silicon microelectrode probes and automated organoid electrophysiology platforms for neuroscience research, serving academic researchers and pharmaceutical companies conducting CNS drug discovery and translational neuroscience through global distribution partner Cambridge NeuroTech.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersGlen Burnie, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Diagnostic Biochips does
Diagnostic Biochips (DBC) is a private neurotechnology company founded in 2013 and headquartered in Glen Burnie, Maryland, that designs and manufactures high-channel-count silicon microelectrode probes for electrophysiology research. The company's core technology leverages semiconductor-grade fabrication and MEMS engineering to produce precision probes capable of recording from large numbers of neurons simultaneously with minimal tissue disruption—technology that traces to founder Brian Jamieson and CTO Fan Wu's doctoral work at the University of Michigan and subsequent development funded by HHMI Janelia Research Campus from 2007 to 2016.
The company operates two product lines. The first, comprising the Deep Array and legacy 64-channel, 128-channel, and Janus Double-sided silicon probes, addresses in-vivo electrophysiology in non-human primates, large animals, and humans (research use only), with applications including DBS surgery recordings, hippocampal circuit analysis, and visual prosthesis research targeting thalamic structures. The second product line, SomaFocus, is an automated electrophysiology platform for recording live functional activity from inside intact brain organoids and 3D cultures, addressing demand from preclinical CNS drug discovery. Commercial sales of all hardware run through a global distribution partnership with Cambridge NeuroTech, while DBCloud provides cloud-based spike sorting and AI-assisted analysis on a subscription basis introduced at SfN 2022.
The company serves academic neuroscience researchers, translational scientists, and pharmaceutical companies conducting CNS drug discovery, with named customers including Roche, GSK, Merck, NIH, Vanderbilt, NYU, University of Pennsylvania, Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Johns Hopkins, UCSF, Columbia, and McGovern Institute. Revenue is generated through hardware probe sales, a bundled subscription model combining probes with DBCloud software access, and grant-funded R&D (over $6M historically from NIH and DARPA, plus an additional $1.8M DARPA grant in 2024 and TEDCO support for FDA regulatory work). The company is preparing to debut SomaFocus as its first automated stem cell analysis instrument at the Society for Neuroscience Conference in 2026 after twelve years of development.
Diagnostic Biochips firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Diagnostic Biochips
- Legal name
- Diagnostic Biochips Inc.
- Website
- https://diagnosticbiochips.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Diagnostic Biochips designs and manufactures high-channel-count silicon microelectrode probes and automated organoid electrophysiology platforms for neuroscience research, serving academic researchers and pharmaceutical companies conducting CNS drug discovery and translational neuroscience through global distribution partner Cambridge NeuroTech.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Diagnostic Biochips industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Neural Electrophysiology Equipment
- NAICS
- Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)
- SIC
- Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Biosensors & Lab-on-Chip (BioMEMS) (HDAHALAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Organoids & Organ-on-Chip (regenerative models) (HLAAAGAD), Digital & AI-Enabled Diagnostics (algorithmic interpretation, decision support tied to assays) (HLAAALAO)
Keywords
Where Diagnostic Biochips is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Glen Burnie
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Diagnostic Biochips business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Hardware Probes and Arrays: Sale of high-density silicon probes including 64-channel, 128-channel, Janus Double-sided probes, and Deep Array products. All product distribution handled through Cambridge NeuroTech partnership.
- Software Subscriptions (DBC Cloud): Subscription-based access to DBCloud platform for spike sorting, AI automation, and data storage management. The company introduced a new subscription plan at SfN 2022 offering savings on probes and free access to DBC Cloud platform.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Diagnostic Biochips product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Diagnostic Biochips designs, fabricates, and sells high-density silicon probe neural interfaces and automated electrophysiology platforms for neuroscience research. Its product portfolio includes the SomaFocus functional depth recording platform for intact 3D brain organoid cultures, the Deep Array high-density multichannel electrode system for non-human primate and human deep brain research, and legacy in-vivo probes (64-channel, 128-channel, Janus Double-sided). The company also offers DBCloud, a cloud-based spike sorting and analysis software.
Product overview
Diagnostic Biochips offers a portfolio of neural electrophysiology products centered on two main platforms: SomaFocus (automated organoid electrophysiology for 3D cultures) and the Deep Array/Legacy Probe systems (in-vivo neural probes for research). The company provides high-density silicon probe technology for multichannel extracellular recording, cloud-based DBCloud software for spike sorting and data management, and subscription plans for probe procurement. Products span automated in-vitro organoid analysis instruments and traditional in-vivo probe systems for awake behaving animal research.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SomaFocus: The Functional Depth Recording Platform for high-resolution electrophysiology from inside intact 3D cultures, including brain organoids. An automated platform for recording live circuit-level activity.
- Deep Array
- DBCloud
Products and services
- SomaFocus
- Deep Array
- Legacy In-Vivo Silicon Probes
- DBCloud
Quantifiable outcome
- Successfully recorded from patients during DBS surgery with IRB approval
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Diagnostic Biochips
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Diagnostic Biochips technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Feature5 records
Diagnostic Biochips partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Cambridge NeuroTechcoreOfficial global distribution partnership announced to expand reach and enhance distribution network. Cambridge NeuroTech handles ALL product sales including 64-channel, 128-channel, Janus Double-sided probes, and Deep Array. This partnership allows DBC to focus on emerging neurotechnology development while Cambridge NeuroTech manages global commercial operations. Contact: [email protected]
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) / Janelia Research CampuscoreFoundational probe technology based on doctoral work at University of Michigan, with several years of development funded in cooperation with HHMI Janelia Research Campus (2007-2016). DBC emerged to commercialize technology developed under contract with HHMI Janelia.
- Vanderbilt University (Kari Hoffman Lab)coreCollaborative research using Deep Array probes for wireless recordings in macaque hippocampus. The 'Simian Symphony' project won first place in the 2023 BRAIN Initiative contest. Dr. Hoffman is an early adopter of Deep Array technology for studying perception and memory formation.
- University of Pennsylvania (John Wolf Lab)supportingCollaborator on Deep Array prototyping and demonstration for visual prosthesis research targeting thalamic structures. Part of multi-institution team advancing neural interface technology.
- Netherlands Institute of Neuroscience (Pieter Roelfsema)supportingInternational collaborator on Deep Array technology development for visual prosthesis research. Part of team recognized by MTEC Prototype of the Year award.
- University of Pittsburgh (Tracy Cui Lab)supportingCollaboration published in Journal of Materials Chemistry demonstrating continuous real-time monitoring of cocaine in the rodent brain using DBC technology with professor's aptamer-functionalized neural recording electrodes.
- Cambridge NeuroTech (Thilo Womelsdorf)supportingTeam member Thilo Womelsdorf from Cambridge NeuroTech collaborated on Deep Array research for studying inter-areal correlations and direction of information flow in attention tasks.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Diagnostic Biochips competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Axion Biosystems: Axion provides MEA plate-based neural recording platforms (Maestro) widely used in pharma CNS drug screening and academic neuroscience. Competes with SomaFocus in organoid and 3D culture electrophysiology for pharma discovery applications.
- Imec (Neuropixels): Imec, through its Neuropixels program co-developed with HHMI Janelia, is the dominant supplier of high-density silicon probes for neuroscience research. Directly competes with DBC's 64/128-channel silicon probes in academic labs worldwide using the same semiconductor fabrication paradigm.
- MaxWell Biosystems: MaxWell produces high-density CMOS-based microelectrode array (MEA) platforms for in vitro and in vivo neural recording. Competes with SomaFocus in high-resolution electrophysiology, particularly for organoid and 3D culture applications.
- Multi Channel Systems (MCS): Part of Harvard Bioscience, MCS supplies MEA platforms for electrophysiology research including organoid and cell-culture applications. Competes with SomaFocus in the in vitro neural recording segment served by DBC.
- Blackrock Microsystems: Blackrock manufactures Utah Array silicon probes and neural recording systems widely used in NHP and clinical BCI research. Directly comparable to DBC's Deep Array for chronic multi-channel neural interfacing in large animals and humans.
- Nanion Technologies: Nanion provides automated patch-clamp and electrophysiology instrumentation used in ion channel research and cardiac safety screening. Comparable to DBC in the high-precision electrophysiology instrumentation segment, with overlap on automated neural recording workflows.
Broad incumbents
- Neuralink: Larger, well-capitalized player developing high-channel-count brain-computer interfaces using flexible polymer "threads." Overlaps with DBC's high-density neural recording mission in the long term but operates at vastly greater scale and clinical-application focus.
Emerging players
- iCE Neurosystems: Founded and led by Dr. Allen Waziri (DBC board member), iCE Neurosystems develops implantable neural sensing and stimulation devices for clinical applications. Comparable in clinical neural interface mission though more focused on therapeutic closed-loop devices rather than research tools.
- 3Brain AG: 3Brain produces CMOS-based high-resolution MEA platforms (BioCAM) for organoid, brain-slice, and cultured-neuron electrophysiology. Directly competes with SomaFocus in 3D culture and brain organoid functional readout applications.
Others
- Cambridge NeuroTech: DBC's exclusive global distribution partner for silicon probes. Functions as both customer-facing sales channel and reseller, with related but non-overlapping product offerings (NeuroPixels probes, neural recording accessories) within the same neuroscience buyer ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Customer concentration
Diagnostic Biochips social profiles
Digital presenceDiagnostic Biochips financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Diagnostic Biochips leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Diagnostic Biochips funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Diagnostic Biochips M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Diagnostic Biochips
What does Diagnostic Biochips do?
Diagnostic Biochips designs, fabricates, and sells high-density silicon probe neural interfaces and automated electrophysiology platforms for neuroscience research. Its product portfolio includes the SomaFocus functional depth recording platform for intact 3D brain organoid cultures, the Deep Array high-density multichannel electrode system for non-human primate and human deep brain research, and legacy in-vivo probes (64-channel, 128-channel, Janus Double-sided). The company also offers DBCloud, a cloud-based spike sorting and analysis software.
Is Diagnostic Biochips a public or private company?
Diagnostic Biochips is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Diagnostic Biochips founded?
Diagnostic Biochips was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Diagnostic Biochips based?
Diagnostic Biochips is headquartered in Glen Burnie, United States, in the North America region.
How does Diagnostic Biochips make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Hardware Probes and Arrays are the primary driver. The others are software Subscriptions (DBC Cloud).
Who are Diagnostic Biochips's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Axion Biosystems, Imec (Neuropixels), MaxWell Biosystems, Multi Channel Systems (MCS), Blackrock Microsystems and Nanion Technologies. Neuralink is listed as a broad incumbent. Emerging players are iCE Neurosystems and 3Brain AG. Cambridge NeuroTech is listed as an others.
Does Diagnostic Biochips have an API?
No public API is recorded for Diagnostic Biochips.
What industry is Diagnostic Biochips in?
Diagnostic Biochips's product category is Neural Electrophysiology Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAHALAK, Biosensors & Lab-on-Chip (BioMEMS), with a secondary code of HLAAAGAD, Organoids & Organ-on-Chip (regenerative models). Its NAICS code is 33451 and its SIC code is 3826.