Diagnostic Biochips

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.

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

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

• Neural probe technology
• Electrophysiology instruments
• Silicon microelectrodes
• Brain organoid analysis
• Neural recording systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Glen Burnie

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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

Core 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

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Cambridge NeuroTechcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial 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 CampuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundational 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative 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)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborator 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)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational 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)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration 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)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeam 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

Direct 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

• Xtwitter.com/DiagBiochips
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCIDtliIIhPnY-MXbeu1LhFA
• Facebookfacebook.com/diagnosticbiochips
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/diagnostic-biochips-inc-
• Instagraminstagram.com/diagnosticbiochips

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Diagnostic Biochips