🧬 How 3D Genome Mapping is Changing Everything We Know About DNA | Ivan Liachko (Part 3/4)
June 25, 2025
"If you get a new kind of information, suddenly you can do something with it that you couldn't do before at all."
In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, Ivan Liachko shares how scientific curiosity and unexpected collaborations took him from DNA replication research in yeast at Cornell to a breakthrough in 3D genome mapping and the founding of Phase Genomics.
Embracing Hi-C technology at the University of Washington, Ivan and his team unlocked a new kind of biological information, enabling scientists to assemble genomes and map complex microbial communities and their viruses—transforming what was once impossible into a new standard for genomics. His journey highlights how creativity, collaboration, and seizing serendipitous moments can drive the most impactful scientific innovations.
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"If you get a new kind of information, suddenly you can do something with it that you couldn't do before at all."
In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, Ivan Liachko shares how scientific curiosity and unexpected collaborations took him from DNA replication research in yeast at Cornell to a breakthrough in 3D genome mapping and the founding of Phase Genomics.
Embracing Hi-C technology at the University of Washington, Ivan and his team unlocked a new kind of biological information, enabling scientists to assemble genomes and map complex microbial communities and their viruses—transforming what was once impossible into a new standard for genomics. His journey highlights how creativity, collaboration, and seizing serendipitous moments can drive the most impactful scientific innovations.
Key topics covered:
- Scientific Serendipity: Collaborations and chance encounters that propelled Ivan’s career
- Comparative Biology: Probing DNA replication by comparing diverse yeast “machines”
- The Move to Genomics: Shifting from classic genetics to high-throughput genomics at UW
- 3D Genome Mapping: Hi-C technology unlocking the secrets of genome structure
- Microbiome and Phage Discovery: Sequencing breakthroughs revealing hidden microbial worlds
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Find our guest, Ivan Liachko, at these links:
Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee
Learn more about Excedr:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/
Website: https://www.excedr.com
Intro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr:
Website: https://flow.page/kyojin
Resources & Articles:
MCM Proteins and DNA Replication: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0955067406000251
Hi-C Technology: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hi-C_(genomic_analysis_technique)
Kitty Biome Project: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/catbiome/kittybiome-kitty-microbiomes-for-cat-health-and-bi
Genome Startup Day: https://genomestartupday.com/
ARK Invest Podcast: https://www.ark-invest.com/podcast/phase-genomics
Companies, Universities, & People mentioned:
Phase Genomics: https://phasegenomics.com
University of Washington: https://www.washington.edu/
Animal Biome: https://www.animalbiome.com/pages/our-company?srsltid=AfmBOope9rX1mixuGLFD44P81n_UJsHdYSHTlHJ7qUYmd3FRAscR2DxQ
Maitreya Dunham: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maitreya-dunham-b23a9148/
Josh Burton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-burton-6292a25/
Jay Shendure: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-shendure-32b2a96/
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
02:12 Ivan’s early research at Cornell on DNA replication and yeast biology
05:52 Move to University of Washington and postdoc opportunity
09:49 Life and culture in the Pacific Northwest
13:04 Experimental evolution and comparative biology in yeast
17:16 Discovering Hi-C technology and 3D genome mapping
24:40 Using Hi-C for genome assembly and the jigsaw puzzle analogy
30:23 Applications of Hi-C in microbiome research and phage discovery
33:04 Mapping phages and plasmids to their microbial hosts
34:23 Founding of Phase Genomics and commercialization of technology
34:29 Outro
The Biotech Startups Podcast gives you a front-row seat to the business and science of building a biotech. Hosted by Jon Chee, CEO of Excedr, the show features honest conversations with founders, execs, and investors about their work, their companies, and how they got there. From scientific breakthroughs to startup lessons, each episode explores what it really takes to grow a life science company—from pre-seed to IPO.