AMP 2025 Recap: A Transformative Week for NGS Prep and the Callisto Platform
December 10, 2025
AMP 2025 was an unforgettable week for the Volta Labs team. It was a week of meaningful conversations, major milestones, and an inspiring reminder of why we’re building the future of automated NGS prep.
From clinicians and scientists reshaping precision medicine to innovators pushing the limits of genomics, the energy at AMP was electric. And for us, it marked an exciting turning point for Callisto and our growing ecosystem.
Here’s a look back at everything that made our first time at this conference so special.
Launching a Vision: Any Chemistry. Any Sequencer. One Platform.
At AMP, we introduced the next phase of Callisto’s evolution — a vision built on flexibility, openness, and the freedom to build the workflows labs actually need.
Any Chemistry. Any Sequencer. One Platform.
This was the message we brought to the community, and the response was clear: it resonated. Labs are hungry for automation that works with their tools, the first time without the heavy lift of onboarding new applications. With Callisto, we’re expanding compatibility to support a wider range of chemistries, sequencing platforms, and applications that are all within a single, unified system.
This flexibility is opening new doors for clinical, translational, and research teams looking to streamline operations without sacrificing performance or choice.
→ Learn more about our App offerings
AMPlyfing A Partnership: Bringing NEBNext® Chemistry to Callisto
One highlight was our announcement of our partnership with New England Biolabs®, integrating NEBNext® chemistries directly onto the Callisto platform.
We’re starting with automated Ultra™ II FS library prep for whole-genome sequencing and will have more workflows to follow.
This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to bringing high-quality, reliable, and scalable solutions to the sequencing community. By uniting NEB’s trusted chemistry with Callisto’s digital fluidics automation, we’re giving labs new ways to increase throughput, improve consistency, and reduce hands-on time.
A Standing-Room Only Crowd: Our Corporate Workshop with Dr. Lennart Kester
We were excited to host our corporate workshop, “Reimagining NGS Prep: End-to-End Automation for Faster Clinical Insights,” featuring Dr. Lennart Kester from the Prinses Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology.
Dr. Kester dug into how automation can accelerate clinical genomics and why reducing manual prep is essential for scaling precision medicine. His perspective was grounded in real, day-to-day challenges from a leading pediatric oncology center that sparked thoughtful conversations and actionable insights for labs facing similar constraints.
If you missed it, don’t worry: you can watch it on-demand.
→ Watch our AMP Corporate Workshop
A Conversation Worth Watching with Keith Robison x Dr. Lennart Kester
One of the most memorable moments at AMP was an honest, forward-looking conversation between:
- Udayan Umapathi, CEO, Volta Labs
- Keith Robison, Founder, Omics! Omics!
- Dr. Lennart Kester, Prinses Máxima Center
Together, they explored what it really means to unite diverse chemistries and sequencing workflows on a single sample prep platform.
Keith brought the industry’s perspective: why openness, interoperability, and workflow flexibility matter now more than ever. Lennart offered the clinical viewpoint: how Callisto is reshaping innovation in the lab by reducing manual burden and unlocking new possibilities in sample prep. Udayan tied it all together, reflecting on where NGS automation must go next and how Callisto is being built to meet those needs.
It was energizing, candid, and deeply aligned with the future of our industry.
Connecting With the Community at Booth #210
Our team spent the week speaking with hundreds of clinicians, scientists, and technologists who are pushing the boundaries of NGS every day. From in-depth workflow discussions to live demos to fast-paced ideation sessions, Booth #210 became a hub for what’s next in sequencing automation.
The enthusiasm reinforced what we hear often: labs are ready for more flexible, modern, and accessible workflows. And they’re excited by the possibilities Callisto is beginning to unlock.
Volta Labs Named a #NEVYs25 Finalist
We were also honored to be nominated for the #NEVYs25 Emerging Company of the Year (Medical Tools & Devices) — a recognition of the innovation and momentum our team has built over the last year.
It’s a proud moment for everyone at Volta and a validation of the impact we’re delivering to labs around the world.
What’s Next?
AMP 2025 marked the start of a new chapter for Callisto. A more flexible, more powerful, and more open platform is on the horizon — shaped by your feedback, your needs, and the evolving landscape of genomics.
Thank you to everyone who stopped by, asked questions, shared insights, and helped us imagine what’s possible.
If you missed anything or want to follow along with what’s coming next:
We're excited for what’s ahead — and even more excited to build it together.
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Introducing VoltaHyb:
Automating the Last Mile of Targeted Sequencing Workflows
The Volta Labs team is revolutionizing critical targeted sequencing workflows with the introduction of the VoltaHyb™ suite of Apps and kits for the Callisto™ Sample Prep System. Designed to enrich your targets with confidence every single time, the Callisto platform brings unmatched workflow simplicity to hybridization capture. With Callisto, users no longer need to rely on multiple lab instruments (heated blocks, magnetic racks, vortexers) or perform time-sensitive heated transfer steps - such complex steps are abstracted away from the end user. Furthermore, Callisto's unique architecture enables precise magnetic bead manipulation coupled with uninterrupted and uniform temperature control during the hybrid capture enabling consistent enrichment performance.
Callisto reduces sequencing redo rates to less than 3% while minimizing sample loss throughout the capture process. This breakthrough approach enables reliable targeted sequencing even for challenging applications where conventional tools struggle. These advantages extend across both long and short read-based hybrid capture workflows.
The scalable architecture of the Callisto system enables flexible throughput, with the capacity to process up to 96,000 exomes per year or 48,000 PacBio HiFi samples annually. Whether you're running a small research lab or a high-volume testing facility, Callisto adapts to your needs with flexible batch sizes and consistent performance.
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Key Benefits
of VoltaHyb for Hybridization Capture:
Reduced Sequencing Costs:
Lower sample preparation and sequencing costs by minimizing reruns (<3% redo rates).Fully Automated Workflow:
Enables complete walk-away automation for hybridization, capture, washes, and PCR setupBroad Panel Compatibility:
Works with panels of all sizes, from small targeted panels to comprehensive exomesSupport for Both Short and Long Read Applications:
Optimized protocols for both Illumina-style short-read sequencing and long-read technologies like PacBio and Oxford Nanopore
Consistent Results:
Dramatically reduced inter-operator variability and robust performance across repeated runsUniform Coverage:
Even coverage across challenging regions, including high-GC content areasMaximum Throughput: Process up to 480 exomes simultaneously with pooled libraries with flexible batching
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VoltaHyb’s Expanding App Menu
At Volta, we’re continually growing our support for hybrid capture workflows across both short- and long-read sequencing platforms.
On the short-read side, Callisto currently supports IDT xGEN v2 chemistry, as well as Twist’s standard v2 and Fast chemistries. For long-read applications, we support PacBio HiFi enrichment based on Twist’s standard v2 chemistry.
There are more Apps coming to the VoltaHyb menu, and we’re always listening to our users. If there’s a hybrid capture chemistry you’d like to see automated on Callisto, let us know—we’d love to hear from you.
for Twist, v2 standard
The revolution in genomic sample preparation is here. By bringing the push-button experience of a sequencer to targeted sequencing workflows, Volta Labs is transforming how laboratories approach hybridization capture. The choice is no longer between inconsistent manual methods and complex automation platforms that require dedicated engineering resources. With Callisto and VoltaHyb, you can achieve consistent, high-quality results without specialized training or extensive method development.
Ready to experience the difference? Contact our team today to learn how the VoltaHyb powered Hybridization Capture can enhance your targeted sequencing workflows and accelerate your discoveries.
Relevant product pages:
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VoltaPrep for Oxford Nanopore LSK114: Automation Without the Pain
The VoltaPrep for Oxford Nanopore LSK114 app delivers what laboratories have been seeking: comprehensive workflow automation that addresses the real-world requirements of applied genomics without the traditional implementation challenges.
True Walk-Away Operation
Load your samples, select the app, and walk away. The entire LSK114 protocol—from DNA end-repair through adapter ligation and cleanup—runs without manual intervention, freeing up valuable technician time for other critical projects.
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Preserved Sample Quality
Callisto's digital fluidics technology provides gentle handling specifically optimized for high molecular weight DNA, ensuring the integrity essential for nanopore applications.
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Consistent, Reliable Results
Eliminate the operator-to-operator variability that plagues manual protocols and the reliability issues common with traditional automation systems.
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Scalable Throughput
Process anywhere from 4 to 24 samples per run, with throughput that matches the capacity of Oxford Nanopore's PromethION 24 device—enabling seamless integration into existing workflows.
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Rapid Implementation
Complete library preparation in under 3 hours with minimal hands-on time, supporting the faster timelines required in applied settings without the months-long implementation typical of traditional automation.
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No Method Development Required
Unlike traditional automation approaches, there's no programming, optimization, or troubleshooting required. The application is pre-validated and ready to use the day your Callisto arrives.
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Cost-Effective Operation
Miniaturized reactions reduce reagent consumption while eliminating the need for expensive liquid handling infrastructure and dedicated automation engineers.
Real-World Impact for Applied Genomics
The combination of Callisto automation and Oxford Nanopore sequencing delivers what laboratories have been seeking: a way to scale advanced sequencing technologies without the traditional automation headaches. This is particularly valuable for service laboratories, clinical laboratories, and research institutions looking to incorporate nanopore sequencing into routine workflows.
"Nanopore sequencing represents a transformative approach to genomics, and we're committed to making these powerful technologies as accessible as possible," says Udayan Umapathi, founder and CEO of Volta Labs. "With our Oxford Nanopore LSK114 app, we're extending the same automation convenience that has transformed other sequencing workflows to nanopore technology. Labs can now leverage these capabilities with unprecedented ease and consistency."
Early Adoption Success
Early access partners have already begun to see significant improvements in both efficiency and library quality using the automated LSK114 workflow. The ability to consistently produce high-quality Oxford Nanopore libraries without traditional automation complexity is proving transformative for laboratories scaling their sequencing programs.
The improvements go beyond just efficiency—we're seeing substantial reductions in failed library preparations and improved consistency across different operators, critical factors for laboratories where reliability and reproducibility are paramount.
Ready to innovate with us?
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AMP 2025 Recap: A Transformative Week for NGS Prep and the Callisto Platform
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