Volta Labs Launches Access Program to Support Academic Researchers Amid Budget Cuts
April 29, 2025
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Volta Labs Launches Access Program to Support Academic Researchers Amid Budget Cuts
Academic research institutions are facing tightening capital budgets and funding uncertainty. At a time when academic researchers are being asked to do more with less, Volta is keeping Callisto accessible by launching the Volta Access Program; a new initiative aimed at increasing access to its Callisto™ Sample Prep System for academic research institutions in the U.S. facing tightening capital budgets. Selected applicants will be able to access Callisto for $4,950 per month over a 24-month term, with full service support and no consumables minimum — helping labs stay productive even as financial caution shapes decision-making across the academic community.
"At a time when labs are being forced into essential spending only, we’re meeting researchers where they are — cautious, budget-conscious, but still determined to advance critical research for healthcare and national security,” said Udayan Umapathi, CEO of Volta Labs. "The need for advancements in research doesn’t stop because of tight budgets, and neither should access to the tools that drive discovery.”
Supporting Researchers Through Unprecedented Challenges
The academic research community is facing extraordinary pressures. NIH budget reductions, grant delays, and widespread freezes on capital spending are forcing many labs to rethink purchasing decisions and delay new initiatives. Across institutions, there is a growing shift toward prioritizing operational survival over expansion.
Access to the right tools remains critical for research progress, even as budgets tighten. The Volta Access Program is designed to meet this moment by removing traditional barriers to technology adoption. By eliminating upfront equipment costs and offering a flexible monthly payment structure, the program helps labs continue advancing their work without taking on heavy financial burdens. Full service support is included to ensure seamless operations, and there is no consumables minimum, providing researchers with complete flexibility in how they use the system.
With Callisto, labs can not only maintain but accelerate their work, thanks to a platform that is:
- Simple to operate with minimal staffing
- Cost-efficient, reducing reagent use and sequencing reruns
- Scalable, supporting a wide range of genomic applications
Program Highlights:
- Access to Callisto for $4,950/month over 24 months
- Service contract included for ongoing support
- No minimum consumables commitment, ensuring complete usage flexibility
- At the end of the term, customers can either continue monthly payments or purchase the system at a significantly discounted price
- Full access to current and future apps released during the program
Current Apps Menu Includes:
- High Molecular Weight DNA Extraction
- DNA Extraction for Short Read Sequencing
- DNA Library Prep for Illumina
- PacBio SMRTBELL 3.0 Library Prep
- Hybrid Capture for IDT XGen™ V2 Chemistry
- Double-Sided Size Selection
*This program runs through July 31, 2025. Submissions are limited to U.S.- based academic labs and must be received by July 30, 2025.*
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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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Scaling Oxford Nanopore Sequencing: VoltaPrep for LSK114 Brings Automation to Applied Genomics
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