Martin Seifert: Looking over the sea of genomic data

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Martin Seifert is the managing director Genomatix GmbH and is active in the field of personalised medicine. Source: Genomatix

23.04.2013  - 

Martin Seifert is a specialist at looking inside the genome.  In order to scour through our genetic makeup, the 42 year-old biologist’s academic career initially concentrated on gene chips, otherwise known as microarrays. In 2004 he moved to the Munich-based IT company Genomatix, where he eventually became managing director. “Genomatix makes data of biological origin useable in such a way that you don’t have to be a computer scientist – and can be an ordinary biologist – in order to work with it,” says Seifert. By 2008 the company was earning its living above all with microarray analysis. Then high-throughput (next generation) sequencing (NGS) arrived on the scene. “This brought about a quick collapse of our main business,” admits Seifert today.

With sequencing now significantly cheaper, the number of microarray analyses carried out by the company fell noticeably inside of a year. The company had to survive three tough quarters, and Seifert believes that this would have been the end for Genomatix had there not been a ‘Plan B’ in the drawer. “Fortunately, in 2006 we had already begun intense work on driving forward NGS analyses. We were thus able to bring our first NGS product directly to market in 2008.”

A vital dose of humour

Seifert is a laid-back kind of person, bursting out in laughter many times in the course of the interview. Seeing this infectious and charming manner in person, you can understand see that he was able to master the 2008 crisis with a measure of humour: “The most important component for productive work is a certain essential level of humour with which you can look at the whole thing.” Born in Weilheim, Seifert studied biology at the Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich. This was followed by post-doctoral studies at the Technical University of Munich and a postdoctoral fellowship with John Sumpter at Brunel University in London. After returning to the Department of Cell Biology at TU Munich, he went on to build a microarray facility at the site. In 2004 he moved to Genomatix – as a researcher he had already been familiar with the company as a customer. There, his proficiency in microarray analysis meant that he was perfectly suited to his initial role as trainer for Genomatix customers. Before long he was managing his own projects, and later moved into sales. In 2009, founder Thomas Werner decided to reinforce scientific activities and Seifert was promoted to management. “If Thomas Werner hadn’t had such faith in me at the time, then it’s unlikely that he would have made the move into the academic world,” says the 42-year-old.

Competition from academic labs

Seifert is now managing director and heads company development together with the technical director, computer scientist Matthias Scherf. Working in close coordination, they observe the trends that could be one day relevant for the company. After the dangerous lull in 2008, the hobby surfer is sure of at least one thing: “If we slumber during the next wave, then the situation can quickly become critical.” As a service provider, Genomatix must always be up do date on all the latest developments, because “academics will only use us if they believe that we’re really capable of delivering.” But a good reputation alone is not enough. Many scientists in the academic environment are developing their own analysis tools that they provide to the community free of charge. For Genomatix, this means that they have to stay creative. “Projects from the public domain that have gone stale no longer bring in turnover. Then you have to be sure that you’re ahead in other areas.” 

Personalised medicine and the next wave

The next wave of technology that Seifert plans for the company is genome analysis in the context of personalised medicine. The first tests, designed together with the Tübingen-based company CeGat, have already been decorated with a number of prizes. The native of Upper Bavaria is no stranger to tidal forces. A keen sailor since his childhood days, his current time constraints allow him to pursue only the simpler version of the sport – windsurfing: “If it’s really windy and stormy outside but I’m bound here in the office, then I can get a bit on the grumpy side.” At least, this storm-tested trend forecaster can then get down to keeping his company on course in the flood of genome data.
 

Author: Martin Laqua