PEARL-DNA partner Imagene, presents DNA stability research at the Autumn School in Corsica

On 11 November 2025, through the invitation to attend the MoleculArXiv Autumn School on DNA Data Storage at the Institut d’Études Scientifiques de Cargèse (IESC), Corsica, our consortium partner Imagene SA was represented by Marthe Colotte (CTO / Project Manager). Marthe was invited to speak about one of the project’s core research dimensions: DNA stability.

Topics covered include DNA synthesis and sequencing, data encoding and compression, error correction, secure data retrieval, and emerging applications, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature and technical breadth of molecular storage research.

Sharing expertise on DNA stability

During her presentation, Marthe Colotte discussed the critical challenge of molecular stability in DNA-based archives: how to preserve DNA molecules over extended periods in a way that ensures data integrity. She highlighted Imagene ’s technology for hermetic encapsulation of DNA under anhydrous and anoxic conditions, which supports long-term storage. This aligns directly with PEARL-DNA’s ambition to establish DNA storage solutions with reliable durability over decades or centuries.

Her talk underlined:

• Key degradation mechanisms (e.g., hydrolysis, oxidation) affecting DNA over time;

• The role of encapsulation and controlled storage atmospheres in mitigating decay;

• Methods to assess and model DNA stability;

• The implications for archival-grade data preservation using DNA.

By presenting these aspects, Imagene contributed to bridging the gap between biochemical preservation methods and information-storage technologies.

Advancing PEARL-DNA’s objectives through knowledge exchange

Imagene’s participation in a high-level educational and scientific forum like the Autumn School advances PEARL-DNA’s objectives in multiple ways:

• Showcases the project’s interdisciplinary approach — combining biochemical preservation and data-storage engineering;

• Engages the community of early-career researchers and potential future collaborators;

• Contributes to knowledge exchange across academia and industry;

• Increases visibility of DNA-storage technologies within the molecular storage ecosystem, thereby strengthening synergy with initiatives such as PEPR MoleculArXiv.

Moreover, this effort contributes to the long-term aim of establishing DNA as a trustworthy archival medium — a cornerstone of PEARL-DNA’s mission.