How It Works

Every project follows the same six steps. You know the scope, the timeline and the cost before any analysis begins.

DataCore Analytics is an analysis-only consultancy. We do not run a wet laboratory and we do not handle physical samples. You send us data — raw reads, count matrices, variant files, spreadsheets — and we return analysis, code and interpretation.

That constraint is deliberate. It means we can work with data from any sequencing provider or platform, and our advice on study design carries no incentive to sell you sequencing you do not need.

The Six Steps

From first email to final handover, typically four to eight weeks depending on scope.

Scoping Call

A free 30-minute call with a consultant who works in your field. We discuss the research question, what data you have or plan to generate, and what you need to produce at the end — a figure, a thesis chapter, a manuscript, a policy brief.

Written Analysis Plan

Within three working days you receive a written plan: the analyses we will run, the software and versions, the deliverables, the timeline and a fixed quote. Nothing starts until you approve it.

Agreement & Data Transfer

We sign a short agreement covering confidentiality, data storage, retention, authorship and intellectual property. You then transfer data through an encrypted link. See our data submission guidelines for formats and metadata.

Analysis

One named analyst runs the work, with a second consultant reviewing. You get a progress update at the agreed midpoint, and you can ask questions at any time — we answer within one working day.

Draft Results & Review

We send draft figures, tables and a written interpretation. You review, ask for changes, and we iterate. One round of revision is always included in the quote.

Handover

You receive the final report, publication-ready figures, all code and the software environment needed to rerun it, and a walkthrough call so your team understands every step.

What We Commit To

These are contractual, not aspirational.

Response Within 24 Hours

Enquiries and questions during a live project are answered within one working day. If your analyst is unavailable, a colleague picks it up.

A Named Analyst

You work with one person who knows your project, not a ticket queue. You have their direct email.

Fixed Quote

The price in the analysis plan is the price you pay. Scope changes are re-quoted in writing before any extra work happens.

Reproducible Output

Every deliverable ships with code, pinned software versions and documentation. Your team can rerun the analysis without us.

Your Data Stays Yours

We do not reuse client data for other projects, method development or model training without written permission.

One Revision Included

A round of revisions after draft results is part of every quote, not an upsell.

Timelines and Pricing

How long does it take?

Turnaround depends on data volume and complexity, not on our queue. Indicative timelines from the point data is received:

Differential expression from an existing count matrix — 5 to 10 working days
RNA-Seq from raw reads, up to 24 samples — 2 to 3 weeks
Whole genome or exome variant calling and annotation — 3 to 5 weeks
Single-cell analysis with cell type annotation — 3 to 6 weeks
Statistical analysis plan and sample size for a new study — 1 to 2 weeks
Pathogen genomic surveillance batch — 1 to 2 weeks per batch

How is it priced?

Small, well-defined analyses are quoted as a fixed project fee. Larger or open-ended work is quoted at a day rate with an agreed ceiling. Institutional partners pay an annual fee that covers an agreed volume of work at a reduced rate.

We publish indicative rates on each service page so you can budget before you contact us. Students and researchers at African public institutions are eligible for reduced rates — ask when you enquire.

What if the analysis does not work?

Sometimes data cannot answer the question asked of it — batch effects, insufficient power, contamination. If we conclude that during the work, we tell you immediately rather than producing a result that will not survive review. You pay only for the work done to that point, and we advise on what would be needed to answer the question properly.