After his doctorate, Klenerman went to Stanford University as a Fulbright scholar to work on high-overtone chemistry, with Richard Zare. After his postdoctoral research at Stanford, he returned to United Kingdom to work in BP Research for seven years. Then, in 1994, he joined the University of Cambridge, as a faculty member of the Department of Chemistry and a fellow of Christ's College.[1][13][15]
Klenerman, along with Shankar Balasubramanian, invented a method of next-generation DNA sequencing which is commonly known today as the Solexa sequencing or Illumina dye sequencing.[5][7] The method is based on the detection of fluorophore labelled nucleotides as they get incorporated in the DNA strands.[16] This sequencing by synthesis method gained popularity,[17][18] and is currently regarded as the most widely used platform to replace conventional Sanger sequencing technique, despite its comparatively low multiplexing capability of samples, as it offers several key advantages: it is automated, quick, highly accurate, capable of sequencing multiple strands simultaneously via massive parallel sequencing, and economically cheaper in case of whole genome sequencing.[19][20][21]
He is also known for exploring nanopipette-based (instead of conventional micropipette-based) scanning ion-conductance microscopy methods.[9][22] His research group was successful in achieving very high resolution topographic images of live-cells, in hopping mode imaging, in precise delivery of small molecules to cell, and in studying real time detailed cell-functioning.[10][23][24]
Klenerman and Shankar Balasubramanian commercialised their invention on the single-molecule-fluorescence based high-speed DNA sequencing and jointly founded Solexa in 1998. Later, in 2007, this company was acquired by Illumina for $600 million.[5][25][26][27][28]
2020: Won Millennium Technology Prize along with Professor Sir Shankar Balasubramanian on their innovation of Next Generation DNA Sequencing
2021: Won the 2022 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences along with Professor Sir Shankar Balasubramanian and Pascal Mayer on their innovation of Next Generation DNA Sequencing[35]
^"The Solexa Story". Bio-IT World. No. September–October 2010. 28 September 2010. Archived from the original on 20 February 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
^Shevchuk, Andrew I (2011). "Realizing the biological and biomedical potential of nanoscale imaging using a pipette probe". Nanomedicine. 6 (3): 565–575. doi:10.2217/nnm.10.154. PMID21542692.