Articles

Manufacturing and high-throughput screening may seem to have very little in common, but they are related at a fundamental level. Both seek to transform a raw material into a finished product, and both struggle with constraints, or bottlenecks, that reduce efficiency. How can we apply the revolutionary 20th century management principles of continuous improvement to 21st century flow cytometry?

Despite the pivotal role of the 488 nm (blue) laser in the rise in popularity of flow cytometry, it experienced somewhat of a fall from grace following the shift to higher usage of the 561 nm (yellow) laser. However, with the advancement of flow cytometry leading to the use of more complex multicolor panels and ever-increasing fluorophore numbers per experiment, the blue laser is starting to make a comeback. Discover how StarBright Blue Dyes can help you make the most out of your 488 nm laser.

In nature, mammalian extracellular vesicles (EVs) are vital for intercellular communication, immune responses, and cell removal. EVs also hold promise in diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccine delivery due to their abundance and natural role as carriers. Explore how overcoming challenges in EV purification and precise RNA analysis methods can help unlock their potential applications.

Scientists commonly use lentiviruses and adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) as viral vectors in cell and gene therapy (CGT) production. However, therapies that use these viruses must undergo strict quality control measures, including testing for replication-competent viruses (RCV), to ensure that the treatment is safe. Cell culture-based methods are currently the gold standard for RCV testing, but it can take up to 45 days for results to be returned. Droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR) kits now offer an attractive orthogonal method.

Recent advances in chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy have opened exciting new avenues for the treatment of a variety of malignancies. Cytokine release syndrome (CRS), a powerful immune response to activated CAR T cells, is the primary side effect of CAR T-cell therapy, but existing CRS treatments can make CAR T-cell treatment less effective. In two recent studies, researchers used multiplexed cytokine immunoassays to better understand how CAR T-cell therapy triggers CRS and to identify strategies for early intervention in CRS development.

Astrid Irwanto is the co-founder and COO of NalaGenetics, a company taking a novel, personalized approach to understanding genetic susceptibility to drug reactions in Southeast Asian populations. A PhD in human genetics and postdoctoral research in genetics disease, along with personal experiences, fuel Astrid’s pursuits. In this interview, we discuss NalaGenetics’ approach to pharmacogenomics and why Astrid decided to translate her academic research to a molecular diagnostics company.

In recent years, biologics — drugs derived from living culture systems — have become increasingly significant in the fight against a plethora of conditions. Unfortunately, the efficiency of these drugs comes at a cost. A daily dose of a biologic drug costs, on average, 22 times more than conventional small-molecule drugs. Therefore, biosimilars are developed to make them more accessible. Lung cancer is an example where the development of biosimilars could increase treatment options available for patients.

As the third most prevalent cancer worldwide, colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant global health burden. Biomarker identification and detection has proven a powerful strategy for improving CRC diagnosis and informing targeted treatment. Microsatellite instability (MSI) is a key biomarker in CRC, and with Droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR), MSI can be accurately detected using a wider range of sample types.

One-size-fits-all solutions cannot address the full range of molecular biology needs in areas such as biotech, biopharma, or molecular diagnostics. When your requirements exceed the existing offerings of reagents and plastics on the market, Bio-Rad can partner with you and provide custom solutions. For a deeper look into these customization opportunities, we spoke with Anna Lai, manager of Bio-Rad’s custom reagents program, and Jennifer Placek, who manages the company’s custom plastics.

Join Terence, a motivated undergrad, as he experiences the ups and downs of research using next-generation sequencing, learning valuable tips for successful NGS experiments along the way