Future Science Group

In this Tech Blast episode, is Jay Lemke, Senior Research Scientist at Promega, provides a brief overview of Sanger sequencing, its history, working principle and development over the last half century. Jay reveals which lab practices are still are best completed with Sanger sequencing and explains why the technique remains so prevalent today, even in the era of next-generation sequencing. Get Jay's top tips for best practices when working with sanger and much more throughout the episode! Contents:  Introduction: 00:00-00:40  A brief history of Sanger sequencing: 00:40-01:00  Sanger sequencing working principle: 01:00-03:00  How has sanger developed since it was invented? 03:00-05:10  The advantages of Sanger in an era of NGS: 05:10-07:00  Best applications of Sanger sequencing: 07:00-08:45  Top tips for success with sanger: 09:30-10:10  Challenges of working with sanger and addressing them: 10:10-11:35  What would you improve about sanger sequencing? 11:35-12:25

Find out about current treatment options for thyroid cancer such as the recent approval of selpercatinib for patients with an alteration in the RET gene in this interview with Kate Newbold who is a clinical oncologist consultant at The Royal Marsden Hospital in London (UK).

In this episode, we explore the field of synthetic biology. Discover the history of the field and its origins in the production of biofuels, before fracking burst onto the scene forcing a pivot in direction towards chemical production. Find out about the key techniques that have brought synthetic biology into the realm of immunotherapies and cancer research, which have even welcomed in a return to applications focussed on tackling the climate crisis, such as lab-grown meat. To investigate this space, I speak with Merrit Savener, Biopharma Technical Account Manager at Molecular Devices (CA, USA) and Adam Clore Technical Director of Synthetic Biology at Integrated DNA Technologies (IA, USA). Merrit and Adam provide their insight into the most exciting applications of synthetic biology, the regulation surrounding it, how they would wish to improve the field, revealing the true impacts that this field can deliver in addressing some of humanity's biggest issues. Contents:Introduction: 00:00-02:30Explaining syn

In this Tech Blast episode, Tim Bolus, Compliance Program Manager at Molecular Devices, provides a 15-minute in-depth exploration of the regulatory landscape of drug discovery and development. Tim examines the good lab and manufacturing processes essential to successful drug discovery, development and production. Get Tim's insight into the field and discover how to best prepare your lab to pass the FDA's regulations and hear some firsthand cautionary tails! Contents: Introducing GXP: 00:40-2:20 Why is GLP important in drug development? 2:20-05:55 Why is GMP important in the manufacturing processes late down the line? 05:55-07:15 Examples of GXP going wrong and the ramifications: 07:15-10:30 Solutions to ensure GXP: 10:30-11:40 Aspects of GLP that need improving: 11:40-13:40

We are talking all things DNA methylation in this episode, providing a brief explanation of epigenetics and the technologies involved in the study of DNA methylation, before exploring the application of these techniques in the study of infectious diseases and cancer. Revealing all of this information is my guest Chloé Goldsmith, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Canberra University, whose research focuses on DNA methylation, Hepatitis B Virus and the link between lifestyle and the epigenome. Chloé explains the strengths and weaknesses of the different techniques used to explore DNA methylation and highlights the advances in long-read sequencing that are dramatically improving this aspect of epigenomic research. Chloé also discusses some of the most interesting insights that she has gained by taking a single-cell and single-molecule approach to her research and highlights some of the recent findings in the field that have caught her attention and broadened our understanding of epigenetics in disease. Listen

In this episode, supported by Roche, we explore a vital aspect of many next-generation sequencing studies: target enrichment. Here, regions of interest are selectively amplified before sequencing takes place. More specifically we examine some of the new technologies improving this key step and their impact on oncology research. My guest for this episode is Brian Godwin, Director of Reagent and Assay Development at Roche sequencing. Brian reveals the myriad of ways that poor target enrichment can impact a study while highlighting its importance at the foundations of many research efforts. Discover the key limitations of some target enrichment techniques and the new technologies that are improving this step, leading to a new suite of applications in oncology research, where damaged or degraded DNA samples are common. Listen today for an overview of the target enrichment process, the most exciting applications of this technique future potential of this step. Contents:Intro: 00:00-01:30Why conduct target enri

In this episode, we roam the world of recombinant proteins and their production, discussing the challenges of their production, and recent evolutions in protein engineering that have brought the field into a golden era of innovation. I'm joined by recombinant protein engineering expert Yuning Chen, R&D Manager at Sino Biological, who discusses the key applications of recombinant proteins, the aspects of certain products that make them difficult to produce and how these difficulties can be overcome.  Yuning also reveals how the manipulation of antibodies has been essential to multiple aspects of our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. After a review of the recent evolutions in protein engineering, from cell-free systems to automation, Yuning describes his vision for the future of the field and reveals his support for the Terminator-style uprising that he believes could revolutionize it. ContentsThe production of recombinant proteins: 00:48-02:11 The key applications of recombinant proteins: 02:1

Analysis of nitrosamine impurities: an interview with Javier Jimenez-Villarin by Future Science Group

PCR has evolved rapidly over the last few years, an evolution that has been dramatically accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. New technologies and approaches have been brought to the fore and the full range of applications for which this technique can be applied have been highlighted, from diagnostics to basic disease research and immunology. This episode explores this evolution, looking at how challenges presented by the pandemic forced the hand of researchers to think outside the box and build on lesser-known PCR technologies. Here, Eddy van Collenburg, Market Development Specialist at Bio-Rad, provides his insight into how ddPCR rose to prevalence during this time and explains how the technology is being used to enable trade, detect new variants and is being used outside of the pandemic. Discover the key role that ddPCR can play in gene therapy research, liquid biopsies, cancer research, single-cell studies and more, in this fascinating overview of the development of PCR and where the technique ca

Data Completeness: a podcast with Dan Drozd by Future Science Group

Love it or hate it, western blotting forms the bedrock of countless studies across numerous disciplines. Explore its history, development and applications in this episode all about the marmite of life science techniques. Guiding me through the hand wringing, hair follicle destroying history and process of western blotting, and hopefully explaining the beauty and potential of the technique - is Kenneth Oh, Senior Project Manager at Bio-Rad Laboratories. Kenneth reveals some of the latest developments in western blotting. Revealing how researchers are now able to validate the success of each stage of a western blot and work with smaller samples, Kenneth provides key tips for ensuring each of your western blots is a triumph. Contents: Intro: 00:00-01:15 History of western blotting: 01:15-3:50 What makes western blotting so tricky? 03:50-05:30 Stepwise optimization: 05:30-06:50 Stain-free western blotting: 06:50-08:50 The different variants of western blotting: 08:50-10:20 The right blot for the right applic

Immunoassay applications: a podcast with John Chappell by Future Science Group

Uncover the history of molecular therapeutics, the staggering current applications and developments of these therapeutics and what their future could hold, in this episode of Talking Techniques. To explore the field of molecular therapeutics and provide an insight into their production, is Aaron Clauson, Product Manager at Zymo research. First, we cover the ins and outs of targeting the therapies and how to select the correct type of molecular therapeutic to begin developing a drug for a specific disease, before looking at some of the setbacks and safety errors that have occurred during the development of molecular therapeutics and how researchers have learned from these tragic events. Aaron also highlights the vital role of plasmids in almost all molecular therapeutic development, detailing the importance of keeping plasmid solutions and transfections free of endotoxins, revealing key solutions for avoiding these contaminants. Listen today to get all you need to know about molecular therapeutics, from th

This episode centers on the critical role that high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) plays in the production of adeno-associated viral (AAV) therapies, the latest advances in AAV design and the next steps in their development. Filling me in on all things HPLC and AAVs is Bella Neufeld, Director of R&D at Teknova. Bella reveals the essential validation and quality control steps required for the production of successful and safe AAV therapies and the role that both HPLC and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LCMS) play in these steps. We also explore the latest development targets for these therapies, looking at how AAVs can be targeted to specific sites and tissues before descending into the treacherous topic of reproducibility in the field. Listen today to find out the latest tips for best practice when working with HPLC, LCMS the advantages of LCMS over other analytical techniques to assess empty and full capsids and the key principles of AAV production! ContentsIntro: 00:00-01:25Explain

As the transition from 2D to 3D cell cultures, or organoids, as the gold standard for modeling basic biology and disease continues, these models are being utilized in ever more intricate and impactful ways. This episode covers the rise of organoids and their advantages over 2D cell cultures, before exploring just how representative these models are becoming and their new applications in drug discovery. To find out all this and more, I speak to Oksana Sirenko, Senior Scientist at Molecular Devices, who works extensively with the company's organoid model development programs.  Oksana reveals the potential of these models in cancer therapeutics, driven forward by new patient-derived organoids, and notes the challenges presented by imaging these thicker, 3D models. We also explore the potential discoveries that can be unlocked by combining organoids with organ-on-a-chip models. Contents: What are organoids? 02:10-03:20Functions replicated by organoids? 3:20-04:00What are the advantages of 3D over 2D cell

Automation of ADME: a podcast with Prakash Bhosale by Future Science Group

In this podcast interview, Jason Evans (Scientist at Q² Solutions; NY, USA) discusses the importance of automation and key advantages of taking an assay from the bench to an automated platform. He also explains the increase in throughput when his lab transitioned to automated assays and the hurdles he faced when automating assays.

Welcome to part 2 of this two-part episode on whole-genome sequencing (WGS) in rare disease research and treatment. In part one we discussed the impacts the technology has had on both improving the clinical diagnosis and management of rare diseases and on drug development and basic research studies.  This episode goes beyond the technology's capabilities and into the debates surrounding how, when and why they should be used. What needs to change for the technique to be applied equitably? And how does reality stack up against science fiction in terms of people's perceptions of ubiquitous WGS. To do this I speak with David Dimmock, Senior Medical Director of the Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine (CA, USA); Christine Stanley, Chief Director of Clinical Genomics, Variantyx (MA, USA); and Take Ogawa, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Psomagen (MD, USA). Each of these speakers provides their opinions on the impacts of race, religion and way of life on the application of WGSand how much

Love it or hate it, western blotting forms the bedrock of countless studies across numerous disciplines. Explore its history, development and applications in this episode all about the marmite of life science techniques. Guiding me through the hand wringing, hair follicle destroying history and process of western blotting, and hopefully explaining the beauty and potential of the technique - is Kenneth Oh, Senior Project Manager at Bio-Rad Laboratories. Kenneth reveals some of the latest developments in western blotting. Revealing how researchers are now able to validate the success of each stage of a western blot and work with smaller samples, Kenneth provides key tips for ensuring each of your western blots is a triumph. Contents: Intro: 00:00-01:15 History of western blotting: 01:15-3:50 What makes western blotting so tricky? 03:50-05:30 Stepwise optimization: 05:30-06:50 Stain-free western blotting: 06:50-08:50 The different variants of western blotting: 08:50-10:20 The right blot for the right applic

In this episode, we take a look at one of the key steps of infectious disease research, sample collection; exploring the challenges associated with the step and the solutions available to improve infectious disease research around the globe. Exploring the trials and tribulations of infectious disease sample collection with me is Stanislav Forman, Product Developer at Zymo Research (CA, USA). Stan explains the extreme environments in which sample collection often occurs; revealing the difficult transit and storage requirements – often involving cold chain logistics – that can derail infectious disease studies early on. Find out how key solutions to these problems have been successfully workshopped with the US military and have even been used in work with NASA to conduct safe sample collection in space. And discover just how successful these solutions can be when faced with the blazing wreckage of a transit vehicle… Contents Introductions: 00:00-01:20Key challenges of sample collection for infectio