Speaking of Mol Bio

Molecular biology is more than a set of techniques. It is a toolkit for asking better questions. In this special crossover episode of Speaking of Mol Bio, Steve Lewis welcomes Jordan Ruggieri, Senior Marketing Manager at Thermo Fisher Scientific and co-host of the Absolute Gene-ius podcast. Jordan shares how Absolute Gene-ius began with a focus on digital PCR and evolved into a broader celebration...

Some genetic variants may help explain why different psychiatric disorders share overlapping biology. In this episode of Speaking of Mol Bio, host Steve Lewis speaks with Jess McAfee, PhD, and Alejandro Gomez from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill about their work studying pleiotropic variants associated with psychiatric disorders. Jess explains how genome-wide association studies ca...

Great science doesn’t always translate into a scalable product, and that gap can stall even the most promising innovations. In this Mol Bio Minutes episode, Steve Lewis explores a common challenge in biotech: moving from a validated assay or prototype to a commercially viable product. While scientific teams often achieve strong early results, scaling requires coordination across design, engineerin...

Not all experiments are created equal, and neither are the decisions behind them. In this episode, Cam Cyr explores how scientists navigate the balance between cost and performance in molecular biology workflows. Drawing from his experience as a technical sales specialist, Cam breaks down what “performance” really means in practice, from enzyme fidelity and sensitivity to reproducibility and inhib...

HIV research is one of the clearest examples of molecular biology in action. In this Mol Bio Minutes episode, Dr. Ryan Jeep walks through how fundamental molecular techniques power everything from detection to drug resistance studies to cure-focused research. Ryan begins with HIV biology and detection, explaining how qRT-PCR enables highly sensitive viral load measurement. These assays not only de...

In this episode of Speaking of Mol Bio, host Steve Lewis speaks with Dr. Leif Larsen, Director of Biology at  Vipergen , about the power of  DNA-encoded libraries (DELs) in modern drug discovery. DEL technology enables researchers to screen extremely large chemical libraries by attaching a unique DNA barcode to each compound, allowing millions, or even hundreds of millions, of compounds to be anal...

In this Mol Bio Minutes mini-episode of Speaking of Mol Bio,  Dr. Andrea Hunger walks listeners through the practical differences between three core PCR approaches:  endpoint PCR ,  quantitative PCR (qPCR), and  digital PCR . Drawing on her experience in both academic research and industry, she explains how each technique provides different types of information and why choosing the right one depen...

In this Season 4 premiere of  Speaking of Mol Bio , host Steve Lewis speaks with  Dr. Nina Pollak from the University of the Sunshine Coast about the development of a single-dose vaccine aimed at protecting endangered koalas from Chlamydia pecorum . The disease is a major threat to koala populations across eastern Australia, contributing to infertility, blindness, and increased mortality. Pollak’s...

In this Mol Bio Minutes mini-episode, Laurynas Alijošius shares how  Rolling Circle Amplification (RCA) provides a reliable, high-yield approach for amplifying circular DNA prior to  next-generation sequencing (NGS). This  isothermal method avoids the need for  thermal cycling and even bypasses the need for  specific primers —making it ideal for challenging viral genomes, rare targets, or field sa...

Applyo Jena is building a freeze-dried future, one bead at a time. In this episode, Dr. Hanno Hermann and Dr. Thanh Tu Hellmich-Duong walk us through how their  lyo-bead technology emerged from the challenges of field-based HIV diagnostics and evolved into a flexible platform that stabilizes everything from  enzymes to magnetic nanoparticles, without the need for refrigeration. From diagnostics re...

In this Mol Bio Minutes episode, Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Monika Jazdauskaitė dives into the versatile world of Recombinase Polymerase Amplification (RPA). Unlike PCR, RPA operates at a constant, low temperature (around 37–42°C), enabling fast, equipment-light workflows that are ideal for field diagnostics and decentralized labs. Monika explains how the method works and why RPA is emerging as a...

In this episode of Speaking of Mol Bio , Dr. Andre Ghetti, CEO of  AnaBios , offers a deep dive into the world of translational preclinical research. AnaBios is redefining early human insights by using  ethically sourced , functional human tissues and cells to generate actionable data before compounds ever enter clinical trials. Ghetti walks us through the company’s approach of offering human-rele...

In this Mol Bio Minutes episode, Thermo Fisher Scientific's Dr. Agnė Alminaitė unveils an exciting new approach for assay developers:  Dry-Ready™ reagents for RT-LAMP and RT-qPCR . These innovations eliminate the need for  lyophilizers by enabling air drying of molecular assays in a standard heating oven, producing room temperature-stable assays in under two hours. Agnė walks listeners through how...

In this inspiring episode,  Dr. Felipe Gálvez-Cancino , group leader at  Oxford's Center for Immuno-Oncology , walks us through his team’s groundbreaking research on macrophages, T cells, and immune regulation in solid tumors. Tracing his path from early cancer vaccine work to advanced  antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP), Felipe shares how his team is working to reprogram tumor-associ...

In this Mol Bio Minutes episode, Dr. Will Barnes, a plant biologist turned senior sales training specialist at Thermo Fisher Scientific, reflects on his time at the bench and the molecular lessons learned along the way. Will dives deep into the difficulties of RNA work in plant systems—carbohydrate contamination, genomic DNA carryover, secondary structure—and how these hindered everything from clo...

In this episode of Speaking of Mol Bio, host Steve Lewis speaks with Dr. Melissa Wu, co-founder and CEO of  Seeding Labs , a nonprofit that’s redefining global scientific access. Dr. Wu shares the inspiring story of how Seeding Labs helps institutions in developing nations build research infrastructure by redistributing surplus laboratory equipment from partners like  Thermo Fisher Scientific . Wi...

In this Mol Bio Minutes mini-episode, Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Agnė Žiupkaitė takes listeners on a journey through the evolving world of RNA assay development—focusing specifically on 1-Step RT-qPCR. She outlines the critical considerations for assay developers, including enzyme speed, robustness, and the growing demand for customizable reagents that meet both technical and regulatory needs. Hig...

In this episode, host Steve Lewis sits down with Giovanna Prout, President and CEO of  Scale Biosciences , to explore how Scale is pushing the boundaries of  single-cell omics . With a career that spans roles with big players and entrepreneurial ventures, Giovanna brings a unique perspective to the world of genomics innovation. Giovanna dives into Scale's patented  Quantum Barcoding technology—a h...

In this episode of Speaking of Mol Bio, Aistė Serapinaite, an experienced R&D scientist, shares her insights into the world of 1-Step RT-PCR—a method that simplifies RNA analysis by combining reverse transcription and PCR amplification in a single reaction. She explains how traditional RNA workflows once lengthy, multi-step processes were prone to errors and contamination, and how 1-Step RT-PCR ha...

In this episode of Speaking of Mol Bio , Dr. Beth Webb takes us deep into the world of platelets, often misunderstood components of blood that punch far above their weight in both physiological and pathological processes. As a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Leeds, Dr. Webb explores how endothelial signals influence platelet activity, and how these anucleate cell fragments play roles...

In this Mol Bio Minutes episode, Laurynas Alijošius shares a personal story that every molecular biologist can relate to—running PCR, cloning, and sequencing, only to discover frustrating errors in the DNA.  This episode dives deep into PCR accuracy and why it matters for everything from sequencing to cloning and long-read library prep. Laurynas breaks down the major contributors to PCR error, inc...

In this episode of Speaking of Mol Bio , Dr. Cath Moore of the  Australian Genome Research Facility (AGRF) discusses how molecular biology technologies are helping to shape Australia’s scientific landscape—from clinical genomics and conservation to bioremediation and agriculture. With over 20 years of experience in both academia and industry, Dr. Moore reflects on the remarkable evolution of genom...

In this Mol Bio Minutes episode, Laurynas Alijošius breaks down how to run fast PCR to save time and increase lab efficiency. He explains how to choose the right thermal cycler with fast ramp speeds, select low-volume and thin-walled PCR plastics, and use engineered DNA polymerases that offer rapid elongation and hot-start capability. Laurynas also covers practical tips for optimizing reaction com...

This episode teaches that innovation is born at the intersection of curiosity and persistence. Dr. Gudrun Stengel, co-founder and CEO of  Alida Biosciences , reveals how her startup is transforming the landscape of RNA research through a novel technology called proximity barcoding. Dr. Stengel’s story exemplifies the power of entrepreneurial spirit in driving scientific discovery, offering a glimp...

Sustainability in the lab isn't just a trend—it's a responsibility. In this quick but powerful Mol Bio Minutes episode, sustainability expert Sune Lund Sporring shares actionable tips to reduce energy use, manage lab waste, and transition to greener materials like Thermo Fisher’s Sustain Series bio-based plastics. Discover the difference between bio-based and biodegradable, why second-generation f...