Talking Techniques

In this episode, we explore the often overlooked technique of environmental sequencing for infectious diseases and how it is being applied to the response to COVID-19. Taking the state of California as a case study of this application, I speak to Micheal Lisek, Project Manager Environmental Microbiomics at Zymo Research Corp. Micheal outlines the basis of environmental sequencing, predominantly th...

In Part 3 of our COVID-19 diagnostics and detection miniseries, supported by Roche, we explore the contribution PCR has made towards diagnosis during the pandemic. Providing me with an insight into the world of PCR diagnostics is Tyler Miller, Clinical Pathology Resident and Research Fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital (MA, USA), where he was instrumental in setting u...

Returning to the contentious topic of the Reproducibility crisis – the inability of many study results to be replicated by different research groups or labs – this episode, supported by Zymo Research, zeros in on the topic within the field of microbiomics. Speaking to me about the topic is Raul Cano, Chief Scientific Officer at the BioCollective. Raul discusses the crisis and explains wh...

This International Women’s Day takeover episode, with special guest host BioTechniques ’ Senior Digital Editor Abi Sawyer, takes a look at the results of Future Science Group’s (London, UK) survey for the scientific community on gender equality and parity in STEM. Abi’s guests on this episode are the Vice President of Epidemiology and Clinical Evidence at IQVIA (NC, USA), Dr Christina Mack; the Ex...

This episode, supported by Tecan , takes a look at the role the COVID-19 Genomics UK Consortium (COG-UK) has played sequencing SARS-CoV-2 and surveying for COVID-19. To do this I speak to two key members of the consortium; Steve Paterson, Professor of genetics at the University of Liverpool and lead for the wastewater working group of COG-UK; and Josh Quick, Future Leaders Fellow at the University...

RT-PCR, antigen and antibody testing; each has its niche and each has a flaw. But what are the key differences between each of these tests and what are the key things to consider when selecting the appropriate COVID-19 diagnostic for you? In this podcast, supported by Zymo Research, I speak to Senior Scientist in assay development Paolo Piatti in order to answer this question. Whether you are a co...

In this episode, I speak to a very special guest. Winner of this year's Future Science Future Star award, Andy Tay is a fantastic example of an early career researcher who has seized every opportunity with both hands and is not content to leave science as he found it. We discuss Andy's fascinating research into pain modulation using magnetic biomaterials, which got him included on the Forbes 30 un...

In this episode, I speak to Michelle Itano, Director of the Neuroscience Center Microscopy Core at UNC-Chapel Hill and recent addition to the BioTechniques Editorial Board, about her work at the core. Michelle outlines how she has modified the core to make it possible for imaging research to continue throughout the pandemic, using a combination of specialist users and remote working techniques. Mi...

In this episode I address the 'reproducibility crisis'. The concerning trend in the life sciences in which published papers and established principals are unable to be repeated by other researchers and, at times, even by the researchers who provided the initial results. To do this I speak to two researchers driving forward reproducibility in the life sciences, Marc Raphael from the United States N...

In this episode, I speak to Geoffrey Siwo about CRISPR and the challenges facing its development into a technique that can be applied equitably across the globe. Geoffrey talks about the importance of seizing the opportunity to influence the progress of the embryonic gene-editing technology for the better, before the data bias in genomic data and the disparity in researchers working on the techniq...

In this episode of Talking Techniques, BioTechniques  Digital Editor Tristan Free speaks to three scientists each involved in the research landscape in Africa. The episode explores the challenges faced by researchers in Africa, both internally and from the rest of the scientific community. These include issues such as 'helicopter research' or 'research tourism', educating politicians on the i...

In part 2 of this series on the role of Big data in the response to COVID-19, I speak to Amitava Banerjee, Associate Professor in Clinical Data Science at the Institute of Health Informatics at University College London. Ami outlines the "OurRisk. CoV Calculator", designed to inform people of the threat that COVID-19 poses to them as a result of any existing conditions and factors such as age and...

In the first of two episodes on the role of  big data  in fighting COVID-19,  BioTechniques  Digital Editor Tristan Free speaks to  Guy Cochrane , Team Leader of Data Coordination and Archiving at the  European Nucleotide Archive  (Cambridge, UK). We discuss the challenges and importance of compiling and presenting the huge amount of data created regarding COVID-...

In this special AACR episode, Digital Editor Tristan Free speaks to David Weiner, Director of the  Vaccine & Immunotherapy Center at the Wistar Institute  (PA, USA), about synthetic DNA and DNA vaccines. They discuss the exciting potential of DNA vaccines in the world of cancer research and delve into Weiner’s study, currently in human trial stages, to develop a DNA vaccine for COVID...

In this episode, I speak to Neill Lane Chief Strategy Officer at Stirling Ultracold and Board member of My Green Lab. Neill explains how his low emission ultracold freezers have changed the industry and made a huge impact on sustainability in laboratories. We also discuss the good work he sees being done by My Green Lab and other institutions to improve sustainability, the gaps that he sees in ene...

In this episode, produced in association with Phoseon Technology, BioTechniques Digital Editor Tristan Free, speaks to Application Scientist Theresa Thompson and Strategy Director Jay Pasquantonio (both Phoseon Technology, OR, USA) about their UV LEDs and their disinfection abilities. We cover the best wavelengths for disrupting nucleotides and proteins, the challenges associated with some of thes...

BioTechniques Digital Editor, Tristan Free, speaks to Rob Vries, CEO of Hubrecht Organoid Technology otherwise known as the HUB. We explore the HUB's use of organoids for drug development and further study and improve the clinical treatments of diseases such as cystic fibrosis. After an analysis of the advantages of organoids over 2D cell cultures and animal models, we dive into how HUB's organoid...

Following on from part 1 of this interview with the Founding Director of the Wyss Institute (MA, USA), Donald Ingber discusses the reasons he thinks organ-on-a-chip technologies are not more widely implemented in research. Expanding on the conservativism in the life sciences, Donald explores how the scientific response to the current COVID-19 pandemic is challenging entrenched modes of thinking an...

In the first instalment of this two-part episode with Donald Ingber, Founding Director of the Wyss Institute (MA, USA), we discuss his invention of organ-on-a-chip technology, how he is utilizing them in the fight against COVID-19 and the Wyss Institute's response to the pandemic. Donald touches on the performance of the much-discussed chloroquine in his lung-on-a-chip models. We also discuss the...