BioTechniques News
Beatrice Bowlby
In this edition of the biotech bi-weekly: a new companion module makes direct RNA sequencing protocols more convenient, antibiotic design and vaccine target prediction EDEN models have been made available through Claude, applications have opened for the ninth cohort of KQ Labs and more.
Grant and funding opportunities
Enter FUJIFILM Biosciences Disease Modeling Research Grant contest
FUJIFILM Biosciences (CA, USA) is committed to supporting and investing in the future of scientific innovation. As part of that commitment, they are launching the first ever FUJIFILM Biosciences Disease Modeling Research Grant contest – where they will be awarding three researchers up to US$5000 worth of FUJIFILM Biosciences reagents to fund their study. This research grant is designed to help accelerate breakthrough discoveries for innovative research projects by supplying scientists with high-quality materials that promote cell survival, stability and reproducibility during model development and discovery research.
Now accepting applications for the ninth cohort of KQ Labs
The Francis Crick Institute (London, UK) and Medicines Discovery Catapult (MDC; Cheshire, UK) have opened applications for the ninth cohort of KQ Labs, a national accelerator for data-driven health start-ups. Delivered by the Francis Crick Institute, with ongoing support from MDC and Cancer Research Horizons (London, UK), KQ Labs is an annual 5-month program for early stage companies building science-backed, scalable solutions in AI-driven drug discovery, digital health and precision medicine. Up to ten high-potential companies will receive weekly workshops, expert mentoring, office hours with leading pharmaceutical companies and investment funds, alongside support with fundraising strategy, helping them de-risk their ideas and build investment-ready businesses.
Infographic: Rethinking your western blot normalization strategy for more reliable results
Are you still using housekeeping proteins for western blot normalization? It’s time for an upgrade.
Products
Recommended reagents for RNA sequencing
New England Biolabs (NEB®; MA, USA) has launched the NEBNext Companion Module for Oxford Nanopore Technologies (UK) Direct RNA Sequencing. The companion module contains the NEB reagents recommended by Oxford Nanopore for execution of the Direct RNA Sequencing workflow (RNA004 sequencing kit), providing a simple and convenient format for scientists performing a wide range of applications where direct sequencing of native RNA is critical.
An automated spatial transcriptomics workflow
MGI Tech Co., Ltd. (Shenzhen, China), a company committed to developing core tools and technologies that drive innovation in life sciences, has launched Go Spatial in Europe and welcomed Omics Empower GmbH (Berlin, Germany) as a new STOmics certified service provider at the STOC General Meeting 2026 (29–30 June; Milan, Italy). Go Spatial is an automated spatial transcriptomics workflow designed to make high-resolution tissue research more accessible, scalable and practical for the spatial biology community.
Contaminant testing portfolio for drug development
Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (CA, USA), a life science research and clinical diagnostics producer, has announced the launch of the QX700 System-compatible Vericheck ddPCR Kit portfolio for critical quality control workflows in advanced cell and gene therapy development and other biopharma applications. The portfolio includes Vericheck ddPCR Mycoplasma Detection, Empty-Full Capsid, Replication Competent Lentivirus, CHO Residual DNA Quantification and E. coli Residual DNA Quantification kits.
Poster: Cross-platform comparison of spatial transcriptomics technologies
In this poster, Takara Bio presents a benchmarking study using a single FFPE lung squamous cell carcinoma block to evaluate their Trekker® FX alongside Visium HD and Xenium 5K.
Partnerships
Gaining high-confidence epigenomic insights
Abcam (Cambridge, UK), a provider of validated antibodies and assay solutions, and EpiCypher® (NC, USA), a provider of ChIC/CUT&RUN technology, have announced a partnership to help researchers generate high-confidence epigenomic insights faster. By combining EpiCypher’s CUTANA™ ChIC/CUT&RUN platform with Abcam’s expertise in antibody development and characterization, the collaboration aims to co-develop and validate reagents that meet the highest standards for ChIC/CUT&RUN applications and enable deeper, more reproducible insights into transcriptional regulation and chromatin dynamics.
EDEN models available through Claude
Basecamp Research (London, UK) has announced that its antibiotic design and vaccine target prediction EDEN models are now available through Claude, including Claude Science, Anthropic’s (CA, USA) AI workbench for life sciences research. This allows researchers to generate and prioritize therapeutic candidates through a conversational interface in a matter of minutes.
Genomics cohorts accelerate life science research
Helix (CA, USA), an enterprise genomics company, has announced a multi-year relationship with AstraZeneca (Cambridge, UK). Under this agreement, AstraZeneca will gain access to Helix’s continuously growing, deeply phenotyped GenoSphere™ cohorts that cover a wide range of disease areas. GenoSphere cohorts consist of comprehensive Exome+® genomic and rich longitudinal clinical data, designed to accelerate life sciences research across the development cycle. These de-identified datasets are powered by the Helix Research Network®, the largest and fastest growing precision health network in North America.
Poster: A scalable, instrument-free approach to true single-cell spatial transcriptomics
In this poster, Takara Bio presents a truly instrument-free spatial transcriptomics workflow that combines Trekker® technology with the Illumina® Single Cell 3′ RNA Prep assay to deliver high-density, high-sensitivity spatial data with true single-cell resolution.
People
Blood vessel bioengineer awarded fellowship
O’Shaughnessy Ventures LLC (CT, USA), an investment firm that empowers creators, has awarded an O’Shaughnessy Fellowship to Liam Aranda-Michel, a bioengineering researcher based in Cambridge (MA, USA).
Aranda-Michel will use the fellowship to develop an injectable therapy that helps damaged tissue restore its own blood supply. When tissue loses circulation, current options are limited to drugs that signal the body to grow new vessels, often with mixed results, or invasive surgery. His approach delivers tiny, pre-formed vascular units directly into the tissue, supplying ready-made vessels rather than relying on the body to form them. He aims to offer a simpler, more accessible option for the millions of patients affected by conditions that cut off blood flow.
There’s a new COO in town
Nona Biosciences (MA, USA), a biotechnology company advancing biotherapeutic discovery through innovative technology platforms, has announced the appointment of Peng Wang as Chief Operating Officer. Wang will be based in Suzhou (China) and report directly to Di Hong, Chief Executive Officer of Nona Biosciences.
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