Cambridge-Colorado breakthrough for genomics community

SPT Labtech is a global leader in the design, development, and manufacture of automated instrumentation and consumables for life science applications; Watchmaker Genomics spearheads genomics tools development for demanding sequencing applications.

The collaboration leverages Watchmaker’s portfolio of rapid and highly sensitive DNA and RNA solutions on the firefly® all-in-one liquid handling platform from SPT Labtech.

The first of many co-developed methods features the Watchmaker mRNA Library Prep Kit and enables the generation of up to 96 libraries in under 6.5 hours with as little as 2.5 ng of starting RNA.

The companies say this is a significant improvement over existing mRNA sequencing solutions that take multiple days to execute and have high input requirements.

“We’re enthusiastic about this partnership and the value it will ultimately bring to the genomics community,” said Sandra Rowe, Vice-President of Marketing at Watchmaker Genomics.

“There’s a true need for workflows that are simple, scalable, and deliver high-quality results. This first mRNA library prep solution lowers the energy barrier to accessing meaningful gene expression information while ensuring robust and reproducible performance.”

Users can save additional time by accessing a library of verified protocols directly from the firefly community cloud and implementing them without the need for extensive training or external support in method development.

firefly’s low dead volume requirements also allow researchers to maximise the use of precious reagents and reduce overall costs and waste.

“We’re thrilled to be the first to automate Watchmaker’s mRNA Library Prep Kit – underscoring firefly’s capabilities in streamlining library preparation workflows,” says Paul Lomax, Head of Genomics at SPT Labtech.

“From the outset, our collaboration has been geared towards elevating efficiency and usability in genomics labs, empowering them to fully leverage cutting-edge technologies.

“We are delighted to announce that the mRNA and DNA library prep protocols are now readily available for firefly users as the first step in this partnership.”