Ghent University collaborates with Stilla Technologies
Ghent, Belgium & Villejuif, France, May 2, 2019
Renowned Digital PCR experts at Ghent University join hands with Stilla Technologies to expand the frontiers of Crystal™ dPCR using the Naica™ System
Ghent University, one of the leading research institutes working on digital PCR (dPCR) technology, recently signed a collaborative agreement with Stilla technologies. Stilla’s naica® system, a dPCR equipment, offers multiplexing to detect multiple target genes in a single assay with high precision and accuracy. In this collaborative project, the two parties will be joining hands for the next 3 years to provide numerous opportunities for training, research, and exploring novel applications of dPCR to researchers across the world.
This collaboration would benefit the dPCR users worldwide in the form of hands-on training courses, webinars, and seminars in addition to the existing courses on dPCR available at Ghent University. Most importantly, this partnership will lead to optimization and validation of naica® based assays to a broad range of experiments and provide a platform for interested users to validate their samples on the naica® system with the help of the Ghent University team of dPCR experts. A team of eminent multidisciplinary researchers at Ghent University (Prof. Ward De Spiegelaere, Prof. Jo
Vandesompele, Prof. Linos Vandekerckhove, Prof. Olivier Thas, and Dr. Wim Trypsteen) plans to investigate a wide range of research questions including increasing the multiplexing capacity of the system, improving the efficiency of measurement of reverse-transcription using different kits available in the market, and the development of a data standard for dPCR among many other research studies.
“Through this collaboration, we can validate our data analysis tools on the 3-color digital PCR system. Since the naica® system allows us to work with the raw data, we will be able to fine-tune our data analysis pipelines to further increase the quantitative accuracy of digital PCR experiments,” said Prof. Ward De Spiegelaere on this collaboration.
The currently available software, ddpcRquant developed at Ghent University, for dPCR will be updated to accommodate data analysis from the naica® system software, Crystal™ Miner, for universal adaptability across research labs. The goal of this partnership is to ultimately incorporate dPCR as a standard lab commodity in research laboratories owing to its ease of use and wide range of applications.
The Stilla naica® system is up and running at Ghent University as of May 2, 2019, offering new opportunities to dPCR users for training, research, and collaboration.
“We are very proud of this collaborative agreement with dPCR experts at Ghent University. Through this renowned innovation center, Stilla’s naica® system will bring user-friendly approaches to existing dPCR techniques.”– Caroline Charky, VP Commercial Operations, Stilla Technologies.
About Stilla Technologies
Stilla Technologies is a Paris-based European Biotechnology company that focuses on accelerating the development of next-generation genetic tests by providing innovative instrumentation for digital PCR (dPCR).
In 2016, Stilla Technologies launched the naica® System, the first and only digital PCR solution to offer 3-color multiplexing. By encapsulating all steps for digital PCR in a single chip, the naica® System offers a fast and user-friendly solution, rendering dPCR accessible.
In 2018, Stilla received €16 million at the Series A funding, round led by Illumina Ventures and other investors, aiding Stilla’s efforts to develop clinical applications focused on oncology, launch new products, and to accelerate the commercialization of the naica® system.
Stilla advises and supports its customers worldwide with a proactive and multidisciplinary R&D team, whose expertise ranges from microfluidics and chemistry, molecular biology and computer science.
Visit us at www.stillatechnologies.com.
About Ghent University
Ghent University is one of the major universities in the Dutch-speaking region of Europe. About 80 faculty departments, spread over 11 faculties, offer high-quality courses in every one of their scientific disciplines. Ghent University strategically invests in multidisciplinary clusters to expand its industrial R&D network. Key technology transfer activities include industrial collaboration programs, IP licensing and spin-off creation. Over the past ten years, this joint effort has resulted in 439 granted patents, the establishment of 68 spin-off companies and an intensive collaboration with companies.
Digital PCR @ Ghent University is a consortium of research labs combining their expertise from biomedical sciences and statistics to advance the development and dissemination of novel applications and methodology for dPCR platforms.
They work on several dPCR platforms including the Bio-Rad QX100, Bio-Rad QX200, and Stilla naica® System. Currently, researchers from four research groups are collaborating on dPCR projects on different applications such as HIV, genetics, oncology, and statistics.
Visit us at www.dpcr.ugent.be and www.ugent.be/en