Accelerating genomics through automated RNA sequencing

INTEGRA Biosciences and Parse Biosciences have partnered to automate single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) on the ASSIST PLUS pipetting robot. This new protocol combines Parse Biosciences’ Evercode™ combinatorial barcoding technology with INTEGRA’s liquid handling expertise, and is already helping labs in academia and industry to streamline and standardize their sequencing workflows for faster throughput and more reproducible results.

scRNA-seq is a crucial tool for expanding knowledge and developing new therapies in the fields of developmental biology, neurology, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Parse Biosciences, based in Seattle, Washington, specializes in developing groundbreaking tools for scRNA-seq at scale. Its proprietary Evercode technology enables a million cells or nuclei to be prepared and sequenced in parallel using a unique labeling method, without the need for individual cell isolation.

Parse Biosciences reached out to INTEGRA to co-develop an automated scRNA-seq solution that would remove some of the barriers hindering more rapid progress in the field, such as time-consuming manual workflows and the prohibitive cost of specialized instrumentation commonly used in other single cell sequencing workflows. Automating Evercode technology on the ASSIST PLUS pipetting robot, equipped with the D-ONE single channel pipetting module and an 8 channel VIAFLO lightweight electronic pipette provides an easy-to-use and cost-effective sequencing workflow with 75 percent less hands-on time and 85 percent fewer manual pipetting steps for staff.

Dr Charlie Roco, co-founder and CTO of Parse Biosciences, said: “This successful collaboration with INTEGRA has made automation and scRNA-seq far more accessible to labs of all sizes and budgets. Automating the initial section of our Evercode protocol on the ASSIST PLUS has sped up our customers’ workflows and has reduced the likelihood of human errors, making it much easier for researchers to consistently obtain high quality scRNA-seq data. We have already developed additional workflows on the ASSIST PLUS that are compatible with sections of Evercode TCR and Evercode BCR for T-cell and B-cell receptor profiling, respectively, and we anticipate the automation of the remainder of our scRNA-seq protocol on the pipetting platform in the near future.”

Visit the INTEGRA Biosciences website to learn more.

About INTEGRA Biosciences

INTEGRA Biosciences is a leading provider of high-quality laboratory tools and consumables for liquid handling. The company is committed to creating innovative solutions which fulfil the needs of its customers in research, diagnostics and quality control within the life sciences markets and medical sector. INTEGRA’s engineering and production teams in Zizers, Switzerland and Hudson, NH, USA, strive to develop and manufacture instruments and consumables of outstanding quality. Today, INTEGRA’s innovative laboratory products are widely used all around the world where they help scientists accelerate scientific discovery. INTEGRA is an ISO 9001 certified company.

About Parse Biosciences

Parse Biosciences is a global life sciences company whose mission is to accelerate progress in human health and scientific research. Empowering researchers to perform single cell sequencing with unprecedented scale and ease, its pioneering approach is enabling groundbreaking discoveries in cancer treatment, tissue repair, stem cell therapy, kidney and liver disease, brain development, and the immune system.

Founded based on a transformative technology invented at the University of Washington, Parse has raised over $100 million and is used in nearly 2,000 labs across the world. Its growing portfolio of products includes Evercode Whole Transcriptome, Evercode TCR, Evercode BCR, CRISPR Detect, Gene Capture, and a software tool for data analysis, Trailmaker.

Headquartered in Seattle, Washington’s vibrant South Lake Union district, Parse Biosciences recently opened a 34,000 square foot headquarters and state-of-the-art laboratory.

Recent news from INTEGRA Biosciences