Luciferase is an enzyme used by a variety of organisms for bioluminescence. One of the most common examples of bioluminescence exists in the biology of the firefly. Scientists have been able to wield this naturally occurring phenomena to study gene expression at the transcriptional level. Luciferase reporter assays offer rapid quantitative measurements and have a wide range of applications across various fields of cellular and molecular biology. Understanding the basic techniques and applications of luciferase assays is key to troubleshooting any issues that may arise during its execution. Luciferase reporter…
In the United States, the safety and efficacy of prescription and over-the-counter drugs are a top priority for our government, medical professionals, and pharmaceutical companies. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for protecting public health by ensuring that any and all available medications are safe for human consumption, especially with regard to approving new medications or deciding whether or not a drug should be taken off the market. That even includes veterinary drugs and biological products as well. The cost of creating and testing a single drug can…
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are currently over 6.2 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States, and that number continues to rise for the time being. From wearing masks to sheltering-in-place, social distancing, and incessant hand-washing, every American has the ability to help our nation ebb the continued spread of the novel coronavirus. In addition to encouraging Americans to adopt strict sterilization habits and apply them to their daily routine, more aggressive and ambitious methods need to be implemented like increased COVID-19…
ELISpot is a method commonly used to detect cellular immune responses to viral vector-based gene therapies. We take a closer look at how the industry is working to harmonize best practices for developing & validating ELISpot assays for gene therapy development.
The best science demands the best people—and at BioAgilytix’s Boston lab, there’s no shortage of skilled and dedicated scientists. Get to know one of our expert flow cytometry scientists and longtime Boston team member, Benjamin Lamothe.
Every employer realizes that protecting employees’ health is paramount right now, but with so many uncertainties they need confidence that their testing strategy is optimized for success. We take a close look at parameters to consider in building an effective, sustainable COVID-19 employee testing plan.
BioAgilytix’s CLIA Laboratory Director, Natalie Smith, outlines the differences between CLIA, CAP & COLA regulations & accreditations, and what they mean for laboratory testing quality.
In our recruitment process we are often asked by those coming from pharma & biotech careers, “what’s a day in the life like at a CRO?” Who better to ask than our own team members who have made the career transition themselves? We start the discussion with Dr. Jim McNally.
The concept of using pre-existing immunogenicity as an exclusion criteria for gene therapy clinical trials is changing. BioAgilytix’s Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Jim McNally, explores why.
Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) is a key regulator of B cell receptor and Fc receptor signaling and is a proven therapeutic target for autoimmune diseases. In recent months, BTK inhibitors are also being deployed in the fight against COVID-19.