James Fontaine

For any laboratory operations folks (scientists that cover lab ops functions count too!) in Philly, I highly recommend this if you can go.

5

Are you tired of the complex traditional processes for Environmental Monitoring Performance Qualifications (EMPQs)? Check out our latest article where experts Ziva Abraham, President and Founder of Microrite, Inc., and Doug Botkin, Scientific Portfolio Specialist of Charles River, share insights on practical applications and commonly asked questions to ensure product integrity and patient safety.   #microlab #cleanroom #validations #empq #isoguidelines #environmentalmonitoring #patientsafety

3

Mark your calendars! Sign up for our webinar to gain practical tips from our #SPR experts and learn how to optimize your assays.

1

Mastery of pipetting techniques is fundamental for lab success, and it sets a strong foundation for every project. When selecting Co-op students, I spend three hours to a hands-on "pipette interview" with each candidate. This process gives them a deep look at the role, helping them decide if it’s the right fit, while also allowing us to evaluate key skills. During the session, candidates learn to follow protocols, work with precision, and show their organizational habits — all essential traits for lab work. Even if they might not ultimately join us, I’m confident those hours spent training are valuable for their journey, adding a practical skill to their toolkit.

5

I'm super excited about tomorrow's Let's Talk Flow about Compensation!! 🗓️Save the Date: Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at 10:00 am PDT/ 1:00 pm EDT Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn from our experts about best practices in compensation followed by a live Q&A session. #letstalkflow

19

Only 2 weeks until #FoodSafetySummit2024, and we couldn't be more excited! Who else will be there? Make sure to stop by booth #438 to say hi to myself and Christina Dickinson. We would love to chat with you about #ProficiencyTesting! LGC AXIO Proficiency Testing #foodsafety #accuracymatters #wehaveaPTforthat!

11

Check out this fun interview with BioBuzz - where I discuss my career journey, the importance of workforce development, and my favorite *not so* secret nature spots in Philly!

38

3 Comments

I always hesitate to suggest a change in a reagent in an established protocol and I know there's a heap of look alike products that don't actually offer that much advantage over what's currently in place. Occasionally though someone presents a product with a real technical advantage that could help researchers overcome current challenges. Reverse Transcriptase (RT) is a commonly used enzyme in molecular biology laboratories, but there are problems:- There can be a limit on the length RT can transcribe before it falls off. As RNA can fold on itself, the structure can make it hard for RT to stay bound or it skips over a fold giving inaccurate reads. High temperatures can be used to help unfold RNA to help the enzyme work however they also degrade the RNA they're suposed to be working on. RNAConnect's UltraMarathonRT can unwind stable structures at room temperature preserving your RNA and enabling longer transcripts - 30kb can be achieved in a single pass. So if you're aware your current RT is holding you back, head on over to https://lnkd.in/eexisP94 to find out more, then ask your account manager at 2BScientific Ltd. , Syed Ahmed, Rasikh Raza, Kai Lok Man, Shane Browne or Beth Fraser, for a quote! #Hereforyou #2BScientific #reversetranscriptase

9

The BRILLIANCE trial marks a significant advancement for EDIT-101, an in vivo CRISPR-Cas9-based therapies. Unlike previous methods, which involved editing cells outside the body and then reintroducing them, in this trial led by Editas Medicine, EDIT-101 was directly injected to patients retina to treat Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), a congenital retinal disease caused by a mutation in CEP290 gene resulting in severe vision loss at an early age. This therapy delivers two guide RNAs and the Cas9 enzyme directly to the retina to target and correct mutations in the CEP290 gene, aiming to restore vision by repairing the function of light-sensing cells.

5

Thorough regulatory documentation is a critical requirement throughout bioproduction. During the #CellLineDevelopment phase, it is especially critical to maintain accurate and reliable experimental records. How is reporting carried out in your lab? Are there any specific methods or tools which you have found to aid this process? #RegulatoryRequirements #CFR21part11 #Compliance #ExperimentalDocumentation #CLD #Bioproduction

7

2 Comments

DNA cloning has been around for 30 years, and there are numerous methods to accomplish it. Techniques have evolved over time to address various challenges, making cloning better, faster, and easier. After all, cloning shouldn't be work – it should just work! Are you still using restriction enzymes because that's what you or your lab has always done? Or perhaps you've tried or considered other cloning methods but felt overwhelmed by the options or protocols. We've been right there with the evolution of cloning, continually improving and developing new solutions to overcome obstacles in your research. Check out our guide to different tools you can use, and feel free to reach out if you need help or advice on optimizing your cloning workflow. https://lnkd.in/ebGaQNB2 ​

1

Excited to announce that I’ll be presenting a scientific poster at the upcoming 2024 PDA Pharmaceutical Microbiology Conference on October 7-8 in Washington, DC! My poster, titled “Use of Endotoxin Detection Methods to Demonstrate Equivalency of a New 96-well Microplate Reader”, highlights the validation of the Endosafe™ PRS 3 Microplate Reader as a replacement for the discontinued BioTek ELx808IU. This study evaluated key performance indicators such as linearity, optical density accuracy, and temperature uniformity, using four endotoxin detection methods (including the kinetic chromogenic assay and Trillium™ recombinant cascade reagent). The results demonstrated clear equivalency between the new and legacy readers. If you’re attending the conference, I’d love for you to stop by during the exhibit hall hours to discuss the findings and their impact on endotoxin testing in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Looking forward to connecting with fellow professionals in QC microbiology! #PDAMicro #Microbiology #Pharma #EndotoxinTesting #QualityControl #PDAConference #ScientificResearch

52

Gas Chromatography basic Learning. #gaschromatography #separation #chemical #pharmaceutical #analysis #qcanalysis #food #oil ##petroleum #environmental

10

1 Comment

Scientists are a busy bunch, so we know the pressure of doing everything in your power to speed things up a little. Abcam recently developed their 384-well SimpleStep ELISA kit for this very reason: these high-throughput kits allow you to process samples four times quicker than traditional ELISA while still delivering high-quality, specific results. https://bit.ly/3KZkMgn .

8

Join my colleagues in presenting our new automated TFF system combined with Variable UV Pathlength Technology. Registration link below

6