Latest Biotechniques Podcast Episodes
Producing challenging proteins in the golden age of protein engineering
Talking Techniques - October 13, 2021 12:54 - 19 minutesIn this episode, we roam the world of recombinant proteins and their production, discussing the challenges of their production, and recent evolutions in protein engineering that have brought the field into a golden era of innovation. I'm joined by recombinant protein engineering expert Yuning C...
The evolution of PCR: From q to dd and beyond
Talking Techniques - September 21, 2021 11:04 - 24 minutesPCR has evolved rapidly over the last few years, an evolution that has been dramatically accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. New technologies and approaches have been brought to the fore and the full range of applications for which this technique can be applied have been highlighted, from diag...
Molecular therapeutics: how far have we come and what's on the horizon?
Talking Techniques - August 27, 2021 14:37 - 37 minutesUncover the history of molecular therapeutics, the staggering current applications and developments of these therapeutics and what their future could hold, in this episode of Talking Techniques. To explore the field of molecular therapeutics and provide an insight into their production, is Aaro...
Adeno-associated viral therapies: harnessing the power of HPLC
Talking Techniques - August 17, 2021 23:01 - 20 minutesThis episode centers on the critical role that high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) plays in the production of adeno-associated viral (AAV) therapies, the latest advances in AAV design and the next steps in their development. Filling me in on all things HPLC and AAVs is Bella Neufeld, ...
Organoids: advancing drug discovery and cancer research
Talking Techniques - August 16, 2021 16:10 - 33 minutesAs the transition from 2D to 3D cell cultures, or organoids, as the gold standard for modeling basic biology and disease continues, these models are being utilized in ever more intricate and impactful ways. This episode covers the rise of organoids and their advantages over 2D cell cultures, be...
The ethics of whole-genome sequencing: from race and religion to science fiction
Talking Techniques - June 25, 2021 12:10 - 27 minutesWelcome to part two of this two-part episode on whole-genome sequencing (WGS) in rare disease research and treatment. In part one we discussed the impacts the technology has had on both improving the clinical diagnosis and management of rare diseases and on drug development and basic research st...
Revitalizing the western blot
Talking Techniques - June 21, 2021 09:08 - 22 minutesLove it or hate it, western blotting forms the bedrock of countless studies across numerous disciplines. Explore its history, development and applications in this episode all about the marmite of life science techniques. Guiding me through the hand wringing, hair follicle destroying history and...
From space to the streets: infectious disease sampling in extreme conditions and extraordinary circumstances
Talking Techniques - June 18, 2021 12:06 - 19 minutesIn this episode, we take a look at one of the key steps of infectious disease research, sample collection; exploring the challenges associated with the step and the solutions available to improve infectious disease research around the globe. Exploring the trials and tribulations of infectious d...
Revealing the regulome: using multiomic approaches to explore epigenetics and DNA expression
Talking Techniques - June 11, 2021 11:51 - 33 minutesExplore the realm of epigenetics and gene expression, discovering the different omic ‘lenses’ used to examine these processes and the power of single-cell studies to reveal a comprehensive multiomic view of cells and their biology. This episode features the ever-buoyant Will Greenleaf, Associ...
The oncolytic Trojan horse: Immune cells, the tumor microenvironment and the invasion of neurons
Talking Techniques - May 28, 2021 11:35 - 29 minutesThis episode, supported by Bethyl, delves into the realm of the tumor microenvironment (TME), exploring the cells that reside there and how they interact to promote tumor growth and metastasis. Discover how immune cells are attracted and manipulated by tumor cells enabling the cancer to invade n...
Whole-genome-sequencing: navigating the "Diagnostic Odyssey" in rare disease research
Talking Techniques - May 19, 2021 09:55 - 39 minutesRare diseases present a series of challenges on numerous fronts. From simply deciphering what a patient is affected by to considering how best to manage a rare condition with limited pre-existing medications available for a rare disease, each new development or breakthrough brings clinicians to ...
The wonders of wastewater surveillance for COVID-19
Talking Techniques - April 19, 2021 17:30 - 28 minutesIn this episode, we explore the often overlooked technique of environmental sequencing for infectious diseases and how it is being applied to the response to COVID-19. Taking the state of California as a case study of this application, I speak to Micheal Lisek, Project Manager Environmental Micr...
How PCR has prevailed during the COVID-19 pandemic
Talking Techniques - March 30, 2021 11:01 - 30 minutesIn Part 3 of our COVID-19 diagnostics and detection miniseries, supported by Roche, we explore the contribution PCR has made towards diagnosis during the pandemic. Providing me with an insight into the world of PCR diagnostics is Tyler Miller, Clinical Pathology Resident and Research Fellow at M...
Reproducibility in microbiomics
Talking Techniques - March 25, 2021 11:01 - 27 minutesReturning to the contentious topic of the Reproducibility crisis – the inability of many study results to be replicated by different research groups or labs – this episode, supported by Zymo Research, zeros in on the topic within the field of microbiomics. Speaking to me about the topic is Rau...
How can we achieve gender equality in STEM?
Talking Techniques - March 05, 2021 12:36 - 40 minutesThis International Women’s Day takeover episode, with special guest host BioTechniques’ Senior Digital Editor Abi Sawyer, takes a look at the results of Future Science Group’s (London, UK) survey for the scientific community on gender equality and parity in STEM. Abi’s guests on this episode ar...
COG-UK: sequencing SARS-CoV-2 and detecting the novel variant B.1.1.7
Talking Techniques - February 18, 2021 15:57 - 34 minutesThis episode, supported by Tecan, takes a look at the role the COVID-19 Genomics UK Consortium (COG-UK) has played sequencing SARS-CoV-2 and surveying for COVID-19. To do this I speak to two key members of the consortium; Steve Paterson, Professor of genetics at the University of Liverpool and l...
COVID-19 diagnostics: which test should you choose?
Talking Techniques - January 15, 2021 14:22 - 21 minutesRT-PCR, antigen and antibody testing; each has its niche and each has a flaw. But what are the key differences between each of these tests and what are the key things to consider when selecting the appropriate COVID-19 diagnostic for you? In this podcast, supported by Zymo Research, I speak to...
Andy Tay: Forbes, awards and championing diversity in STEM
Talking Techniques - December 10, 2020 18:09 - 20 minutesIn this episode, I speak to a very special guest. Winner of this year's Future Science Future Star award, Andy Tay is a fantastic example of an early career researcher who has seized every opportunity with both hands and is not content to leave science as he found it. We discuss Andy's fascina...
How has neuroimaging continued and flourished during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Talking Techniques - November 06, 2020 13:54 - 24 minutesIn this episode, I speak to Michelle Itano, Director of the Neuroscience Center Microscopy Core at UNC-Chapel Hill and recent addition to the BioTechniques Editorial Board, about her work at the core. Michelle outlines how she has modified the core to make it possible for imaging research to con...
The reproducibility crisis: where are we now and how can we progress?
Talking Techniques - October 20, 2020 11:11 - 32 minutesIn this episode I address the 'reproducibility crisis'. The concerning trend in the life sciences in which published papers and established principals are unable to be repeated by other researchers and, at times, even by the researchers who provided the initial results. To do this I speak to t...
CRISPR: developing an equitable technology amidst a global pandemic
Talking Techniques - October 12, 2020 13:56 - 24 minutesIn this episode, I speak to Geoffrey Siwo about CRISPR and the challenges facing its development into a technique that can be applied equitably across the globe. Geoffrey talks about the importance of seizing the opportunity to influence the progress of the embryonic gene-editing technology for ...
Helicopter research and the challenges and misconceptions of research in Africa
Talking Techniques - August 24, 2020 14:41 - 1 hourIn this episode of Talking Techniques, BioTechniques Digital Editor Tristan Free speaks to three scientists each involved in the research landscape in Africa. The episode explores the challenges faced by researchers in Africa, both internally and from the rest of the scientific community. These ...
Big data and COVID-19 part 2: Affecting policy and revealing risk
Talking Techniques - August 10, 2020 15:50 - 26 minutesIn part 2 of this series on the role of Big data in the response to COVID-19, I speak to Amitava Banerjee, Associate Professor in Clinical Data Science at the Institute of Health Informatics at University College London. Ami outlines the "OurRisk.CoV Calculator", designed to inform people of the...
Big data and COVID-19 part 1: Facilitating and using collaborative, open data
Talking Techniques - August 10, 2020 15:49 - 17 minutesIn the first of two episodes on the role of big data in fighting COVID-19, BioTechniques Digital Editor Tristan Free speaks to Guy Cochrane, Team Leader of Data Coordination and Archiving at the European Nucleotide Archive (Cambridge, UK). We discuss the challenges and importance of compiling an...
DNA vaccines: combating cancer and COVID-19
Talking Techniques - August 10, 2020 15:47 - 22 minutesIn this special AACR episode, Digital Editor Tristan Free speaks to David Weiner, Director of the Vaccine & Immunotherapy Center at the Wistar Institute (PA, USA), about synthetic DNA and DNA vaccines. They discuss the exciting potential of DNA vaccines in the world of cancer research and delve ...
The sustainable lab: energy efficiency, glass vs plastic and human behavior
Talking Techniques - August 10, 2020 15:46 - 24 minutesIn this episode, I speak to Neill Lane Chief Strategy Officer at Stirling Ultracold and Board member of My Green Lab. Neill explains how his low emission ultracold freezers have changed the industry and made a huge impact on sustainability in laboratories. We also discuss the good work he sees b...
UV LEDs for disinfection and potential protection from SARS-CoV-2
Talking Techniques - August 10, 2020 15:45 - 30 minutesIn this episode, produced in association with Phoseon Technology, BioTechniques Digital Editor Tristan Free, speaks to Application Scientist Theresa Thompson and Strategy Director Jay Pasquantonio (both Phoseon Technology, OR, USA) about their UV LEDs and their disinfection abilities. We cover t...
Rob Vries on organoids for drug discovery and the study of COVID-19
Talking Techniques - August 10, 2020 15:26 - 27 minutesBioTechniques Digital Editor, Tristan Free, speaks to Rob Vries, CEO of Hubrecht Organoid Technology otherwise known as the HUB. We explore the HUB's use of organoids for drug development and further study and improve the clinical treatments of diseases such as cystic fibrosis. After an analysis...
Donald Ingber: How COVID-19 is changing conservatism in life sciences
Talking Techniques - August 10, 2020 09:24 - 22 minutesFollowing on from part 1 of this interview with the Founding Director of the Wyss Institute (MA, USA), Donald Ingber discusses the reasons he thinks organ-on-a-chip technologies are not more widely implemented in research. Expanding on the conservativism in the life sciences, Donald explores how...
Donald Ingber on COVID-19, organ-on-a-chip technology and the Wyss Institute
Talking Techniques - August 07, 2020 14:34 - 33 minutesIn the first instalment of this two-part episode with Donald Ingber, Founding Director of the Wyss Institute (MA, USA), we discuss his invention of organ-on-a-chip technology, how he is utilizing them in the fight against COVID-19 and the Wyss Institute's response to the pandemic. Donald touches...
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