Molecules, microbes and multiomics

In this episode, Ajin Abraham (Strategic Marketing Manager, Genomics) and Sanna Abbasi, Ph.D. (Scientific Writer/Content Specialist) interview a group of leaders in the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (PGC-PTSD). The purpose of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium is to unite investigators around the world to conduct meta- and mega-analyses of genome-wide data for psychiatric disorders. We talk about the mission of the PGC-PTSD workgroup, how genomics is contributing to discoveries and advancing the field, the impact of advocacy on policy, and the benefits of using saliva for investigation.

We invited Alexander Bisignano, CEO of Phosphorus, to tell us more about his company's application of genetic testing and to share what is in store for them in the future.

We recently had the opportunity to interview Dr. Severien Van Keer, a post-doc researcher at the VAXINFECTIO research group, at the University of Antwerp. Her research primarily focuses on Human Papillomavirus (HPV) detection in first-void urine, and the potential of urine as a sample type for cervical cancer screening. Her research also includes Colli-Pee®, a first-void urine collection device.

Shoreline Biome is a microbiome-focused company that provides simple solutions for microbiome next-generation sequencing. They develop tools and reagents to support end-to-end microbiome analysis. We talk about the amazing work of the team at Shoreline Biome and had the pleasure to interview their Director of R&D, Dawn Gratalo.

In this podcast, we explore how DNA Genotek and Quadrant Biosciences have been working together to support advancements in various diseases via RNA research and collection. Together, they've created RNA tests for early detection of autism spectrum disorder, Parkinson's disease, traumatic brain injury, and COVID-19.

The interest in human microbiome has widened from the gut to other parts of the human body, like skin. One company saw an opportunity to combine the science of the human skin microbiome, makeup and skincare. In this episode of Molecules, Microbes, and Multiomics, we interview the co-founders of Pure Culture Beauty Joy Chen, former CEO of Yes To and H2O+ Beauty, and Victor Casale, former chief chemist of MAC Cosmetics and co-founder of Cover FX.

We recently had the opportunity to interview Professor Patrick Pauwels, head of the laboratory of molecular pathology and co-director of CORE, a joint oncology research platform with the University of Antwerp. This podcast discusses the potential of liquid biopsies, such as urine in the field of cancer research especially when tissue is an issue. It also highlights URODETECT, a collaborative project between CORE and Novosanis, which focuses on investigating urinary biomarkers for prostate and breast cancer using the Colli-Pee® device.

Nom Nom is not your average pet food company. In addition to delivering fresh, healthy meals for cats and dogs created by a team of veterinary nutritionists, they use gut microbiome samples submitted by their customers to study the link between nutrition and pet health. Nom Nom partners with Diversigen to analyze these samples and provide the accurate sequencing and bioinformatics analysis the Nom Nom scientists require to learn about the impact of nutrition on pet health. We speak with Dr. Ryan Honaker, the director of Microbiology at Nom Nom, in the latest episode of our Molecules, Microbes, and Multiomics Podcast.

DNA Genotek has expertise with many different non-invasive sample types including saliva for genomic and feces for microbiome analysis. With any sample type, quality is paramount to generate the best sequencing results and subsequently to produce the most accurate data. In this podcast, Mike Tayeb and Brice LeFrancois, two experts from our research and development team highlight the best practices they use in the lab with saliva and fecal samples to get optimal sequencing results.

As the microbiome industry grows and evolves, so has our team of microbiome experts. In 2019, DNA Genotek's parent company, OraSure, acquired both CoreBiome and Diversigen. Through these acquisitions, we gained Diversigen's industry recognized CLIA/CAP state-of-the-art techniques with expert consultative microbiome services, and the strength of CoreBiome's innovative scalable sequencing technology. In this podcast, Lisa Gamwell, Services Product Manager at DNA Genotek speaks with Dan Knights, CEO of CoreBiome and Joy Nassif, Chief Operating Officer at Diversigen, to discuss their companies and how these teams will to work together to help advance the microbiome industry as a whole.

The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study is a prospective longitudinal study initiated in 1980. It is one of the largest follow-up studies into cardiovascular risk from childhood to adulthood. The main aim is to determine the contribution made by childhood lifestyle, biological, and psychological measures to the risk of cardiovascular diseases in adulthood. In this podcast, Dr. Katja Pahkala and Dr. Evelina Munukka from the Univeristy of Turku, Finland apeak about this study, why they recently incorporated gut microbiome samples as part of their research, and what role the gut microbiome could play in cardiovascular health.

Jean Macklaim is a Bioinformatician at DNA Genotek who has an extensive history with RNA research. Jean received her PhD in Biochemistry and Bachelor of Science in Human Genetics from the University of Western Ontario where she focused on sequencing technologies and bioinformatics methods to understand the structure and function of the microbiome in different disease and environmental conditions. In this podcast, Jean speaks about the challenges and potential RNA has in both the research and clinical fields for human microbiome.

This week, I interview Scott Rabuka, Director of the Genomics Program at DNA Genotek for our podcast, Molecules, Microbes and Multiomics. Scott joined DNA Genotek in 2008 as the product manager for Oragene and successfully expanded the product into a complete family of solutions for global genomic research and clinical use. He is responsible for the launch of the company's first FDA 510(k) cleared product in 2011 as well as multiple new products designed to address evolving global market opportunities. In this podcast, Scott speaks about saliva as a DNA sample type, who's using it today and how it compares to other sample types in the field, the clinic and in the lab.