At this year’s ELRIG Drug Discovery meeting, Technology Networks sat down with Dr. Robert Beal, a field application specialist at Bio-Rad, to discuss how advances in digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) technologies are reshaping research workflows.
In this Q&A, Dr. Beal reflects on the evolving needs of modern laboratories, the increasing demand for automation and how newly launched dPCR platforms aim to streamline processes, enhance data quality and support the regulatory expectations surrounding therapeutic development.
Blake Forman (BF):
Senior Science Writer
Technology Networks
Blake pens and edits breaking news, articles and features on a broad range of scientific topics with a focus on drug discovery and biopharma. He earned an honors degree in chemistry from the University of Surrey. Blake also holds an MSc in chemistry from the University of Southampton. His research project focused on the synthesis of novel fluorescent dyes often used as chemical/bio-sensors and as photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy.
Could you discuss from a practical
standpoint about how the new QX systems – the QX Continuum and the QX700 range –
are designed to overcome workflow challenges in drug discovery?
Field Application Specialist
Bio-Rad
Dr. Robert Beal has worked for Bio-Rad since 2022 as a field application specialist covering the north of the UK and supporting all things qPCR and Droplet Digital™ PCR.
The new systems expand our existing portfolio to give customers more flexibility and to better fit their needs in the lab. Both platforms are now true one-box solutions for dPCR.
The QX Continuum offers an extremely simple, hands-off, real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR)-like workflow, which helps reduce the training barrier that sometimes accompanies dPCR.
The QX700 systems, on the other hand, fill gaps where space limitations or the need for higher throughput and faster turnaround become critical.
Essentially, these new systems bridge specific needs and allow us to address more workflow scenarios.
Senior Science Writer
Technology Networks
Blake pens and edits breaking news, articles and features on a broad range of scientific topics with a focus on drug discovery and biopharma. He earned an honors degree in chemistry from the University of Surrey. Blake also holds an MSc in chemistry from the University of Southampton. His research project focused on the synthesis of novel fluorescent dyes often used as chemical/bio-sensors and as photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy.
How do these new systems improve accuracy or throughput for assays you would typically run – for example, viral vector titrations?
Field Application Specialist
Bio-Rad
Dr. Robert Beal has worked for Bio-Rad since 2022 as a field application specialist covering the north of the UK and supporting all things qPCR and Droplet Digital™ PCR.
Digital PCR is rapidly becoming the gold standard for viral vector titration because of its accuracy, reproducibility and precision. Unlike qPCR, you get absolute quantification with very high confidence. You can also assess multiple parameters within a single assay.
For example, you can measure vector titer and simultaneously evaluate vector integrity. That gives you far more informative data – both confirming titer and ensuring the vector is intact, which is crucial for downstream decision-making.
Senior Science Writer
Technology Networks
Blake pens and edits breaking news, articles and features on a broad range of scientific topics with a focus on drug discovery and biopharma. He earned an honors degree in chemistry from the University of Surrey. Blake also holds an MSc in chemistry from the University of Southampton. His research project focused on the synthesis of novel fluorescent dyes often used as chemical/bio-sensors and as photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy.
A major theme at this year’s ELRIG Drug Discovery conference has been automation and connectivity. What steps has Bio-Rad taken to support this?
Field Application Specialist
Bio-Rad
Dr. Robert Beal has worked for Bio-Rad since 2022 as a field application specialist covering the north of the UK and supporting all things qPCR and Droplet Digital™ PCR.
With the QX platforms and our Manager software, we’re working closely with automation partners to enable integration with automated liquid-handling systems. The goal is to minimize hands-on time and free operators for other tasks. For example, a robot can load the cartridge for the QX700, and then the operator simply loads the instrument. Everything is completed inside the box, reducing hands-on time to just a couple of minutes. This supports both throughput and efficiency – key priorities for modern labs.
Senior Science Writer
Technology Networks
Blake pens and edits breaking news, articles and features on a broad range of scientific topics with a focus on drug discovery and biopharma. He earned an honors degree in chemistry from the University of Surrey. Blake also holds an MSc in chemistry from the University of Southampton. His research project focused on the synthesis of novel fluorescent dyes often used as chemical/bio-sensors and as photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy.
Looking at the evolving drug discovery landscape, where do you see dPCR fitting in over the next few years?
RB:
Field Application Specialist
Bio-Rad
Dr. Robert Beal has worked for Bio-Rad since 2022 as a field application specialist covering the north of the UK and supporting all things qPCR and Droplet Digital™ PCR.
As with viral vector titering, where dPCR is becoming the gold standard, I expect the technology to expand throughout multiple stages of therapeutic development. It can support everything from early assay discovery to manufacturing and even clinical trial monitoring. I also think we’ll see major growth in areas like small-molecule and RNA therapeutics, where dPCR can help assess transduction efficiency at the single-cell level. That single-cell resolution is going to be extremely powerful.
Senior Science Writer
Technology Networks
Blake pens and edits breaking news, articles and features on a broad range of scientific topics with a focus on drug discovery and biopharma. He earned an honors degree in chemistry from the University of Surrey. Blake also holds an MSc in chemistry from the University of Southampton. His research project focused on the synthesis of novel fluorescent dyes often used as chemical/bio-sensors and as photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy.
What are the main roadblocks you encounter when people consider adopting digital PCR?
RB:
Field Application Specialist
Bio-Rad
Dr. Robert Beal has worked for Bio-Rad since 2022 as a field application specialist covering the north of the UK and supporting all things qPCR and Droplet Digital™ PCR.
The biggest challenge is often hesitancy around moving away from familiar techniques. Digital PCR is still perceived as a more advanced and expensive method, so some people are reluctant to switch from workflows they know well. But once we provide demos or hands-on training, they’re usually surprised by how simple the workflow is. And when they see the improvements in data quality, the value becomes clear. It’s about helping them understand how much they gain with a small investment in learning a new method.
BF:
Senior Science Writer
Technology Networks
Blake pens and edits breaking news, articles and features on a broad range of scientific topics with a focus on drug discovery and biopharma. He earned an honors degree in chemistry from the University of Surrey. Blake also holds an MSc in chemistry from the University of Southampton. His research project focused on the synthesis of novel fluorescent dyes often used as chemical/bio-sensors and as photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy.
Finally, how do the new systems support users who need regulatory-compliant data?
RB:
Field Application Specialist
Bio-Rad
Dr. Robert Beal has worked for Bio-Rad since 2022 as a field application specialist covering the north of the UK and supporting all things qPCR and Droplet Digital™ PCR.
Regulatory compliance is a major focus for us. All our existing systems either come with or can be equipped with 21 CFR Part 11-compliant software, which includes all expected security and audit features. The QX700 systems were launched with full compliance built in. The QX Continuum currently uses a standard software version, but we plan to release a regulatory-compliant version within the next couple of years, so the entire portfolio aligns under the same standards.
