The aim is to improve scalability and reproducibility for single-cell studies
Biotechnology company Alithea Genomics has collaborated with automated instrumentation designer SPT Labtech to develop an automated solution for single-cell transcriptomics.
“This collaboration represents a step toward broader automation of complex RNA workflows, supporting the growing integration of transcriptomics into translational and clinical research,” said SPT Labtech chief commercial officer Morten Frost.
“Implementing this workflow on firefly, laboratories can achieve a new level of efficiency, reproducibility, and throughput. The modular architecture of firefly supports both discovery-scale and large-scale experimental designs, enabling consistent results across varied throughput needs.”
Alithea Genomics’ ultra-sensitive single-cell RNA-seq technology Mercurius Flash-seq is combined with SPT Labtech’s firefly liquid handling platform to create the new technology. Mercurius Flash-seq provides full-length mRNA transcript coverage even for low-abundance genes, while firefly combines pipetting, dispensing, incubating and shaking technologies into one solution.
Traditionally, workflows are limited by manual library preparation steps, introducing variability and constraining output.
“By combining Mercurius Flash-seq and MERCURIUS Total drug-seq with SPT Labtech’s firefly, we’re removing key bottlenecks in library preparation workflows,” said Alithea Genomics cofounder and CEO Riccardo Dainese. “This partnership simplifies complex processes, drives down costs, and empowers researchers to focus on discovery.”
The aim is to improve scalability and reproducibility for single-cell studies to help drive advances in cell biology, immunology and drug discovery.
