CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Firefly Frontiers Grant is a $10,000 award towards Firefly BioWorks products for scientists engaged in cutting-edge microRNA research. The awards encourage large-scale validation studies, thereby increasing the breadth and robustness of traditional exploratory studies. The current round of recipients is involved in translational microRN A research, and Firefly’s flagship product, FirePlex® miRSelect, is uniquely positioned to address the needs of this user base. FirePlex® miRSelect is a rapid multiplexed microRNA detection assay that allows users to analyze up to 68 user-selected microRNAs across 96 samples in a few hours.
The Firefly Frontiers Grant winners announced this month are: Samarjit Das, PhD, of Johns Hopkins University, Kevin Kim, PhD, of Harvard Medical School, and Steve McClellan of the University of South Alabama. The winners will choose either to use FirePlex® miRSelect in their own facility or to send samples to Firefly BioWorks for processing as a service. The Firefly BioWorks Service Lab accepts total RNA extract, cell culture, serum, and plasma samples.
Samarjit (Sam) Das, PhD, is a research associate in the Department of Pathology at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Das’ Frontiers Grant will be used to study the potential of circulating microRNAs as a diagnostic signature for diabetes. Read more about Dr. Das’ microRNA research and his outlook on the field here.
Kevin Kim, PhD, is a research fellow in the Perrimon lab at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Kim will use his Firefly Frontiers Grant to screen for microRNAs that influence tumor blood vessel formation. You can learn more about Dr. Kim and his fascination with microRNAs here.
Steve McClellan is the manager of the Flow Cytometry and Imaging Core Lab of the Mitchell Cancer Institute at the University of South Alabama. The Firefly Frontiers Grant will support Mr. McClellan’s research on cancer stem cell monitoring in cell culture. Read more about microRNAs in the tumor microenvironment and how FirePlex® miRSelect enhances Mr. McClellan’s research here.
Check back next month on the Firefly BioWorks website as the next round of Firefly Frontiers Grant winners are announced and their revolutionary microRNA research is profiled.
About Firefly BioWorks:
Firefly BioWorks develops and commercializes novel classes of smart reagents that allow scientists to perform large scale studies while minimizing costs and simplifying workflow, all without the need to purchase dedicated instrumentation. The company’s flagship product, FirePlex® miRSelect, enables high-throughput and targeted microRNA profiling by flow cytometry. The product is also available as a complete service.
