November 11, 2014
1:00 pm to 2 pm EST

Sponsored by

Webinar Description:

There is greater demand for next generation PCR-based diagnostic tests that rapidly analyze patient samples and simultaneously detect multiple diverse markers. Examples for time-critical clinical results include PCR-based diagnostic tests HLA matching / disease testing for organ transplantation, bacterial identification / antibiotic resistance testing, co-infections such as HIV and tuberculosis, disease / toxin testing to determine the actual cause of symptoms, and forensics identification. Current PCR instruments are generally limited to one slow PCR protocol at a time; thus the time frame to complete independent tests requires multiple runs over hours or days. A new instrument with multiple rapid, randomly accessible thermal blocks and easy to use software provides researchers and laboratory clinician’s flexibility in workflow with results in 20 minutes.

Learning Objectives:

• How rapid PCR is critical to target fields
• The value of a random access instrument when running multiple diagnostics test
• Intelligent engineering and rapid heat transfer are the keys to success
• Selecting optimal PCR reagents for rapid PCR instrumentation

Speakers:

Matthew R. Kreifels, PSM

R&D Manager – Molecular Technology, R&D
Streck, Inc.

Matthew Kreifels is the Molecular Technology Manager for Streck. He has been employed with Streck, Inc. for 14 years and has held various roles in instrument and manufacturing equipment development. For the last four years, he has worked with internal and external teams to develop and commercialize a rapid molecular thermal cycling platform. The first instrument, a rapid conventional thermal cycler, and a patented plastic PCR tube consumable were released in 2012. Currently his team is developing a rapid 20-minute real-time thermal cycling platform. The application fields for the molecular platform include forensics, gram-negative resistance gene detection, tissue typing and related research. Matthew received a dual master’s degree in business and bio-science management in 2012 from Creighton University, Omaha, NE.

Scott Whitney, PhD.

Engineering, R&D Product Engineer, R&D
Streck, Inc

Scott Whitney, PhD, is a hardware designer, software developer, and relentless optimizer. He currently works at Streck as an R&D Product Engineer for the Philisa PCR and ESR-Auto Plus product lines. Scott has 14 years of experience with rapid detection, antibiotic resistance, and modeling of infectious agents such as Bacillus anthracis, Staphylococcus aureus, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Clostridium Difficile. He is the author of numerous PCR papers on efficiency, error frequency, extension rates, gene synthesis, GC-rich templates, and instrument design. One of Scott’s instruments was described by Pete Moore in a technology feature in Nature regarding advances in PCR.

Chris Connelly, PhD.

R&D Scientist- Molecular Technology
Streck, Inc.

Dr. Christopher M. Connelly is a Research and Development Scientist at Streck in the Molecular Technology Division. Dr. Connelly received his PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 2010. He joined the research division at Streck in 2010. His areas of expertise involves protein biochemistry with a cancer research focus and the design and development of diagnostics relating to the genetic identification of antibiotic resistance in Gram-negative organisms. His current research explores development of rapid PCR-based diagnostic tests that can be used by clinical laboratories to detect resistance genes in clinical isolates, for HLA phenotyping, forensic identification, and other related research areas. Dr. Connelly has prior experience in technology transfer, FDA regulatory compliance, clinical trial study design, quality control/manufacturing, and management.

Cost: No cost!