Automated molecular cloning technology accelerates exploration and discovery in the field of gene therapy at the Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology (IOB), University of Basel, Switzerland

IOB scientist Jannick Imbach selected automated equipment to increase the efficiency and throughput of his laboratory's molecular cloning experiments.

Gene therapy is a technology that introduces synthetic DNA structures into host cells to treat disease. Research to discover gene therapies requires extensive and time-consuming molecular cloning and screening. Clinical research laboratories, such as the Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel, are increasingly turning to technologies that speed discovery, such as laboratory automation.

Problem—Time-consuming molecular cloning experiments slow research progress

The IOB is a non-profit research organization that brings together scientific researchers and clinicians to discover and develop new treatments for eye diseases. IOB scientist Jannick Imbach works in the viral vector technology platform, using molecular cloning technology to create and screen DNA vectors used in gene therapy. Molecular cloning is a tedious process that involves multiple rounds of splicing DNA fragments together and screening bacterial colonies for the correct DNA construct. To simplify laboratory procedures, the platform decided to introduce laboratory automation, but found that most liquid handling robots were expensive and incompatible with the complex protocols required for their research.

Solution – Flexible Laboratory Automation Increases Throughput of Molecular Cloning

Ultimately, Imbach selected the Opentrons OT-2 automated pipetting robot because of its affordability and ability to accommodate customized protocols. Imbach's colleagues are very interested in how laboratory automation will improve molecular cloning workflows, so the arrival of the first OT-2 is exciting for the entire institute.

"When OT-2 was taken out, everyone was very excited! People from other laboratories came over to watch."

– Jan Nick IMBA Ultra

Opentrons provided Imbach with the service of developing a custom protocol, starting with the initial code and modifying it to fit the laboratory's specific needs. The robot now runs 10 different programs for cloning and processing bacteria. Recently, Imbach's laboratory purchased a second OT-2 for sterile cell culture work.

Imbach believes the future of gene therapy is promising. Diseases that were once untreatable are now within reach. The increased productivity brought by laboratory automation has given scientists like Imbach the ability to create new gene therapies to treat diseases.