6-color digital PCR instrument

Digital PCR provides superior precision, resolution, and sensitivity for nucleic acid quantification. Since the commercialization of the first digital PCR platform a decade ago, we have established a successful interfaculty digital PCR consortium that places Ghent University as an internationally recognized frontrunner. Over the past year, a new array of next generation digital PCR platforms became available that allow for a much higher degree of multiplexing different targets to retrieve more information. Therefore, we are seeking this fund to remain on point with the current technological developments and growing needs across the involved departments and faculties. The Digital LightCycler (Roche) has the capacity of analyzing 6 targets in a single reaction in conjunction with an easier optimization of these highly multiplexed assays in flexible workflows depending on the applications' goals (maximize sensitivity vs. resolution). Amongst others, we will use this platform to map resistance mutations (infection or cancer setting), detect food fraud, and study single cells at unprecedented resolution and depth.