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Two RNAi Research Teams Collaborate

Tracy Cartier

The Life Science Research (LSR) teams in Lafayette, Colorado, and Huntsville, Alabama, are working together to advance the application of RNA-interference (RNAi) in biomedical research as well as to integrate the complementary RNAi platforms.

The Lafayette site produces the Thermo Scientific Dharmacon line of RNAi gene-silencing reagents, and Huntsville is the home of the Thermo Scientific Open Biosystems line, which became part of the LSR offering through an acquisition last year. Both teams lead global forums for scientists using their technologies, with the goal of optimizing gene-silencing research and ultimately accelerating the understanding and treatment of human disease. The two forums represent the vast majority of researchers around the world using RNAi, and combined interactions will bring together a wealth of expertise in scientific screening.

For example, the RNAi Global Initiative met at the University of Toronto in early April. This group of researchers is using the Thermo Scientific Dharmacon whole-genome collection of chemically synthesized small-interfering RNA (siRNA). This meeting was open to participants in the Open Access Program, a forum of researchers who are using the Open Biosystems whole-genome collection of short-hairpin RNA (shRNA), which is delivered to cells in purified viruses. Both types of products carry gene-silencing instructions into cells, allowing scientists to block the expression of genes to determine which ones are involved in a disease process.

During the Toronto meeting, Gwen Fewell, Product Manager for RNAi products in Huntsville, gave a presentation on the Open Biosystems portfolio available through the Open Access program. This includes the recently launched Decode lentiviral shRNA particles, which are provided in a pooled format targeting the whole human genome. This product provides researchers with a convenient and cost-effective means for conducting viral-vector RNAi screens.

Gwen explained that the new Decode lentiviral shRNA pools combine the gene-silencing instructions for 3,000 genes at a time in a single tube of the product. This means that seven units of the Decode pools cover the entire genome of about 21,000 genes in the human body. Normally, this would involve hundreds of 96-well plates of individually arrayed shRNA reagents.

Some scientists are using chemically synthesized siRNA as well as viral-vector shRNA in their research, and the LSR unit wants to promote the benefits of using the two technologies by bringing together the scientists who use these tools.

“These two distinct tools silence their targets in different ways,” said Mike Deines, Global Director of Marketing for Genomics. “If you silence the same gene in two different experiments and get the same result, it provides strong evidence that the gene silencing — rather than some other non-specific effect of the reagent itself — was responsible.”

The Toronto meeting had a record attendance of 80, according to Queta Smith, Associate Director of Technical Communications for Genomics, who plays an important leadership role in driving the RNAi Global Initiative. She said the site was chosen because the University of Toronto has some of the most active and advanced labs engaged in RNAi screening. In addition, the site is close to the Thermo Fisher Lab Automation and Integration business, which serves the university with equipment and software to automate its RNAi screening. The meeting included a tour of the university’s core screening facility.

Another opportunity for collaboration was the April meeting of the American Association of Cancer Research in Denver — close to the LSR facility in Lafayette. This meeting drew members of both the RNAi Global Initiative as well as the Open Access Program, some of whom were not able to attend the meeting in Toronto. These researchers were invited to tour the Lafayette production and screening facility and later dined with the Dharmacon technical teams.

“We had about eight scientific attendees who are the lead screeners in their institutes,” said Queta. “It was a good interactive mix of researchers using synthetic and viral-vector RNAi platforms and a good indication of where we will go with the RNAi Global Initiative. Ultimately, our goal is to create communities that will promote the expansion of both technologies and lead the development and use of best practices in medical research.”

Several Thermo Fisher executives also attended the dinner, including Ken Berger, President of the Biosciences Division; Dave Eansor, President of Life Science Research; and Arnold Huang, Director of Business Development, Biosciences.

“By combining the strengths of our gene modulation products and bringing together the scientists who are working with these technologies, we are providing powerful new tools to help scientists advance medical research and ultimately improve human health,” Dave said. “I am excited about the opportunity ahead of us.”