How to set up your microRNA sequencing project for success

There’s nothing small about the impact of miRNAs on gene expression. As key biomarkers in cancer, metabolic and disease research, miRNAs have driven major scientific breakthroughs – so much so that their discovery was just recognized with the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

However, working with microRNAs can come with its own macro challenges. Research can be hindered by low RNA amounts, high inhibitor levels and complicated workflows, placing even more importance on quality extraction, high-performance miRNA-seq and advanced data analysis. How can you remain competitive on all three fronts? Collaborating with a core lab could greatly reduce the burden of equipment and labor costs while ensuring standardized, high-quality data for your research.

In this webinar, join Dr. Devjanee Lenz, Director of Sequencing and Genomic Technologies at Duke University, Dr. Shu Boles, Director of Genomics Strategic Marketing at QIAGEN, to discover how core labs provide expertise at every step from experiment planning to bioinformatics analysis.

Learn more about:

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) trends for miRNA research projects
Considerations when planning a miRNA project (sample types, extraction, replicates, sequencing depth, bioinformatics, etc.)
Why researchers work with core labs
How the Duke Molecular Genomics Core (MGC) lab performs small RNA studies

Bonus: Open discussion with Q&A

About the speaker

Devjanee Swain Lenz, PhD, Director, Sequencing and Genomic Technologies, Assistant Professor, Molecular Genetics & Microbiology

Duke University

Devjanee (Devi) Swain Lenz, PhD, is the Director of the Duke Sequencing and Genomics Technologies Core Facility (SGT) and has over 15 years of experimental and computational experience in genomics research. She earned her PhD in Molecular Genetics and Genomics at Washington University in St. Louis and completed her postdoctoral research at Duke University. Her research interests focus on understanding how cis-regulatory variation contributes to phenotypic differences between and within species. She has also held multiple leadership roles for nonprofit organizations whose emphasis is on increasing and maintaining diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM-related fields.

Shu Boles, PhD, MBA, Director, Strategic Marketing, Genomics

QIAGEN

Shu Boles holds a PhD in developmental biology from Washington University in St. Louis and completed her postdoctoral training at UC San Diego. She also holds an MBA from UC San Diego – Rady School of Management. Shu has extensive experience in next-generation sequencing in research applications, especially cancer research and clinical oncology. In 2022, Shu joined QIAGEN as Director of Genomics Strategic Marketing.

Samuel Rulli, PhD, Director, Global Product Management, RNA-seq profiling, NGS assay technologies

QIAGEN

Dr. Samuel Rulli received his PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology from Tulane University in 2002, studying the gastric proton pump. After his postdoctoral training at Johns Hopkins University and the National Cancer Institute, he joined QIAGEN in 2009. As the Associate Director of Global Product Management for NGS technologies, Samuel has been instrumental in developing gene expression analysis solutions for qPCR and NGS.