Jim Huggett
Dr. Huggett is a Science Fellow at the National Measurement Laboratory (NML, the UK's designated national measurement institute for chemical and bioanalytical measurement based at LGC). He received his Ph.D. at Cardiff University before moving to UCL to work with Professor Alimuddin Zumla on the molecular diagnosis of infectious diseases with a particular focus on the developing world. During his time at UCL working with scientists from several African nations, he recognized that diagnostic standardization and ensuring test accuracy represented a major neglected barrier to wider uptake. In 2009 he moved to the NML to focus on this challenge where he oversees research into the accuracy of molecular diagnostics and genomic measurements. Much of his interests are focused on accuracy for molecular analysis, reference measurement systems for nucleic acid measurement and improving the accuracy of applied routine diagnosis. As well as a fellow of the RSTMH, he also represents the UK (BSI) on ISO diagnostic committees (TC212/WG4 and JWG6), the ESCMID study group on genomics and molecular diagnostics, the IFCC’s committee for molecular diagnostics and the BIPM’s consultative committee for chemistry and bioanalysis where he is the current chair of the nucleic acid analysis working group (NAWG). Dr. Huggett is also a visiting professor at the University of Surrey and visiting lecturer at UCL.

Digital PCR (dPCR) has become a more established technology over the last decade, with several instrument formats available. Yet, given the mature status of real-time PCR and the broad opportunities offered by the latest sequencing technologies, it is often unclear what dPCR can contribute. This presentation will explore how dPCR has changed over the last decade, outline the advantages and look at how it can contribute to advancing molecular analysis. It will also discuss the new digital MIQE guidelines and how they can help maximize the impact of research using dPCR.

Dr. Jim Huggett

Digital PCR (dPCR) has become a more established technology over the last decade, with several instrument formats available. Yet, given the mature status of real-time PCR and the broad opportunities offered by the latest sequencing technologies, it is often unclear what dPCR can contribute. This presentation will explore how dPCR has changed over the last decade, outline the advantages and look at how it can contribute to advancing molecular analysis. It will also discuss the new digital MIQE guidelines and how they can help maximize the impact of research using dPCR.

Dr. Jim Huggett