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Industrial Partners of the NRDPFC
The Natural Resources DNA Profiling and Forensic Centre is collaborating with industrial
partners on specific projects of our ongoing research. Maxxam Analytics Inc. and RetiSoft Inc are currently involved in our cost-effective, high-throughput automated lab.
ReTiSoft Inc.
ReTiSoft is a software research and development enterprise. The company was established in October 1998 in Toronto, Canada. Our products include a software framework Genera which simplifies instrument integration, scheduling software Supra, 3D simulation viewer
SimView, web enabled LIMS DataPilot, and instrument testers Clones for the laboratory automation market.
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ReTiSoft provides the automation industry with innovative software solutions To stay competitive and to keep up with the rapidly growing automation market, we consistently invest in software research. We also participate in all the major lab automation conferences, i.e. LabAutomation, LabFusion,
International Symposium on Laboratory Automation and Robotics and Pittsburg Conference.
NRDPFC and RetiSoft Collaboration
The project in conjunction with RetiSoft is to integrate robotic systems with high-throughput DNA profiling. The research has lead to the development of systems that can be used in DNA forensics, clinical DNA profiling as well as DNA profiling of important agricultural and wildlife species. Specific objectives of the collaboration include:
- Validation of DNA preparation and profiling systems. The integration of specific components
into a robotic system will require the appropriate validation through the implementation of quality
assurance standards, and assessment of yields of DNA, risks of cross-contamination and cost-effectiveness.
- Test and validate sample-tracking methods from specimen acquisition to final report through
a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). Forensic and clinical applications in
particular require high standards of sample tracking.
The goal of this research will be the establishment of validated and cost-effective high-throughput DNA profiling that can be directly applied to clinical screening, human forensic testing and environmental and agricultural genomics. The on-site robotic system at Trent University will provide the infrastructure required for the research at Trent while the facilities and staff at RetiSoft Inc. will be available for support with custom integrations and software developement. Certain third party hardware will also be vital in our development of extraction protocols. More specifically, CRS Robotic Arms, Perkin Elmer Liquid handlers, BMG Fluostar Galaxy Plate Reader, and a variety of peripheral devices.
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Natural Resources DNA Profiling and Forensic Centre
DNA Building, Trent University,
2140 East Bank Drive, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, K9J 7B8
Phone: (705) 748-1011 ext. 7126| Fax (705) 748-1132
Email: info@nrdpfc.ca |
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