The Ghent University Digital PCR Consortium (DIGPCR) combines the complementary expertise from various Ghent University researchers on digital PCR.
We collaborate with internal and external partners on using digital PCR for various applications. As expert users of this technology, we frequently perform trainings on dPCR and give lectures at conferences or workshops.
We are also co-authors on the dMIQE guidelines for transparent reporting of dPCR data.
Our currently used platforms include the Bio-Rad QX100, Bio-Rad QX200 and Stilla Naica platforms. In most cases, our methods are, however, applicable to other dPCR platforms.
Researchers from four research groups are collaborating on digital PCR projects:
HIV Translational Research Unit
Department of Biomolecular Medicine - Vandesompele Lab
BioStat
Department of Morphology - De Spiegelaere Lab
Minimum Information for Publication of Quantitative Digital PCR Experiments for 2020
Reducing bias by modelling partition volume variability
The future of digital polymerase chain reaction in virology.
Touchdown digital polymerase chain reaction for quantification of highly conserved sequences in the HIV-1 genome.
Digital PCR as a tool to measure HIV persistence
Designing experiments with specific statistial power.
Prognostic and therapeutic implications of circulating androgen receptor gene copy number in prostate cancer patients using droplet digital PCR.
Flexible analysis of digital PCR experiments using generalised linear mixed models.
Accurate quantification of episomal HIV-1 2-LTR circles using optimized DNA isolation and droplet digital PCR.
Evaluation of bisulfite kits for DNA methylation profiling in terms of DNA fragmentation and DNA recovery using digital PCR.
Digital PCR as a tool to measure HIV persistence
Quality control of digital PCR assays and platforms.
Diagnostic utility of droplet digital PCR for HIV reservoir quantification.
Impact of variance components on reliability of absolute quantification using digital PCR.
Comparison of digital PCR platforms and semi-nested qPCR as a tool to determine the size of the HIV reservoir.
The digital MIQE guidelines: Minimum Information for Publication of Quantitative Digital PCR Experiments.
Model based classification for digital PCR: your Umbrella for rain.
ddpcRquant: Threshold determination for single channel droplet digital PCR experiments.
Comparison of droplet digital PCR and seminested real-time PCR for quantification of cell-associated HIV-1 RNA.
Shiny web application and R code for single channel threshold setting
Shiny web application for GLMM analysis of digital PCR experiments
Shiny web application for digital PCR quality control
Website for primer design
Shiny web application for power calculation of absolute and relative digital PCR quantification experiments
R code for partition classification using Umbrella
Mini website to simulate variance components in dPCR experiments
We currently have access to the following instruments, and welcome the opportunity to evaluate other technologies.
Two color dPCR detection (FAM & HEX)
Two color dPCR detection (FAM & HEX)Evagreen compatible
Three color digital PCREvagreen compatible
Upcoming events: Digital PCR specialist course (15-17 December 2020, canceled due to Covid-19)
Past events: Webinar:History of Digital PCR: (r)evolution in genetic testing & analysis (25 September 2019, 8 AM PDT | 11 AM EDT | 4 PM BST | 5 PM CEST) Digital PCR specialist course (10-12 September 2019, Ghent, Belgium) Digital PCR specialist course (Sep 2018) Digital PCR symposium (May 15, 2018) Digital PCR specialist course (Sep 2017) Digital PCR specialist course (Sep 2016)