Pipette controller accelerates skin fibrosis biomarker research

Researchers at the Hackensack Meridian Center for Discovery and Innovation (CDI) are using the PIPETBOY GENIUS serological pipet controller from Integra Biosciences to improve the efficiency of biomarker research in skin fibrosis linked to chronic graft-versus-host disease (GvHD).

Chronic GvHD is a serious complication of stem cell transplantation in which donor immune cells attack the recipient’s tissues, with the skin frequently affected. The CDI team is working to identify biomarkers that could help signal early disease progression and support better understanding of fibrosis development.

Their research involves analysing patient-derived samples and growing primary fibroblast cultures to study signalling molecules associated with fibrotic disease. However, a major bottleneck in the workflow has been the manual dispensing of culture medium into large numbers of wells, a repetitive and time-intensive process.

The introduction of the PIPETBOY GENIUS has significantly streamlined this step. Its automatic repeat dispense function allows consistent volumes to be dispensed at the push of a button, removing the need for continuous visual monitoring during repetitive pipetting tasks. The team reports that this has cut processing time by around half while improving consistency.

Jaemin Byun, Postdoctoral Fellow at Hackensack Meridian CDI, said: “Previously, this process required pipetting medium into hundreds of wells individually, which was extremely labour-intensive and exhausting. The PIPETBOY GENIUS is incredibly convenient, and its automatic repeat dispense feature has halved the time it takes.”

He added that accuracy is especially important when working with limited patient material: “We may only receive patient samples once or twice a month, so it is critical that we get it right the first time. With the PIPETBOY GENIUS, I can be confident in consistent and accurate dispensing.”

By improving speed, repeatability and ease of use in routine liquid handling, the system is helping the team focus more on biological insight and biomarker discovery in fibrosis research.

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