Author: Promega

Lead with Empathy: Supporting Caregivers in the Workplace

Posted on by Promega

This post is guest-written by Diana Clark, Sr Benefits Manager, Promega

Promega Benefits Manager Diana Clark advocates for policies that support the specific needs of caregivers.

My personal caregiving journey began in my late-30s while raising young children and caring for a terminally ill parent. This period gave me firsthand experience into how difficult it can be to balance all of those responsibilities. I learned about the impossible choices caregivers face, and the toll it can take on a person’s physical, emotional and professional wellbeing.

That personal experience has become a cornerstone of my work as a benefits manager advocating for meaningful, compassionate policies that truly support our employees.

At Promega, we believe people bring their whole selves to work. Supporting caregivers isn’t just an act of kindness – it’s an investment in our people and culture.

Continue reading “Lead with Empathy: Supporting Caregivers in the Workplace”

Immune Surveillance Meets Innovation: The Critical Need for dsRNA Detection

Posted on by Promega

Today’s blog is written by guest blogger, Kai Hillman, Associate Product Marketing Manager at Promega.

RNA therapeutics have revolutionized modern medicine, offering groundbreaking solutions for diseases that were once deemed untreatable. These innovative treatments harness the power of RNA molecules to correct genetic anomalies and modulate protein expression, paving the way for personalized medicine. Among the many facets of RNA biology, double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) plays a pivotal role in cellular processes and immune surveillance.

Continue reading “Immune Surveillance Meets Innovation: The Critical Need for dsRNA Detection”

Beyond Ozempic: The New Frontier of Obesity Research

Posted on by Promega

Today’s blog is written by guest blogger, Alden Little, Marketing Intern at Promega.

From genetics to gut microbes, scientists are finding new ways to make white fat act like calorie-burning brown fat. Here’s how three research teams are working to find the next breakthrough obesity treatment.

Rethinking Fat: How New Research is Transforming Obesity Science

Obesity affects millions worldwide and remains a complex challenge shaped by diet, environment, genetics, and socio-economic factors. While medications like semaglutide have shown promise in supporting weight loss, there’s growing interest in alternative strategies.

One area gaining traction is adipose tissue biology. Adipose tissue—commonly known as body fat— is not just a passive storage site for excess energy, but an active player in regulating metabolism and energy balance. Adipose tissue comes in several forms:

  • White
  • Brown
  • Beige

Most of the fat in our bodies is called white adipose tissue (WAT). It stores energy for later use—but too much of it increases the risk for obesity, diabetes, and other health problems. In contrast, brown adipose tissue (BAT) burns energy to generate heat through a process called thermogenesis, helping regulate body weight and temperature. Scientists have discovered a third kind, called beige adipose tissue, which behaves like BAT but can form within WAT under certain conditions like cold exposure or specific molecular triggers.

Continue reading “Beyond Ozempic: The New Frontier of Obesity Research”

One Health and H5N1: Promega’s Commitment to Holistic Solutions

Posted on by Promega

The global outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) underscores the critical importance of proactive and integrated health strategies. With its zoonotic potential, the H5N1 virus affects diverse animal populations and poses significant risks to human health, ecosystems, and economies worldwide. At Promega, we are dedicated to equipping researchers and public health professionals with the tools they need to navigate and address these complex challenges.

Understanding H5N1 and Its Impact

A Global Challenge

The H5N1 outbreak has led to the depopulation of over 300 million birds across 108 countries, spanning five continents. The virus has infected over 500 bird species and at least 70 mammalian species, including endangered California condors and polar bears (1). The virus has had significant economic repercussions, particularly in the poultry industry, with 168 million birds culled in the United States to date (2). Recent human infections, primarily among farm workers, highlight the need for continued vigilance and robust surveillance systems.

The One Health initiative takes a holistic approach to managing disease outbreaks such as bird flu.
Continue reading “One Health and H5N1: Promega’s Commitment to Holistic Solutions”

Overcoming qPCR Inhibitors: Strategies for Reliable Quantification 

Posted on by Promega

Today’s blog is written by guest blogger, Gabriela Saldanha, Senior Product Marketing Manager at Promega.

Quantitative PCR (qPCR) is an indispensable tool for nucleic acid analysis, widely used in research, clinical diagnostics and applied sciences. Its sensitivity and specificity make it a powerful method for detecting and quantifying DNA and RNA targets. However, qPCR reactions are highly susceptible to inhibitors—substances that interfere with enzyme activity, primer binding, or fluorescent signal detection. These inhibitors can originate from biological samples, environmental contaminants, or laboratory reagents, potentially leading to inaccurate quantification, poor amplification efficiency, or complete reaction failure.

Continue reading “Overcoming qPCR Inhibitors: Strategies for Reliable Quantification “

Celebrating Creativity and Innovation: The 2025 Promega Employee Art Showcase

Posted on by Promega

At Promega, we believe that creativity drives innovation, challenges conventional thinking, and amplifies our ability to solve complex problems. Our annual Employee Art Showcase, a tradition since 1998, serves as a perfect expression of this belief. This event highlights the incredible creative talents of our employees and their families, offering a space to explore art in all its forms.

This year’s event was nothing short of inspiring, with 130 pieces of art submitted by employees and their families, beautifully displayed at the BioPharmaceutical Technology Center on the Promega Madison campus. The opening reception, held on January 16, featured a lively atmosphere with music performed by the Promega band, Major Groove, and a cozy hot cocoa bar—setting the perfect stage for appreciating the diverse artwork on display.

Continue reading “Celebrating Creativity and Innovation: The 2025 Promega Employee Art Showcase”

Soft Skills for the Science Lab: Develop Yourself with Promega

Posted on by Promega
Soft-skills such as presentation skills, time management and project management are essential for success in the science lab.

Preparing samples, conducting test series with cell cultures, or writing laboratory reports. Laboratory tasks cover a broad range of activities. Technical assistants support researchers in performing and evaluating experiments or carrying out laboratory tests in the medical field. A lab without them? Hard to imagine. However, it is not just scientific and technical understanding that is important. “Certain soft skills are necessary to be successful in your job. This also applies to the scientific field,” says Anette Leue, Head of Digital Marketing & Communications at Promega GmbH. “The focus is often on technical skills, while personal development is neglected. This inspired us to come up with our ‘Develop Yourself with Promega’ program.”

What is Develop Yourself with Promega?

“Develop Yourself with Promega” is a training series for laboratory personnel, focusing on personal development. It covers topics such as “How do I present my results in an interesting and structured way?” or “What do I need to make my lab more sustainable?” The aim is to expand professional competencies through soft-skill training. “At the beginning, we conducted a survey with our partner, the Life Science Learning Lab (in German Glaesernes Labor) in Berlin, among technical assistants to find out which topics are important to them,” Leue continues. These insights became the starting point for the first four trainings:

  • Green your lab: How can my lab become more sustainable?
  • Presentation training: A few steps to a good presentation
  • Project management in everyday lab work
  • Time management for technical assistants
Continue reading “Soft Skills for the Science Lab: Develop Yourself with Promega”

The Role of Bioassays in Testing New Therapeutics for Canine Cancer

Posted on by Promega
Immunoassays are bringing new hope to the treatment of canine cancer.

Every dog owner fears the day they might hear the word “cancer” from their vet. This devastating disease affects not only humans but our canine companions as well. Veterinary scientists and clinicians are now employing the same methods as researchers studying human cancer, bringing the tools of personalized cancer treatment and drug research and development to bear on canine cancer, and in the not-too-distant future the treatment for a dog’s cancer may become as personalized as the bond they share with their owner.

Developing and testing new drugs and therapies is crucial to improving cancer treatments for canines. One of the most powerful tools in the drug development toolbox is the bioassay. Bioassays enable scientists to measure the biological activity of a potential treatment compound to determine if it might be effective as a therapeutic agent. For researchers focused on advancing canine cancer therapies, bioassays are indispensable. They offer precise insights into how new drugs interact with cancer cells and the immune system.

Continue reading “The Role of Bioassays in Testing New Therapeutics for Canine Cancer”

Understanding the Promise of Immunotherapy in Veterinary Medicine

Posted on by Promega

Immunotherapy in veterinary medicine is a rapidly evolving field that leverages the immune system to fight diseases. These therapies are particularly effective in treating various cancers, including lymphomas, mast cell tumors, melanomas, and osteosarcomas. Beyond cancer, immunotherapies are also being explored for their potential in managing chronic inflammatory diseases, such as autoimmune disorders where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues. While traditionally, veterinary treatments have focused on surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, the advent of immunotherapy offers a more targeted approach, particularly for conditions like cancer.  

This targeted approach not only minimizes collateral damage to healthy tissues but also offers the potential for longer-lasting protection by training the immune system to recognize and fight off recurrence of the disease. The interest in immunotherapies has grown in tandem with advancements in human oncology, leading to a crossover of technologies and methodologies into veterinary applications. 

How Does Immunotherapy Work?

Continue reading “Understanding the Promise of Immunotherapy in Veterinary Medicine”

Our Maxwell® Travels from Spain to Antarctica to Help Stop the Avian Flu Virus

Posted on by Promega

In January 2024, Antonio Alcamí and Ángela Vázquez, virologists from the Severo Ochoa Centre for Molecular Biology, landed in Antarctica to study the avian flu virus. They embarked on a journey to monitor 17,000 penguins as part of their efforts to study the virus and prevent its spread. Our Maxwell® RSC 48 was delivered to extract nucleic acids from the samples, which are set to be analyzed using qPCR.

Continue reading “Our Maxwell® Travels from Spain to Antarctica to Help Stop the Avian Flu Virus”