Firefly Automated Liquid Handling Robot for High-throughput Next-Generation Sequencing Library Preparation at Duke University

Project Summary The Sequencing and Genomics Technologies (SGT) Core Facility at Duke University provides end-to-end leading edge next generation sequencing (NGS) services. The SGT has collaborated with hundreds of Duke and external NIH-funded investigators from 235 institutions across multiple countries. Over the last twenty years, the SGT has prepared over 150,000 samples, performed more than 13,000 sequencing runs, and produced more than 5.4 petabases of data. During that time, the actual sequencing has dropped dramatically in price, but genomics experiments remain expensive due to the costs of processing samples into libraries that are compatible with sequencing platforms. Recently liquid handling robotic technology has advanced to support fully automated NGS libraries production using fractional reagent volumes to decrease library production costs. The SGT has not yet realized these technological advancements. For the SGT to continue to serve the need of its ever-increasing number of users, outdated NGS library preparation workflows must be augmented by a next-generation enclosed turn-key liquid handler, the SPT Labtech firefly+. The SGT has an urgent and compelling need to replace existing manual and large reaction volume automated production pipelines to meet investigator deadlines. Manual NGS library production precludes scaling workflows to address the current and future needs of the SGT while also being prone to operator error and inducing repetitive-motion injuries. The current automation in the SGT is not capable of handling low volume liquid processing. To support the increasing number and scale of studies over a wide variety of biomedical fields, the SGT must adopt miniaturized reaction pipelines that use substantially less reagent volume without compromising library quality. The firefly+ has been purposefully designed to support miniaturized reaction pipelines. Acquisition of the firefly+ will both enable the SGT to realize the immense labor, time, and reagents savings afforded by advances in liquid automation and attract new users studying low abundance samples. The strengths of this proposal include: (1) An efficient and effective centralized facility serves an extraordinarily diverse and productive investigator user base; (2) The extensive experience of the SGT; (3) The extensive infrastructure and expertise available to bring the requested instrumentation online and oversee its continuous use. Duke University has made a significant investment in capital and institutional talent to build a world-class genomic service center that has proven highly successful. The requested instrumentation will leverage the infrastructure to ensure its high value and broad impact on NIH-funded biomedical and basic research within and beyond the Duke community.