Next-Generation mRNA Development: Rapid Oligo Synthesis, Gene Assembly, IVT and Quality Control
An mRNA Build Workshop
Join speakers from Agilent, New England Biolabs and DNA Script for this exciting event!
Next-Generation mRNA Development: Rapid Oligo Synthesis, Gene Assembly, IVT and Quality Control
When: March 5, 2026, 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Where: Lexington, MA 02421; Location and Parking Information Available on Registration
Agenda
10:15-10:30: Registration Check-In
10:30-10:40: Introduction + Logistics
10:40-11:10: In-house DNA synthesis for Rapid mRNA Template Production, Kimberley Gutierrez, Manager of Field Applications and Customer Care, DNA Script, Inc.
DNA template synthesis remains a key bottleneck in mRNA development, where increasing therapeutic complexity demands faster and more flexible sequence iteration. Traditional approaches—assembling templates from chemically synthesized oligos or outsourcing gene synthesis—are limited by turnaround times, technical constraints, and reduced flexibility, particularly when optimizing elements such as coding regions or Poly(A) tails.
DNA Script’s SYNTAX platform overcomes these barriers through rapid, in-house enzymatic synthesis of high-quality ssDNA oligos within hours. By accelerating access to DNA templates and enabling precise adjustment of critical parameters (e.g. Poly(A) Tail), SYNTAX streamlines the design-build-test cycle and empowers mRNA teams to move faster and more efficiently.
11:10-11:40: Tools to Take You from Template to Transcript, Breton Hornblower Ph.D., Associate Director, Portfolio Management, Regulated Markets
For over 50 years, NEB has been a world leader in the discovery and production of reagents for the life science industry. Our enzymology expertise effectively positions us to supply reagents for the synthesis and analysis of high-quality RNA – from template generation and transcription, to capping, tailing and cleanup, to characterization after synthesis. These products are designed and manufactured based on decades of molecular biology experience, so that you can be confident they will work for your application. In this presentation, we will describe recent and new enzyme innovations in RNA synthesis, capping, cleanup, and analysis that improve existing manufacturing processes and enable finer characterization of your products.
11:40-12:30: Lunch, Open Discussions, and QC Lab Tours
12:30-1:00: Sample Quality Control (QC) Enhances Vaccine Sample Integrity, TBD, Product Management Team, Agilent Technologies, Inc.
Nucleic acid-based vaccines, including those developed using in vitro transcribed (IVT) RNA, are manufactured with robust processes and are guided by good manufacturing practices (GMPs). GMPs include quality monitoring via sample quality control (QC) checks to detect poor-quality IVT RNA, which may be caused by insufficient PCR amplification, suboptimal plasmid linearization, incomplete transcription, DNA template contamination, or degraded RNA.
Automated electrophoresis solutions such as the Agilent Fragment Analyzer and TapeStation systems are easy to integrate into established workflows. These solutions help deliver confidence in sample quality assessments during critical vaccine research, development, and production steps.
1:00-1:10: Concluding remarks, Missy Rose, Genomics Account Manager, Agilent Technologies
Pizza and beverages will be served. Please RSVP by registering as space is limited.