Tech transfer agreement for eDNA sampler, RoCSI, agreed

McLane expects to release a commercialised version of this new eDNA sampler for sale as part of the McLane sampler product line in fall 2023.

Environmental DNA, or eDNA, is the DNA contained in material such as cells, scales, and fecal matter, left in the environment by the organisms that live there. Analogous to forensic detectives, marine scientists can sample this material by filtering it from seawater, then sequencing it in the lab, to learn about the species that have been present. The filtration process, and the preservation of the material in the ocean, has now been automated for deep sea operations on a small, easy-to-use, high-sampling-capacity device. These same samples can be used for marine microbiome work, and to analyse RNA, proteins and other “biomolecules.”

The RoCSI is a field-proven instrument originally developed by the NOC Ocean Technology & Engineering Group. The RoCSI can be used on the bench and has been integrated onto moorings, into AUVs and ROVs. It was successfully deployed down to 4719 m on ROV ISIS and 3400 m on AutoSub6000 as part of NERC and EU Horizon 2020 funded projects.  

“We are delighted to be working with McLane to ensure that RoCSI is made available to all in the field of eDNA sampling. I’m looking forward to seeing the impact that this technology development has in what is a truly exciting new area of environmental monitoring.” Philip Bishop, Head of Commercial Development at NOC Innovations.

“The RoCSI is an ideal complement to our sampler product line adding fine-porosity, high-resolution sampling to our capabilities” says McLane CEO Yuki Honjo.  “This innovative instrument will support researchers in the wide-ranging field of ocean eDNA.”

This innovative eDNA sampler is designed for high capacity sampling with the ability to continuously sample, depending on space in a deployment platform. In situ samples of up to 2 L can be filtered and preserved in Sterivex™ filters with 0.22 μm pore size.  While the RoCSI is compact in size (15.5 kg (air); 10 kg (seawater)) the instrument can operate up to 6000 m depth.

McLane Research Laboratories manufactures time-series in situ oceanographic instrumentation for scientific deployments in the open ocean, and freshwater environments. Three main oceanographic product lines are available: profilers, samplers and flotation.

NOC Innovations Ltd is the trading subsidiary of the National Oceanography Centre, and is the link between science and business. Their capabilities enable the transferring of cutting-edge technology and research to industry with the revenue generated being used to support their charitable mission.