OUR JOURNEY

eDNA Frontiers started operations in 2019 due to an evolving need to move eDNA research into the practical application space through service provision. We have continued to grow and innovate since then, and are proud to deliver quality results for every project. We have collaborations that span the globe, and utilise the knowledge we gain through these collaborations to further improve our processes.

We work on a vast range of projects, and are considered leaders in invasive species monitoring and biodiversity audits. While we specialise in metabarcoding techniques, we are also highly skilled in applying species-specific assays for those projects that have particular targets of interest.

OUR FACILITIES

eDNA Frontier’s laboratories and offices are located at Curtin University in Perth, Western Australia. Our purpose-built labs are accredited to receive both domestic and international samples for analysis as an approved Quarantine Facility and and Approved Arrangement Biosecurity Containment Level 1 (BC1) Facility. We have a sophisticated uni-directional system that allows us to keep your samples contamination free. We first process your samples and extract the DNA in a clean lab. To amplify your DNA, all reactions are prepared in our ultra-clean DNA-free facility. DNA is then added and samples taken to the PCR lab where all amplification and library preparation is performed. We have robots to assist with these processes, and have two in-house sequencing machines available for use – the Ilumina MiSeq and NextSeq. Our team is highly trained and we uphold ourselves to the highest standards, making us an easy choice for our clients to meet their eDNA needs.

Sample preparation laboratory

eDNA Frontiers has an isolated and dedicated space for filtering environmental water samples, pulverising sediment, coral, and scats, and scraping biofoul from deposition arrays. The laboratory also contains dual robotic DNA extraction systems, increasing the throughput capacity for DNA extraction.

Trace Research Advanced Clean Environment (TRACE) laboratory

The TRACE facility is a pressurised, class 100 (ISO 5) clean air space housing five ultra-trace laboratory modules. eDNA Frontiers’ module contains cutting-edge technology and preparative robots to eliminate contamination and increase precision and accuracy in the pre-PCR set-up stage. This facility allows eDNA Frontiers to provide confident data detection at levels which are filtered out in other testing facilities.

Amplification and sequencing laboratory

To ensure the highest level of quality control, eDNA Frontiers has a dedicated laboratory for amplification and subsequent sequencing of DNA. We have multiple quantitative PCR systems and utilise DNA fragment analysis, DNA size selection instrumentation, and our own in-house massive parallel sequencing instrument.

Pawsey Supercomputing Centre

The amount of sequencing data produced by high throughput sequencing technology can be vast. eDNA Frontiers has access to the Pawsey Supercomputer Centre, which is one of two Tier-1 High Performance Computing facilities in Australia, with expertise in supercomputing, data, cloud services, and visualisation. Access to this facility’s resources allows us to complete the highly computationally intensive quality filtering and matching of sequence datafiles to taxonomic reference databases.

Want to know more? Contact us today!

GET IN TOUCH