Some of the most significant hurdles faced by neuroscientists in the field of neurodegenerative disease research when seeking to acquire genetic information include sample accessibility, reproducibility, efficiency and ease of data analysis. As a proven leader in oncology research and diagnostics, NanoString technology is well-positioned to address the challenges faced by neurodegenerative disease researchers. Because NanoString does not require amplification or the use of enzymes, challenging samples like post-mortem formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue can be reliably analyzed to yield reproducible results. Moreover, NanoString offers solutions for single cell and low input samples aimed at getting the most biological information from the smallest sample, including analyte multiplexing. In contrast to other technologies, simple read-outs and data analysis put the results back in the researcher’s hand and serve to expedite the time from experimental design to discovery.  

In this webinar, we will demonstrate the robust performance of the nCounter platform for gene expression profiling of human post-mortem brain specimens, human blood samples and tissue from mouse models of neurodegenerative disease with an emphasis on performance and reproducibility in FFPE samples. Moreover, we will discuss data generated using post-mortem Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease brain tissue that was profiled on our new Neuropathology gene expression panel, which includes 770 curated RNA transcripts. We will demonstrate that this panel allows for a broad and comprehensive assessment of relevant pathways and processes in neurodegenerative disease and explore important biological insights revealed by analyzing these precious samples on the nCounter platform.