Digital PCR: A Sensitive Approach for Measuring Microbial Contamination for Planetary Protection

We're delighted to announce that our new project, Digital PCR: A Sensitive Approach for Measuring Microbial Contamination for Planetary Protection, has been funded through the STFC R&D scheme and is now underway.

This project builds on a series of previous STFC-funded projects and research supported through Professor Karen Olsson-Francis' UK Space Agency Aurora Fellowship, advancing our efforts to develop new approaches for planetary protection and sample return science.

We will adapt molecular-based techniques commonly used in medical diagnostics to create a sensitive approach for quantifying microbial contamination. By drawing on The Open University's expertise in characterising microorganisms from extreme environments, we aim to provide crucial information on terrestrial contamination of samples returned from space.

Our objectives are to:

• Develop sensitive nucleic acid assays to quantify microbial contamination
• Differentiate between living and dead microorganisms
• Compare performance against current industrial standards
• Provide training and commercial services for the space sector

We are pleased to be partnering with the Earlham Institute on this exciting project, with Dr Alvaro del Moral as the Postdoctoral Research Associate.