In this one‑hour webinar, participants will gain valuable insights into wastewater surveillance to monitor emerging pathogens and public health threats, enhancing community preparedness. UNC Chapel Hill researchers Rachel Noble and Thomas Clerkin, as part of the CDC National Wastewater Surveillance Centers of Excellence, will describe how they employ Bio‑Rad's ddPCR technology to detect low‑concentration pathogens. Learn how to leverage Bio‑Rad Droplet Digital™ PCR with 6‑plex capability to create panels for sensitive, high‑throughput wastewater surveillance of respiratory viruses, influenza subtypes, and emerging pathogens to advance public health monitoring and response.
Join us to learn about:
- How ddPCR detects low‑abundance pathogens;
- Strategies for 6‑plex detection of emerging pathogens;
- High‑throughput approaches to boost public health response;
- Methods to track influenza (including H5) and monitor Mpox.
Get a certificate for attending
A certificate of completion will be awarded to those who attend the course.
Dr. Rachel Noble, PhD,
Professor at the University of North Carolina
Dr. Rachel Noble is the Mary and Watts Hill Jr. Distinguished Professor at UNC's Institute of Marine Sciences. Her research centers on environmental microbiology and public health, focusing on water quality, pathogen detection, and wastewater surveillance. Dr. Noble's work includes developing molecular tools for tracking pathogens in complex water sources, including stormwater and wastewater.
Thomas Clerkin,
Research Specialist in the laboratory of Dr. Rachel Noble at University of North Carolina
Tom Clerkin is a Research Specialist in Dr. Rachel Noble's lab at UNC Chapel Hill, focused on wastewater‑based epidemiology since COVID‑19, who aids public health efforts to monitor wastewater pathogens across North Carolina. With expertise in digital and quantitative PCR, his recent work with NWSS emphasizes lab training and optimized high‑throughput methods.
David Spina,
Senior Product Manager at Bio‑Rad
David Spina is a Senior Product Manager at Bio‑Rad focused on ddPCR for wastewater surveillance. He has previously held roles in Technical Service and Research & Development, developing and supporting PCR and other molecular diagnostic assays focused on transfusion medicine and infectious disease screening and testing. He is based in Hercules, CA.