Plasmids are small, circular DNA molecules that serve as important tools in biological research. They are often used to deliver specific genes or gene-editing components, such as CRISPR, into cells or to produce viruses in the lab. This allows scientists to reprogram cells, introduce therapeutic genes, or study cell function by altering the genome.
Since its founding in 2004, Addgene has distributed more than 160,000 plasmids on behalf of over 6,700 laboratories worldwide. Biological materials from its collection have been requested more than two million times and shipped to researchers in 112 countries.
The awarded plasmids are linked to a method described in a 2018 study by Henrik and his research team, published in Nature Methods, which provides a fast and reliable way to generate human astrocytes - the brain’s support cells - from human pluripotent stem cells.
“We are very happy for this recognition,” says Isaac Canals, first-author of the paper, now an assistant professor at Kinderspital Zürich in Switzerland. “It is a powerful testament to how useful and widespread our method to generate human astrocytes has become, which was one of our main aims.”
When scientists publish research papers, they can deposit the associated plasmids with Addgene, making them easily accessible to other researchers. The Blue Flame Award highlights tools that have been repeatedly requested, indicating that they are robust, reliable, and broadly useful to the research community.
“It also feels very good to be able to contribute to Addgene’s mission to share research reagents and promote science worldwide,” says Henrik Ahlenius, associate professor at Lund University’s Faculty of Medicine. “Sharing tools makes it easier for others to build on our work.”
Henrik Ahlenius’ lab is one of two at Lund University and the Lund Stem Cell Center to receive the Blue Flame Award, alongside the research group led by Malin Parmar.
