QPatch instrument grant pushes Charité’s ion channel research into higher gear
Prof. Felix Hohendanner and his lab at the Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin are the latest recipients of a QPatch instrument grant. We spoke with Dr. Girish Ramesh, a post-doc in the Hohendanner lab, about what this award and access to Sophion’s automated patch clamp will mean for their ion channel research.
Q: What advantages do you expect the QPatch to bring for your own work and for the collaborating labs sharing the instrument?
The QPatch will substantially increase throughput and standardization in our electrophysiological studies, particularly in iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes central to the translational arrhythmia research of the Hohendanner lab. It will also provide collaborating investigators within DHZC reliable access to high-quality electrophysiological measurements without extensive training.
Q: Do you think the QPatch will change the perception of automated patch clamp vs. manual patch clamp in your lab?
Yes; by generating reproducible data for clinically relevant ion-channel phenotypes, the QPatch will demonstrate that automated patch clamp is well-suited for routine and higher-throughput applications, while manual patch clamp will remain important for selected mechanistic questions.
Q: How would you describe your experience collaborating with Sophion during the award process, installation, and training?
The collaboration has been well organized, with clear communication, efficient installation, and training that addressed our specific cellular models and workflows. This allowed us to integrate the system into our research activities without delay.
Q: Do you see the QPatch fostering closer collaborations with clinicians or industry?
Yes; standardized electrophysiological data from patient-derived and disease-model cardiomyocytes will strengthen our translational interface with clinical electrophysiology at DHZC and may support future collaborations with external partners.
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