Portal Usage

Frequently asked questions about using the Foundry Portal

What is the Foundry Portal, and how do I manage my account and team access?

The Foundry Portal is our customer platform where you can create experiments, upload sequences, track the real-time progress of your projects, and access your final results. Upon starting a project, you will receive a sign-up link to create your account. If you lose your credentials, a new link can be sent to reset your password.

To invite colleagues, simply provide their email addresses to our team, and we will send them invitations. All users from your company are part of a single organization on the portal, which means everyone has full, transparent access to all of your team’s experiment drafts, ongoing projects, and results to facilitate easy collaboration.

What are some key features of the portal, and how do they work?

The Foundry Portal offers several key features designed to streamline your protein testing workflow:

Experiment Management:

• Create and configure new experiments with guided workflows
• Upload protein sequences individually or in batch via CSV/Excel files
• Set experimental parameters and select assay types
• Save draft experiments for later completion

Real-Time Tracking:

• Monitor the progress of your experiments through each stage
• Receive notifications when milestones are reached
• View estimated completion dates and any potential delays

Results Access:

• Download comprehensive data packages including processed results
• Access raw data files for independent analysis
• View interactive data visualizations and binding curves
• Export results in multiple formats (CSV, Excel, PDF reports)

Team Collaboration:

• Share experiments and results across your organization
• Comment and annotate results for team discussions
• Maintain project history and version control
• Assign different permission levels to team members

How do I start a new project, and what information do I need to provide?

Starting a new project through the Foundry Portal is straightforward:

Getting Started:

1. Log into your Foundry Portal account
2. Click “Create New Experiment” or “New Project”
3. Select your assay type (binding screening, affinity characterization, etc.)
4. Choose your target protein from our catalog or indicate you’ll provide your own

Required Information:

• Protein sequences: Your binder sequences in FASTA format or structured data file
• Target selection: Choose from our target library or specify custom target requirements
• Experimental parameters: Desired concentration ranges, buffer conditions (if specific requirements)
• Project details: Brief description of your goals and any special considerations

Optional Information:

• Controls: Positive/negative controls you’d like included
• Batch organization: How you’d like variants grouped or prioritized
• Timeline preferences: Any specific deadline requirements
• Reporting preferences: Desired data formats or analysis depth

Our team will review your project setup and contact you to confirm details before proceeding.

Is it possible to modify an experiment after it has been submitted?

Yes, modifications are possible, but the extent depends on the stage of your experiment:

Before DNA synthesis (within ~24-48 hours of submission):

• Add or remove sequences
• Modify experimental parameters
• Change target proteins or concentrations
• Update project specifications

After DNA synthesis has begun:

• Limited modifications possible
• Adding sequences may require additional time and cost
• Removing sequences may not provide cost savings if DNA is already synthesized
• Parameter changes depend on current experimental stage

During expression/testing:

• Major changes are typically not possible
• Minor adjustments to analysis parameters may be accommodated

Best practices:

• Review your experiment carefully before final submission
• Contact our team immediately if changes are needed
• Consider submitting smaller pilot experiments before larger batches
• Use our draft experiment feature to iterate on design before submission

How do you ensure the confidentiality of my sequences and data?

We take data security and confidentiality extremely seriously:

Legal Protection:

• All customers sign comprehensive confidentiality agreements (NDAs)
• Legal frameworks protect your intellectual property rights
• Staff sign additional confidentiality agreements covering customer data

Technical Security:

• Encrypted data transmission and storage
• Multi-factor authentication for portal access
• Regular security audits and penetration testing
• Restricted access to customer data on a need-to-know basis

Operational Security:

• Physical security at our laboratory facilities
• Limited personnel access to sensitive customer information
• Secure disposal of any printed materials or physical samples
• Regular training for staff on confidentiality protocols

Data Isolation:

• Customer data is logically separated and access-controlled
• No cross-contamination of data between different customers
• Audit trails track all data access and modifications
• Option for additional security measures for highly sensitive projects

Assistant

Responses are generated using AI and may contain mistakes.