BioSentinel has selected Tecan’s Infinite® F500 as the reader of choice for its high sensitivity botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) assays.
Dr Ward Tucker, Director of Research and Development at BioSentinel, explained: “Our fluorescence-based BoTest® and BoCell® assays were developed using a high end, monochromator-based reader; however, we needed a more cost-effective solution that we could recommend to customers who did not already have fluorescence detection capabilities....
Read MoreCurie-Cancer and Roche strengthen partnership to fast-track the development of new moleculesMay 22, 2013
Curie-Cancer and Roche build on four years partnership by increasing translational research programs, speeding up development of new cancer treatments
Curie-Cancer, the body responsible for developing Institut Curie’s industry partnership activities, and the Roche Institute for Research and Translational Medicine are strengthening their collaborative efforts. In 2009, the Institut Curie and Roche signed an initial three-year agreement to partner one another in a major pre-clinical research program. The aim of the partnership was the better understanding of the mechanism of action of a new Roche antibody to target under-served highly aggressive forms of breast cancer. This antibody was the first in a new therapeutic class.
Read MoreNew York University Acquires 100th Leica Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope with White Light Laser for Morphogenetic StudiesMay 22, 2013
The Leica TCS SP8 X provides total freedom of excitation and emission coupled with low laser power and high sensitivity
The Department of Biology at New York University has been equipped with the 100th Leica TCS SP8 X, a state-of-the-art confocal laser scanning microscope with a white light laser. The system offers complete spectral freedom for fluorescence experiments. For live cell imaging, the combination of high sensitivity and low laser power provides better cell viability. The new instrument is installed in the Center for Developmental Genetics and has been used to further Assistant Professor Dr. Lionel Christiaen’s goal of understanding how tissue-specific gene regulatory networks control and coordinate cell behavior during morphogenesis since February 2013....
Read MoreDolomite expertise brings microfluidic product to marketMay 22, 2013
Fledgling spin-out company Drop-Tech has turned to microfluidics specialist Dolomite for its product development and fabrication skills to help productize the advanced and innovative RoboDrop™ technology into the Mitos Dropix.
Mitos Dropix is a droplet-on-demand sampler that is set to make it easy to produce extremely miniaturized droplet compartments with excellent control over their contents. The collaboration began when Drop-Tech entered – and won – Dolomite’s Productizing Science® Competition, sparking discussions and exchanges of ideas between the two development teams.
Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies has announced that it has commissioned on time its new mammalian cGMP Cell Banking Facility (CBF) at its Billingham, UK site.
The new CBF is available to the company’s customers either as part of a larger development and manufacturing programme, or as a stand-alone service. It forms the second stage of a major expansion of the company’s mammalian cell culture capabilities at the site, following installation last year of new process development and scale-up capabilities. The asset will support delivery of manufacturing programmes for both Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies’ Billingham UK, and Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA facilities....
DSM Pharmaceutical Products, the custom manufacturing and technology business of Royal DSM (NYSE, Euronext: DSM KON), announced today that their new cGMP custom biopharmaceutical manufacturing 'biologics plant of the future' will open in June 2013
The DSM facility was built with cooperation from the Queensland and Commonwealth Governments of Australia. Karen King, President of DSM Biologics, the biopharmaceutical manufacturing business of DSM Pharmaceutical Products, stated, “We are thrilled to announce the June opening our of new cGMP facility in Brisbane. This operation combines DSM's twenty five years of experience and high quality track record in mammalian cell culture manufacturing with a state-of-the-art commercial and development facility....
Read MoreWhitehouse ScientificMay 21, 2013
Whitehouse Scientific’s Managing Director Jamie Storey will swap his office chair for a seat in the pace car of a very special rally for his latest expedition.
On 28 June the Army Cadet Force Officer will head off on his very own 3-day, 1000 mile ‘Boom Banger Rally’ across France. Billed as ‘the challenge of taking a car which has seen better days on a journey across Europe to fulfill its destiny’, the event begins in Rouen and follows a route that takes in France, Switzerland, Italy and Monaco, finishing in Nice.....
Read MoreAstraZeneca and BIND Therapeutics Sign Cancer Nanomedicine Worldwide AgreementMay 20, 2013
BIND Therapeutics and AstraZeneca announced today that they have entered into a strategic collaboration to develop and commercialize an Accurin™, a targeted and programmable cancer nanomedicine from BIND’s Medicinal Nanoengineering platform, based on a molecularly targeted kinase inhibitor developed and owned by AstraZeneca.
The collaboration is based on emerging data suggesting that nanomedicines like Accurins selectively accumulate in diseased tissues and cells, leading to higher drug concentrations at the site of the tumor and reduced exposure to healthy tissues. Under the terms of the agreement, the companies will work together to complete Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling studies of the lead Accurin identified from a previously-completed feasibility program. AstraZeneca will then have the exclusive right to lead development and commercialization and BIND will lead manufacturing during the development phase....
BioCity Nottingham has completed a major refurbishment of office suites and central communal areas worth in excess of £450,000.
The building reconfiguration and redecoration in the UK’s busiest bioscience business incubator began in December 2012 and was officially completed in March this year. BioCity’s position in the heart of Nottingham’s new Creative Quarter continues to attract ambitious life science start-up companies looking for the best facilities as well as on-site business advice....
Spinnovation Analytical B.V. and Pivot Park have entered into an agreement where Spinnovation will supply analytical services at the newly established life sciences park, while gaining access to Pivot Park’s advanced analytical platform.
Pivot Park, located on the former Organon/Schering Plough/MSD research site in Oss, the Netherlands, is a centre for open-innovation, where facilities, instruments and knowledge are made available to the pharmaceutical and biotech companies based on the site. Spinnovation will further support the park’s research and productivity with its portfolio of analytical services specifically designed to address both the needs of the small-molecule pharmaceutical and the biopharmaceutical industries. The agreement will allow Spinnovation to expand and complement its extensive technology platform, thanks to exclusive access to several high-end analytical instruments....
Read MoreMerck Millipore to Highlight Capabilities in LC-MS at ASMSMay 17, 2013
Merck Millipore highlights its new ZIC®-HILIC technology, a zwitterionic HILIC phase for LC-MS separation of polar compounds.
Merck Millipore offers a comprehensive portfolio of reliable and reproducible LC-MS separation tools even for the most challenging analysis problems in research and development, quality control, environmental, clinical and biochemical analysis.Merck Millipore will host a breakfast seminar on HILIC and analytical chromatography. Presentations include a discussion on how separation selectivity differs between HILIC columns; models will be shown to explain how to select columns....
Porvair Sciences has announced that its latest applications focused microplates and microplate equipment will be exhibited at Forum LABO, European Lab Automation ASMS and HPLC 2013
Visitors to Porvair’s stands at these important events will be able to meet technical specialists, see the company's new UltraVap Mistral microplate evaporator, recently launched range of HPLC sample evaporators and review a wide selection of high quality microplates. Also available will be copies of new mini catalogues for Porvair’s deep well plates, assay plates plus a special catalogue dedicated to serving the North American market....
Read MoreBruker and SCiLS GmbH Announce an Exclusive Partnership for SCiLS Lab Software for MALDI ImagingMay 16, 2013
SCiLS Lab is the software developed by SCiLS GmbH which allows the user-friendly statistical analysis of large MALDI imaging datasets
MALDI (Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization) imaging is a mass spectrometric imaging technique that allows the untargeted measurement of proteins, peptides, lipids, drugs and metabolites directly from tissue. MALDI imaging has been successfully applied in various research fields. A particular area of application is the histopathology research concerned with the definition of molecular phenotypes in cancer, like expression patterns that are associated with progression of cancer, or the discovery of novel proteins associated with metastasis....
Microbiology company Lab M is expanding its UK sales team with the addition of two highly experienced personnel.
Sue Macauley-Patrick and David Matthews both join the company as Key Account Managers for the UK. They will be dedicated to supporting Lab M’s sustained growth in its home market as the company continues to expand both here and in export markets around the world....
Modern laboratory managers face a unique blend of technical and people management challenges. Many have climbed the technical ranks and are well positioned to address the technical challenges but don’t have or have had very little formal training in management skills, especially when they start managing a laboratory.
The British Laboratory Managers Association (BLMA) has been formed to enable all laboratory managers to learn and improve their skills in laboratory management. The BLMA will provide laboratory managers with opportunities to meet other laboratory managers, to exchange ideas, build on their experience and improve their laboratory management skills. The first notification of the association came last year and saw a very strong response from laboratory managers from all sectors for such an organisation...
Until 30th June 2013, Bibby Scientific is offering savings of up to 20% on selected items purchased directly through the company’s online shop.
Purchasers can take advantage of discounts on products from Bibby Scientific’s Techne, Electrothermal, Stuart and Jenway brands, including heating mantles, pH meters, vortex mixers, melting point analysers, thermal cyclers and block heaters. Orders placed during the sale will be entered into a limited period prize draw for the chance to win an iPad, with winners drawn at the end of May, June and July 2013....
Norwich Research Park company uses ‘environmental fingerprinting’ to prove UK-origin
Waitrose is one of the first to pilot a new service which is able to verify the origin of British foods. Whether the product is fruit, meat or alcohol, Food Forensics, based on the Norwich Research Park, can determine not just the country of origin, but potentially also the local region from its unique ‘environmental fingerprint’. Alison Johnson, Director of Food Forensics, discusses the benefits of the technology....
BioCity Nottingham Ltd, the UK’s leading provider of life sciences business incubation services, has been appointed by AstraZeneca to establish a new centre for bioscience companies at Alderley Park in Cheshire.
The BioHub, will initially provide 36,000 sq ft of high-end laboratory and office facilities for early-stage and growing firms engaged in innovative drug discovery and development. Demand for accommodation is expected to be competitive with the first three tenant companies due to move on site today...
Freeman Technology takes part in AchemAsia 2013 and Cisile 2013
Freeman Technology specialises in instruments for measuring the flow properties of powders. Last year the company appointed DKSH as its distribution partner in China and also made the first sales of its universal powder tester, the FT4 Powder Rheometer®, in this market. DKSH is the world’s largest Market Expansion Services provider with a focus on Asia....
Read MoreIDT and SGI-DNA Broaden Their Collaboration to Provide Synthetic DNA Products up to 2 MbpMay 7, 2013
Integrated DNA Technologies, Inc. (IDT) and SGI-DNA announce an expanded partnership to develop, manufacture, and market a variety of synthetic DNA products
IDT is the world’s leader in custom oligonucleotide synthesis and SGI-DNA is a newly formed subsidiary of Synthetic Genomics, Inc. (SGI), which focuses on genomic-driven solutions to a variety of global needs. In February of 2012, IDT and SGI began to co-manufacture, commercialize, and market small synthetic gene products of up to 5 kb....
Long-Standing Leica Distributors Aotec Have Been Acquired
Leica Microsystems and Leica Biosystems have cemented ties with their Brazilian Leica distributor: All shares of Aotec Instrumentos Cientificos Ltda of São Paulo, Brazil, have been acquired. Aotec is a provider of microscopy and histopathology solutions and has been a Leica distributor for more than 25 years. All Aotec associates will remain with Aotec. Furthermore, the company is actively hiring additional staff to enlarge the Brazilian teams. Leica Microsystems and Leica Biosystems thereby strengthen their market position...
Read MoreMolecular Devices to exhibit at LaboTec Suisse 2013May 3, 2013
Molecular Devices will be showcasing their SpectraMax® i3 multi-mode microplate reader and AquaMax® Washer during LaboTec Suisse
The SpectraMax® i3 Multi-Mode Detection Platform is available as a stand-alone reader with three broad detection modes: luminescence, absorbance, and fluorescence. Users are then given the option to upgrade to additional applications and detection modes which expands the system's detection capability making it highly versatile, and able to offer application options far exceeding those of standard readers...
Dr Ward Tucker, Director of Research and Development at BioSentinel, explained: “Our fluorescence-based BoTest® and BoCell® assays were developed using a high end, monochromator-based reader; however, we needed a more cost-effective solution that we could recommend to customers who did not already have fluorescence detection capabilities....
Curie-Cancer, the body responsible for developing Institut Curie’s industry partnership activities, and the Roche Institute for Research and Translational Medicine are strengthening their collaborative efforts. 
The Department of Biology at New York University has been equipped with the 100th Leica TCS SP8 X, a state-of-the-art confocal laser scanning microscope with a white light laser. The system offers complete spectral freedom for fluorescence experiments. For live cell imaging, the combination of high sensitivity and low laser power provides better cell viability. The new instrument is installed in the Center for Developmental Genetics and has been used to further Assistant Professor Dr. Lionel Christiaen’s goal of understanding how tissue-specific gene regulatory networks control and coordinate cell behavior during morphogenesis since February 2013....
Mitos Dropix is a droplet-on-demand sampler that is set to make it easy to produce extremely miniaturized droplet compartments with excellent control over their contents. The collaboration began when Drop-Tech entered – and won – Dolomite’s Productizing Science® Competition, sparking discussions and exchanges of ideas between the two development teams. 
The DSM facility was built with cooperation from the Queensland and Commonwealth Governments of Australia. Karen King, President of DSM Biologics, the biopharmaceutical manufacturing business of DSM Pharmaceutical Products, stated, “We are thrilled to announce the June opening our of new cGMP facility in Brisbane. This operation combines DSM's twenty five years of experience and high quality track record in mammalian cell culture manufacturing with a state-of-the-art commercial and development facility....
The collaboration is based on emerging data suggesting that nanomedicines like Accurins selectively accumulate in diseased tissues and cells, leading to higher drug concentrations at the site of the tumor and reduced exposure to healthy tissues. Under the terms of the agreement, the companies will work together to complete Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling studies of the lead Accurin identified from a previously-completed feasibility program. AstraZeneca will then have the exclusive right to lead development and commercialization and BIND will lead manufacturing during the development phase....
The building reconfiguration and redecoration in the UK’s busiest bioscience business incubator began in December 2012 and was officially completed in March this year. BioCity’s position in the heart of Nottingham’s new Creative Quarter continues to attract ambitious life science start-up companies looking for the best facilities as well as on-site business advice....
Pivot Park, located on the former Organon/Schering Plough/MSD research site in Oss, the Netherlands, is a centre for open-innovation, where facilities, instruments and knowledge are made available to the pharmaceutical and biotech companies based on the site. Spinnovation will further support the park’s research and productivity with its portfolio of analytical services specifically designed to address both the needs of the small-molecule pharmaceutical and the biopharmaceutical industries. The agreement will allow Spinnovation to expand and complement its extensive technology platform, thanks to exclusive access to several high-end analytical instruments....
Merck Millipore offers a comprehensive portfolio of reliable and reproducible LC-MS separation tools even for the most challenging analysis problems in research and development, quality control, environmental, clinical and biochemical analysis.Merck Millipore will host a breakfast seminar on HILIC and analytical chromatography. Presentations include a discussion on how separation selectivity differs between HILIC columns; models will be shown to explain how to select columns....
Visitors to Porvair’s stands at these important events will be able to meet technical specialists, see the company's new UltraVap Mistral microplate evaporator, recently launched range of HPLC sample evaporators and review a wide selection of high quality microplates. Also available will be copies of new mini catalogues for Porvair’s deep well plates, assay plates plus a special catalogue dedicated to serving the North American market....
MALDI (Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization) imaging is a mass spectrometric imaging technique that allows the untargeted measurement of proteins, peptides, lipids, drugs and metabolites directly from tissue. MALDI imaging has been successfully applied in various research fields. A particular area of application is the histopathology research concerned with the definition of molecular phenotypes in cancer, like expression patterns that are associated with progression of cancer, or the discovery of novel proteins associated with metastasis....
Sue Macauley-Patrick and David Matthews both join the company as Key Account Managers for the UK. They will be dedicated to supporting Lab M’s sustained growth in its home market as the company continues to expand both here and in export markets around the world....
The British Laboratory Managers Association (BLMA) has been formed to enable all laboratory managers to learn and improve their skills in laboratory management. The BLMA will provide laboratory managers with opportunities to meet other laboratory managers, to exchange ideas, build on their experience and improve their laboratory management skills. The first notification of the association came last year and saw a very strong response from laboratory managers from all sectors for such an organisation...
Purchasers can take advantage of discounts on products from Bibby Scientific’s Techne, Electrothermal, Stuart and Jenway brands, including heating mantles, pH meters, vortex mixers, melting point analysers, thermal cyclers and block heaters. Orders placed during the sale will be entered into a limited period prize draw for the chance to win an iPad, with winners drawn at the end of May, June and July 2013....
Waitrose is one of the first to pilot a new service which is able to verify the origin of British foods. Whether the product is fruit, meat or alcohol, Food Forensics, based on the Norwich Research Park, can determine not just the country of origin, but potentially also the local region from its unique ‘environmental fingerprint’. Alison Johnson, Director of Food Forensics, discusses the benefits of the technology....
The BioHub, will initially provide 36,000 sq ft of high-end laboratory and office facilities for early-stage and growing firms engaged in innovative drug discovery and development. Demand for accommodation is expected to be competitive with the first three tenant companies due to move on site today...
Freeman Technology specialises in instruments for measuring the flow properties of powders. Last year the company appointed DKSH as its distribution partner in China and also made the first sales of its universal powder tester, the FT4 Powder Rheometer®, in this market. DKSH is the world’s largest Market Expansion Services provider with a focus on Asia....
IDT is the world’s leader in custom oligonucleotide synthesis and SGI-DNA is a newly formed subsidiary of Synthetic Genomics, Inc. (SGI), which focuses on genomic-driven solutions to a variety of global needs. In February of 2012, IDT and SGI began to co-manufacture, commercialize, and market small synthetic gene products of up to 5 kb....
Leica Microsystems and Leica Biosystems have cemented ties with their Brazilian Leica distributor: All shares of Aotec Instrumentos Cientificos Ltda of São Paulo, Brazil, have been acquired. Aotec is a provider of microscopy and histopathology solutions and has been a Leica distributor for more than 25 years. All Aotec associates will remain with Aotec. Furthermore, the company is actively hiring additional staff to enlarge the Brazilian teams. Leica Microsystems and Leica Biosystems thereby strengthen their market position...
The SpectraMax® i3 Multi-Mode Detection Platform is available as a stand-alone reader with three broad detection modes: luminescence, absorbance, and fluorescence. Users are then given the option to upgrade to additional applications and detection modes which expands the system's detection capability making it highly versatile, and able to offer application options far exceeding those of standard readers...