Leica Microsystems, a leading global designer and producer of precision optical systems, and Definiens, the leading Health Image Intelligence^TM company, today announced a co-marketing agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, Definiens and Leica will cooperatively market their complementary products and host joint workshops and educational events. Customers will benefit from streamlined high-content image analysis, allowing them to better identify and understand pathways and mechanisms. 

Flexibility - for imaging and analysis without limits

This partnership will cover a range of Leica microscopy hardware and Definiens XD software, which will be seamlessly integrated to optimize imaging and analysis workflows. 

Leica Microsystems' confocal instrumentation produces the data bases necessary to turn images into knowledge. Precision and sensitivity pair up uniquely at highest resolution of up to 64 megapixels, producing a wealth of information. The company recently released its first High Content Screening Automation package for confocal research microscopes, Leica HCS A, a highly flexible tool for automated imaging in multiple dimensions. The package enables fast and efficient multi-position experiments - from automated image recording routines to complex multi-dimensional high-content screening experiments with simultaneous image export for immediate analysis by external analysis software, such as Definiens Developer XD. 

Definiens Developer XD is an integrated software development environment designed for the entire range of biomedical image analysis problems. It works with any imaging modality as well as 2D, 3D and time-lapse applications and reliably analyzes the wealth of data generated by Leica's confocal microscopes. Definiens Developer XD enables the automated analysis of cases that previously required tedious manual segmentation.

"Definiens and Leica Microsystems share a commitment to developing powerful imaging solutions that help researchers understand biological pathways faster and more accurately," said Thomas P. Heydler, CEO of Definiens. "This partnership will provide Leica customers with access to Definiens' advanced image analysis software, enabling high-content screening that directly aids drug discovery efforts around the world." 

Any device format is supported - any amount of data can be processed

With the combination of Leica Microsystems TCS SP5 confocal imaging instrumentation, single and multiple projects are easy to handle - from single images that need to be evaluated at high standardization to 3D image stacks and 4D time series. Even smallest series of throughput are possible in manual process steps. The results are exported and analyzed by Definiens Developer XD within a highly automated workflow to fulfill today's demand for throughput in advanced life science research. 

"Together with Definiens, we look forward to the opportunity to make highly developed and future-proof high content screening solutions widely available for academic research as well. The combination of high-sensitivity confocal technology, miniaturized sample handling and reproducible evaluation with optimized data management is a sine qua non among drug discovery strategies and the analysis of their physiological relevance," says Dr. Stefan Traeger, Managing Director of the Life Science Division of Leica Microsystems. 

From single files to terabytes of data - Leica Microsystems and Definiens offer a fast, reliable and adaptive high-throughput solution to modern life science research creating a new approach to multidimensional image analysis in high content screening. 

Please find more information about this topic during the ‘Focus on Microscopy' conference in Constance, Germany, from April 17 - 20 at the booths of Leica (25) and Definiens (24).