New SIRTainty™ Class III HDAC Assay From Merck Millipore Used in Recent Study Demonstrating Novel Mechanism for Activation of SIRT1  

Thermo Fisher Scientific is pleased to announce a new gas chromatography (GC) method for the analysis and quantifying of residual solvents in pharmaceutical products and excipients as a result of the production process according to the U.S. Pharmaceutical Method (USP) 467.

In this method, concentration limits are set for each solvent, and 53 solvents are analyzed and grouped according to their health hazards, including Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3. This method features the use of a valve-and-loop sampling system that simplifies headspace analytical methods, the Thermo Scientific™ TriPlus™ 300 Headspace Autosampler, which, combined with innovative chromatography software, met the analytical requirements of the USP Method 467 with full auditing capability...

iXon EMCCD camera's spatial resolution and high readout speed demonstrate possibility of finding more stars and planetary systems in our galaxy

With the accelerating interest in seeking out Earth 2.0 exoplanets, the need for accurate star maps on which to base our searches only increases. However, an international team of scientists has found two previously undetected stars in a recently mapped globular cluster using the ultra-sensitive Andor iXon 897 Electron Multiplying CCD camera on the Danish 1.54m telescope at La Silla, Chile. This discovery raises the possibility that we can pinpoint more potential target planets that would be hospitable to life...

Anasys Instruments reports on the recent publication from the University of Illinois which describes the development of a novel technique for chemical identification at the nanometer scale based on AFM-IR. The work is described in a paper published in the Review of Scientific Instruments 84.

For more than 20 years, researchers have been using atomic force microscopy (AFM) to measure and characterize materials at the nanometer scale. However AFM-based measurements of chemistry and chemical properties of materials were generally not possible, until now...

Legionnaires’ Disease has recently been in the headlines due to a number of serious outbreaks around the world.

Researchers at the Ensminger Lab, part of the Department of Molecular Genetics at the University of Toronto, Canada, are using Tecan’s Infinite^® M200 PRO plate reader and Gas Control Module (GCM™) to study host-pathogen interactions for Legionella bacteria. Alex Ensminger discussed the laboratory’s approach to studying this potentially deadly pathogen: “Legionella pneumophila normally grows inside amoebae and protozoa, and we need to understand how these pathogens interact with both their natural hosts and patients’ lungs. A key part of this research is to monitor bacterial growth under stable conditions, which is a very labor?intensive process when performed manually.”

New Customer Application Note Available from Wyatt Technology

Wyatt Technology Corporation, the world leader in absolute macromolecular characterization instrumentation and software, publishes new application note highlighting a study made by Florida State University. Authored by Tsz Kin Martin Tsui, Claudius Mundoma and Hong Li from Florida State University, the paper showcases how the Wyatt DynaPro dynamic light scattering (DLS) system can be used to characterize homogeneity and stability of a heterodimeric protein complex (HPC) under various buffer conditions. The results demonstrate that the pH of the buffer solutions influences the sample homogeneity and stability...

JPK Instruments, a world-leading manufacturer of nanoanalytic instrumentation for research in life sciences and soft matter, reports on the research studies of the nanophysics group to couple the chemical information of STED microscopy with the high resolution spatial and force measurements provided by AFM to study biological samples in liquid.

The Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) was founded in 2003 in the city of Genova to promote Italy's technological development and advanced education. Professor Alberto Diaspro is the Director of the Department of Nanophysics. His research includes the design, realization and utilization of optical and biophysical instrumentation such as far-field super resolution optical microscopy and nanoscopy, conventional and confocal microscopy, two-photon fluorescence microscopy and spectroscopy architecture, and scanning probe microscopy (STM, SNOM, AFM). This last area has led to collaborations with JPK Instruments... 

NanoSight reports on how Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis, NTA, is being applied in the Chemical Engineering Department of the California Institute of Technology to study nanoparticle-based therapeutics being developed for the treatment of illnesses such as dementia and Alzheimer's.

The central theme of the Mark E Davis research group at Caltech is the use of chemical engineering concepts (synthetic chemistry and analytical engineering problem solving) to answer important fundamental questions in the physical and life sciences. Current research entails designs for the synthesis of inorganic and hybrid, organic-inorganic materials for catalysis and biocompatible materials for the delivery of macromolecular therapeutics...

Major Protein Structure Discovery Achieved Using TTP Labtech’s mosquito LCP Innovative liquid handling technology a key factor in the world’s first structural analysis of class B GPCRs

For the first time, researchers have been able to successfully report the structure of a Class B G-Protein Coupled Receptor (GPCR) using lipidic cubic phase (LCP) protein crystallisation. The work performed at Heptares, a leading drug discovery and development company, and published this week in Nature, details the structural identification of the stress receptor, corticotropin-releasing factor receptor 1 (CRF1). This pioneering discovery opens up the technique to an entirely new group of molecules with important roles in the development of diseases as diverse as diabetes, osteoporosis, depression and anxiety...

Recognising Technology’s Novel Method of Improving Liquid Handling Efficiency              

Redd&Whyte, an expert supplier of liquid handling automation for drug discovery and life science research applications, is delighted to announce its innovative Preddator low-volume microplate dispenser has been awarded the “ELRIG Technology Prize”, which recognises the most interesting automation seen at the recent ELRIG Robotics and Automation Conference...

Ultrahigh accuracy imaging modality (UAIM) technique provides more than 200% accuracy improvement compared with conventional low-light imaging

Super resolution localization microscopy techniques, which allow the capture of images with a higher resolution than the diffraction limit of approx. 250 nm, are breaking new ground in our understanding of subcellular structures and the movement of individual molecules within cells. However, the positional accuracy attained by these powerful techniques has been limited by the pixelation and noise generated by CCD and EMCCD detectors...

Custom system will ultimately enable DKMS Life Science Lab to type several thousand samples per week

Fluidigm announced an agreement to develop and supply a customized version of its high- throughput library prep system to the DKMS (Deutsche Knochenmarkspenderdatei gemeinnützige Gesellschaft mbH) Life Science Lab. The new system will help the DKMS accelerate its research to fight against blood cancer by ultimately enabling it to characterize the HLA genes from several thousand samples a week for its donor registry...

ThinCert cell culture inserts from Greiner Bio-One, a technology partner for the diagnostic and pharmaceutical industry, offer a real alternative to animal testing.

From 11 July 2013, trade in cosmetics tested on animals will be prohibited in EU member states under the EU Cosmetics Regulation. This applies to both end products and individual ingredients. Perfectly replicated skin models consisting of human skin cells – from surgical waste, for example – feature the same properties and functions as normal human skin...

A UK COMPANY which offers an innovative solution to recruit and retain global participants for medicine clinical trials has secured an investment of more than £250,000 from a group of investors.

In this latest video you will hear why people are choosing F-DSi Gas Generators over their other competitors.

End users talk about their experience of using FDGSi gas generators and share their feedback on the products and quality of service provided. Whatever are your needs, F-DSi gas generators enable you to produce Nitrogen, Hydrogen, Pure Air with purities higher than 99,9999%.

Oncodesign officially receives AAALAC's accreditation mark, in recognition of 18 years of consultation, investment and ethical commitment in the area of animal experimentation in cancer research

Oncodesign, a contract research laboratory for the discovery of new anticancer therapies, today announces that its Dijon-based research center has received AAALAC certification. AAALAC, the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International, is an internationally recognized association for assessment and accreditation in the field of animal experimentation. AAALAC accreditation is a voluntary undertaking rather than a regulatory requirement. To date, more than 700 institutions in 29 countries have received this accreditation...

The Dr Hadwen Trust (DHT) has named Professor Eric Blair at the University of Leeds and Professor Oliver Hanemann at Plymouth University as recipients of the 2013 DHT Summer Studentship awards.

The DHT scheme, now in its second year, enables undergraduates to extend their studies over the summer period by gaining practical lab experience, using non-animal approaches, that will further our understanding of devastating diseases. Each award is worth up to £1,440 over a maximum 8 week period, with a separate budget of up to £500 available for consumables...

Spinout Company secures £850,000 to develop vaccines against infection

A COMPANY working to develop vaccines and antibodies to treat bacterial infections has secured a £850,000 investment. Absynth Biologics Limited, a UK biotechnology spinout company from the University of Sheffield, has secured £400,000 from The North West Fund for Biomedical, managed by SPARK Impact as well as £450,000 from Fusion IP plc, the university commercialisation company. The North West Fund for Biomedical is part of the wider £155m North West Fund, financed jointly by the European Regional Development Fund and the European Investment Bank...

iPad winner at Anglia Ruskin University praises convenience of the Bibby Scientific webshop

Angela Wheatley, a Biochemistry Teaching Technician at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, UK, is June’s winner in the iPad draw on Bibby Scientific’s webshop. Ms Wheatley won the iPad with her online purchase of a Techne 3Prime personal cycler. Prize draws have taken place in May and June this year, with the final chance to win an iPad being in July. Through the webshop customers can directly purchase products from all four of Bibby Scientific’s Techne, Electrothermal, Stuart and Jenway brands...

New Cellaxess^® Project Grant supports advanced research projects

As a leading provider of advanced cell-based screening technologies and services, Cellectricon is inviting researchers to apply for the recently launched Cellaxess Project Grant. The Grant is open to any scientist or research group wanting to capitalize on the advanced electromanipulation capabilities of the Cellaxess^® platform for the cellular delivery of non-genetic material, particularly small molecules and peptides. Winners will be selected from two categories, basic and applied cell-based research, and will receive the Cellaxess ACE platform, along with all consumables and reagents, for a fully supported project...

UK-BASED contract research and manufacturing organisation Molecular Profiles has opened the doors of its new facility following a successful inspection from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

The Nottingham-based, £9 million pharmaceutical production site will give drug development companies across the world access to the state-of-the-art clinical manufacturing capabilities. Designed to handle a range of non-sterile dosage forms such as solids, liquids, semi-solids and inhaled products, Molecular Profiles’ new 30,000sq ft. facility marks a significant expansion for the company that started life as a spin-out from Nottingham University over 15 years ago...

Children’s Liver Disease Foundation (CLDF) is inviting applications for its 2013/14 research project award.

The charity is making £200,000 available to be applied to medical or social research in line with its research strategy. CLDF is theUK’s leading charity fighting childhood liver disease and has a strong track record in this field, with over £8m of research funding being delivered since 1980. Full details of its research strategy, previous research grants and details of how to apply are available at childliverdisease.org/research...