UK-based drug discovery services provider Peakdale Molecular (part of the Concept Life Sciences Group) has strengthened its sales and marketing team through the addition of a Head of Sales and Marketing.

Gordon Woodrow, BSc in Applied Microbiology, has been appointed Head of Sales and Marketing and joins Peakdale with over 25 years of commercial experience having held a number of senior positions in companies offering scientific services to the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Prior to joining Peakdale Gordon was responsible for business development and strategic alliances at Proteros Biostructures. Whilst there Gordon played...

Renishaw, a world leader in metrology and spectroscopy technologies, reports on the use of its inVia confocal Raman microscope in conjunction with a Bruker Dimension Icon atomic force microscope (AFM) to study electrochemical energy storage materials at the US Army Research Laboratory (ARL) in Maryland, USA. 

Dr Collin Becker is a mechanical engineer at the US Army Research Laboratory (ARL) in Maryland, USA. His group studies materials for advanced lithium ion batteries and future-generation energy storage systems, such as sodium ion, magnesium ion and solid-state batteries. His research on lithium ion batteries focuses on developing high capacity anode materials to improve the overall energy density, rate of discharge and safety of...

Trajan Scientific and Medical (Trajan) has announced the opening of a new Business Unit - Instruments, Sensors and Devices, to be located at the University of Adelaide’s Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS).

Along with the new capabilities existing on that site such as glass modification and extrusion, the new Business Unit will have global responsibilities for new devices such as the recently revealed hemaPEN™ for dried blood spot sampling. This announcement comes just two months after Trajan’s landmark strategic collaboration with the University of Adelaide, supported by the South Australian Government, was revealed...

Malvern Instruments have released new accessories for the Mastersizer3000 which optimize  the particle size analysis of chocolate and coffee.

The two new, innovative additions to the Mastersizer portfolio – Chocosizer and the Funnel Sample Feeder for the Aero S - enable faster analysis and make it easier to develop and apply the robust particle sizing methods that are essential to both industries. Particle size directly impacts both the flavor and strength of coffee. Consistent production of the correct grade of coffee therefore relies heavily on the quick and reproducible...

Agreement initially focuses on generation of gene edited induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) for use in neuronal and cardiovascular disease research and brings together Horizon’s precision genome editing capability and Axol’s expertise in iPSC differentiation

Horizon Discovery Group plc (LSE:HZD) (Horizon), the international life science company supplying research tools and services to organizations engaged in genomics research and the development of personalized medicines, and Axol Bioscience Ltd (Axol), a biotechnology company specializing in the use of stem cell technology to manufacture disease relevant cell based assay systems, announce they have formed a strategic partnership...

SP Scientific has announced their next series of educational events to be held during 2016 for scientists involved with lyophilization.

Information and registration details for these upcoming events which include LyoLearn webinars, seminars and hands-on training courses is available through the SP LyoTech Center**. In addition to upcoming events, the LyoTech Center offers a comprehensive repository of previously recorded webinars; informative articles and technical papers; and a variety of free tools and programs to assist freeze dryer users. LyoLearn webinars...

The Cell Therapy Catapult, the UK organisation dedicated to the growth of the UK cell and gene therapy industry by bridging the gap between scientific research and commercialisation, today announces the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Kanagawa Prefecture of Japan.

The agreement was signed between Kuroiwa Yuji, Governor of the Kanagawa Prefecture, and Keith Thompson, the CEO of the Cell Therapy Catapult.The agreement involves a commitment for cooperation in the promotion of the practical application and commercialisation of regenerative medicine and cell therapy in both Japan and the UK. The Cell Therapy Catapult, by co-operating with industry, academic institutions and the new...

The latest version of the Matrix Gemini LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System) from Autoscribe Informatics now provides faster and more efficient editing of LIMS data by eliminating the need for a second editing screen.

The new ‘editable list box’ feature combines the data selection and editing screens into one, reducing the number of clicks required to enter or update data in the database, thus saving time and streamlining the informatics process. Users can list and update a wide range of data in edit tables. These include sample details, batch information, substances and tests, instrument information, user information and more. Edits are automatically...

Laboratory relocation specialist, Andrew Porter Limited, has completed the relocation of South East Water to its new purpose built water testing facility and offices in Hampshire, UK.

The move of the full water testing laboratory was carried out in two stages, including four weekend blocks, to minimise downtime and ensure the company could continue to operate uninterrupted. Specially-trained crews from Andrew Porter Limited, based in Lancashire, relocated 10,000 cubic feet of items from South East Water’s previous location, five miles away....

Rainin's recently launched TerraRack™ pipette tip racks, available in the UK from Anachem, are already proving popular in the Real-time PCR Research and Diagnostics Core Facility at the University of California, Davis.

The laboratory, part of the School of Veterinary Medicine, performs molecular diagnostic assays for veterinary practices across the US – as well as nucleic acid extraction and qPCR for external research studies – relying on high quality Rainin pipettes and BioClean™ tips to ensure accurate pipetting and sample security. Lab Manager Samantha Mapes explained: "We have been using Rainin Pipet-Lite™ single- and multi-channel pipettes for...

JPK Instruments, a world-leading manufacturer of nanoanalytic instrumentation for research in life sciences and soft matter, reports on how their NanoWizard® AFM system is being combined with a toolbox of fluorescence microscopy techniques at the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine located at Oxford University.

The Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine (WIMM) at Oxford University comprises various groups involved in molecular medicine research forming a “Research Hotel.” They all come from different medical departments and also different topics (immunology, haematology, oncology, neurobiology), but their joint efforts within one place and the possibility to use state-of-the-art facilities shall optimize research efforts and bolster...

• Exciting advance provides hope for developing novel potential method of treating pneumococcal diseases such as bacterial pneumonia, meningitis and septicaemia

• University of Leicester uses technique called X-ray crystallography at Diamond Light Source, the UK's national synchrotron science facility, to see the individual atoms of the toxin

• World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that more than 1.6 million people every year die from pneumococcal infections, including more than 800,000 children under 5 years old 

To cope with an ever increasing demand for 24-hour turnaround of sample data, Warwick Analytical Service has invested in an additional state-of-the-art ICP spectrophotometer for its Coventry, UK facility.

Operating in an ISO 17025 and GMP compliant environment following strict operating procedures ensures Warwick Analytical Service (WAS) delivers top quality ICP data consistently. Equipped with several modern high resolution ICP-OES instruments and microwave digestion equipment - Warwick Analytical Service is able to offer its ICP analytical sample services on a wide range of sample types. Tracie Hart, Laboratory Manager at...

Syngene, a world-leading manufacturer of image analysis solutions, is pleased to announce its G:BOX Chemi XX6 multi-application-functional imager is being utilised by scientists at major human protein R&D company, Octapharma Biopharmaceuticals GmbH in Germany for analysing a range of large proteins.

This is allowing the researchers there to accurately characterise proteins which will be used as therapies to treat conditions such as Haemophilia A. Researchers in the Molecular Biochemistry Unit at Octapharma in Berlin are using a G:BOX Chemi XX6 system to analyse proteins of up to 20 million KDa on oversized agarose gels and blots of up to 22cm. These proteins have been isolated from the plasma of healthy individuals or are recombinant versions of these plasma proteins, and studying them is...

EM Resolutions, manufacturers and suppliers of tools and accessories for users of electron microscopes, announce new standards for SEM calibration - the EM-Tec MCS Series. 

EM Resolutions has extended its range of resolution and magnification standards for SEM with the introduction of the EM-Tec MCS and M series of magnification calibration standards. These fully featured practical calibration standards have been specially developed for magnification calibration or critical dimension measurements in table top SEM, standard SEM, FEGSEM, FIB, Auger, SIMS and reflected light microscope systems...

Doctors may soon be able to pinpoint those most at risk of prolonged and serious symptoms of concussion using a simple blood test.

Research carried out by The University of Glasgow’s, Dr Willie Stewart, together with colleagues from the University of Pennsylvania and published in the journal Acta Neuropathologica, has identified the source of a brain protein linked with serious concussion symptoms. Concussion is the major medical issue currently facing sport. Defined as a ‘mild’ traumatic brain injury, the signs and symptoms of concussion are often subtle, making...

Olympus introduces its new Z-Drift Compensation IX3-ZDC2 system and updated cellSens software, for enhanced live cell and multi well plate imaging.

These new technologies deliver fast and accurate multi well time-lapse acquisition, stable focus during long time-lapse studies and an easier user interface. Taking well plate imaging to the next level, Olympus presents two innovative tools for the customisable IX3 inverted microscopes. The new IX3-ZDC2 module offers cutting-edge Olympus focal drift compensation technology, enabling accurate focus stability during long...

Bulk production facility enables company to support large diagnostics customers

Innova Biosciences (Innova), a specialist provider of bioconjugation products and services, today announced the installation of bulk production capability for its colloidal gold nanoparticle products. The move enables the company to support any scale of operation, including the largest players in the diagnostics field. Innova’s ultra-high quality colloidal gold nanoparticles have a consistent  uniform shape and size, ensuring reliability and...

• Next Generation Atom Probe Included Among 100 Most-Significant Developments in Research and Development

• LEAP 5000 Atom Probe Offers Precise Atom-by-Atom, Sub-Nanometric Analysis of Metals, Semiconductors and Other Materials

CAMECA, a unit of AMETEK Materials Analysis, was recognized among the winners of the 54th Annual R&D 100 Awards by the editors of R&D magazine for its development of the LEAP 5000. Launched in August 2014, the LEAP 5000 is the latest generation of atom probe microscopes, which offer precise atom-by-atom identification, 3-D spatial positioning, and accurate atomic-scale reconstruction of a material’s microstructure...

Rapidly reveals the factors to consider when using ADCC assays for producing precise biosimilar comparability data

Sartorius Stedim Biotech (SSB) BioOutsource today announced a new video is now available on-line explaining how to overcome the issues associated with using antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) assays. The bite-sized video outlines the factors affecting the use of ADCC assays and discusses what to consider when determining comparability and designing biosimilar drugs. In just five minutes, bioassay development experts...

New X-ray method uses scattering to visualize nanostructures 

Both in materials science and in biomedical research it is important to be able to view minute nanostructures, for example in carbon-fiber materials and bones. A team from the Technical University of Munich (TUM), the University of Lund, Charité hospital in Berlin and the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) have now developed a new computed tomography method based on the scattering, rather than on the absorption, of X-rays...

Flow chemistry engineering firm Vapourtec (Cambridge, UK) has unveiled a new look website that includes a host of features, exclusive resources and information aimed at chemists across all sectors and industries.

The updated online presence incorporates a member-based Knowledge Base resource, abstracts of over 180 published papers, 42 application notes and detailed data on the performance of Vapourtec's array of flow chemistry systems and component parts. Duncan Guthrie, founder and MD of Vapourtec, commented: "This has been a longstanding project to create a website that offers a wealth of invaluable flow chemistry information...