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...
JPK Instruments, a world-leading manufacturer of nanoanalytic instrumentation for research in life sciences and soft matter, reports on the research studies of Dr Ioan Notingher, associate professor in the faculty of science at the University of Nottingham.
With a research interest in the development of new optical and spectroscopic methods for studying biomaterials, he is applying JPK's atomic force microscope (AFM) system, the NanoWizard®, and tip assisted optics module (TAO). The research programmes of the Nottingham Nanoscience group span a range of exciting and topical themes in state-of-the-art nanoscale science.
Panasonic Ultra-Low Temperature (ULT) freezers are making a real impact on sample security at the LifeLines project, a large-scale genetic study of healthy aging being run in the Dutch provinces of Groningen, Friesland en Drenthe.
The project was set up in 2006 and involves approximately 165,000 participants across three generations. Keeping potentially irreplaceable material secure and viable for future analysis is critical, and storage at the LifeLines project involves millions of biological samples, all of which must be maintained for long periods. The innovative technology in Panasonic ULT freezers, supported by Panasonic’s dedicated customer service, is ensuring the excellent storage reliability and efficiency required for the smooth running of the study...
NanoSight reports on how Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis, NTA, is being used in the development of a method to estimate the purity of vesicle preparations by comparing the ratio of nano-vesicle counts to protein concentration. This work is reported by Dr Aled Clayton of the School of Medicine at Cardiff University in an original research article published in the Journal of Extracellular Vesicles.
The School of Medicine at Cardiff University is one of the largest medical schools in the United Kingdom, home to over 3000 students and staff. It is a major international center for teaching and research providing a vibrant community of medical endeavor. The School is based at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, but is also embedded at other hospital sites in Cardiff including Velindre Cancer Centre...
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...
Malvern Instruments has introduced a new, improved disposable folded capillary cell for use in its Zetasizer Nano particle and molecular characterization systems
The new cell is designed to further enhance the reproducibility of zeta potential measurements. It replaces the previous model of folded capillary cell while providing the same ‘plug and play’ convenience for easy application and disposal. Although intended primarily for the measurement of zeta potential, the disposable folded capillary cell can also be used for size measurements and is fundamental to Malvern’s patented diffusion barrier technique for the reliable, high-sensitivity measurement of the electrophoretic mobility (or zeta potential) of labile biological molecules, such as proteins in solution....
Read MoreHORIBA Introduces New Quality Slide Programme (QSP) ServiceMay 2, 2013
Unique QC and training software to help standardise blood film review
Haematology specialists, HORIBA UK Ltd – Medical, has introduced a new innovative service, The Quality Slide Program (QSP). Launched in France in 2012 to meet ISO guidelines for laboratory accreditation in blood film review and already used by over 40 laboratories, this program is now available in the UK. QSP is a digital blood cell morphology QC and training program. With the software, 6 digital blood films are published for download each month
Xmark Media reports on the 2013 Photonex London Roadshow
With the attendance topping over 200 delegates, the day proved to be an outstanding success with well-attended parallel scientific sessions complemented with a benchtop equipment exhibition.The 2013 Photonex London Roadshow organised by Xmark Media attracted over 200 delegates to an intensive day of scientific presentations, industry-led tutorials and a comprehensive equipment exhibition establishing the model for future meetings to be held across the UK in years to come. Sponsored by the UCL-Cambridge Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) and held in the impressive setting of the North Cloisters at University College, London....
Leading sample management software provider, Titian Software, has announced that Boehringer Ingelheim has implemented its Mosaic™ sample management software for the inventory management, sample tracking, and sample processing of New Biological Entities (NBE)
Now well-established as a leading provider of sample management software for small molecule compound libraries, Titian has evolved Mosaic into enterprise-wide management of biological samples, reagents and standards. The new installation has Boehringer Ingelheim incorporating Mosaic into their protein purification, gene expression, biological lead engineering, and biological lead generation workflows within the NBE groups.
Discover key lessons from the field and best practices vital to reap rewards from these countries during Frost & Sullivan’s complimentary webinar
Multinational firms have been exploring opportunities in emerging markets as a strategy to face the Western slowdown. However, after facing limited growth in these regions during 2012, the major drug and device manufacturers are obliged to reassess their strategies. Heavyweights of the drug business, including Pfizer Inc., Merck, Bristol-Myers Squibb, GlaxoSmithKline and Novartis, are discovering that conquering markets in countries such as Brazil, Russia, India and China is not as easy as originally assumed....
Read MoreAstraZeneca meet with Unite to discuss plans for Alderley Park May 1, 2013
Unite, Britain's biggest union, meet senior bosses at AstraZeneca on to urge the pharmaceutical giant to reconsider its plans to transfer 1,600 jobs from Cheshire to Cambridge by 2016.
Alderley Park in Cheshire is the company's largest research and development site. AstraZeneca is also moving its head office, currently based in London, to Cambridge. Alderley Park has a 40 year history and has been responsible for the discovery and development of hugely important medical treatments, as well as being a leading centre for cancer research in Europe...
Following impressive results using OEM pumps from Watson-Marlow Pumps Group on an automated batch cell culture system, a Hertfordshire-based company specialising in automated life science applications has now adopted the pumps on additional products – with equal success.
Roche and Hamilton Robotics jointly announced the introduction of a new, integrated platform enabling automated DNA sample enrichment for Roche’s 454 GS Junior sequencer.
The platform builds on the integration of Roche’s REM e System with Hamilton’s Microlab® NIMBUS NGS workstation, resulting in reduced hands-on time, minimized operational variability and more consistent results. “This new integrated platform will replace about four hours of laborious manual work,” said Thomas Schinecker, head of 454 Life Sciences “It is a true walkaway solution, offering an economical, convenient, compact enrichment procedure for all our GS Junior customers. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Hamilton to develop more innovative, automated solutions for our GS Junior System.”....
It is common knowledge that pipetting regularly increases the risk of developing Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI’s). By applying Good Pipetting Practice within your lab you can help to prevent these risks.
One way that is suggested to help reduce the repetition of pipetting and the risk of RSI is to simply take frequent breaks every 20 or 30 minutes to stretch your shoulders, arms and hands. As part of Anachem’s GPP programme they are offering a free Stretch Poster, which shows diagrams with instructions of the different ways you can stretch to ensure that you shake off the stiffness and stress that accumulates after long hours at the lab bench....
Centre Dedicated to Diagnosis and Treatment Derived from Single-Cell Exploration
Government officials, academic, and industry leaders gathered to celebrate the official opening of the Single-Cell Omics Centre (SCOC) in Singapore on April 12, 2013. It is the first research centre in Asia exclusively dedicated to accelerating the understanding of how individual cells work, and how diagnosis and treatment might be enhanced through insight derived from single cells....
Read MoreUniversity of Glasgow receives funding for world-leading stratified medicine Innovation CentreApr 29, 2013
The University of Glasgow is set to boost its contribution to global medical research and the Scottish economy following the announcement of funding to build a major research centre.
The Scottish Funding Council is providing £8m over five years to back the creation of the £20m Stratified Medicine Scotland Innovation Centre (SMS-IC) at the new South Glasgow Hospitals Campus. The SMS-IC will also involve a consortium of other universities, NHS Scotland, and industry partners. Construction work is expected to begin in November this year, with a fully-operational centre due to open in September 2015....
BioCity CEO to deliver key address at BioScotland on 30th April
Scottish ambitions to double the life sciences sector by 2020 could be realised if the ‘perfect storm’ of prevailing conditions are grasped and built on, according to CEO of the BioCity Group Dr Glenn Crocker. Commenting ahead of his address to the gathering of sector experts at BioScotland on 30 April, Dr Crocker identifies several factors working together to have a profound impact on the long term future of the life sciences sector in Scotland....
Analytik, leading suppliers of innovative analytical solutions to the UK and Ireland, is pleased to report on the use of AgriSpec portable near-infrared (NIR) spectrometer from ASD Inc. at Rothamsted Research Ltd, the longest running agricultural research station in the world. The spectrometer is used for nitrogen measurements in grain
The AgriSpec line of NIR instruments is portable and precise. They use an improved optical design providing a faster speed of analysis while yielding the best possible analytical results on a wide range of materials, including solids, powders and liquids. Improvements to the AgriSpec line provide the user with higher quality measurements that identify and quantify materials in real time with minimal sample preparation. These non-destructive measurements result in minimal or zero sample waste. Users enjoy the ability to measure multiple properties simultaneously...
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