Research & Development World

  • R&D World Home
  • Topics
    • Aerospace
    • Automotive
    • Biotech
    • Careers
    • Chemistry
    • Environment
    • Energy
    • Life Science
    • Material Science
    • R&D Management
    • Physics
  • Technology
    • 3D Printing
    • A.I./Robotics
    • Software
    • Battery Technology
    • Controlled Environments
      • Cleanrooms
      • Graphene
      • Lasers
      • Regulations/Standards
      • Sensors
    • Imaging
    • Nanotechnology
    • Scientific Computing
      • Big Data
      • HPC/Supercomputing
      • Informatics
      • Security
    • Semiconductors
  • R&D Market Pulse
  • R&D 100
    • Call for Nominations: The 2025 R&D 100 Awards
    • R&D 100 Awards Event
    • R&D 100 Submissions
    • Winner Archive
    • Explore the 2024 R&D 100 award winners and finalists
  • Resources
    • Research Reports
    • Digital Issues
    • R&D Index
    • Subscribe
    • Video
    • Webinars
  • Global Funding Forecast
  • Top Labs
  • Advertise
  • SUBSCRIBE

Amgen and USC team up to accelerate cryo-EM biotechnology research

By Heather Hall | August 13, 2021

By Suzanne Graham, Thermo Scientific

Carolyn Marks/USC Core Center of Excellence in Nano Imaging

Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) ushered in a new era of biotechnology research and drug design by enabling atomic-level imaging of drug targets in their near-native states.

For organizations across the public and private sectors, this presents the perfect opportunity to team up and broaden access to state-of-the-art tools, techniques and expertise.

We’re excited to see biotechnology company Amgen and the University of Southern California (USC) doing just that as they work to accelerate the pace of research and discovery.

Cryo-EM at the cutting-edge of biotechnology research

Amgen and USC are teaming up to provide researchers with access to two leading-edge Thermo Scientific cryo-transmission electron microscopes (cryo-TEMs): the Thermo Scientific Krios and Glacios Cryo-TEMs.

Housed at the Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience at USC’s University Park Campus, these instruments offer built-in connectivity that will enable researchers from both institutions to increase their disease research productivity. Using these two instruments as part of their workflow, researchers will be able to pre-screen samples at moderate resolutions on the Glacios, and then transfer the best-quality samples for imaging at the highest resolutions on the Krios.

USC Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience

Amgen will use these instruments to accelerate drug discovery via three techniques: single particle analysis, microcrystal electron diffraction, and cryo-electron tomography. “We anticipate this equipment will contribute to Amgen’s better understanding of disease mechanisms as we analyze drug targets. With the ability to view drug targets in their near-native states at the atomic level, our hope is to bring more speed and power to drug discovery,” said Philip Tagari, V.P. of Therapeutic Discovery at Amgen

USC will provide instrument expertise to Amgen, while advancing its own research. For example, researchers plan to use the Krios and Glacios to complete the development of an atomic-level map of the human cell — one of the university’s most prominent projects. They will also continue their work observing proteins in a wide range of conformational states, as a team of USC researchers recently accomplished with the human neurotransmitter receptor GABA-B.

“Housing these instruments in USC’s new Center for Nanoimaging will drive fundamental research underpinning advances in human health across our campuses. We believe it will help us continue to attract top students and faculty to USC as we dramatically expand our presence in the field of structural biology,” said Stephen Bradforth, USC Dornsife Divisional Dean for Physical Sciences.

Co-locating these two instruments is a great example of how private and public sector organizations can combine resources to bring more speed and power to biotechnology research.

Learn more about how cryo-EM can accelerate disease research >>

Suzanne Graham is the Senior Director Business Development at Thermo Fisher Scientific.

Related Articles Read More >

Leica
Leica debuts Visoria upright microscopes aimed at taming long-haul lab work
ZEISS and Alpenglow ink light-sheet microscopy platform deal
Chromatography data wants to tell you something, but it needs a common language
Thermo Fisher swaps HFCs for natural refrigerants in new large‑capacity and superspeed centrifuges
rd newsletter
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, trends, and strategies in Research & Development.
RD 25 Power Index

R&D World Digital Issues

Fall 2024 issue

Browse the most current issue of R&D World and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading R&D magazine today.

Research & Development World
  • Subscribe to R&D World Magazine
  • Enews Sign Up
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Drug Discovery & Development
  • Pharmaceutical Processing
  • Global Funding Forecast

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search R&D World

  • R&D World Home
  • Topics
    • Aerospace
    • Automotive
    • Biotech
    • Careers
    • Chemistry
    • Environment
    • Energy
    • Life Science
    • Material Science
    • R&D Management
    • Physics
  • Technology
    • 3D Printing
    • A.I./Robotics
    • Software
    • Battery Technology
    • Controlled Environments
      • Cleanrooms
      • Graphene
      • Lasers
      • Regulations/Standards
      • Sensors
    • Imaging
    • Nanotechnology
    • Scientific Computing
      • Big Data
      • HPC/Supercomputing
      • Informatics
      • Security
    • Semiconductors
  • R&D Market Pulse
  • R&D 100
    • Call for Nominations: The 2025 R&D 100 Awards
    • R&D 100 Awards Event
    • R&D 100 Submissions
    • Winner Archive
    • Explore the 2024 R&D 100 award winners and finalists
  • Resources
    • Research Reports
    • Digital Issues
    • R&D Index
    • Subscribe
    • Video
    • Webinars
  • Global Funding Forecast
  • Top Labs
  • Advertise
  • SUBSCRIBE