In the past 20 years, protein crystallography has become a critical tool in the development of groundbreaking new therapies for cancer, HIV, TB, Ebola and a host of other life-threatening diseases. As crystallographers seek to tackle ever more challenging problems in microbiology, the escalating difficulty of producing protein crystals of both sufficient quantity and quality has become a critical roadblock to further progress. The Compact Dynamic Beamstop (CDBS), which won an R&D 100 Award in 2016, allows scientists to extract the maximum possible amount of data from each precious protein crystal by carefully monitoring and optimizing the X-ray dose. It is a breakthrough tool to counteract the limited supply of protein crystals.
The CDBS design is simple, compact, easily commercialized, customizable for a wide variety of X-ray scattering experiments, and unique in its capabilities to provide information about X-ray beams in real time without interfering with the collection of data on precious samples. Its potential is immense, and it promises to accelerate the pace of research in a field that impacts the lives of people in a way that few other disciplines can hope to match.
Each year for more than 50 years, R&D Magazine has honored the 100 best innovations in research and development. We are currently accepting applications for the 2017 R&D 100 Awards. Innovators with an exceptional product developed between January 1, 2016 and March 31, 2017 should apply. Submissions close April 14, 2017
For information on the 55th Annual R&D 100 Awards and to enter visit http://www.rd100conference.com
