Life Science

The AltHost Consortium, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology-led collaboration, announced a consortium of leading organizations in biopharmaceuticals and vaccines that will work to advance the speed and productivity of alternative host cell research and manufacturing. By adjoining MIT’s cutting-edge research and innovation with the resources and clinical understanding of the industry, “AltHost” will enable its…

Park Systems, manufacturer of Atomic Force Microscopes (AFM), announces Park NX-TSH, automated Tip Scan Head for large sample analysis over 300 mm. Park NX-TSH is for large and heavy sample flat panel display glass and features conductive AFM for electric defect analysis by integrating a micro probe station. Park Systems will have a live demo…

To help pharmaceutical companies obtain faster results in their drug discovery process and reduce the cost of bringing new drugs to market, Thermo Fisher Scientific has released the Thermo Scientific iSPA Workflow, the first commercially available single particle analysis (SPA) workflow solution. As pharmaceutical labs turn to cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to uncover the structures of difficult-to-crystalize molecules…

The Pistoia Alliance, a global, not-for-profit alliance that works to lower barriers to innovation in life sciences R&D, launched a new series of programs to help organizations collaborate on advancing the role of digital technology within life sciences R&D and healthcare. As part of the Pistoia Alliance’s strategic refresh, defined by its 2030 vision report,…

For biopharma companies seeking increased development and manufacturing capacity for vaccines and therapies, including new COVID-19-related programs, Thermo Fisher Scientific provided highlights of its new capabilities during the BIO International Convention, June 8-12, now a virtual event at bio.org/events/bio-digital. “We can now provide an uninterrupted path from development to commercialization for biopharma companies, small to…

Torrey Pines Scientific has announced the new EchoTherm Stackable/ Programmable Vibration Free Chilling Incubators for protein crystallography and other life science uses. The incubators are 27-liter capacity and Peltier-based for heating and chilling. They have no compressors or CFCs and are vibration-free making them ideal for doing protein crystallizations. Other applications include incubating marine samples…

A team led by researchers at Carnegie Mellon’s College of Engineering has created a new technology that enhances scientists’ ability to communicate with neural cells using light. Using this technology could have significance both for our understanding of cell interactions and the development of therapies that harness the potential of the human body’s own cells.…

Proscia, a provider of AI-enabled digital pathology solutions, announced that UNITY Biotechnology, a company developing therapeutics to extend health span by slowing, halting or reversing diseases of aging, has deployed the Concentriq digital pathology platform to advance its research and development (R&D) pipeline. UNITY will implement this technology in an effort to accelerate the lengthy drug development…

Q2 Solutions, a clinical trial laboratory services organization resulting from an IQVIA and Quest Diagnostics joint venture, announced its partnership with Thermo Fisher Scientific to use the Ion Torrent Genexus System, the first fully integrated, next-generation sequencing (NGS) platform, to deliver clinical trial lab results economically with unprecedented speed. “Clinical trial oncology patients require lab…

Qosina offers a wide selection of in-stock tubing for prototyping and large-scale production requirements. The medical-grade, high-quality tubing is conveniently packaged in small or large coils and available in a diverse range of materials including PVC, DEHP-free PVC, silicone, FEP and HDPE. Qosina’s multilayer, universal bubble, single lumen and dispensing tubing solutions include popular brands…

NASA has awarded Southwest Research Institute $3 million to develop a lunar version of its Laser Absorption Spectrometer for Volatiles and Evolved Gas (LASVEGAS) instrument. This spectrometer can precisely measure the volatile compounds present in planetary atmospheres and surfaces — critical information for space science and exploration. “LASVEGAS is about half the size of a…

By Peter Dizikes, MIT News Office Vaccines are more likely to get through clinical trials than any other type of drug — but have been given relatively little pharmaceutical industry support during the last two decades, according to a new study by MIT scholars. Over a two-decade span from January 2000 to January 2020, private-sector…

Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE: TMO) will provide online programming and virtual exhibits to introduce scientists to a number of new products that build on its Orbitrap platform and expand research applications. The company will showcase its newest instruments, software and workflow solutions during a company-hosted virtual event, vLC-MS.com, from May 26-28, 2020, and at the…

By Jennifer Chu, MIT News Office The motion of the ocean is often thought of in horizontal terms, for instance in the powerful currents that sweep around the planet, or the waves that ride in and out along a coastline. But there is also plenty of vertical motion, particularly in the open seas, where water…

The Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2), a technology incubator and platform funded by the Wells Fargo Foundation and co-administered by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), today announced that it has selected Pluton Biosciences to join the program as a member of IN2’s seventh cohort. The selected companies share a focus on developing…

DefiniGEN, a UK-headquartered iPSC disease-modelling company, has identified iPSC-derived intestinal organoids that could be used to help structure in vitro studies of the biology of SARS-CoV2 infection across cohorts of multiple patients. While SARS-CoV-2 primarily targets the respiratory system, studies have shown that it also infects and multiplies within the intestinal epithelium. IPSC-derived organoids exhibit…

The Purair BIO Class II, Type A2 Biological Safety Cabinets (BSCs) provide a primary containment work area for life science research, cell culture processing, and other applications where protection of the user, the work product, and the environment, and mitigation of cross-contamination on the work surface are needed. Biosafety in the laboratory is critical when…

By Tim Hoctor, Vice President, Life Science Solutions Services Humans harbor trillions of microbes – known as the microbiome. The microbiome has a crucial role in our overall health, as illustrated by recent research; it can impact – and be impacted by – a wide array of diseases across human processes including immune, metabolic and…

Valneva, a specialty vaccine company, and Pfizer have announced a collaboration to develop and commercialize Valneva’s Lyme disease vaccine candidate VLA15, which is currently in Phase 2 clinical studies. VLA15 is the only active Lyme disease vaccine program in clinical development today and covers six serotypes that are prevalent in North America and Europe. The…

By Steve Arlington and John Wise, The Pistoia Alliance As a society, we are benefiting from the remarkable pace of scientific innovation. Starting in 1990, it took scientists thirteen years to sequence the first genome. Now, this process can be completed in one day, testament to the speed of developments. We will see many more…

Selux Diagnostics, which is developing a platform of personalized medicine to treat superbug infections and combat antibiotic resistance, has been awarded an additional $9.6 million from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response. The…

A new tool for medical professionals may help shed more light on tumors in the body and how the brain operates. Purdue University researchers created technology that uses optical imaging to better help surgeons map out tumors in the body and help them understand how certain diseases affect activity in the brain. The work is…

Miele, manufacturer of laboratory glassware washers, recently unveiled six new models for North America that offer maximum cleanliness, reliability, consistency and flexibility to meet stringent safety and sanitary demands of productive laboratories. Offering lab professionals fast and effective reprocessing of contaminated glassware and equipment, the new models from Miele include a plug & play, 115V…

ProCulture, the new workflow-minded product line for cell culture from Bel-Art and Wilmad-LabGlass brands, covers multiple steps of the cell culture process from isolation to harvesting. Products include an array of Shaker Flasks, Spinner Flasks with a unique impeller that increases aeration and eliminates dead spots, and an Orbital Shaker Platform that converts an existing…

Legit, a virtual collaboration platform ​for the life sciences, launched a free version of their product to help life sciences and biotech companies collaborate virtually during uncertain times. The platform allows individuals to identify experts in the field and connect with them within 24 hours. During times like these, where COVID-19 forms a barrier to…