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The cover story titled “DIGITAL LABORATORY AND ITS ROLE IN IMMEDIATE TREATMENT AND DIAGNOSIS” authored by Ms.Rebecca Scolastica Bello talks about the role that digital instruments play in enhancing care pathways.
An event of TERI Deakin Nano Biotechnology Centre (TDNBC) by Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Honourable Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Australia
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Thailand Lab
We have covered major research news from a number of areas like Biotechnology, Microbiology and Health Sciences to keep you updated with latest breakthroughs and discoveries around the globe.
Product Launch
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Microbioz India has added a new series called as ‘Product Launch’ from the previous month which will be published occasionally and will be covering any new products that are being developed for your immediate awareness and knowledge.
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Details report on Thailand Lab International 2017
Upcoming Shows/Events/Exhibitions
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We have a press release by Thailand Lab International 2017, a compiled list of Upcoming Events and Trade Shows
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here is no doubt that technology advancement has changed the overall scenario of how one looks at the world. People from all walks of life are continuously putting their efforts to modernize and revolutionize technology. One such area which has seen tremendous growth is the world of automation and digitalization as it has saved the precious time of doctors as well as patients by giving faster results than never before. In this month’s issue, the cover story titled “DIGITAL LABORATORY AND ITS ROLE IN IMMEDIATE TREATMENT AND DIAGNOSIS” authored by Ms.Rebecca Scolastica Bello talks about the role that digital instruments play in enhancing care pathways. The article also shows how digitalization has benefited the people at large. The main focus of the article has been laid on to how this digital laboratory can enable early diagnosis, provide care for long term conditions and enable effective pathology service. Also, Microbioz India has added a new series called as ‘Product Launch’ from the previous month which will be published occasionally and will be covering any new products that are being developed for your immediate awareness and knowledge. This is not all. Microbioz India also got an opportunity to cover one of the major inaugural event of TERI Deakin Nano Biotechnology Centre (TDNBC) by Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Honourable Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Australia on April 10 in which Senator Hon Simon Birmingham, Education and Training Minister, Australia, had awarded a three-year tuition fee waiver scholarship, worth AU$ 1.1 million, to 11 Indian students. Finally, we have a press release by Thailand Lab International 2017, a compiled list of Upcoming Events and Conferences and some of the major developments and researches that have happened recently around the globe. Dear friends and readers, once again we would like to thank you for your invaluable love and support. As always, we hope that you find value in this issue. We are always eager to receive your valuable feedback and suggestions as they help us come with better content each time. For any further value addition, please write at editor@microbiozindia.com.
Cover Story
Using laboratory services differently must be based on improving quality of care as well as increasing efficiency here is the need for a change of scale for laboratory services for the Laboratory Modernization Programme. Although the initial focus was on internal efficiencies within the test production process, the same logic applies to innovative ways of using laboratory services.
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Indeed a focus solely on local test production misses opportunities for laboratory services to work in different ways to enhance care pathways, enable patients to take control of their chronic disorders and save resources outside the laboratory and across health economies. Where changes such as patient access to the results of their blood tests have been introduced, the main benefit has been in a reduction in the number of visits required by patients – the use of this
innovation by Kaiser Permanente is a widely recognized example. Using laboratory services differently must be based on improving quality of care as well as increasing efficiency. Laboratory underpins the majority of clinical interactions and clinical value chains can only be unlocked if laboratory services are coordinated in concert with clinical services. The gains from digitization described in this report accrue when pathways are joined up across care settings and clinical networks. Quality is a major part of the equation in achieving value.
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Cover Story Technology innovation such as standardization of laboratory reporting through the use of the National Laboratory Medicine Catalogue, digital techniques in laboratory and genetics will be essential to achieve quality improvement. The benefits of digital laboratory delivered include: The People feel more in control of their health through better access to test results Multi-disciplinary teams having timely information and specialist advice to enable better treatment planning Better workflows between wards and labs to improve turnaround times and improve patient care Better identification and management of samples to enhance patient convenience and safety and reduce the cost impact of re-testing The challenge now is for commissioners and providers to understand how laboratory benefits service delivery, and then drive change and enable digital innovation in laboratory to help realize wider, longer-term strategic objectives. The need for transformation in models of delivery, focusing on producing great value care with the best outcomes for patients, has never been greater. Early diagnosis to prevent premature mortality, care of long term conditions, and acute care are all areas in which pathology has an enormous role to play, not only in supporting clinical teams, helping design pathways, and making results visible and interpretable for patients, but also in innovation to make the pathways faster and better. Pathology is leading the way in the use of digital technology, with the automated disciplines at the leading edge. In cellular pathology I have seen the way in which my own practice has changed, to include order communications and electronic delivery of reports, bar coding of cases, use of electronic templates, voice recognition for complex narrative upload, electronic requesting of addition special stains The Pathology Modernization Programme and the Carter Review both recognized the need for a change of scale for pathology services. Although the initial focus was on internal efficiencies within the test production process, the same logic applies to innovative ways of using pathology services.
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Digital Screening Tests of Malaria
Indeed a focus solely on local test production misses opportunities for pathology services to work in different ways to enhance care pathways, enable patients to take control of their chronic disorders and save resources outside the laboratory and across health economies. Where changes such as patient access to the results of their blood tests have been introduced, the main benefit has been in a reduction in the number of visits required by patients – the use of this innovation by Kaiser Permanente is a widely recognised example. Through our primary care and other clinicians and healthcare professionals, we rely on pathology to help: Diagnose our illnesses Screen us for congenital diseases, cancer and other conditions Monitor the progress of disease and manage our therapies
The ability of digital to enable effective pathology service delivery must start with understanding user needs – patients, clinicians and commissioners.
Cover Story Pathology has embraced digital technology to enable it to deliver these services. Because pathology supports healthcare throughout care pathways, there are many innovative digital enhancements that will have a significant impact across health service delivery, helping clinicians delivery evidence based care and helping patients manage their own conditions.
The ability of digital to enable effective pathology service delivery must start with understanding user needs – patients, clinicians and commissioners. We need to appreciate that digital is only an enabler – the first step is to understand how services can be designed to better serve patients while also delivering safer and more efficient care. Digital, by its nature, can open up
Screening of Blood Samples Image Credit: Google Images
New possibilities and can inspire different ways of thinking – it should never be applied for its own sake, but we should be at a stage where digital is not merely as an add-on option. We have to ensure that services are accessible to all of those who need them, and we are living in a digital world where people now expect to be able to access information and services in a way and at a time that is convenient for them and the benefits of delivering through digital channels can be huge. This report contains a number of great examples from across the NHS in England where digital thinking has helped to deliver real service enhancements References Report of the Second Phase of the Review of NHS Pathology Services in England, Lord Carter of Coles (2008) Report of an audit by NHS Connecting for Health on test reporting standards in electronic pathology Messages sent to primary care, Gifford Batstone (2012) ClinBiochem Review Feb 2008 29(1): 3-10 cited in Service Improvement in Blood Sciences (NHS Improvement - Diagnostics, Jan 2013)
Research News
Researchers build antibiotic to overcome gram-negative bacteria defenses Based on a new research, researchers report that they now know how to build a molecular Trojan horse that can penetrate gramnegative bacteria, thus solving a problem that has hampered the development of effective new antibiotics against these increasingly drug-resistant microbes for nearly a decade. Their findings have been published in the journal Nature. aul Hergenrother, University of Illinois chemistry professor and the lead researcher along with his team tested their approach by modifying a drug that kills only gram-positive bacteria, which lacks the rugged outer cell membrane, a main feature that characterizes gram-negative microbes and makes them so difficult to combat.
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6DNM-amine is a proof of concept that the new approach can transform gram-positive antibiotics to drugs that can also kill gram-negative microbes. Credit: Photo by L. Brian Stauffer
These modifications transformed the drug into a broadspectrum antibiotic that could also kill gram-negatives, the team reports. Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter, Klebsiella and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are some of the pathogenic strains of Gramnegative bacteria, all of which, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are becoming "increasingly resistant to most available antibiotics."
Research News According to Hergenrother, the attempt to find new antibiotics to tackle these pathogens has failed time and again simply because nearly all new drugs are unable to penetrate the gram-negative bacterial cell wall. He adds further, "We have a handful of classes of antibiotics that work against gram-negatives, but the last class was introduced 50 years ago, in 1968. Now, the bacteria are developing resistance to all of them." This gap of new antibiotics is not due to lack of effort. One such report that supports this is that, in 2007, a large pharmaceutical company screened roughly 500,000 synthetic compounds for activity against E. coli, none of which led to a new drug. "These microbes have an outer membrane that is basically impermeable to antibiotics or would-be antibiotics,"
The researchers tested more compounds with amines, and their success rate increased. But this was not the only trait needed to break into the gramnegative cells. Hergenrother said. "Any drugs that work against them almost always are going through a special gateway, called a porin, that lets in amino acids and other compounds the bacteria need to live." Rather than using commercial chemical libraries, Hergenrother's group turned to its own collection of complex molecules. These were the natural products of plants and microbes that the scientists had modified in the lab. "A few years ago, we found that through a series of organic chemistry steps we could change natural products into molecules that look very different from the parent compounds," Hergenrother said. The new molecules were more diverse than most available commercially, he said. The team has produced more than 600 new compounds using this approach.
The researchers tested these compounds individually against gram-negative bacteria, looking for those that successfully accumulated inside the cells. "The few that got in all had amines on them, so we started building out from there," Hergenrother said. Amines are molecular components that contain the element nitrogen. The researchers tested more compounds with amines, and their success rate increased. But this was not the only trait needed to break into the gram-negative cells. "Having an amine was necessary but not sufficient," Hergenrother said. The team used a computational approach which discovered three key traits required for access: To get in, a compound must have an amine that is not hindered by other molecular components; it must be fairly rigid (floppy compounds are more likely to get stuck in the porin gateway), and it must have "low globularity," which, more simply, means it must be flat, not fat. To test these guidelines, the team added an amine group to deoxynybomycin, a compound created in the 1960s by Kenneth Rinehart Jr., at the time a chemistry professor at the U. of I. The reason behind selecting this compound was its property to act as a potent killer of gram-positive bacteria and as it has the other desirable traits: rigidity and low globularity. By adding an amine to the right place on the molecule, the researchers converted DNM into a broad-spectrum antibiotic that they are calling 6DNM-amine. "The point is not necessarily this compound, which may or may not be a good candidate as a drug used in human health," Hergenrother said. "It's more important as a demonstration that we understand the fundamentals at play here. Now, we know how to make collections of compounds where everything gets in." Finding compounds that penetrate the membrane is important, but antibiotics also must kill the bacteria. Previous research suggests that only about one in 200 random compounds that penetrate gram-negative bacteria are also likely to kill the bacteria, Hergenrother said. "These are workable odds," he said. "Much better than zero in 500,000." Story Source: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Journal Reference: Michelle F. Richter, Bryon S. Drown, Andrew P. Riley, Alfredo Garcia, Tomohiro Shirai, Riley L. Svec, Paul J. Hergenrother. Predictive compound accumulation rules yield a broad-spectrum antibiotic. Nature, 2017; DOI: 10.1038/nature22308
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Research News
Exploring details about genetic switches in cancer Researchers uncover a protein that controls blood cell production in leukemia The protein "reads" various signals displayed on the nucleosome surface by adopting a shape that fits various modifications on the This is a crystal structure of a portion of human DPF2, a protein that controls a genetic switch that tells blood stem cells when to become red and white blood cells. Orange and yellow regions illustrate the DPF2 'reader' domain, which is stabilized by zinc ions, represented as red and grey spheres.
nucleosome complex, like the different shaped pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.
Credit: Hoelz Lab/Caltech
here are a number of things that can go wrong in cells during the development of cancer. The most important of them are often genetic switches that control the production of new cells.
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In a particularly aggressive form of leukemia, called acute myeloid leukemia, a genetic switch that controls the maturation of blood stem cells into red and white blood cells goes wrong.
Research News Normally, this switch induces the formation of appropriate numbers of white and red blood cells. But patients with acute myeloid leukemia finish up with a dangerous accumulation of blood stem cells and a lack of red and white blood cells -cells that are needed to supply the body with oxygen and fight infections. Now, researchers at Caltech and the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami have discovered a protein that helps manage this genetic switch. The protein called DPF2, in healthy individuals, stops the production of red and white blood cells when they do not need to be replaced. That is, it turns the switch off. But the protein can be overproduced in acute myeloid leukemia patients. The protein basically sits on the switch, preventing it from turning back on to make the blood cells as needed. Patients who overproduce DPF2 have a particularly poor prognosis. In a new study, published in the week of May 22, 2017, in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers demonstrated new ways to cut off DPF2, potentially making acute myeloid leukemia more treatable. Their findings show new structural and functional details about a fragment of DPF2. This new information could provide targets for the development of drugs that would block the protein's function. According to AndrĂŠ Hoelz, professor of chemistry at Caltech, a Heritage Medical Research Institute (HMRI) Investigator, and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Faculty Scholar, "Many human diseases, including cancers, arise because of malfunctioning genetic switches," says. "Elucidating how they work at atomic detail allows us to begin the process of custom tailoring drugs to inactivate them and in many cases that is a significant step towards a cure." Red and white blood cells are constantly regenerated from blood stem cells, which reside in our bone marrow. Like other stem cells, blood stem cells can live forever. It is only when they become differentiated into specific cell types, such as red and white blood cells, that they then become mortal, or acquire the ability to die after a certain period of time. "Our bodies use a complex series of genetic switches to differentiate a blood stem cell into many different cell types. These differentiated cells then circulate in the blood and serve a variety of different functions. When these cells reach the end of their lifespan they need to be replaced," says Hoelz. "This is somewhat like replacing used tires on a car."
The Hoelz group also partnered with Stephen D. Nimer, cocorresponding author of the paper and director of the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, and his team to investigate the role of DPF2 and learn more about how it regulates the genetic switch for making blood cells. First, Ferdinand Huber and Andrew Davenport -- both graduate students at Caltech in the Hoelz group and co-first-authors of the new study -obtained crystals of a portion of the DPF2 protein containing a domain known as a PHD finger, which stands for planet homeodomain. They then used X-ray crystallography, a process that involves exposing protein crystals to high-energy X-rays, to solve the structure of the PHD finger domain. The technique was performed at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Light source, using a dedicated beamline of Caltech's Molecular Observatory. Their results showed how DPF2 binds to a DNA-protein complex, called the nucleosome, to block the production of red and white blood cells. The protein "reads" various signals displayed on the nucleosome surface by adopting a shape that fits various modifications on the nucleosome complex, like the different shaped pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Once the protein binds to this DNA locus, DPF2 turns off the switch that regulates blood cell differentiation. In their next step, they checked if DPF2 could be blocked in human blood stem cells in the lab. Sarah Greenblatt, a postdoctoral associate in Nimer's group and co-first author of the study, used the structural information from Hoelz's group to create a mutated version of the protein. The Nimer group then introduced the mutated protein in blood stem cells, and found that the mutated DPF2 could no longer bind to the nucleosome. In other words, DPF2 could no longer inactivate the switch for making blood cells. "The mutated DPF2 was unable to bind to specific regions in the genome and could not halt blood stem cell differentiation," says Huber. "Whether DPF2 can also be blocked in the cancer patients themselves remains to be seen." The researchers say a structural socket in DPF2, one of the puzzle-piece-like regions identified in the new study, is a good target for candidate drugs. Story Source: California Institute of Technology Journal Reference: Ferdinand M. Huber, Sarah M. Greenblatt, Andrew M. Davenport, Concepcion Martinez, Ye Xu, Ly P. Vu, Stephen D. Nimer, AndrĂŠ Hoelz. Histone-binding of DPF2 mediates its repressive role in myeloid differentiation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2017; 201700328 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1700328114
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Research News
Brain cancer discovery could help in quest for new therapies The research findings shed light on the mechanisms that support brain cancer progression and also reveal targets for the development of much-needed new therapies, researchers say. lioblastoma is a highly malignant and a fastgrowing type of brain tumour. Only a few treatment options are available and only one in five patients survive more than a year after getting diagnosed with it.
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In a new study at University of Edinburgh, researchers have found two key molecules that promote the growth of glioblastoma, a rare and an aggressive type of adult brain cancer. The research findings shed light on the mechanisms that support brain cancer progression and also reveal targets for the development of much-needed new therapies, researchers say. The research involved conducting lab tests on tumour cells taken from patients suffering with glioblastoma. Previous studies have shown that glioblastoma cells share similarities with normal brain stem cells, which give rise to the many different cell types in the brain during development. The two molecules that are produced at high levels by the cells are FOXG1 and SOX2. Similar levels of these molecules are found in brain stem cells and are a defining feature of these cells.
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Research News The researchers found that SOX2 promotes glioblastoma cells to keep dividing, an indicator of cancer. The team also found that FOXG1 stops the cells from responding to other signals that would usually direct them towards becoming specialised. Both of these molecules, FOXG1 and SOX2 work by controlling when key target genes are switched on and off by the cell. The researchers also analysed which genes were affected and identified several factors that are involved in controlling cell division. According to researchers, the findings could open the door to new therapies that stop or slow tumour growth.
Dr Ă ine McCarthy, Cancer Research UK's Senior Science Information Officer, said: "While survival for many types of cancer have improved dramatically, tackling brain tumours remains a challenge and we urgently need to develop new, kinder treatments. "This research provides an exciting new insight into how two specific molecules might play a key role in driving the growth of glioblastoma tumours, the most common type of brain tumour. The next step will be for scientists to see if they can develop a way to stop glioblastoma cells from using these molecules as a way to survive and then to test it in clinical trials to see whether this affects tumour growth in people."
The researchers also analysed which genes were affected and identified several factors that are involved in controlling cell division.
The study was led by researchers at the Medical Research Council Centre for Regenerative Medicine at the University of Edinburgh and has been published in the journal Genes and Development. It was funded by Cancer Research UK and the Wellcome Trust.
Lead researcher Dr Steve Pollard, CRUK Senior Cancer Research Fellow at the University of Edinburgh, said: "Brain cancer cells seem to be hijacking important cell machinery that is used by normal brain stem cells. The tactic they appear to use is to produce high levels of these key regulators.
In another research Scientists Are Blasting Away Brain Cancer with Stem Cell Tech Image credit: Neural Stem Cell iStock images
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This locks the tumour cells into perpetual cycles of growth and stops them listening to the signals that normally control cell specialisation."
Story Source: University of Edinburgh Journal Reference: Harry Bulstrode, Ewan Johnstone, Maria Angeles MarquesTorrejon, Kirsty M. Ferguson, Raul Bardini Bressan, Carla Blin, Vivien Grant, Sabine Gogolok, Ester Gangoso, Sladjana Gagrica, Christine Ender, Vassiliki Fotaki, Duncan Sproul, Paul Bertone, Steven M. Pollard. Elevated FOXG1 and SOX2 in glioblastoma enforces neural stem cell identity through transcriptional control of cell cycle and epigenetic regulators. Genes & Development, 2017; DOI: 10.1101/gad.293027.116
Research News
New
Technology
ensures
surgeons
completely remove cancer Every year, nearly a quarter-million women get diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States, while about 180,000 choose surgery to get the cancerous tissue removed while preserving as much healthy breast tissue as possible. Till now, there was no accurate method to confirm during surgery whether all of the cancerous tissue has been successfully removed. The gold-standard analysis used to take a day or more, much too long for a surgeon to wait before wrapping up an operation. As an outcome, about a quarter of women who underwent lumpectomies used to receive a word later that they will need a second surgery as a portion of the tumor was left behind. But a new study carried out by the researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and California Institute of Technology report that they have developed a technique to completely scan a tumor sample and produce images detailed and accurate enough to be used to confirm whether a tumor has been completely removed.
The technology called photoacoustic imaging takes less time compared to standard analysis techniques, but still more work is required before it is fast enough to be utilized during an operation. The research has been published on May 17 in the journal Science Advances with the research paper headed “Fast labelfree multilayered histology-like imaging of human breast cancer by photoacoustic microscopy.� In the context of this research, the researchers Deborah Novack, MD, PhD, an associate professor of medicine, and of pathology and immunology, and a co-senior author on the study said: "This is a proof of concept that we can use photoacoustic imaging on breast tissue and get images that look similar to traditional staining methods without any sort of tissue processing."
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Research News The researchers are continuously working to improve the above technology and they expect that will bring the time needed to scan a specimen down to 10 minutes, fast enough to be used during an operation.
None of the other imaging technologies can do that. Ultrasound will not do that. X-rays will not do that. Light is the only tool that allows us to provide biochemical information."
The current gold-standard method of analysis, which is based on preserving the tissue and then staining it to make the cells easier to see, hasn't got any faster since it its first development in the mid-20th century.
The researchers tested their technique by scanning slices of tumors removed from three breast cancer patients. For comparison, they also stained each specimen according to standard procedures.
In case of solid tumors in most parts of the body, a technique The photoacoustic image matched the stained samples in all known as a frozen section is used by doctors to quickly key features. The architecture of the tissue and sub cellular monitor the excised lump during the surgery. They look for a detail such as the size of nuclei were clearly visible. thin rim of normal cells around the "One day we think we'll be able "It's the pattern of cells -- their tumor. Malignant cells at the margins growth pattern, their size, their suggest the surgeon missed some of the to take a specimen straight from relationship to one another -- that tumor, increasing the chances that the tells us if this is normal tissue or the patient, plop it into the disease will recur. something malignant," Novack said. machine in the operating room But a drawback of frozen section "Overall, the photoacoustic images and know in minutes whether technique is that it doesn't work well on had a lot of the same features that we fatty specimens like those from the we've gotten all the tumor out or see with standard staining, which breast, so the surgeon must finish a means we can use the same criteria not," Aft said. "That's the goal." breast lumpectomy without knowing for to interpret the photoacoustic sure how successful it was. imaging. We don't have to come up with new criteria." "Right now, we don't have a good method to assess margins during breast cancer surgeries," said Rebecca Aft, MD, PhD, Having established that photoacoustic techniques can produce a professor of surgery and a co-senior author on the study. usable images, the researchers are working on reducing the scanning time. In the gold standard technique used currently, just after the surgery, the surgeon sends a specimen to a pathologist, who "We expect to be able to speed up the process," Wang said. slices it, stains it and inspects the margins for malignant cells "For this study, we had only a single channel for emitting under a microscope. The pathologist then sends the results light. If you have multiple channels, you can scan in parallel back to the surgeon within a few days. and that reduces the imaging time. Another way to speed it up is to fire the laser faster. Each laser pulse gives you one data To speed up the process, the researchers took advantage of a point. Faster pulsing means faster data collection." phenomenon known as the photoacoustic effect. When a beam of light of the right wavelength hits a molecule, some "One day we think we'll be able to take a specimen straight of the energy is absorbed and then released as sound in the from the patient, plop it into the machine in the operating ultrasound range. These sound waves can be detected and room and know in minutes whether we've gotten all the tumor used to create an image. out or not," Aft said. "That's the goal." "All molecules absorb light at some wavelength," said cosenior author Lihong Wang, PhD, who conducted the work when he was a professor of biomedical engineering at Washington University's School of Engineering & Applied Science. He is now at Caltech. "This is what makes photoacoustic imaging so powerful. Essentially, you can see any molecule, provided you have the ability to produce light of any wavelength.
Story Source: Washington University in St. Louis Journal Reference: Terence T. W. Wong, Ruiying Zhang, Pengfei Hai, Chi Zhang, Miguel A. Pleitez, Rebecca L. Aft, Deborah V. Novack, Lihong V. Wang. Fast labelfree multilayered histology-like imaging of human breast cancer by photoacoustic microscopy. Science Advances, 2017; 3 (5): e1602168 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1602168
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Product Launch
Photometrics announces 95% Quantum Efficiency Scientific CMOS Camera with Computational Imaging Intelligence Photometrics announces that its Prime 95B Scientific CMOS camera now incorporates award-winning computational capabilities that significantly increase clarity of images hidden in photon shot noise, and provides new ways to address data glut, a common problem when imaging at high frame rates. The camera was the first and is the only in the industry to offer 95 percent QE by leveraging BSI technology, combined with large pixels and low-noise characteristics to maximize light collection. Photometrics expanded on these capabilities by incorporating an FPGA-based Embedded Signal Processing engine, ESP™ from its Prime CMOS camera platform, that enables powerful signal restoration for low-light imaging and feature detection for localization based Super-Resolution Microscopy. Story Source/Credit: Photometrics News Source: https://www.labbulletin.com
Image Credit: Photometrics
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Product Launch
The Molecular Genetics Company, Oxford Gene Technology (OGT) Expanded NGS Cancer Panels Enable Sequencing of Difficult Genes Oxford Gene Technology (OGT), The Molecular Genetics Company, has expanded its SureSeq myPanel™ NGS Custom Cancer Panel content. The expansion comes in response to NGS becoming ever more important for research into an increasing number of cancer types, and a need to obtain reliable data for difficult-to-sequence genes and mutations. The expanded content now covers over 70 genes, with many more available in the near future, optimised for haematology and solid tumours including breast, colorectal, lung, ovarian and prostate cancer, glioma, melanoma, sarcoma, leukaemias, myeloproliferative neoplasms and myelodysplastic syndrome. Story Source/Credit: Oxford Gene Technology
Image Credit: Oxford Gene Technology
News Source: https://www.labbulletin.com
Biotage has released ISOLUTE® FILTER+, a high performance filtration plate for sample preparation Biotage has released ISOLUTE® FILTER+, a high performance filtration plate for sample preparation which effectively removes particulates from biological samples, thereby eliminating expensive downtime of UPLC-MS/MS systems. ISOLUTE® FILTER+ plates provide effective, workflow friendly filtration of diverse biological samples, and are ideal for use with urine prepared by ‘dilute and shoot’ prior to UPLC-MS/MS analysis. Increased back pressures due to particulate accumulation leads to frequent downtime of UPLC systems for replacement or regeneration of the expensive analytical column. Story Source/Credit: Biotage Image Credit: Biotage
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News Source: https://www.labbulletin.com
Product Launch
High-Tech Conversions Adds New Presaturated Wipe Options High-Tech Conversions has added four new presaturated wipe options to their line of products for controlled environments. New saturation levels and materials were made available to offer wiping selections for a broader range of applications. Among the new wipes are options suitable for use in a variety of sterile and non-sterile cleanroom applications including ISO Class 3-4, 5 and higher. Story Source/Credit: High-tech Conversion News Source: https://www.labbulletin.com
Image Credit: High-tech Conversion
Dolomite launches Bio’s μEncapsulator System that Simplifies T-cell Profiling The μEncapsulator System from Dolomite Bio is a complete solution for high throughput encapsulation of individual cells into picoliter droplets. Ideal for profiling natively-paired T-cell receptors (TCRs), this compact, flexible and modular system can process up to 300,000 cells in 15 minutes. T-cells play a vital role in the destruction and subsequent removal of pathogens in the adaptive immune response. Profiling T-cell clonotypes and functional classes from lymphocyte preparations enables researchers to investigate these individual responses to better understand the underlying biology and gain in-depth insight into the configuration of the adaptive immune system. Story Source/Credit: Dolomite
Image Credit: Dolomite
News Source: https://www.labbulletin.com
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Product Launch
Genotox Offers DNA Test for Urine Collection Authentication Genotox Laboratories, Austin, Tex, has developed ToxProtect, which adds a cheek swab to the urine-collection process so that the DNA of the person being tested can be matched to the urine they provide. According to the company, an entire industry has sprung up to help drugtest cheaters, with products such as substitute urine and synthetic urine easily available on the internet. “With a DNA test, there’s no maybe about it,” says Matt McCarty, MD, CEO and founder of Genotox Laboratories. “It either matches, or it doesn’t match.” Story Source/Credit: Genotox
Image Credit: Genotox
News Source: http://www.clpmag.com
Certified Liquid Barrier Gown Protects against Spills The Kimtech A7 certified liquid barrier gown from Kimberly-Clark Professional, Roswell, Ga, delivers stringent liquid barrier protection for scientists and operators and the environments in which they work. It is suited for protection against spills and splashes from blood-borne pathogens, biologics, or other harmful liquids. The gown meets US Pharmacopeial Convention 800 guidelines to protect compounding pharmacy workers and the pharmacy environment from hazardous drugs. Story Source/Credit: http://www.kimtech.com/ News Source: http://www.clpmag.com
Image Credit: http://www.kimtech.com/
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Product Launch
Heparin Calibration Kit for Instrumentation Laboratory Systems Oxford Gene Technology (OGT), The Molecular Genetics Company, has The Validate heparin calibration verification and linearity test kit from LGC Maine Standards, Cumberland Foreside, Me, has received FDA premarket notification (510(k)) clearance for use on Instrumentation Laboratory ACL Top 500 hemostasis test systems. The kit evaluates heparin anti-Xa activity in a human plasma matrix. Each kit is prepared using the ‘equal delta’ method for linearity testing recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute, and is liquid, ready-to-use. Story Source/Credit: http://www.lgcgroup.com/ News Source: http://www.clpmag.com
Image Credit: http://www.lgcgroup.com/
Advanced Cooling Systems Suited for Blood Product Storage Century Refrigeration, Pryor, Okla, offers a portfolio of advanced cooling systems for blood product storage applications. The refrigeration systems are custom designed, with individual components selected and sized to sustain the necessary low temperatures, avoid contamination and product loss, and simplify maintenance. The units feature extremely low temperature coils, safe refrigerants, and appropriate redundancy. They are designed to ensure total uptime and protect valuable blood products in blood bank and laboratory settings. Story Source/Credit: http://www.raecorp.com/
Image Credit: http://www.raecorp.com/
News Source: http://www.clpmag.com
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Product Launch
Class of: Immunoassay Analyzers Meets updated FDA performance requirements BD, Franklin Lakes, NJ, has announced that its BD Veritor system Flu A+B, a digital immunoassay for the rapid detection of influenza, meets new FDA performance requirements. FDA recently reclassified antigen-based rapid influenza detection tests (RIDTs) intended to detect influenza virus directly from clinical specimens from Class I devices into Class II devices subject to special controls. Story Source/Credit: www.bd.com News Source: http://www.clpmag.com
Image Credit: www.bd.com
ZEISS Crossbeam 550 sets new standards in 3D analytics and sample preparation with FIB-SEMs ZEISS presents a new generation of focused ion beam scanning electron microscopes (FIB-SEMs) for high-end applications in research and industry. ZEISS Crossbeam 550 features a significant increase in resolution for imaging and material characterization and a speed gain in sample preparation. Nanostructures such as composites, metals, biomaterials or semiconductors can be investigated with analytical and imaging methods in parallel. ZEISS Crossbeam 550 allows simultaneous modification and monitoring of samples, resulting in fast sample preparation and high throughput e.g. for cross-sectioning, TEM lamella preparation or nano-patterning. Story Source/Credit: ZEISS News Source: https://www.labbulletin.com
Image Credit: ZEISS
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Event Coverage
With the increase of Global Laboratory equipment spending growth to 15%, Thailand LAB INTERNATIONAL is ready to become the leading platform for this industry n 2015, the global market for general laboratory equipment was valued at nearly $5.4 billion. This market is expected to reach $9.4 billion by 2020, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.7% from 2015 to 2020. Furthermore, the Asian market for general laboratory equipment is expected to increase from $1.4 billion in 2015 to $2.8 billion in 2020, with a CAGR of 15% from 2015 to 2020.
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The exhibition related to this industry has been presented in many countries in Asia, and one of the powerful market platforms is Thailand LAB INTERNATIONAL 2017 which is now on itsseventh edition. The event focuses on International trade exhibition and conference on analytical laboratory equipment &
technology, Biotechnology & Life sciences and Chemical & Safety. The conference will be held on 6-8 September 2017 at EH101-102, BITEC, Thailand. Last year, the Thailand LAB INTERNATIONAL 2016 welcomed 9,005 trade visitors from 47 countries. It was participated by 250 top companies from 23 countries by 709 business matching and 3,228 conferences delegates with 160 speakers. The show was able to establish buyers and visitors from R&D, QC, purchasing and management in various industries. Participating countries were Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, India, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Japan, South Korea,
Taiwan, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Spain, the UK, and the USA. Thailand LAB INTERNATIONAL 2017 aims to strengthen a promising market place for laboratory technologies and equipment. Moreover, it promises to facilitated business opportunities in analysis, diagnostics, research & development, quality assurance, quality control, testing & measurement. This year, under the concept of “Accuracy & Precision�, Thailand LAB INTERNATIONAL will bring the latest laboratory technologies and new applications representing a high precision and accurate result for meeting global standards, which is the primary factor for all scientific equipment and laboratory instruments.
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Event Coverage The exhibition will continue to be platform for networking, knowledge exchange and trade opportunities for all government and industry sector in Thailand beyond.
within
the region
what other industries exist in the market and what kind of solutions are
networks and enhance business partnerships in Bio Industry.
being offered, rather than taking the time to do research on where to find
At the moment, 80% of the space has already been booked by 140 top exhibiting companies, And, we will definitely fulfill another 20% by new comers by the end of June 2017.
and the solutions.” said by Mr. Marc Sedam, Associate Vice Provost for Innovation and New Ventures,
In 2017, Biotechnology and Medical Science will be put on the spotlight, apart from leading issue in biopharmaceutical, laboratory safety and technology according to economic growth and industry trends. Thailand LAB INTERNATIONAL has already invited international speakers and experts to share their expertise and knowledge to participants. More importantly, more than 1,000 key buyers and Image Credit: Thailand Lab International international participants especially in Asia Pacific Thailand Lab International : Event Cover will be invited to the show. This will be under the hosted buyer program to University of New Hampshire, USA increase our trade value onsite. Mr. Anucha Parnpichate, Thailand “Thailand LAB INTERNATIONAL LAB INTERNATIONAL Project is the number one show for scientific Manager said that the exhibition will instrument markets in Thailand. So if become much more international you want your company and your because there will be more exhibiting product to be known in Thailand and countries. Moreover, six countries Southeast East market, you should pavilions dedicated to China, India, not miss this opportunity to South Korea, United Kingdom, participate at the event.” said by Ms. Taiwan, and Germany & Bavaria will Jarungjit Suranen, Assistant Regional be set-up and presented to all Manager, ANALYTIK JENA FAR participants. Thailand LAB EAST (THAILAND) LTD INTERNATIONAL will also provide a special area called “Bio-Square”. “Thailand LAB INTERNATIONAL This is to strengthen bio-business for industry, it is very crucial because you have a one stop shop to find out
With positive response from industry leaders, 90% of exhibitors are very satisfied with quality of the show and more than 70% of exhibitors had made their onsite rebooking to attend the show. We can truly guarantee that this year’s Thailand LAB INTERNATIONAL will help facilitate the creation of business platforms for business expansion, potential buyers, international suppliers and the increasing of industry knowledge with laboratory expertise. For more information and space booking, please call +662 670 0900 ext. 201-203, email thailandlab@vnuexhibitionsap.com, or visit www.thailandlab.com and www.bioinvestmentasia.com Save you date and join the leading laboratory trade exhibition in Asia. Thailand LAB INTERNATIONAL 2017 would be held during 6-8 September 2017 at EH101-102, BITEC, Bangkok, Thailand / register now at www.thailandlab.com For media partnership, please contact Mrs.Saengtip T. at saengtip.won@vnuexhibitionsap.com
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Event Coverage
Inauguration of Event TDNBC Image Credit: Lexicon (Provided By)
Indian and Australian Prime Ministers launch world’s most advanced Nanobiotechology research centre in India The research centre is a joint initiative between TERI and Deakin University
New Delhi / Gurgaon, April 10, 2017: Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, inaugurated the world’s most advanced Nanobiotechology research centre, a joint venture between The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and Deakin University, Australia.
Our joint research has entered the phase of field trials and this outstanding science cooperation is firmly rooted in tangible outcomes, that is, to improve the lives of millions.”, Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi said while digitally inaugurating the TERI Deakin Nanobiotechology Centre.
“The cooperation in the field of education and research is the most important field of engagement between India and Australia. TERI-Deakin Nanobiotechology Research Centre is a classic example of the kind of cutting edge research being done by the two countries. The $100 million AustraliaIndia Strategic Research Fund is for collaborative research in areas such as nanotechnology, agriculture, food security, smart cities, etc.
Speaking on the occasion, the Australian Prime Minister, Mr. Malcolm Turnbull, said, “The Deakin-TERI Nanobiotechology Research Centre, which we just inaugurated, is brilliant and I want to say thank you to the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor of Deakin University.
So well done! This research centre will bring up to 100 researchers together to solve some of the world’s biggest problems in developing biofuels to early detection of crop diseases to improve productivity. And these are practical solutions with commercial prospects for both of our countries.” The TERI-Deakin Nano Biotechnology Centre (TDNBC), established at Gwal Pahari, Gurgaon, aims to support and nurture innovative ideas for existing problems of Indian agriculture amongst other sectors.
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Event Coverage In 2010, The Energy and Resources Institute, India, and Deakin University, Australia, signed an agreement to establish a joint Centre of Excellence, the TERI-Deakin Nano Biotechnology Centre (TDNBC) to foster cutting-edge research around sustainable agriculture, which was achieved through establishment of a laboratory worth AU$7.8 million at TERI Gram, Gwal Pahari, Haryana, India. The centre is an expansion of Deakin University’s ongoing ‘Deakin India Research Initiative’.
While addressing the media, Prof. Jane Den Hollander, Vice Chancellor and President of Deakin University, Australia, said, “We are delighted to partner with TERI for building scientific temper and bringing new innovations in the field of science and technology.
This Centre has also been rated as a 5-star GRIHA building; it is an example of resource efficiency and smart future. The Class 10000 and 1000 controlled Australian Prime Minister with Prime Misnister of India, Sri. Narendra Modi environment Centre Image Credit: Lexicon (Provided By) is spread over 5 acres of land and houses high-end scientific Deakin is passionate about supporting the equipment like Nano particle analyser communities we serve and ensuring our (XETA sizer), Lazer scanning graduates are prepared for the jobs of the microscope (Confocal), Scanning future, in a global environment. electron microscope (SEM), and “As the first Australian university to Transmission Electron microscope establish an office in India in 1994, (TEM). Deakin is proud to continue to strengthen our relationship each year, providing Dr. Ajay Mathur, Director General, opportunities to students around the world TERI said, “Indian agriculture today is and helping to improve lives both in India facing new challenges, such as degrading and Australia.” natural resources, climate change and almost stagnant productivity. About TERI Nanotechnology interventions have been identified as the most critical area of The Energy and Resources Institute application of nanotechnology for (TERI) is a leading think tank dedicated to attaining the goals of Vision 2050, to conducting research for sustainable enhance agricultural productivity. And, development of India and the Global this centre will strive to achieve this South. TERI was established in 1974 as an vision.” information centre on energy issues.
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Over the decades, it has made a mark as a research institute, whose policy and technology solutions have transformed people's lives and the environment. About Deakin University Established in 1974, Deakin was Victoria's fourth university and the first in regional Victoria. In 2014 Deakin celebrated its 40th anniversary. Deakin has a strong presence in India through an office located in New Delhi, since 1994. Deakin has been strengthened by a series of successful mergers with strong partners, each of whom has contributed significantly to our character and approach. Today, Deakin operates in a global, connected world with the digital economy influencing every aspect of our activities. The TERI Deakin Research Centre for Nano-biotechnology Deakin is ranked among the world's most international universities. Deakin emphasises on a high priority on global partnerships with industry, government, research institutes, not-for-profit organisations and like-minded universities/organisations. Deakin has established partnerships with some of the world’s leading research organisations, allowing us to make a global impact in many research fields from nanobiotechnology to health to advanced manufacturing.
Event Coverage With this vision in mind, Deakin University, Australia and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), India entered into an agreement in 2010, to establish a joint Centre of Excellence, the TERIDeakin Nano Biotechnology Centre (TDNBC) to foster cutting edge research with a global perspective, which was achieved through AU$7.8 million laboratory at TERI Gram, Gual Pahari, Haryana, India. Deakin University, Australia launched the ‘Deakin India Research Initiative’ (DIRI) in India in 2009. DIRI builds on Deakin University’s world-leading expertise in material sciences, nanotechnology and biotechnology. It is an expansion of Deakin University’s ongoing development of research models to bridge the industry-academia divide. The centre envisages having a total of 100 researchers, and providing a hub for up to 50 Ph.D. students enrolled at Deakin University under the Deakin India Research Initiative (DIRI) and cosupervised by Deakin and TERI faculties. Delivering Social Impact: Deakin established the joint centre with TERI with an aim to undertake research into global issues such as food security for a growing world population, sustainable agricultural practices and environmental sustainability. Prof. Den Hollander, Vice Chancellor of Deakin feels that these are vital issues for humanity and it is extremely satisfying to think of the hugely positive implications that is coming out of this research. The new laboratory will be used to bring together Deakin University’s expertise in the design and characterisation of novel nanomaterials and TERI’s experience in biotech applications in food, agriculture, environment and pharmacology. It aims to assume space as Centre of Excellence and attract the best of minds from the industry and academia.
This is expected to be seen as a nurture centre for Nano biotechnology research in the world providing “Nano-science” driven innovative and green solutions to challenges and pressing problems in the field of agriculture, environment and BioEnergy. The centre endeavours to contribute towards a deeper understanding of Nano Biotechnology amongst the academic and research community. With the state-of-the-art facilities, the attempt will be to significantly improve the research outcomes and enhance the engagement with industry, other research communities, potential donors and national and international stakeholders. Skills Development Initiative: India’s current population is at 1.2 billion of which 700 million is working age population. Of these, 200 million are university graduates with the remaining 500 million people needing training to productively participate in the workforce. India has set a target to train these 500 million by 2022, around 50 million of these are estimated to be already trained. This training target is divided across three agencies National Skills Development Corporation (150 million), Ministry of Labour and Employment (100 million) and Ministry of Human Resource Development (50 million). The remaining 150 million is divided over 17 Ministries. The Australia India Education Council’s (AIEC) Skills Working Group is leading a number of bilateral projects with an objective to build industry, institution and government partnerships in quality skills development. In April 2016, The Australian Government, represented by Mr Robb, today announced the $5.4 million International Skills Training Courses initiative to extend Australia's role in international education and training.
Deakin’s growing partnership with TERI is a key development in the University’s relationship with both Government and industry in India. It is a powerful opportunity for Deakin to engage and contribute to the key aspects of education and skill development in India. The partnership is seen as furthering Australia’s commitment to India and an excellent opportunity which will help both countries meet the demand for a global, skilled workforce in the future. India requires training that fits the needs of their industry and economy, while also bridging the gap between educational institutions and the labour market. Hence, keeping both the countries vision for Skill development in mind courses may be designed and delivered jointly by Deakin and TERI at the centre focussing on nanotechnology applications and agricultural biotechnology. AU$ 1.1 million scholarships awarded to students at TERI Deakin Nano Biotechnology Centre New Delhi/Gurgaon, April 12, 2017: Following the inauguration of TERI Deakin Nano Biotechnology Centre (TDNBC) by Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Honourable Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Australia, on April 10, Senator Hon Simon Birmingham, Education and Training Minister, Australia, awarded a three-year tuition fee waiver scholarship, worth AU$ 1.1 million, to 11 Indian students, yesterday. The Senator was leading a high-level delegation visit to the research centre in Gurgaon, which is the most advanced of its kind. The visit marked the celebration of the Indo-Australian academic and research alliance. The scholarships are awarded to the PhD students engaged in research programmes at TDNBC in Gurgaon.
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Event Coverage These students are currently enrolled at Deakin University under the Deakin India Research Initiative (DIRI), which was launched in India in 2009. DIRI builds on Deakin University’s worldleading expertise in material sciences, nanotechnology and biotechnology.
Programme is predominantly designed to equip the best of the talent with advanced research facilities. Under this programme, Deakin University and TERI will provide joint supervision to the students. TDNBC envisions meeting the demand for a global, skilled workforce in nano biotechnology”.
While addressing the gathering, Hon Simon Birmingham said, “The TERI Deakin Nano Biotechnology Centre facility is not incredible because we are commissioning bricks and mortar, it’s incredible because of the brains, the students, the knowledge that is embedded within the facility, and the potential that they (students) are going to realise in so many different ways.”
Dr. Ajay Mathur, Director General, TERI, further added,
Under the program, each student is provided with a full tuition fee waiver from Deakin University up to an amount of approx. AU$ 100, 000 for a period of three years. During the program, the students travel to Deakin University, Australia, for a period of six to eight months during their PhD to work closely with their Deakin supervisor. Elaborating on the scholarship programme, Professor Jane den Hollander, AO, VC Deakin University said,” The three-year scholarship
“Within five years, the Centre aims to have a number of researchers, including PhD students, enrolled at Deakin. With its cutting edge technology at the disposal of these bright minds, this Centre will help India make a mark on the global map for building new capabilities and bringing new innovations in the field of science and technology”. The research centre also houses the Researcher’s Residences, with a capacity for 50 residents, which was inaugurated by the Minister today. Dr Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, and Mr Ashok Chawla, Chairman of TERI were also present on the occasion.About TERI The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) is a leading think tank dedicated to
conducting research for sustainable development of India and the Global South. TERI was established in 1974 as an information centre on energy issues. Over the decades, it has made a mark as a research institute, whose policy and technology solutions have transformed people's lives and the environment. About Deakin University Established in 1974, Deakin was Victoria's fourth university and the first in regional Victoria. In 2014 Deakin celebrated its 40th anniversary. Deakin has a strong presence in India through an office located in New Delhi, since 1994. Deakin has been strengthened by a series of successful mergers with strong partners, each of whom has contributed significantly to our character and approach. Today, Deakin operates in a global, connected world with the digital economy influencing every aspect of our activities.
For further information contact Deakin: Tanya Singh: +91 7042089805 tanya@lexicon.in ; Reshma Karunan : +91 9811753861 reshma@lexicon.in TERI: Pallavi Singh: +91 9873191597 pallavi.singh@teri.res.in ; Sneha Dev: +91- 9958000706 sneha.dev@edelman.com
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