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AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015 Volume 19, Number 3
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R&D News.......................... 1 Appointments..................... 6 Pharma Notes..................... 7 New Products................... 15 App Reviews...................... 18 Calendar........................... 19
WATERLOO RESEARCH FACILITY TO DEVELOP INTELLIGENT GREEN CARS
John McPhee heads the GAIA project. (Credit: NSERC)
A new breed of smarter and greener cars than current models could emerge from technology developed at a new research facility at the University of Waterloo. The $10 million Green and Intelligent Automotive (GAIA) research
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facility is established today in the Faculty of Engineering with $1 million initial funding from Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada (TMMC). The Governments of Canada and Ontario are also providing $2.1 million each through
the Canada Foundation for Innovation and the Ontario Research Fund Research Infrastructure program. GAIA will consist of three labs: one focusing on powertrain efficiency, another on longer-lasting batteries for hybrid and electric cars, and a third lab for testing research-modified hybrid electric vehicles on rolling dynamometers. Alternative powertrains found in electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are integral to the future of transportation. Developing intelligent software for use in low-cost, on-board vehicle computers can provide significant
reductions of both emissions and fuel consumption. Complex component systems will contribute to the development of new in-vehicle power electronics and embedded controllers. The result of this research work also has the potential to enable hybrid vehicles to feed energy into Canada’s electrical grid and become an integral daytime supplier of low cost energy. “The GAIA facility will enable world-class multidisciplinary research with a strong collaborative approach,” said John McPhee, a Waterloo systems design engineering professor who heads the GAIA project. The facility will be accessible to a range of automotive companies and universities currently partnering with the University of Waterloo. Professor McPhee will lead a research team of eight professors from four different engineering departments. As part of the Waterloo Centre for Automotive Research (WatCAR), which leads automotiveacademic collaboration in North America, GAIA will support Canadian industry in providing new components and systems into a rapidly growing market. The facility has the capacity to conduct confidential projects simultaneously, offering open access for any company. To meet demand, it is expected new companies will be established, while existing manufacturers will evolve their product offerings. To see this story online visit http://www.laboratoryfocus. ca/?p=3373
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CANADIAN SCIENTISTS MAKE SIGNIFICANT DISCOVERY ON HIV PERSISTENCE A Canadian research team at the Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM) in Montréal, led by molecular virologist Dr. Éric A. Cohen
has made a significant discovery on how HIV escapes the body’s antiviral responses. Specifically, Dr. Cohen and his team have uncovered how an
HIV viral protein known as Vpu tricks the immune system by using its own regulatory process to evade the host’s first line of defence. The breakthrough, published in the scientific journal PLoS Pathogens could pave
the way for future HIV prevention or cure strategies. The goal of the IRCM team was to determine how HIV manages to compromise antiviral responses in the initial
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NEWS
period of infection, also called the acute infection stage, during which the virus establishes itself in the body. The acute infection is considered a critical period in determining the complexity, extent and progression of the disease. It is also during this stage that HIV establishes latent infection in longlasting cellular reservoirs. These viral reservoirs, which harbour the virus out of sight from the immune system and antiviral drugs, represent the primary barrier to a cure. “An important component in this process is a group of proteins collectively called type 1 Interferons, which are the immune system’s first line of defence against viral infections and are known to have a beneficial role in the early stages of HIV infection,” says Dr. Cohen, who is the director of the Human Retrovirology research unit at the IRCM. “The problem is that HIV has developed mechanisms to suppress the Interferon response and, until now, little was known about how this was achieved.” Most of the Interferon is produced by a very small population of immune cells called pDCs (plasmacytoid dendritic cells), responsible for providing immediate defence against infections. PDCs patrol the body to detect invaders and when they recognize the presence of a pathogen, they secrete Interferon. The Interferon then triggers a large array of defence mechanisms in nearby cells, creating an antiviral state that prevents
Photo: NIAID. HIV-infected T cell. CC BY 2.0.
Continued from page 2
the dissemination and, ultimately, the expansion of the virus. “When pDCs encounter HIV-infected cells, the production of Interferon is regulated by a protein located on the infected cell’s surface called BST2,” explains Mariana Bego, PhD, first author of the study and research associate in Dr. Cohen’s laboratory. She adds, “BST2 has the ability to bind to and activate a receptor called ILT7, found on the surface of pDCs, which, in turns, sends a signal that suppresses the production of Interferon and halts its defensive functions. Interestingly, BST2 is also responsible for restricting HIV production by trapping the virus at the cell surface before it can exit infected cells and disseminate. However, HIV uses the viral protein Vpu to counteract BST2 antiviral activity.”
“With this study, we uncovered a unique mechanism whereby HIV exploits the regulatory process between BST2 and ILT7 to limit the body’s antiviral response, which allows the virus to spread and leads to persistent infection,” continues Dr. Bego. “We found that HIV, through Vpu, takes advantage of the role played by BST2 by maintaining its ability to activate ILT7 and limit the production of Interferon, all the while counteracting its direct antiviral activity on HIV production.” “The hope for a definitive cure and an effective vaccine has been frustrated by HIV’s endless propensity to subvert the host’s defences and persist in small populations of long-lasting reservoirs despite antiretroviral therapy,” describes Dr. Cohen, who also leads CanCURE, a team of leading Canadian
researchers working towards an HIV cure. “Our findings can provide tools to enhance antiviral responses during the early stages of infection. By blocking Vpu’s action, we could prevent early viral expansion and dissemination, while also allowing pDCs to trigger effective antiviral responses. We believe that such interventions during primary infection have the potential to limit the establishment and complexity of viral reservoirs, a condition that seems required to achieve a sustained HIV remission.” The research project was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Canadian HIV Cure Enterprise (CanCURE) through a partnership between CIHR, the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR) and the International AIDS Society (IAS), as well as by a pilot project from the FRQS AIDS and Infectious Disease Network. The study’s authors also include Édouard Côté and Johanne Mercier from the IRCM, as well as Nick Aschman and Winfried Weissenhorn from the Université Grenoble Alpes in France. For more information on the study, please refer to the article published online by PLoS Pathogens: http://journals.plos.org/ plospathogens/article?id=10.1371/ journal.ppat.1005024. To see this story online visit http://www.laboratoryfocus. ca/?p=3262
RESEARCHERS DEVELOP TEST TO DETECT AND DIAGNOSE INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND SUPERBUGS Infectious diseases such as hepatitis C and some of the world’s deadliest superbugs—C. difficile and MRSA among them—could soon be detected much earlier by a unique diagnostic test, designed to easily and quickly identify dangerous pathogens. Researchers at McMaster University have developed a new way to detect the smallest traces of metabolites, proteins or fragments of DNA. In essence, the new method can pick up any compound that might signal the presence of infectious disease, be it respiratory or gastrointestinal. “The method we have developed allows us to detect targets at levels that are unprecedented,” says John Brennan, director of McMaster’s Biointerfaces Institute, where the work was done. This new method is described online in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition.
“The test has the best sensitivity ever reported for a detection system of this kind – it is as much as 10,000 times more sensitive than other detection systems,” he says. Using sophisticated techniques, researchers developed a molecular device made of DNA that can be switched ‘on’ by a specific molecule of their choice—such as a certain type of disease indicator or DNA molecule representing a genome of a virus—an action that leads to a massive, amplified signal which can be easily spotted. Another important advantage of the new test, say researchers, is that the method does not require complicated equipment so tests can be run at room temperature under ordinary conditions. “This will be the foundation for us to create future diagnostic tests”, explains Yingfu Li, a professor in the Departments of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Chemistry and Chemical Biology. “This invention will allow us to detect anything we might
Yingfu Li, a professor in the Departments of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Chemistry and Chemical Biology at McMaster University. Photo credit: McMaster University be interested in, bacterial contamination or perhaps a protein molecule that is a cancer marker. Our method can sensitively detect all of them, and it can do so in a relatively short period of time.” Researchers are currently working to move the test onto a paper surface to create a portable point-of-care test, which would completely eliminate the need for lab instruments, allowing users—family physicians, for example— to run the test.
Additionally, the Biointerfaces Institute has developed a series of paper-based screening technologies which enable users to generate clear, simple answers that appear on test paper indicating the presence of infection or contamination in people, food or the environment. To see this story online visit http://www.laboratoryfocus. ca/?p=3219
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NEWS
CANADIAN VIRAL THERAPY FOR CANCER CLINICAL TRIAL A WORLD FIRST
Dr. David Stojdl
Canadian researchers have launched the world’s first clinical trial of an investigational therapy that uses a combination of two viruses to attack and kill cancer cells, while stimulating an anti-cancer immune response. The therapy was jointly discovered and is being developed by Dr. David Stojdl (Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, University of Ottawa), Dr. Brian Lichty (McMaster University) and Dr. John Bell (The Ottawa Hospital, University of Ottawa), and their respective research teams and colleagues. The clinical trial, which is funded by the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research and coordinated by the NCIC Clinical Trials Group, is expected to enroll up to 79 patients at four hospitals across Canada. Up to 24 patients will receive one of the viruses and the rest will receive both, two weeks apart. Previous research by this team and others worldwide suggests that this approach could be very powerful, and could have fewer side effects than conventional chemotherapy and radiation, although it will take years to rigorously test through this trial and others. The idea of using viruses to treat cancer has been around for more than a century, with sporadic reports of cancer patients experiencing remarkable recoveries after viral infections. However, it is only in recent years that viral therapy has begun to be developed and tested in a rigorous way. Drs. Bell, Lichty and Stojdl began investigating viral therapies for cancer nearly 15 years ago when they worked together at the Ottawa Hospital. “We found that when normal cells become cancerous, it’s like they are making a deal with the devil,”
Dr. Brian Lichty
explained Dr. Bell, a senior scientist at the Ottawa Hospital and professor at the University of Ottawa. “They acquire genetic mutations that allow them to grow very quickly, but these same mutations also make them more susceptible to viruses.” The two viruses being tested in this clinical trial are called MG1MA3 and AdMA3. MG1MA3 is derived from the Maraba virus, which was first isolated from Brazilian sandflies, while AdMA3 is derived from a common cold virus called Adenovirus. Both of these viruses have been engineered to stimulate an immune response against cancer cells that express a protein called MAGE-A3, but the Maraba virus also achieves an extra layer of anti-cancer activity by replicating inside many kinds of cancer cells and killing them directly. These viruses are manufactured in specialized facilities at the Ottawa Hospital and McMaster University. “The idea behind this trial is to use
Dr. John Bell
the Adenovirus to prime the patient’s immune system to recognize their cancer, and then use the Maraba virus to directly kill their cancer and further stimulate their immune system to prevent the cancer coming back,” said Dr. Lichty, associate professor at McMaster University. “We’re enthusiastic about the potential of this unique therapy.” “We’re very excited about this first clinical trial,” said Dr. Stojdl, senior scientist at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and associate professor at the University of Ottawa. “We’re continuing to push very hard to develop a suite of biological therapies with the goal of launching similar trials tailored to other types of tumours, including brain cancer and several devastating childhood cancers.” Viral therapies are one component of a growing field of cancer research that seeks to use biological materials (including cells, genes, antibodies and viruses) to attack cancer cells and stim-
ulate an anti-cancer immune response. This field of research has been called biotherapy or immunotherapy. Dr. Bell and his colleagues recently launched the $60 million BioCanRx network to advance this area of research. Additionally, the Maraba virus is an important part of a broad biotherapeutics clinical trial development program in Canada that is combining viruses and vaccines with standard and emerging therapies to treat different types of tumours. Drs. Lichty, Bell and Stojdl and their institutions, in cooperation with the Fight Against Cancer Innovation Trust, have formed Turnstone Biologics in order to engage the private sector and to help fund further clinical trials. “Immunotherapy is a very exciting field of cancer research, with antibodybased therapies showing the most promise in clinical trials so far,” said Dr. Derek Jonker, the overall lead for the clinical trial, a medical oncologist at The Ottawa Hospital and a professor at the University of Ottawa. “Viral therapies have also shown promise in laboratory studies, but it is too soon to know what impact they may have on patients. This clinical trial will help us find out and we’re very grateful to the patients who have participated.” In addition to The Ottawa Hospital, the clinical trial is also taking place at the Juravinski Cancer Centre of Hamilton Health Sciences (under the leadership of Dr. Sebastien Hotte), Princess Margaret Cancer Centre of the University Health Network in Toronto (under the leadership of Dr. Albiruni R A Razak) and the Vancouver Centre of the BC Cancer Agency (under the leadership of Dr. Daniel Renouf). The trial was approved by Health Canada, the Ontario Cancer Research Ethics Board and the BC Cancer Agency Research Ethics Board. Further details about the trial are available at clinicaltrials.gov. To see this story online visit http://www.laboratoryfocus. ca/?p=3270
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NEWS
COULD BLACK PHOSPHORUS BE THE NEXT SILICON? As scientists continue to hunt for a material that will make it possible to pack more transistors on a chip, new research from McGill University and Université de Montréal adds to evidence that black phosphorus could emerge as a strong candidate. In a study published in Nature Communications, the researchers report that when electrons move in a phosphorus transistor, they do so only in two dimensions. The finding suggests that black phosphorus could help engineers surmount one of the big challenges for future electronics: designing energy-efficient transistors. “Transistors work more efficiently when they are thin, with electrons moving in only two dimensions,” says Thomas Szkopek, an associate professor in McGill’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and senior author of the new study. “Nothing gets thinner than a single layer of atoms.” In 2004, physicists at the University of Manchester in the U.K. first isolated and explored the remarkable properties of graphene -- a oneatom-thick layer of carbon. Since then scientists have
Schematic of the “puckered honeycomb” crystal structure of black phosphorus. Photo: Vahid Tayari/McGill University. rushed to investigate a range of other two-dimensional materials. One of those is black phosphorus, a form of phosphorus that is similar to graphite and can be separated easily into single atomic layers, known as phosphorene. Phosphorene has sparked growing interest because it overcomes many of the challenges of using graphene in electronics. Unlike graphene, which acts like a metal, black phosphorus is a natural semiconductor: it can be readily switched on and off. “To lower the operating voltage of transistors, and thereby reduce the heat they
generate, we have to get closer and closer to designing the transistor at the atomic level,” Szkopek says. “The toolbox of the future for transistor designers will require a variety of atomic-layered materials: an ideal semiconductor, an ideal metal, and an ideal dielectric. All three components must be optimized for a well-designed transistor. Black phosphorus fills the semiconducting-material role.” The work resulted from a multidisciplinary collaboration among Szkopek’s nanoelectronics research group, the nanoscience lab of McGill Physics prof. Guillaume Ger-
LIFELABS OPENS NEW GENETICS LABORATORY IN TORONTO A new state-of-the-art genetics laboratory that will give Canadians access to genetic testing is now fully operational. Owned and operated by LifeLabs Medical Laboratory Services, the 10,000 square facility located in Toronto, ON is the largest privately owned genetics laboratory in Canada. “As this new era of personalized medicine evolves, LifeLabs is thrilled to perform genetic tests in Canada and to build genetics expertise and experience in our own country,” said Jeff Sumner, senior vicepresident, business development, clinical affairs and genetics. “With help from our partners, the genetics lab will help bring Canadiandeveloped technology to
market and build genetic testing capacity in Canada.” The company says it will make cost-effective, clinically relevant genetic testing more accessible to Canadians while helping to build next-generation genetic testing expertise and capacity in the country. “As genetics continues to transform healthcare delivery, LifeLabs will continue to be at the forefront, working with our government partners and many others to find the most cost effective and meaningful way to deliver this service to Canadians,” commented Sue Paish, LifeLabs president and CEO. While the new facility actually opened its doors in December 2014, it has been undergoing the necessary accreditation, validation
and licensing procedures in preparation for scaling up to full operation. As a Canadian community laboratory services provider, LifeLabs’ extensive network of collection centres in hundreds of communities allows patients to easily and conveniently provide samples for testing. If they cannot reach a collection centre, healthcare providers may request the delivery of a free sample collection kit from LifeLabs Genetics. The official opening of the LifeLabs’ genetics lab follows a previous announcement confirming the partnership between LifeLabs and the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre to establish a national database of genomic profiles of various cancers.
vais, and the nanostructures research group of prof. Richard Martel in Université de Montréal’s Department of Chemistry. To examine how the electrons move in a phosphorus transistor, the researchers observed them under the influence of a magnetic field in experiments performed at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in Tallahassee, FL, the largest and highestpowered magnet laboratory in the world. This research “provides important insights into the fundamental physics that dictate the behavior of black phosphorus,” says Tim Murphy, DC Field Facility director at the Florida facility. “What’s surprising in these results is that the electrons are able to be pulled into a sheet of charge which is twodimensional, even though they occupy a volume that is several atomic layers in thickness,” Szkopek says. That finding is significant because it could potentially facilitate manufacturing the material -- though at this point “no one knows how to manufacture this material on a large scale.” “There is a great emerging interest around the world in
black phosphorus,” Szkopek says. “We are still a long way from seeing atomic layer transistors in a commercial product, but we have now moved one step closer.” The research was funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies, Le regroupement québécois sur les matériaux de pointe, and the Canada Research Chairs program. A portion of the work was performed at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, which is supported by the National Science Foundation, the State of Florida and the U.S. Department of Energy.
References
1. “Two-dimensional magnetotransport in a black phosphorus naked quantum well”, V. Tayari et al, published online in Nature Communications, July 7, 2015. DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8702. To see this story online visit http://www.laboratoryfocus. ca/?p=3212
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APPOINTMENTS
Mel Wong has been appointed BioAlberta’s new president. Wong brings a wealth of government management experience, intimate
Mel Wong knowledge of life sciences, as well as an extensive network of international, intergovernmental and industry relationships. Prior to his appointment as president of BioAlberta, he served as the Assistant Deputy Minister of Technology and Industry Partnerships Division at Alberta Innovation and Advanced Education for over ten years. Prior to that Wong held the executive director’s role in the Research and Technology Commercialization Division of Alberta Innovation and Science and several other management roles within the Government of Alberta. Wong graduated from the University of Lethbridge with a Bachelor of Arts and Science in Economics. He also holds a Management Development Certificate from the University of British Columbia. Transition Therapeutics Inc. announces the appointment of Carl Damiani as president and chief operating officer. Since joining Transition in 2003, Damiani has held the roles of chief operating officer, vice-president of business development and director of business development. ProNAi Therapeutics Inc. has named Dr. Barbara Klencke as its new chief development officer. An accomplished oncology drug developer, she made substantial contributions to the development and approval of numerous oncology products, including Kyprolis, Kadcyla, Avastin and Tarceva. Previously, she served as senior vice president, development at Onyx Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Amgen Inc., from January 2011 to June 2015, and was the group medical director in product development, oncology at Genentech,
Inc. Prior to that, Dr. Klencke was the medical director at Chiron Corporation, a biotechnology company later acquired by Novartis International AG, and an assistant professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center. She holds a B.S. from Indiana University and an M.D. from the University of California, Davis. Calgary Scientific Inc. has named Dave Waldrop as its new executive vice president, sales and marketing. Waldrop is also a member of Calgary Scientific’s office-of-the-president, a four member team of senior executives responsible for collaboratively making strategic corporate and operational decisions, as well as reporting to the board of directors. He joins Calgary Scientific after a successful 18 year executive career at Microsoft, where he was a key driver of designing and building a number of company-wide initiatives in various roles in business development, sales, strategic alliances, channel development, and product marketing. He most recently focused on advising startup and Fortune 500 companies on strategic level sales, marketing and partnering initiatives, and assisting them in executing state-of-the-art sales and channel management strategies. The Peter Munk Cardiac Centre has named Dr. Eric Horlick as the inaugural Peter Munk Chair in Structural Heart Disease Intervention. In this role he will head the research efforts of the Congenital Intervention Service and Transcatheter Valve Program, both highlyspecialized, unique programs offered at the cardiac centre. Dr. Horlick is a cardiologist and associate professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto. ESSA Pharma Inc. has appointed Dr. David Parkinson to its board as an independent director. He currently serves as a board director for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation and as the chairperson of the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) finance and audit committee. Additionally, he is a venture partner at New Enterprise Associates (NEA). Among his past roles, he served as president and CEO of Nodality, a South San Francisco-based biotechnology company and as senior vice president, oncology research and development, at Biogen Idec. He also served as vice president, oncology development, at Amgen and
was vice president, global clinical oncology development at Novartis. Prior to joining industry, Dr. Parkinson worked at the National Cancer Institute, serving as the chief of the Investigational Drug Branch, then as acting associate director of the Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program. Other past roles include: past chairman of the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Biologics Advisory Committee, time with the National Cancer Policy Forum of the Institute of Medicine and he was co-chair of the Cancer Steering Committee of the NIH Foundation Biomarkers Consortium. He has also served as a member of the FDA’s science board, as an elected board director of the American Association of Cancer Research and of the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research. Response Biomedical Corp. announces the promotion of Dr. Barbara Kinnaird to the position of CEO. She replaces Dr. Anthony Holler who was serving as interim CEO since September 2014. Dr. Kinnaird has over 20 years of research and business experience primarily in the
Dr. Barbara Kinnaird
fields of point of care testing and in vitro diagnostics. Since joining Response Biomedical Corp. in August 2004, Dr. Kinnaird has held several key management positions including responsibilities for Product Development, Quality, Regulatory, Manufacturing and Sales. She a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of British Columbia at the B.C. Children’s Hospital in the Department of Pediatrics. She conducted her post-doctoral research at the Michael Smith Laboratories in genomics and gene expression profiling, in collaboration with the B.C. Genome Sciences Centre and consulted for the Proteomics division of Incyte Genomics Inc. The Centre for Drug Research and Development (CDRD) has appointed
Dr. Kelly McNagny, professor in the Department of Medical Genetics, and co-director of the Biomedical Research Centre at the University of British Columbia (UBC) as co-scientific director alongside Dr. Michael Rudnicki, senior scientist and the director of the Regenerative Medicine Program at the Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research at the Ottawa Health Research Institute and professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Ottawa. Dr. McNagny obtained his PhD in cellular immunology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1990. Dr. McNagny has received a number of awards including a Canadian Institutes of Health Research scholarship, a Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Senior scholarship, and the 2002 Showell-Pfizer Junior Faculty Award from the American Association for Immunology. He is also an active member of the Canadian AllerGen and Stem Cell Network Centres of Excellence. Dr. McNagny replaces UBC’s Dr. T. Michael Underhill who has recently completed his term as co-scientific director and division chair for target validation. Michiel de Jongh has joined Monsanto Canada as president and general manager of Monsanto’s Canadian business operations. In this position, he will be responsible for the overall strategic direction of Monsanto Canada, as well as management of Canadian business operations to ensure marketing and sales plans deliver continued growth to Monsanto Canada’s seeds, traits and chemistry businesses. In addition to his responsibilities in Canada he will also serve on Monsanto Company’s global commercial leadership team and its management advisory council. De Jongh replaces Mike McGuire who retired from Monsanto Canada in January of this year. De Jongh began his career with Seminis in Spain in 2004 and joined Monsanto Company through the acquisition of Seminis by Monsanto in 2005. During his 11 years with the company, he has undertaken a number of roles around the globe including vegetable global manufacturing human resources director; human resources director and sales director in Latin America south; president for Korea; and regional director for Japan. Most recently, Michiel was the business lead for Ukraine, Russia and Belarus, responsible for growing Monsanto’s business in Eastern Europe.
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Laboratory Focus August/September 2015
PHARMA NOTES
Amorfix Life Sciences Ltd. (Toronto, ON) has changed its company name to ProMIS Neurosciences Inc. with its common shares now trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the stock symbol (PMN). With a focus on precision medicine solutions for early detection and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, the company is developing antibody therapeutics and specific companion diagnostics for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Among the diagnostics that ProMIS Neurosciences is developing is ProMIS (Trademark symbol) a computational discovery platform that predicts disease specific epitopes on the molecular surface of misfolded proteins. Canadian CRO Dalton Pharma Services (Toronto, ON) reports it has signed a drug development and manufacturing contract with fellow Canadian company Ramsey Lake Pharmaceutical Corp. (RLPC) (Sudbury, ON). RLPC is a privately held company developing therapies currently focused on proteasome inhibitors. Its lead candidate, VR23, is a small molecule cancer therapeutic that has shown potential as a next generation proteasome inhibitor, inhibiting tumour growth as a single agent that used in combination with gold-standard anticancer drugs, increases efficacy while reducing toxicity. It has also shown potential in overcoming drug resistance. The product was developed in the laboratory of Dr. Hoyun Lee of RLPC. Dalton Pharma will assist RLPC in toxicology studies for VR23 and the agreement includes the synthesis of the molecule by Dalton as well as the development of analytical testing methods and execution of a stability study. Immunovaccine Inc. (Halifax, NS) has entered into a non-exclusive clinical trial collaboration with Incyte Corporation (Wilmington, DE) to evaluate the combination of its T-cell activating immunotherapy, DPX-Survivac, with Incyte’s investigational oral indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) inhibitor, epacadostat. Both firms say they will co-fund and conduct a Phase 1B trial to evaluate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of the new combination in platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer patients who are at high risk of recurrence. The investigational new drug (IND) application for the study, which will test the triple combination of DPX-Survivac, epacadostat
and low dose oral cyclophosphamide, is expected to be filed this year in the U.S. and Canada and the study is expected to enroll approximately 20 patients. Results from this study may lead to an expansion of the clinical collaboration to investigate other cancers. Telesta Therapeutics Inc. (Montreal, QC) says that it has submitted electronically, through its U.S. agent, a Biologics License Application (BLA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for MCNA. MCNA is a biologic immunotherapeutic for the treatment of high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer patients who have failed first-line BCG therapy. It is derived from the cell wall fractionation of a non-pathogenic bacteria.The FDA has a 60-day filing review period to determine whether Telesta’s BLA submission for MCNA is complete and acceptable for filing, whether MCNA will be designated for priority review or standard review and whether an advisory committee meeting will be scheduled. Their decisions on these items will be communicated to Telesta in the FDA’s official filing communication known as the “Day-74 letter.” Telesta will communicate the FDA’s filing decisions upon receipt. Additionally, the company has received a waiver from the FDA exempting the company from a $US2.3 million payment for a BLA application fee. Aeterna Zentaris Inc. (Quebec City, QC) reports it has reached its goal of recruiting 500 patients for its Phase 3 ZoptEC (Zoptarelin Doxorubicin in Endometrial Cancer) clinical study in women with advanced, recurrent or metastatic endometrial cancer. The ZoptEC trial is being conducted in more than 120 sites in North America, Europe and Israel. It is an open-label, randomized-controlled study, comparing the efficacy and safety the hybrid molecule that is composed of a synthetic peptide carrier and a well known chemotherapy agent, doxorubicin, to doxorubicin alone. It is being conducted under a Special Protocol Assessment with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The primary efficacy endpoint is improvement in overall survival. Clementia Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Montreal, QC) reports the completion of a US$60 million mezzanine round of financing to support the development of its lead com-
pound palovarotene for the treatment of fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP). Palovarotene, an investigational retinoic acid receptor gamma agonist, is currently in Phase 2 clinical trials for patients with FOP. It was in-licensed from Roche, who previously were testing it as a treatment for COPD. New Enterprise Associates (NEA) was the lead investor with participation by UCB, RA Capital Management, Rock Springs Capital Management, EcoR1 Capital, and a fund advised by Janus Capital Management LLC as well as existing investors OrbiMed Advisors and BDC Capital Healthcare Venture Fund. Qu Biologics Inc. (Vancouver, BC) reports it is collaborating with the laboratory of Dr. Bruce Vallance at the Child & Family Research Institute at BC Children’s Hospital and the University of British Columbia. The company is developing Site Specific Immunomodulators (SSIs) that aim to restore normal immune function in targeted diseased organs. It has tasked Dr. Vallance’s team with studying the therapeutic effects of its SSI treatment for inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis) in a mouse model that mimics the underlying innate immune system defect and chronic bacterial infection associated with these diseases. Well recognized for his expertise in the study and modeling of IBD and enteric bacterial infections, Dr. Vallance was named the Canada Research Chair in Pediatric Gastroenterology and a Michael Smith Research Scholar in 2004. He has authored more than 60 peer reviewed manuscripts addressing the mechanisms underlying IBD and infectious diseases. Cipher Pharmaceuticals (Mississauga, ON) reports Ferrer International SA has successfully completed the second Phase 3 clinical trial for Ozenoxacin, a topical treatment for adult and paediatric patients with impetigo, a highly contagious bacterial skin infection. Cipher acquired the Canadian commercialization rights to Ozenoxacin from Ferrer in January 2015. The study, which involved Ozenoxacin formulated as a topical treatment for dermatological infectious conditions in adults and peadiatric patients aged two months and older, demonstrated that Ozenoxacin 1% cream, applied twice daily for five days, versus placebo on both the clinical and bacteriological endpoints by end of
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therapy visit (day 6-7) performed well and was shown to be safe and very well tolerated in the adult and paediatric population. Cardiome Pharma Corp. (Vancouver, BC) has submitted a supplemental new drug submission (sNDS) to Health Canada’s Therapeutic Products Directorate for AGGRASTAT®. The sNDS includes data to support: 1) high dose bolus administration of AGGRASTAT (tirofiban hydrochloride); and 2) an indication expansion for the reduction of major cardiovascular events in patients with acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) intended for primary PCI. AGGRASTAT, in combination with heparin and ASA is currently indicated in Canada for the management of patients with unstable angina or non-Q-wave myocardial infarction, including patients who may subsequently undergo PTCA (percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty), to decrease the rate of refractory ischemic conditions, new myocardial infarction and death. Cardiome acquired the Canadian AGGRASTAT commercialization rights through its acquisition of Correvio LLC in November 2013. Aequus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Vancouver, BC) has successfully completed an in vivo feasibility study with AQS-1301, a proprietary transdermal patch containing the psychoactive drug aripiprazole. The pharmacokinetic study was conducted in animals in order to estimate the effectiveness of the formulation in delivering therapeutic amounts of the drug over a seven day period. According to Aequus CEO and chairman Douglas Janzen, the patch delivered the drug at a very consistent rate. The company also said it has received a Notice of Allowance from the U.S. Patent Trademark Office (USPTO) for a pharmaceutical formulation patent application that covers AQS-1301. Similar applications have been filed with the European Patent Office (EPO) and the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). The European Commission has granted ProMetic Life Sciences (Laval, QC) orphan drug designation status to its human plasma derived plasminogen drug. ProMetic is currently investigating the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of the drug in patients suffering from plasminogen deficiency. The company expects to provide a preliminary report on its program shortly
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August/September 2015 Laboratory Focus www.laboratoryfocus.ca
FEATURE
B Y G E NE S HE M AT E K
Clean or Contaminated?
ONE OF THE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS about laboratory safety concerns the designation of ‘clean’ and ‘dirty’ or ‘contaminated’ areas. Usually, laboratories will designate areas that are considered ‘clean’ and those considered ‘contaminated’. In general, a contaminated area is one where the risk of exposure to a hazardous agent (chemical, biological) is elevated: so this includes most laboratory work areas. The idea is that contamination should not be transferred to clean areas. Contaminated areas require controls – precautions to prevent exposure to the hazards – hence the need for personal protective equipment and administrative controls such as no eating or drinking in the lab (which may enable the hazard to gain access through a body’s portal of entry). The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention covers this topic in its Guidelines for Safe Work Practices in Human and Animal Medical Diagnostic Laboratories1 providing the following guidelines:
3.16. Clean versus Dirty Areas of the Laboratory In the microbiology laboratory, all the technical work areas of the department are considered dirty. The same concepts of demarcation and separation of molecular testing areas that are described in this section can be used to establish clean and dirty areas in other parts of the diagnostic laboratory.
3.16.1. Clean areas • Wear different colour laboratory coats in clean and dirty areas of the laboratory (have them available at entrance to clean areas), or require no laboratory coats in clean areas. • Decontaminate reusable materials and devices (e.g., telephone, clocks, computers, tissue boxes, work books) brought into the clean area unless they are known to be
new, and immediately apply laboratory-designated, colour-coded tape. • A visual reminder on small objects such as workbooks, tissue boxes, and pens can easily identify items located to a clean area. • Demarcate separation of dirty and clean floor areas with tape (tape must stand up to floor cleaning)
to clearly denote clean/dirty area boundaries. • Develop a policy for cleaning and maintaining clean areas. • Train all personnel (including service personnel) regarding how to identify and maintain clean areas and to recognize the significance of the demarcation tape and other means of area identification. • Document training and assess competency in use of and maintaining clean areas.
3.16.2. Offices Offices (e.g., of supervisors and laboratory director) that open into the clinical laboratory represent hybrid areas within the laboratory. These offices are not typically designed or maintained in a manner that allows for easy or efficient disinfection. • Keep a supply of hand disinfectant gel in all office and work areas and use the gel frequently. • Components of offices that should remain clean but may be overlooked include: laboratory documents, reports, and records; small equipment; pens; procedure manuals and other items that have been in the laboratory and could have been handled with gloved hands;
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FEATURE No standards are currently available that describe operating procedures within dirty areas of the laboratory. Laboratorians must be vigilant in recognizing the potential or risk of transmitting an etiologic agent by touching items in these areas.
difficult to clean and decontaminate. Laboratory directors and supervisors are responsible for assessing the exposure risks associated with use of laboratory documents and reference materials in the dirty areas of the laboratory and developing use policies to minimize those risks.
3.16.3. Dirty areas
carpets and chairs that are difficult to disinfect; books, journals, and other reference materials that can be taken into the laboratory or taken for use outside the laboratory; personal items (e.g., photographs, awards, briefcases, coats, boots, backpacks, purses, personal electronic devices) that are difficult to disinfect and would not be allowed in the general laboratory; and food items. • Designating office areas as “clean” does not necessarily make or keep them uncontaminated, especially when potentially contaminated items are brought into the office and reference materials and documents move freely between the office and laboratory. The following procedures can help reduce the risk of contamination in laboratory office areas. Never bring specimens, cultures, proficiency samples and similar items into office areas.
Remove PPE before entering the offices and wash hands before entering these areas. Establish a dedicated and protected clean area for personal items (e.g., purses, briefcases, and similar items). Disinfect desks and personal workspaces, telephones and computer keyboards in office areas regularly. Refrain from touching eyes, nose, mouth and lips while in office areas. Do not place pens, pencils, eyeglass bows, or other items in the mouth or against the lips. Do not apply or permit cosmetics in office areas. Do not store food in the office. Wash hands after working in the office and before entering common areas such as rest rooms, administrative areas, cafeteria, and the library. Avoid clutter in office areas as much as possible. Boxes, papers, and other items make the office
• All areas of the working laboratory including all equipment, keyboards, waste and surfaces are considered ‘dirty’ areas. • No standards are currently available that describe operating procedures within dirty areas of the laboratory. Laboratorians must be vigilant in recognizing the potential or risk of transmitting an etiologic agent by touching items in these areas. The laboratory should establish clear guidelines for the designation of ‘clean’ areas. Uniform, consistent signage should be posted in clean areas and the ‘clean area’ designation should be revoked if the guidelines for working in that area are not followed. The issue of pathologists’ offices and conference rooms comes up for many laboratories. Microscope slides that pathologists are reviewing are usually not considered contaminated if they are fixed slides. If the slides are unfixed the area would be considered contaminated. If the slide trays are clean and slides are fixed, there is less likelihood of contamination. That said, it depends where the offices are and if they are separated from the lab by a closed door.
Guidelines about contaminated versus clean areas should be followed, including the removal of contaminated lab coats before going in to clean areas. If a conference room is deemed to be an uncontaminated area, the same guidelines would apply – removal of contaminated lab coats, closing the door, keeping surfaces free of contamination, and no eating or drinking outside of clean areas. Gloves should not be necessary in any area considered ‘clean’.
Reference: 1. CDC, Guidelines for Safe Work Practices in Human and Animal Medical Diagnostic Laboratories, accessed at http://www.cdc. gov/ mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ su6101a1.htm
This article was originally published in the Canadian Journal of Medical Laboratory Science (Summer 2013) Vol .75 no. 2. It appears here with permission from the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS). For more information, visit www.csmls.org. Gene Shematek is Occupational Health and Safety Consultant to Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science.
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FEATURE
B Y L ORENA RU EL A S AND JU LIE BICK
Mobile Point-of-Diagnostic laboratory:
Extending boundaries through portable flow cytometry
FlowMetric Diagnostics’ Mobile Point-of-Diagnostic Laboratory (Mo-PODTM)
I
n Canada, citizens benefit from a ‘universal’ health care system as per the Health Care Act. However, it is well documented that not all Canadians have equal access to health services. Aboriginal peoples, in particular, are an underserved group. The National Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal Health addresses the importance of providing better training and recruiting Aboriginal health professionals and the need to emphasize on local control and authority over health care services.1 But up to now the devolution of power to local and regional boards has not necessarily resulted in better health services.2 Being able to empower aboriginal professionals locally while maintaining communication with centralized health boards may be a solution to
ease this process of power transfer. Other factors that affect access to health services in these communities have been identified. Geographic barriers, for example, make health care facilities more dispersed. People requiring specialized health services or diagnostic testing may travel 200 km or more to get to the nearest regional hospital (Browne, 2005).3 Deploying medical services and having a point-of-diagnostic facility near the patient and the sample are vital for an effective response. In the international arena, infectious disease control is a priority for health organizations. In a report published by the World Health Organization (WHO), damaged public health infrastructure has been identified as one of the main factors that
contributed to the undetected spread of the Ebola virus and that impeded rapid containment during last year’s outbreak. The weaknesses in road systems, transport and telecommunication services greatly delayed the conveyance of patients to treatment centres and of samples to laboratories.4 Having rapid access to effective diagnostic tools is critical to the control and monitoring of infectious diseases. Another factor pointed out by the WHO was the severe shortage of health care workers. Even more disturbing was the unprecedented number of health care workers infected during the outbreaks – nearly 700 from whom more than half had died by the end of 2014.5 Making a mobile lab accessible to remote populations
would eliminate the need for infected individuals to travel to central sites, thus significantly reducing the risk of infection spread. Overall, some of the factors to be taken into account for deploying better health services in remote locations and for a more efficient pandemic response are: • Empowering local teams • Maintaining secure data management and communication with centralized health boards • Having faster access to effective diagnostic tools in the field • Reducing the risk of infection spread Taking these factors into consideration, FlowMetric Diagnostics – a company stablished in Doylestown,
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Pennsylvania – has developed a mobile point-of-diagnostic laboratory that can be deployed in remote geographies. It is a completely self-sufficient, fully functional clinical flow cytometry laboratory capable of supporting rapid and sophisticated hematology analytics in the field. The entire mobile laboratory is flow cytometry centered and enables the whole analytics process from sample collection, preparation and analysis up to data management and communication.
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Laboratory Focus August/September 2015
which definitively empowers non-specialized teams to act fast locally. In addition, all data can be transmitted in real-time to government and health organizations across the globe.
Maintaining secure data management and communication with
centralized health boards Many populations living in remote areas do not carry formal forms of identification. The mobile point-ofdiagnostic platform ensures effective patient tracking through a biometric profile. This profile contains the patient’s photo, his/her finger-
prints, clinical data and the associated GPS coordinates of the place where the test was made. This enhances surveillance programs for infectious disease spread. Keeping constant communication with local and international health boards is vital. The communications system of this mobile
FEATURE laboratory can support several platforms: WiFi, Satellite, Cellular or even pointto-point radio. The system can be configured to use one of these as the default platform and connect to another only in case of failure. Hav-
Empowering local teams To empower a team, effective tools and training must be provided. In cases requiring fast and effective diagnostics, flow cytometry is the technology of choice. No other laboratory method provides as rapid and detailed analysis of cellular populations as flow cytometry, making it a valuable tool for diagnosis and management of several hematologic and immunologic diseases (Van Laeys, D.).6 The use of flow cytometry in the clinical laboratory has grown substantially in the past decade. This is in part due to the development of smaller, user-friendly, less expensive instruments and a continuous increase in the number of clinical applications.7 Moreover, flow cytometry technology evolution has made it possible to analyze samples easily in the field and within hours of collection. Having an easy-to-use platform facilitates training and gives the autonomy that local teams need to respond as fast as required. The assays that are used in the mobile laboratory are highly sensitive. Through the monitoring of cell-mediated immune responses to disease-specific antigen they provide clinically actionable data. Besides, they require only two to three drops of capillary blood to reconstitute the reactions. This is a great advantage since there is no need for venous blood draw, which translates into an easier sample collection process with less storage and waste management requirements. Furthermore, the clinical data is processed using innovative algorithms to generate a go-/no-go decision within minutes of data collection,
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FEATURE ing multiple back-up options ensures communication flow. All data can be encrypted for privacy and formatted for compatibility with government agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This ensures that real-time data is made available for pandemic response while protecting patient privacy.
Having faster access to effective diagnostic tools in the field For a diagnostic laboratory to be truly mobile and easily deployed in geographies that may have infrastructure constraints, it has to be rugged and with minimal maintenance requirements. This mobile point-of-diagnostic laboratory can be deployed by land or airdropped for rapid placement in even the remotest locations. Therefore, the analytical instrumentation inside not only has to be first in its class, but it also has to be small and sturdy enough to support potential impacts. The analytical instrument of choice was the portable flow cytometer by handyem – a company established in Québec, Canada- which has all the required characteristics. It uses fibreoptics to guide the light beam from the laser to the small interrogation area to ensure consistent excitation of the cells or particles. The collection fibres are bound in a monolithic assembly resulting in a flow cell which is impervious to vibrations and hence lasers cannot be misaligned. The use of flexible fibre optics also allows for a light and small instrument. In contrast, conventional flow cytometers use free-space optical components that require precise laser beam alignment and add bulk and complexity. Furthermore, conventional flow cytometers use large volumes of sheath fluid to suspend and hydrodynamically focus cells or particles in a liquid stream as they pass in front of a laser light source. Fibre optics, on the other hand, enable ground-breaking microfluidic flow cell that requires minimal volume of sheath fluid. Low sheath volume requirements ensure that the units can be run without the need for large supplies and that they will not generate high volumes of biomedical waste. This is particularly important when deploying the lab in the field. Infrastructure constraints in remote locations may cause power outages. Taking this into consideration, the unit comes equipped with different power source options: solar panel, battery, generator and shore power. It also includes a patented converter that ensures no disruptions when converting from one source to another. Besides, the total power con-
Handyem personal cytometer (HPC) inside the Mobile Point-of-Diagnostic (Mo-PODTM)
enhance the way diagnostics are performed in North America and across the globe.
References:
sumption of the whole lab –including instrumentation – is 1.5 kW.
Reducing the risk of infection spread The mobile point-of-diagnostic laboratory is equipped with a drone that can be sent near the affected population to bring back samples to be analyzed. The drone is capable of transporting up to 45 lb. of samples and/or supplies. This is a major advantage in two ways: the risk of contamination of health care professionals is reduced and the spread of diseases is better controlled by eliminating the need for infected individuals to travel to central sites. Moreover, the mobile point-of-diagnostic laboratory has a biosafety cabinet to avoid risk of contamination when preparing the sample i.e. in red blood cell lysis, samples are briefly centrifuged which can create volatiles. Besides, at the end of each
working day, the mobile laboratory can be rapidly disinfected to help reduce the risk of disease spread.
Conclusion Being able to offer better health care to all is a priority for health organizations around the world. The concept of a mobile point-of-diagnostic laboratory is now a reality. Flow cytometry has evolved into a pivotal technology with its use shifting from the hospital core lab facilities to the field. With the implementation of microfluidic systems and the use of optical fibre, innovative and responsive flow cytometry instruments are now turning into a viable point-of-care diagnostic tool. These developments aim at improving patient services, facilitating personalized approaches to medicine as well as supporting effective and powerful pandemic responses. This is truly a mobile solution in health care that has the potential to
1. National Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal Health. “Access to health services as a social determinant of First Nations, Inuit and Métis health.” Social Determinants of Health. 2011. Web. 21 July, 2015. 2. Browne, Annette. “Issues Affecting Access to Health Services in Northern, Rural and Remote Regions of Canada.” University of Northern British Colombia. Aug. 2005. Web. 21 July, 2015. 3. Idem. 4. World Health Organization. “Factors that contributed to undetected spread of the Ebola virus and impeded rapid containment.” One year into the Ebola epidemic. January 2015. Web. 21 July, 2015. 5. Idem. 6. Van Laeys, Dana L. “Introduction to Flow Cytometry: Blood Cell Identification.” Media Lab Incorporated. Web. 17 July, 2015 7. Brown, Michael and Carl Wittwer. “Flow Cytometry: Principles and Clinical Applications in Hematology.” Clinical Chemistry. Vol. 46. No. 8. Aug. 2000: 1221-1229. American Association for Clinical Chemistry. Web. 17 July 2015.
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Laboratory Focus August/September 2015
FEATURE
BY PHILIP HUTCHERSON
Safety & Simplicity in the lab:
What to look for in a modern-day centrifuge
A
s one of the mainstays in any lab, centrifuges are designed to spin and separate liquid and solid components at high speeds. Practically everyone in the lab uses these indispensible tools, so researchers look for models that are safe for multiple users and reliable 24/7. With researchers being inherently busy, laboratories want features that make complex centrifuge applications, easy. Non-stop modern research labs often have multiple users sharing centrifuges, as they do most capital equipment. This environment creates safety issues for lab personnel and can be a source of mishaps and lost samples, if used improperly. Unfortunately, many lab staff are forced to work with antiquated equipment that can potentially lead to accidents and research delays. Technology innovations designed for user safety and simplicity can make centrifuges trouble-free, allowing researchers to work smarter while achieving research success.
Advancing rotors Recent material technology advances in centrifuge rotor design, rotor exchange technology and rotor identification are now available to simplify centrifuge operation and safety. It is important to understand these new technologies for the safety and research success of the end user. The basic centrifuge instrument has evolved to a very high level of sophistication due to the increased physical forces on the rotor system and need for interchangeable rotors for application flexibility. Manufacturers make a variety of rotors for a diverse range of tubes and sample containers. Additionally, special purpose rotors are available for a wide array of high throughput sample processing applications, including microplates and rotors specifically designed with liners for the blood banking industry.
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August/September 2015 Laboratory Focus www.laboratoryfocus.ca
FEATURE To enhance the performance and safety of the centrifuge, manufacturers are looking at alternatives to metal alloys for rotor construction. Rotors have traditionally been made out of metal, a dense and heavy material that can potentially cause injury to laboratory staff during installation or removal from the centrifuge. However, these metal rotors are not corrosion-resistant and are susceptible to structural changes generated by centrifugal force stresses. Engineers have made significant advances in material technologies for centrifuge rotors, and many developments have been made using carbon fibre composite materials.
Carbon fibre technology The benefits of carbon fibre rotors bring together the combined properties of lightweight, durability and corrosion resistance that are prized by many industries, such as the automotive and aerospace sectors. First, carbon fibre rotors are lightweight, and have a higher strengthto-weight ratio than most metals. This improved ergonomic feature makes installation and removal easier, reducing the chances of personnel obtaining lower back injuries, thus contributing to a safer work environment. Another limitation of using heavier rotors is the inconvenience of needing the assistance of another person to remove the rotor from the centrifuge or requiring the use of a cart for transport. Secondly, carbon fibre rotors are corrosion-resistant and as a result, have an increased life span. Exposure to moisture and most organic or chemicals solutions such as alkaline solutions and salts, occurs regularly in laboratory environments. Carbon fibre rotors are more resistant to this type of exposure and are safe for use with most laboratory detergents and commercially available solutions for radioactive decontamination. Finally, carbon fibre rotors are more durable to ultra-high gravitational centrifuge stresses than alloy metal rotors. These metal rotors are more vulnerable to the tremendous forces and repeated cycles that cause structural damage to the rotor. Advance composite carbon materials are much more resistant to this type of fatigue, and enable a longer lifespan. Also, carbon fibre rotors can accelerate and decelerate faster in the centrifuge, which shortens the run time and increases process efficiency within the lab. This reduces stress on the centrifuge through decreased wear on the drive components, making a carbon
To achieve high performance and lab safety when operating a centrifuge, it is also important to establish internal lab policies to avoid damage and costly repair. The first step is to ensure that all lab employees are using established manufacturer procedures for centrifuge safety. fibre rotor investment longer lasting and more appealing to laboratory budgets.
One centrifuge, many uses The proper installation of rotors can require considerable strength and technique, something which is compounded by heavier alloy metal rotors. This process often involves a special tool to ensure that the rotors are safely secured in the centrifuge chamber. Loss of sample or, in the worst case, loss of the rotor is rare. However infrequent, rotor system failure from improper installation could damage the centrifuge and injure personnel in the immediate vicinity. Manufacturers have made innovative advances to improve rotor placement and provide users with the confidence that the rotor is safely and securely locked in the centrifuge. Unlike the traditional rotor tiedown systems, secure rotor exchange technology enables users to install or remove rotors in seconds. These trouble-free rotor exchange systems allow easy access and cleaning convenience, with the flexibility to switch rotors to accommodate many different types of tubes and volumes all within the same centrifuge – saving both time and money on multiple centrifuge purchases. This simple-to-operate system requires the single push of a button to release and remove the rotor, while locking the rotor securely during its run.
Multiple users, maximum security In a typical lab, there are multiple users for most centrifuges. Modern centrifuges have many built-in features for rotor management that allow end users to monitor usage by rotor serial number, total number of hours used, or total number of cycles. State-of-the-art technologies include; remote monitoring and control, interactive touch screen features with interface for quick-start manuals, operator and run reporting to assist with GMP/GLP compliance, and multilingual instructions
for run conditions, alert messages and password protection. New innovations in instant rotor identification prevent the user from programming wrong rotor speeds and codes. The instant rotor identification feature immediately identifies the rotor when secured in the centrifuge chamber, with rotor specifications automatically loaded into the parameters of the instrument. The process of centrifuge rotor overspeeding can occur if the wrong rotor codes and speeds are accidently entered in the user interface. This user error can prematurely stop a centrifuge run and result in incomplete separation, affecting valuable samples, resulting in loss of run time and causing possible damage to the centrifuge. Automatic rotor identification technology works by detecting the rotor’s unique magnetic pattern as soon as it is secured into the centrifuge. The rotor name and specifications are then automatically loaded into the centrifuge’s parameters. Immediate identification of a rotor by the programmed centrifuge also reduces the run time set-up and eliminates the need to find and set rotor codes. This feature streamlines the research process and reduces the potential for user error messages by simplifying rotor transfer and protocols. To further increase efficiency with a shared centrifuge, it is now possible to connect the centrifuge in realtime with a smart device for instant remote monitoring and control. This innovation saves time and hassle by eliminating the hunt for an open instrument; instead users can find an idle centrifuge from the list without leaving an office or lab space. Once a run is set-up, the run can be started from the instrument control panel or, with a secure centrifuge connection, from a smart device. By monitoring the instrument main screen for run status, users learn immediately of diagnostic errors or if a run was stopped prior to completion. To achieve high performance and lab safety when operating a centrifuge, it is also important to establish internal lab policies to avoid dam-
age and costly repair. The first step is to ensure that all lab employees are using established manufacturer procedures for centrifuge safety. Manufacturers provide user manuals and training on the proper use of the instrument; including software instructions for run logging, data management, on-board tutorial videos and access to codes for multi-users and rotor ID. Centrifuge maintenance requires daily procedures such as a visual check for rotor damage and a regular schedule to clean rotors. These procedures also include specific instructions for decontamination and to minimize aerosol exposure for each model. Almost all centrifuge manufacturers recommend an annual calibration check on the instrument.
Conclusion A properly functioning centrifuge will provide researchers with consistent and reliable performance while minimizing the probability of an accident. There are many beneficial features to consider for rotor management such as automated systems that instantly detect and regulate parameters based on the rotor installed. With a range of research requirements and high staff turnover, a centrifuge that is easy-to-use and accommodates multiple users with different experience levels will ensure consistency of lab performance, and can now be monitored remotely. Recent advances in carbon fibre rotors, rotor exchange technology and rotor identification have helped to extend the life of your centrifuge, while improving safety and lab performance.
For more information on Thermo Scientific centrifuges and rotors, please visit: www.thermoscientific.com/centrifuges
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Laboratory Focus August/September 2015
Chromatography As the latest addition to the Thermo Scientific Vanquish product family, the Vanquish Flex ultra high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) system is designed for high speed, resolution and sensitivity, allowing users to perform biocompatible analysis to obtain high quality and consistent data. By incorporating an integrated modular design, users have the ability to mix and match modules depending on the demands of the application. Additionally, the system provides sharp peaks at high throughputs, allowing more data to be analyzed in less time. Data quality is ensured via the robustness and repeatability of the system to ensure that large sample sets can be analyzed for comparison during QC protocols. Other key features include a new quaternary gradient pump module, excellent performance operating at 1,000 bar maximum pump pressure, with flow rates of up to 8 mL/min to allow for high-resolution separations and application flexibility. Moreover a new fluorescence detector for increased sensitivity complements the absorbance detector module for high sensitivity and extended linearity and the new charged aerosol detector module for non-volatile compounds. To complement the new Vanquish Flex system, the new Thermo Scientific SMART Digest kit is a new protein digestion tool that provides sensitive and fast analyses, while the Thermo Scientific AppsLab library of analytical applications is a fully searchable online method repository that offers protocols, method information, chromatograms and all the information to run, process and report an analysis.
Web: www.thermoscientific.com/Vanquish
NEW PRODUCTS C4 monolith with a porous structure, enabling faster low-flow separations without sacrificing resolution compared with typical porous bead based media. The new column’s porous copolymer gives the flow channels higher permeability in the stationary phase than particulate columns, resulting in increased separation efficiency. Due to this structure, smaller i.d. columns of 50 μm can be used for analyses, increasing sensitivity. Additionally, the new monolith uses a butyl (C4) methacrylate co-polymer that is less hydrophobic than PS-DVB columns, meaning there is less column fouling. This is important for MS users where sensitivity is higher compared to UV and carryover can cause interference.
Web: www.thermoscientific.com/proswift.
COMPANY & ADVERTISER INDEX COMPANY
PAGE
WEBSITE
Aeterna Zentaris Inc........................... 7............................... www.aezsinc.com BioAlberta.......................................... 6........................... www.bioalberta.com Calgary Scientific Inc........................... 6...................www.calgaryscientific.com Centre for Drug Research and ....................................................................... Development...................................... 6......................................www.cdrd.ca
Blender The Stomacher® 4500 BAM laboratory blender from Seward Ltd. is specifically designed for largevolume food testing procedures, such as the FDA’s Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM), in which 375g composite samples are required for the microbiological analysis of food. Consequently, the new large volume Stomacher enables food manufacturers to combine 15 x 25g (375g) analytical units, rather than testing each unit individually, so you save time when analyzing lower risk food products. Combined with the Seward 400 Circulator, it provides food laboratories with a high performance blender capable of homogenizing sample volumes ranging from 1,000 to 4,500mL. Highly efficient, it also has programmable settings to ensure the best preparation protocol is used for microbial extraction, depending on the food sample under analysis. The blender comes with a range of accessories including standard (65 microns thickness; coded BA6042) and heavy duty (80 microns thickness; coded BA6042/HD) Stomacher bags, large size bag racks and clips.
Web: www.seward.co.uk
Columns The Thermo Scientific ProSwift C4 RP-5H is a new column for liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS) analysis that uses a unique capillary design to offer labs with limited samples and complex mixtures a fast and high-resolution solution for the identification of protein samples, facilitating high sensitivity proteomics and biotech applications. The column incorporates a exceptionally designed, low-pressure
ChildrensMiracleNetwork............... 17... www.childrensmiraclenetwork.ca Chemical Institute of Canada............. 5.............................. www.cic2015.ca Clementia Pharmaceuticals Inc............. 7................. www.clementiapharma.com Dalton Pharma Services...................... 7.................................www.dalton.com EMD Millipore................................... 16.......................www.emdmillipore.com Eppendorf........................................ 20....................... www.eppendorf.com ESSA Pharma Inc................................ 6........................ www.essapharma.com Immunovaccine Inc.............................. 7............................www.imvaccine.com LifeLabs............................................. 5................................www.lifelabs.com Mandel/Wyvern............................... 11...............................www.mandel.ca McGill University................................ 3.................................... www.mcgill.ca McMaster University..................................................................................... Biointerfaces Institute........................ 3...........www.biointerfaces.mcmaster.ca Ontario Institute for Cancer Research.. 4...................................www.oicr.on.ca PCR Max.......................................... 16.............................. www.pcrmax.com ProMIS Neurosciences........................ 7........... www.promisneurosciences.com ProNAI Therapeutics Inc...................... 6.................................www.pronai.com Qu Biologics Inc.................................. 7.......................... www.qubiologics.com Response Biomedical Corp................... 6........................ www.responsebio.com Seward.............................................. 6............................. www.seward.co.uk Telesta Therapeutics Inc. .................... 7............. www.telestatherapeutics.com Thermo Scientific............................... 15................. www.thermoscientific.com Transition Therapeutics Inc.................. 6..........www.transitiontherapeutics.com VWR................................................. 2............................ https://ca.vwr.com
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August/September 2015 Laboratory Focus www.laboratoryfocus.ca
NEW PRODUCTS Thermal Cycler
The quad is back as PCRmax (a Bibby Scientific Company) has launched the Alpha Cycler 4, a thermal cycler that is capable of performing four totally independent runs simultaneously, all within a compact instrument footprint. Performing high throughput PCR can be a costly and resource intensive process. The Alpha Cycler 4’s innovative ‘quad’ bay design and smart software features overcome these limitations by expediting PCR and easing operation, while delivering precise DNA amplification. Configurable in any combination of 96 to 384 well formats across its four bays, the Alpha Cycler 4 system is ideally suited to high throughput, standard throughput and multiple user environments. Advanced software features
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such as ‘Recently Used Programmes’ allows users to quickly access their most commonly used protocols without the need to navigate through folders to find them. A novel program wizard generates protocols based specifically from users primer sequence and template source, while individual logins ensure this time-saving feature is available to multiple users and secures user protocols to their specific login should they wish. Greater connectivity and real-time monitoring with a hand-held reporting device (such as a smart phone or tablet) then enables users to track their process to ensure that data quality never suffers. Finally active sample cooling delivers sharper and minimal nonspecific amplification.
Web: www.pcrmax.com.
Bioreactor SRC103
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EMD Millipore, the life science business of Merck KGaA has added to its stirred tank bioreactor portfolio (from 3 to 2000 litres) with the Mobius® 2000 litre single-use bioreactor. The new bioreactor features a pull-out drawer and self-deploying bag, making Flexware® assembly installation and inflation safe and easy. This design minimizes operator intervention and requires no hoist during Flexware® assembly installation and removal. A patent-pending baffle design creates superior, homogenous mixing. The 5:1 turndown ratio allows users to inoculate and harvest at lower volumes, creating a wider, more flexible process window for seeding, growth, and collection strategies. The bioreactor also includes an external SensorReady loop connected to the Flexware® assembly via Lynx® connectors to provide greater flexibility for process monitoring and control. Unlike traditional bioreactors in which sensors are inserted into the Flexware® assembly, the SensorReady loop enables users to incorporate additional sensors without modifying the Flexware® assembly. The Mobius® 2000 litre single-use bioreactor can be supplied as a fully-integrated system with intuitive GMP-compliant software that reduces the learning curve for operators and allows for easy integration into plant automation strategies. The automation is simple and enables users to easily customize and control their processes. For customers with plant-wide common automation strategies, the single-use bioreactor can be integrated into third party automation platforms.
Web: www.emdmillipore.com
www.laboratoryfocus.ca
Laboratory Focus August/September 2015
Liquid Chromatography The Waters® ACQUITY® Arc™ System is a quaternary liquid chromatograph that gives analytical laboratories running established LC methods an alternative to replicating or improving their separations performance. This new addition to the ACQUITY product line is specifically engineered to give analytical scientists a single LC platform that can enable them to efficiently transfer, adjust or improve their methods regardless of the LC platform on which they were developed. To date, scientists working with established methods haven’t had an LC platform versatile enough to bridge the gap between HPLC and UPLC®. With the introduction of the ACQUITY Arc System, and its enabling Arc Multi-flow path™ technology, scientists now have the ability to emulate the gradient dwell volume and mixing behavior of various LC systems. By selecting the appropriate fluidic path, the ACQUITY Arc System can easily emulate a variety of HPLC systems without altering the method’s gradient table, or provide UHPLC performance with the flip of a switch. In addition to replicating established HPLC assays without altering the gradient table, the ACQUITY Arc System can enable improved chromatographic performance of methods by leveraging 2.5 to 2.7 micron particle column technologies, as well as support previously developed applications on 3 to 5 micron HPLC columns.
Web: www.waters.com/arc.
Fume Hoods Air Science introduces its new Purair ECO™ line of energy-saving ductless fume hoods. Designed for both chemical and particulate protection over a broad range of laboratory and industrial applications, the Purair ECO minimizes stress on facility HVAC systems without compromising protection for personnel and the environment. The Purair ECO is available with a choice of controllers including the company’s new ECOair™ touchpad control with color display interface. An optional BACnet network interface connects all cabinet control, monitoring and alarm functions to an open-source facility monitoring system. The system is based on an industry-wide, non-proprietary ASHRAE compliant protocol for green building management. It comes available in five standard sizes from 30” wide to 69” wide.
Web: www.airscience.com
High Throughput Prep kits The NEXTflex™ mtDNA-Seq Kit offers a robust method for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) isolation and construction of mtDNA libraries for Illumina-compatible targeted or whole mitochondrial sequencing. The NEXTflex mtDNA-Seq Kit incorporates an mtDNA isolation procedure which selectively digests linear nuclear DNA, facilitating the isolation of mtDNA from genomic DNA; enriching the mitochondrial genome 100 to 350 times. After mtDNA isolation, mtDNA single read or paired-end Illumina-compatible mtDNA-Seq libraries are constructed using the reagents included in the kit. The availability of up to 96 barcodes allows for high-throughput multiplexing to reduce sequencing costs.
Web: www.biooscientific.com
NEW PRODUCTS Metal Analyzers SPECTRO Analytical Instruments has introduced two new SPECTROLAB Arc/Spark optical emission spectrometers for high-performance metal analysis in metals industry research and development (R&D) and process/quality control. The new hybrid SPECTROLAB metal analyzer combines analog photomultiplier tube (PMT) detectors with digital charge coupled device (CCD) technology for ultra-accurate simultaneous measurements in R&D, trace metal measurement, and precious metals analysis. Additionally, the new all-CCD technology SPECTROLAB spectrometer provides speed, accuracy and flexibility for process control and QC of fabricated and finished goods. Features of both new high-performance metal analyzers include ultralow limits of detection with improved background correction. Depending on application and analytes, SPECTROLAB can easily ascertain trace values in single parts per million (ppm). The two devices also offer elemental flexibility, in most cases eliminating hardware reconfigurations. An optional software-extendable configuration enables changes to the elemental setup without requiring calibration.
Web: www.spectro.com/lab
Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry The Prelude LX-4 MD is the newest addition to the family of Thermo Scientific chromatography and mass spectrometry instruments and software for the clinical lab. Clinical laboratories requiring high-throughput separations for their LC-MS assays now have access to this fourchannel, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system. Listed with the FDA as a Class I medical device for general clinical use, the Thermo Scientific Prelude LX-4 MD HPLC quadruples the productivity of a single-channel HPLC delivering up to four separations in a single instrument. This helps to streamline LC-MS workflows and reduce mass spectrometer idle time. The four channels can run identical or different LC-MS assays simultaneously, which provides flexibility for varying clinical separations and maximizes mass spectrometer utilization.
Web: www.thermofisher.com
Data logger T&D Corporation introduces its new two channel temperature data logger model TR-71nw. The TR-71nw supports automated, error-free data collection, remote monitoring and alerting with a simple Ethernet LAN connection. The TR-71nw measurement range is -40 to 110°C (Supplied Sensor) or -60 to 155°C (Optional Sensor: Fluoropolymer Coated Type) with resolution of 0.1°C. Measurement units can be in centigrade or fahrenheit. Other features include the aforementioned two channel temperature monitoring, automatic uploads to TandD’s free web storage Service through the internet and a free ThermoWeb App for both iOS and Android.
Web: www.tandd.com
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Laboratory Focus August/September 2015 www.laboratoryfocus.ca
APP REVIEW
Transnetyx
By: YX Genomics https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id965230577
Montreal puts on a show with the BIO World Congress Another summer, another year and another BIO World Congress gone by. For those who made the trip to Montréal – and those watching eagerly from sidelines around the world – the 2015 World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology did not disappoint. Every year, the conference brings together the brightest minds from the ag and industrial biotech sectors to discuss global needs and innovations. This connection has proven time and again to be a valuable one, setting the foundation for partnerships and opportunities. This year’s event was differentiated by an established mandate: linking chemistry, biotechnology and agriculture to create new value chains. Through this theme, the BIO 2015 World Congress thrived. The convention saw a record-breaking 1,400 partnering meetings, a dramatic increase from previous years. These meetings took place between 725 companies from over 50 countries and 30 states. With numbers like that, it’s clear, Montréal made good on its identity as a multicultural hub. When companies and world leaders weren’t busy building relationships, they were attending the eight educational tracks to learn from speakers and engage in discussions. The World Economic Forum lived up to its name, featuring Iowa’s Terry Branstad, Brazil’s Marcos Vinicius de Souza, and the U.K’s Andrew Hagan, among 300 others. As always, the event is not simply preparation for the future, but a celebration of past accomplishments. At the Lunch Plenary Session, BIO awarded Solazyme CEO Jonathan S. Wolfson with the 2015 George Washington Carver Award for his work with microalgae, while Dr. Jennifer Holmgren took home the prestigious BIO Rosalind Franklin Award for Leadership in Industrial Biotechnology. As another first for the exhibition, Sofinnova Partners awarded Glucan Biorenewables the first Renewable Chemistry Start-Up Award. The selection was the result of a public poll that garnered almost 8,000 votes. It’s well known that research can be lonely. It can also be frustrating, exhausting, disheartening and a slew of other adjectives. For each of these negatives, however, there is a brighter equal. Research breeds hope. It breeds health, energy, strength and a future. As an industry centered on sustainability and the eradication of disease, the BIO World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology reminds us that we don’t fight alone. Best wishes,
Research is often fast-paced and rewarding, but even so, accuracy mandates routine, and routine can lead to mundanity. For many scientists, one such routine is genotyping. Slow-going and timeconsuming, genotyping uses up valuable time that could be spent elsewhere. For this reason, many labs choose to outsource the process to another company. With YX Genomic’s Transnetyx, researchers can now check up on their genotyping orders with a swipe of the finger. The app allows the user to navigate between pending and approved protocols, check up on orders and results, and search using status, wellplate, notes, strain and sample as criteria. Though the app is straightforward and time-saving, it is only truly valuable to Transnetyx customers. And while the app does offer a free 25 sample trial, the bleak user interface may turn away potential customers altogether.
Focus On Lymphoma
By: Lymphoma Research Foundation https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/focus-on-lymphoma/ id689311977?mt=8 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.acrosshealth From North America’s largest non-profit dedicated to lymphoma research comes Focus on Lymphoma, a beautifully styled and all-inclusive app made for patients and caregivers. The app is constantly updating with news and breaking research from the LRF to keep the user informed at all times. The “Learn” section of the app will guide users through all stages of the disease, from diagnosis to remission. Meanwhile, the “Track” feature provides medicine, blood count and symptoms managers, compiling the information into graphs that are simultaneously breathtaking and functional. The doctor session manager is particularly noteworthy: it allows users to track their questions, notes and to-do lists, even offering the ability to create audio recordings of doctor instructions. Flawless organization and informative content make this app a star in the field.
www.laboratoryfocus.ca Laboratory Focus
SEPTEMBER 2015 September 7-9 ABIC 2015 Venue: Melbourne, Australia Email: kgrimwade@ausbiotech.org Phone: +61 (0) 3 9828 1400 Web: http://www.abic.ca/abic2015/
September 15-17 BioPharm America Venue: Boston, MA Tel: 1-760-930-0500 Web: www.ebdgroup.com/bpa/ index.php
August/September 2015
CALENDAR
October 27-28 BioPort Atlantic Venue: Halifax, NS Tel: (902) 421-5705 ext. 2 Email: jgillis@bionova.ca Web: http://bioportatlantic. ca/2015/02/06/save-the-datefor-bioport-atlantic-2015-oct27-28th-2015/
October 28-29 Gairdner Foundation Events & Awards Venue: Toronto, ON
Tel. 416-596-9996 Fax. 416-596-9992 Email: thegairdner@gairdner.org Web: www.gairdner.org/
NOVEMBER 2015 November 16-19 Medica 2015 Venue: Dusseldorf, Germany Tel: 416-598-1524
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Email: messeduesseldorf@ germanchamber.ca Web: www.messe-duesseldorf.de
November 17-18 Agri Innovation Forum Venue: Winnipeg, MB Tel: (587) 350-0067 Email: matthew@ criticalpathgroup.com Web: http://agri-innovationforum.com/
September 23-24 Pharma & Clinical Trials in Canada Venue: Toronto, ON Tel: 1-888-777-1707 Fax: 1-866-777-1292 Email: cs@alm.com Web: www.insightinfo.com/ 15th-pharma-clinical-trials-in-canadasummit/
September 27-October 3 STEMfest 2015 Venue: Saskatoon, SK Email: info@stemstates.org Web: http://stemstates.org/ stemfest-2015.html
September 27-30 HUPO 2015 Venue: Vancouver, BC Tel: 1 604 681 2153 Email: hupo2015-registration@ icsevents.com Web: http://hupo2015.com/ Sherbrook International Life Sciences Summit Venue: Sherbrooke, QC Twitter: @SILS_Sherbrooke Email: info@sils-sherbrooke.com Tel: +1 819 821-5577 / 1 877 2115326 Web: http://sils-sherbrooke.com/
CritiCal priority needs for
14
Children’s
hospitals
aCross Canada
eaCh day, there are
4,900
Children
September 28-30
Children’s MiraCle network funds
who rely on the support of Children’s MiraCle network
MeMber hospitals in Canada
OCTOBER 2015 October 4-7 Canadian Chemical Engineering Conference Venue: Calgary, AB Tel: 613-232-6252 Fax: 613-232-5862 Email: acampbell@cheminst.ca Web: www.csche2015.ca
October 26-28 Till & McCulloch Meetings Venue: Toronto, ON Tel: 416-978-3751 Email: stacey.johnson@ccrm.ca Web: http://www.cvent.com/ events/2015-till-mccullochmeetings/event-summaryfb93751af7d24360a6fc6499246b3eff. aspx
What is Children’s Miracle Network? Children’s Miracle Network® raises funds for 170 children’s hospitals in North America, 14 of which are in Canada. These hospitals, in turn, use the money where it’s needed the most. When a donation is given, it stays in the community, ensuring that every dollar is helping local kids. These donations have gone to support critical research and training, purchase life-saving equipment, and ensure excellence in care - all in support of our mission to save and improve the lives of children.
Learn more at: ChildrensMiracleNetwork.ca
NEW: CryoCube® ULT Freezers
Efficiency Reinvented CryoCube Ultra-low Temperature Freezers CryoCube ultra-low temperature freezers combine maximum sample security with improved functionality. New advancements decrease power consumption and make CryoCube freezers among the most energy efficient in the industry. Eppendorf quality means years of trouble-free operation and dependable support.
> New automatic vent port on front door allows for easy re-entry into your freezer while also improving energy efficiency > New ergonomic handle requires less force and improves freezer access > New magnetic closures on insulated inner doors further increase ease-of-use
www.eppendorf.com • 800-263-8715
