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November 2011 Volume 15, Number 6 R&D News.......................... 1 Pharma Notes..................... 6 Appointments..................... 7 New Products................... 14 Calendar........................... 17 Career Spotlight............... 18

2011 Readers’ Choice Awards Page 8

Markham Teacher Awarded Prize for Excellence in Teaching Genomics

Jacqueline Ross (Left) of Thornlea Secondary School receiving the Genomics Teaching Prize from Dr. Alison Symington, VP Outreach, Ontario Genomics Institute. The Ontario Genomics Institute (OGI) has named Thornlea Secondary School teacher Jacqueline Ross as the recipient of its 2011 Genomics Teaching Prize. Ross has been teaching for 17 years and over the last five years has developed a laboratory-based biotechnology course, which is

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unique to the York Regional District School Board. In addition to the development of the course, Ross secures external guest lecturers and leading scientists in their field to speak to her class about the science of genomics and the societal implications of such research. She also arranges

for her students to attend field trips to Dr. Michael Gadsden’s laboratory at Seneca @ York every year where they perform genomic techniques such as restriction enzyme DNA analysis as well as protein characterization. “The mix of theoretical learning and practical application of scientific knowledge is just one of the reasons Jacqueline was awarded the teaching prize,” said Dr. Mark Poznansky, president and CEO, OGI. “Teachers like Jacqueline are incredibly important in engaging students and providing them with a basis of knowledge about genomics and its importance to every facet of our lives. Teachers play a vital role in helping nurture and

encourage tomorrow’s generation of scientists, as well as educating all students about the power of genomics, ensuring tomorrow’s generation is informed about this life-changing area that will undoubtedly play a greater role in health care options, the state of the environment, and the availability and quality of crops for food.” The OGI Genomics Teaching Prize - which was formally presented to Ross at a ceremony on October 6, which students, parents, fellow teachers, and school administrators attended - includes a $5,000 cash prize and a budget for up to $2,000 in new laboratory equipment and/or instructional materials for the classroom. The award also allows Ross to share her award-winning genomics teaching approach with other life science teachers at a science education conference in the coming year. “I look forward to using the award to continue providing exciting and interesting classroom exercises, and to expand the educational opportunities available to my students,” commented Ross. “I also look forward to drawing on and contributing to the genomics teaching resources that previous awardees have provided through the OGI website.” Candidates for the OGI Genomics Teaching Prize are evaluated on their demonstrated excellence in stimulating interest in genomics and teaching students about its impact. Teacher’s use of innovative teaching methods and instructional tools is also evaluated. OGI’s 2011 advisory review panel included a former student of last year’s prize winner, an OGI-funded genomics researcher and experts in life science education including representatives from Ontario’s Ministry of Education, the Science Teachers’ Association of Ontario, Let’s Talk Science, Queen’s University and the University of Western Ontario.

November 2011 Laboratory Focus www.bioscienceworld.ca

news Ground-breaking experiment published in Science magazine A revolutionary experiment conducted by the University of Ottawa and the National Research Council of Canada’s Joint Attosecond Science Laboratory (JASLab) to solve

the mystery of how electrons move in a chemical reaction has been published in the highly esteemed journal Science. The research produced

unprecedented images of how the energy of light is processed in a molecule and showed how electrons move and rearrange as a chemical reaction proceeds.

The team of international scientists from Canada and France worked with nitrogen dioxide molecules (NO2), which is an atmospheric polContinued on page 3

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light to make biomass from carbon dioxide (CO2). lutant. Using an intense femtosecond The discovery will contribute to laser pulse, the scientists recorded the creation of lower-cost and lowthe instances after the molecule was er-waste chemical processes and struck by the intense light (a femtoproducts, impact the light-controlled second is to a minute what a minute 4.5x10-LabFocus:2 2011/08/09 2:46 PM Page of 1 molecules and lead to synthesis is to the age of the universe). better solar cells. It also holds tremenThe new approach, called high dous potential for the development of harmonic spectroscopy, allowed artificial photosynthesis. the researchers to observe the NO2 The joint NRC-University of Ottawa molecule until it began to shake and research team included NRC Attosecjiggle and eventually separated into a ond Science Program group leader Danitrogen oxide (NO) molecule and an vid M. Villeneuve, Herzberg medalist oxygen atom. and director of JASLab Paul Corkum, The experiment mimics the mecharesearch associate at NRC, Hansnisms involved in vision, where light Jakob Worner, and Julien Bertrand, strikes a molecule and changes its Ph.against D student disease in the Department of shape,Protect or in photosynthesis, where aquatic animals Physics at the University of Ottawa. molecules transform the energy of

NRC-uOttawa Team (Left to Right): Dr. Hans Wörner, Julien Beaudoin-Bertrand, Prof. Paul Corkum and Dr. David Villeneuve (Missing contributor: Daniil Kartashov)

Safeguard Our Aquatic Animal Resources

If you find or suspect a reportable disease in finfish, molluscs or crustaceans, you must tell the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

NSERC announces 2011 Innovation Challenge Awards Reportable diseases could seriously harm Canada’s aquatic

animals, and the economy. The CFIA For broadening the works use oftolasers The Naturalinternational Sciences and trade Engineering that help tointo, diagnose certain medical Research Councildiseases of Canadafrom (NSERC) prevent these being introduced and spreading conditions, Martin Bernier, the first announces the winners of its 2011 Inwithin, Canada. runner-up, received $5,000. In close novation Challenge Awards. For more information and a listing of industrial partners, collaboration with When a highrise building is subreportable aquatic animal diseases, Bernier, who did his graduate studies jected to an extreme earthquake, 1-800-442-2342 or visit Laval, developed the at Université significant damage cancall occur throughFibreLase technology, enhancing the out the concrete walls and beams. www.inspection.gc.ca/aquatic use of lasers in biomedical applicaMichael Montgomery developed an intions to improve patient care. novative technology for reducing wind In large industrial organizations, and earthquake vibrations in these shutting down massive machines for a buildings, called the Wind-Earthquake maintenance check can be costly. Viet Coupling Damper. For this work, Dr. Hung Vu, who completed a graduate Montgomery, who completed a gradudegree at École de technologie supériate degree at the University of Toronto, eure, created MODALAR-STAR, a softreceived the first prize, worth $10,000.

Contribuons à la protection de nos ressources animales aquatiques Protégeons les animaux aquatiques des maladies Si vous décelez ou soupçonnez la présence d’une maladie déclarable chez des poissons, des mollusques ou des crustacés, vous devez en informer l’Agence canadienne d’inspection des aliments (ACIA). Une maladie déclarable peut avoir des effets néfastes sur les animaux aquatiques du Canada, le commerce international et l’économie. L’ACIA s’efforce de prévenir l’introduction et la propagation de ces maladies au pays. Pour de plus amples renseignements et pour obtenir une liste des maladies des animaux aquatiques déclarables, appelez le : 1-800-442-2342 ou consultez le : www.inspection.gc.ca/aquatique Reply card #4494

private sector contributions. Other fiware program that helps identify and nancial contributors include AB Sciex, monitor vibration properties in large Research In Motion, Syncrude, the industrial machinery and structures Dairy Farmers of Canada and 3M. during operation. Vu received $5,000 “These awards encourage graduate as second runner-up for his research students to explore the real-world contributing to greater machine efimplications of their research. I am ficiency. very impressed with the high calibre Nine other researchers each reof the nominations we received from ceived an honourable mention prize universities across Canada,” said Dr. of $1,200. Suzanne Fortier, President of NSERC. The Innovation Challenge Awards “These young researchers understand were launched in 2004 by NSERC and that the ability to translate new knowlthe Canadian Science and Technology edge into innovative products and Growth Fund. The program is currently services is a crucial factor in pushing funded by the Business Development Canada to new Bank of Canada (BDC),2011/08/09 NSERC and 2:46 4.5x10-LabFocus:2 PM Page 1 levels of innovation.”

Safeguard Our Aquatic Animal Resources Protect aquatic animals against disease If you find or suspect a reportable disease in finfish, molluscs or crustaceans, you must tell the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). Reportable diseases could seriously harm Canada’s aquatic animals, international trade and the economy. The CFIA works to prevent these diseases from being introduced into, and spreading within, Canada. For more information and a listing of reportable aquatic animal diseases, call 1-800-442-2342 or visit www.inspection.gc.ca/aquatic Reply card #4494

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November 2011 Laboratory Focus www.bioscienceworld.ca

news new bridGe to be built with stronGer concrete develoPed bY the nrc

Dr. Daniel Cusson

The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) has developed a more durable concrete that will increase the average lifespan of bridge decks by more than 20 years compared to typical highstrength concrete, and by more than 40 years compared to normal-strength concrete. This high-performance concrete has been specially formulated to minimize shrinkage, which is typical of high-strength concrete, while maintaining its excellent mechanical properties. It also greatly reduces cracking,

which diminishes the penetration of aggressive agents into the concrete, such as chlorides from the de-icing salts used on roads. As a result, it takes considerably more time for the chlorides to reach the steel reinforcement, initiate corrosion, and induce further damage to the structure. “The key difference is in the sand—lightweight porous shale fine aggregate, which replaces about a quarter of the normal sand used to make concrete,” said Dr. Daniel Cusson, a senior researcher at the National Re-

search Council. “This porous sand can hold up to 20 per cent of its own weight of water, which serves to uniformly cure the concrete from the inside, thus preventing selfdesiccation.” With a unit cost only 5 per cent higher than that of standard high-strength concrete, Dr. Cusson expects concrete bridge decks made with this new concrete will last longer, save taxpayers money from annual bridge maintenance, recurring repairs and associated traffic disruption and replacement. Currently, this new self-

curing high performance concrete is being put to the test at the NRC outdoor slab testing facility, where its mechanical performance and corrosion resistance is being monitored with embedded instrumentation and periodic non-destructive testing. This new concrete formulation is being considered for the deck construction of the Canal Bridge, which is part of the North Channel Bridge replacement project in Cornwall, ON.The $75 million infrastructure project from Federal Bridge Corporation is currently underway.

structural genomics consortium announces new funding and Partners The Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC) has announced $48.9 million in new funding and that two new commercial partners have joined the Consortium. Eli Lilly Canada and Pfizer, Inc. are the newest members of the consortium, joining the Canadian Institutes for Health Research, GlaxoSmithKline, the Novartis Research Foundation, the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation and the Wellcome Trust. Together, these organizations have committed nearly $50 million to the consortium to

sustain it for another four years of operation. The four pharmaceutical company partners will provide more than $9 million worth of in-kind contributions, primarily medicinal chemistry resources, for collaborative discovery of chemical tool compounds that target disease-linked proteins. This wealth of structural information may help to improve human health by providing research reagents and protocols, and robust frameworks for structure-guided discovery of new medicines

for cancer and diabetes, among other diseases and disorders. The Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC) is based at the University of Oxford and the University of Toronto, Canada. It was formed in 2004 and carries out research on human proteins relevant to disease, supported by funding from the public and private sector. It makes all of its findings available to the global research community without restriction. The SGC has plans to

University of Toronto the epigenetics binders project. broaden its work, following successful pilot projects in ‘epigenetics’ with two new programmes on antibodies and chemical tools. These will focus on epigenetic phe-

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nomena - heritable changes in gene function that occur without changes in the underlying DNA sequence. Alterations in these processes are linked to many common diseases, and there is broad agreement that a better understanding of epigenetics may eventually yield new approaches to diagnosing and treating a number of important diseases. It is hoped that the research will generate antibodies against proteins involved in epigenetic control, and identify chemical compounds that block the action of specific human proteins. These tools - protein structures, antibodies and chemical inhibitors - are important early steps that facilitate the drug discovery process, targeting proteins involved in disease processes. Thus far, the SGC has contributed more than 1,300 highquality three-dimensional protein structures to the public domain.

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2012 inductees named to canadian medical hall of fame

The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame announces that Dr. John James Macleod (1876-1935), Terry Fox (1958-1981), Dr. Armand Frappier (1904-1991), Dr. Peter Macklem (1931-2011), Dr. John Dirks, Dr. F Clarke Fraser and Dr. Lap-Chee Tsui have been named as its 2012 inductees. “These individuals have truly made a difference in the lives of Canadians, and indeed, people around the world. They have blazed trails, inspired others to follow, and extended the boundaries of medical knowledge and health care,” said Dr. Cecil Rorabeck, Board chair of the Hall of Fame. “We are in their debt, and we honour them for their great service to humankind.” Dr. John James Rickard (JJR) Macleod is recognized for collaborating in one of the most important breakthroughs in medicine. Known internationally at the time for his research in carbohydrate metabolism and physiology, Dr. Macleod was recruited to the University of Toronto where he directed the research that led to the discovery and clinical use of insulin as an effective therapy for diabetes. Following the breakthrough in 1922, Dr. Macleod shared the 1923 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Dr. Fredrick Banting. Terry Fox’s run to raise money for cancer research in 1980 is an enduring symbol of the commitment and determination of one individual to find a cure - shared now by millions of people who participate in Terry Fox events all over the world. Today, the Foundation in his name has raised hundreds of millions of dollars. Terry’s father and brother, Rolly and Darrell, will accept the honour at the induction ceremony in Toronto in March. Dr. Armand Frappier was a driving force in the deadly battle against tuberculosis. In the 1930s, he became an advocate for full-scale, anti-tuberculosis vaccinations in North America, and founded the first institu-

November 2011

tion dedicated to medical research in Québec now known as the INRS-Institut ArmandFrappier. During the polio epidemic of the 1950s, Dr. Frappier introduced the Salk vaccine. He is also recognized for his work in the development of freeze-drying human serum, in collaboration with the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Red Cross during WWII. One of Canada’s greatest pulmonary physicians, clinician-scientists and original thinkers, Dr. Peter T Macklem forever changed the face of respiratory medicine by pioneering the study of small airway physiology and identifying the early pulmonary damage done by smoking. Born in the Thousand Islands region of Ontario, he is recognized worldwide as a giant of respiratory medicine. Dr. John Dirks of Toronto has had a long and distinguished career working in the field of kidney disease. But he is perhaps best known for transforming the Gairdner Foundation International Awards, often referred to as ‘Canada’s Nobel Prizes’, into one of the most prestigious award programs for medical research in the world. Raised in Nova Scotia, Dr.

F Clarke Fraser is an iconic figure in Canadian medicine. His work spanned the fields of science and medicine, and was one of the creators of the discipline of medical genetics in North America. He founded the first Canadian medical genetics department in a paediatric hospital, aptly named the F Clarke Fraser Clinical Genetics Centre at McGill University, in 1995. He also laid the foundations in the field of genetic counselling, which has enhanced the lives of patients worldwide. Dr. Lap-Chee Tsui made what is described as the most significant breakthrough in human genetics in 50 years, namely the discovery of the cystic fibrosis gene. Born in Shanghai, China, and coming to the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto in the early 80s, Dr. Tsui has made extraordinary contributions to science through his discoveries and is a leader in developing the field of genomics in Canada and internationally. The 2012 Induction Ceremony, will be held for the first time in Toronto on March 21, 2012 and will see the seven inductees join the ranks of 88 laureates who have been similarly honoured since 1994.

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news new technoloGY helPs sPinal disc reGeneration A new biomedical technology that can treat back pain immediately has been developed by a multidisciplinary team of Queen’s researchers. “This technology could revolutionize back pain treatment,” said James Hayami, the lead researcher and a doctoral candidate in the Department of Chemical Engineering who specializes in biomedical engineering. Currently the best thing that can be done in terms of surgical repairs is to alleviate pain by removing some of the bone that’s pinching the nerve, removing the herniated disc itself, or doing spinal fusions. There have been no regenerative treatment options that maintain the architecture of the spine or that have immediate results. This technology is an injectable synthetic polymer mixture that takes form inside the body and increases the space between the vertebrae of the spine, alleviating any pain caused by pinched nerves. The biodegradable nature of this supporting structure means that it disappears over time as new tissue is regenerated. While other similar supporting technologies are created outside the body

and inserted via invasive surgery, this new injectable form is designed to be minimally invasive. In a single-step process, stem cells or cells taken from damaged tissue are added to the polymer mixture. The mixture is then injected into the body and the structure takes form. Tissue regeneration then takes place in the space the structure creates. The cushioning centre of spinal discs and the cartilage that allows our joints to function smoothly are both non-regenerative. This new minimally invasive, regenerative technology means that people could be treated quickly and get back to their normal lives. These findings will appear in an upcoming issue of Macromolecular Bioscience.

November 2011 Laboratory Focus www.bioscienceworld.ca

Pharma Notes

Norgen Biotek Corp. (Thorold, ON), a biotechnology company focused on innovations for nucleic acid and protein preservation and purification from all type of specimens for research and molecular diagnostic applications, announces successful accreditation to ISO 15189:2007 by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC). Norgen’s scope of accreditation for ISO 15189 will allow the company to provide molecular diagnostic testing for research purposes and clinical trials. Moreover, this ISO certification will allow Norgen to obtain regulatory approval for its various in vitro molecular diagnostic kits which are currently marketed for research use. Spectral Diagnostics Inc. (Toronto, ON) announces that it is expanding its U.S. Phase 3 EUPHRATES trial to Canadian clinical trial sites. The EUPHRATES trial is evaluating Spectral’s theranostic product candidate for the treatment of patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. In August, the company received approval from the U.S. FDA to increase the total number of clinical sites in its EUPHRATES trial from 15, to a total of 30, including international sites. Consultation with Health Canada and interested

Canadian investigators has led to the decision to expand the trial into Canada. YM BioSciences Inc. (Mississauga, ON) has enrolled the first patients in its multi-center Phase 2 trial of CYT387 administered twice-daily (BID) for the treatment of myelofibrosis. The trial will further evaluate the safety and tolerability of YM’s JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor, as well as its efficacy in reducing spleen size, improving constitutional symptoms and reducing transfusion dependence in patients with myelofibrosis. Six leading academic centres in the U.S. and Canada will recruit approximately 60 patients in two phases: Part 1, a dose-escalation study enrolling successive patient cohorts dosed starting at 200mg BID, escalating at 50mg BID per cohort; and Part 2, a dose-confirmation study evaluating patients at or below the maximum tolerated dose determined in Part 1. Patients in this trial will be evaluated for six 28-day cycles. In the BID trial, spleen size will be evaluated both by palpation and by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for all patients enrolled. Constitutional symptoms will be assessed using the Myelofibrosis Symptom Assessment Form (MFSAF). Transfusion histories will

be collected for the six-month period prior to enrollment and transfusion independence will be based on both eight-week and 12-week criteria. The effect of CYT387 on plasma levels of inflammatory, fibrogenic and angiogenic cytokines, and on bone marrow and peripheral blood cytogenetics will also be assessed. Cipher Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Mississauga, ON) announces that Health Canada has approved CIPTRAMADOL ER, the company’s extended-release tramadol product, for the treatment of moderate to moderately severe chronic pain in adults. Cipher is currently preparing to commercialize the product, which includes finalizing sales and marketing plans and manufacturing requirements. The company expects to launch the product in 2012 under the name Durela™. In addition, Cipher is on track to launch its extended-release tramadol product in the U.S. market in late Q3 2011 with its marketing partner, Vertical Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Cipher also announces that it has entered into a distribution and supply agreement with Medical Futures Inc., a Canadian-based pharmaceutical company, under which Cipher has granted Medical Futures the exclusive right

to market, sell and distribute Durela™ in Canada. Under the terms of the agreement with Medical Futures, Cipher will receive an upfront payment of CAD$300,000. Cipher is also eligible to receive future payments contingent upon the achievement of cumulative net sales milestones. In addition, Cipher will receive a double-digit royalty on net sales Cipher is responsible for product supply and manufacturing, which will be fulfilled by its partner, Galephar Pharmaceutical Research. Canadian specialty pharmaceutical company Paladin Labs Inc. (St. Laurent, QC) has completed its previously announced acquisition of all of the outstanding common shares of Labopharm Inc. “The acquisition of Labopharm will add to our top line, through the addition of established international revenue streams, and will provide us the opportunity to build upon our existing operational capabilities. Moreover, Labopharm’s worldwide partnerships provide us with an exciting opportunity to continue cultivating important relationships internationally,” stated Mark Beaudet, interim president & CEO of Paladin Labs Inc.

news

Colorectal cancer linked to bacteria

Rob Holt. Photo: SFU Public Affairs and Media Relations

Two new studies, one of them involving Simon Fraser University researchers, have uncovered the first link between human colorectal cancer and a specific microorganism. The studies, just published online in the journal Genome Research, found the bacterium Fusobacterium hundreds of times more prevalent in tumours than normal tissue in 99 colorectal cancer patients. Colon cancer ranks as the second leading cause of cancer deaths. Rob Holt, a SFU associate professor of molecular biology and biochemistry, B.C. Cancer Agency scientist and a senior author of one of the reports, said: “We were surprised by this result. Although Fusobacterium is a known infectious agent, it is rarely in the contents of a normal gut and until now hasn’t been associated with cancer.”

Holt and Matthew Meyerson (senior author of the other study and a pathologist with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston) noted it has yet to be proven whether Fusobacterium infection causes or precedes colorectal tumours. “Our future directions are to further investigate the possibility that Fusobacterium could be a direct cause of colon cancer and if so by what mechanism,” Holt said. “We will be also be applying the same methodology to look for correlations between infectious agents in other types of cancer. If Fusobacterium is proven to cause colorectal cancer, then targeting it with antibiotics or vaccines may provide a new approach to colon cancer treatment or prevention.” While Holt and Meyerson were surprised by their independent studies’ results , they observed

several previously known factors to support them. “Gastric cancers have been previously linked to inflammation caused by the microorganism H. pylori. It’s well established now that patients with irritable bowel disease have higher rates of colorectal cancer. And about 15 per cent of cancers globally are caused by known infectious agents,” Holt said. “So it is possible that some of the many species of microbes found in the gut could be associated with colorectal cancers.” Some other cancers known to be caused by viruses or bacteria are: cervical cancer (Human Papilloma virus) and liver cancer (Hepatitis B and C virus). Richard Moore, an SFU adjunct professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences and a B.C. Cancer Agency researcher, and Mauro Castellarin, a SFU molecular biology and biochemistry doctoral student, worked with Holt on this study.

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Baxter Corporation announces the appointment of Michael Oliver to the

position of general manager for Baxter Canada. Oliver succeeds Barbara M. Leavitt, following her retirement after more than 27 years of leadership and service at Baxter Canada. Prior to joining Baxter, Oliver served as president of Becton Dickinson and Company (BD) Canada. During his more than 21 years with BD, Oliver held a variety of key sales and management positions including Business director for Medical Surgical Systems in Canada; Business director for Medical Surgical Systems in the United Kingdom and Ireland; Business director for Medical Surgical, Diabetes Care and Opthalmics in AsiaPacific; and vice president and general manager of Diabetes Care for Europe, Asia-Pacific and Emerging Markets. Oliver serves on the board of directors and executive committee for Canada’s Medical Technology Companies (MEDEC) and is active on the association’s Procurement, Membership and Governance Committees. He received a Bachelor of Business Management Degree from Ryerson University in Toronto. International specialist Dr. Matthias Friedrich has joined the Montréal Heart Institute (MHI) as a cardiologist, researcher and director of cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging. Dr. Friedrich also holds the newly created Hornstein chair in Cardiovascular Imaging at the institute. In

November 2011

addition to his clinical experience in cardiology, Dr Friedrich has expertise in cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cardiac MRI), a technique which allows visualization of the beating heart and alterations of the heart muscle without using x-rays or radioactivity. He was one of the first researchers in the world to develop techniques to detect cardiac inflammation and other abnormalities using magnetic fields. He is also a forerunner in the design of high-efficiency protocols for the clinical application of cardiac MRI. Dr. Friedrich completed his studies in cardiology in 2003 at Humboldt University in Berlin, where he worked until 2004. Before arriving at the Montréal Heart Institute, he was the

director of the Stephenson Cardiovascular MR Centre at the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta. He is also the founder of the Canadian Society for Cardiovascular

aPPointments

Magnetic Resonance. He has published more than 100 articles and book chapters, serves as a reviewer for a number of granting agencies and specialized journals and is a member of many editorial boards and professional organizations. At the Montréal Heart Institute, he and collaborating teams will work on novel ways to visualize metabolic changes caused by atherosclerosis and other forms of heart disease. Afexa Life Sciences Inc., the maker of COLD-FX®, announces that Robert Chai-Onn, executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary of Valeant Pharmaceutical International, Inc. has been appointed the chairman of the Board of directors of the company. Additionally, Thomas Schlader, president of Valeant Canada Limited has been appointed the president and chief executive officer of Afexa. Protox Therapeutics Inc. has appointed Alexander Casdin as the company’s chief financial officer. Casdin brings 15 years of life science related financial experience to Protox. He most recently served as vice president of finance at Amylin Pharmaceuticals where he oversaw the financial planning and analysis, treasury, and investor relations groups. Prior to Amylin, he served as CEO

and Portfolio manager at Cooper Hill Partners and Portfolio manager of the Pequot Health Care Fund. Casdin graduated with a BA in Political Science from Brown University and an MBA, Beta Gamma Sigma, from Columbia Business School. Dr. Lars Ekman, executive chairman and president said, “Casdin’s broad financial experience in the life science industry compliments the newly established senior drug development team in San Diego. His extensive network and industry background will be of significant value as we introduce Protox to the U.S. market.” MethylGene Inc. announces the appointment of Joseph Walewicz as vice president, Business and Corporate Development, a role which will see him lead MethylGene’s partnering and investor relations efforts. Walewicz brings over twelve years of experience as a senior healthcare equity research analyst for several prominent North American healthcare investment banks. Prior to joining MethylGene, he was vice president, Special Projects at Paladin Labs and chief operating officer of Paladin’s subsidiary, Paladin Biosciences. He has an MBA from McGill University, a BSc (Biochemistry) and a BA (Economics) from Queen’s University, and is a CFA charterholder.

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Vaccine development company Immunovaccine Inc announces the appointment of John J. Trizzino as chief executive officer. In addition to his role as CEO, Trizzino will also be appointed to the company’s board of directors. Mr. Trizzino has focused his career on vaccine development, manufacturing and distribution in the U.S. and worldwide. As a senior executive with more than 25 years of broad industry experience, he has been instrumental in creating joint ventures, licensing agreements and sales to major pharmaceutical companies and government agencies. He joins Immunovaccine Inc. from Novavax Inc. where he served as senior vice president. While there, he provided strategic direction and successfully negotiated profitable joint venture and licensing agreements, including a US$179 million contract with the U.S. government to produce influenza vaccines. Prior to joining Novavax Inc., he held senior executive positions at MedImmune Inc., acquired by AstraZeneca, and ID BioMedical Inc., now part of GlaxoSmithKline Inc. He began his career in vaccines at Henry Schein Inc. A native of New York City, Mr. Trizzino is a graduate of Long Island University and received his master’s degree in business administration from New York University’s Stern School of Business.

November 2011 Laboratory Focus www.bioscienceworld.ca

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2011

READERS’ CHOICE

AWARDS

LABORATORY FOCUS MAGAZINe IS PROUD TO PReSeNT ITS 8TH ANNUAL ReADeRS’ CHOICe AWARDS CeLeBRATING eXCeLLeNCe IN PRODUCT DeSIGN AND PeRFORMANCe FOR THe TOOLS AND MATeRIALS USeD IN ReSeARCH LABORATORIeS. With the aim of ﬁnding out what our readers use in their labs, we asked 10 product-and-resource related questions and included one bonus question for your favorite jokes. For certain questions, a particular company received resounding approval, while in others, a product type was highly ranked. Thanks to an incredible response this year we have a remarkable cross-section of answers. But most importantly, we’d like to thank all of our readers who took time out of their day to give us their feedback. So let’s take a look to see who this year’s winners are and what you, our readers, had to say!

1. most reliable instrument A quality research project can’t be conducted without reliable Laboratory Equipment, and it seems many of our reader’s believe that reliability is closely associated to the reputation of the brand. Look no further than the number of Thermo Fisher and Thermo Scientific products that garnered votes in this category. Among the more notable were the Thermo Scientific Nanodrop

spectrophotometers and fluorospectrometers and Thermo Scientific Revco Ultima Plus Ultra-Low Temperature Freezers. However, while Thermo Fisher products as a whole held the popular vote, it was Mettler Toledo’s Type P 115/10T top loading Analytical Balance that took top honours with the most reader votes in this category. Finishing second was the SARTOFLOW® advanced modular bench-top crossflow system and the Roche LightCycler® 480 Real-Time PCR System ranking third. Other popular products were Beckman’s pH meter, Brinkman’s auto Pipettes, Biorad’s plate reader, Hach’s 2100P turbidity meter, the Vitros 250, ABI’s 9700 PCR Machine, Eppendorf’s mastercycler realplex and Shimadzu’s TOC.

www.bioscienceworld.ca Laboratory Focus

November 2011

feature 5. Best Equipment under $20,000

2.Best tech support For many, good service and tech support is as important as product reliability. Not surprisingly, our reader’s votes leaned towards reputed companies that have consistently performed well in our past Reader’s Choice Surveys. In fact, both our 2008 and 2010 winners for this category (Beckman Coulter Canada Inc. and Agilent) took the top two spots, with Beckman coming out ahead in a tight race. There was however a new top performer joining the ranks with VWR grabbing third spot. Other companies receiving votes included Mettler Toledo, Waters, Roche, Biorad, Shimadzu, Sigma Aldrich and Fisher Scientific.

3. Most User-friendly Equipment When it comes to lab equipment that is easy to use, electronic pipettes (which are a staple of most laboratories) were the popular choice. Accordingly the Gilson Concept Electronic Pipetman 1200® was voted must user-friendly by our readers, with other brands such Eppendorf and Hach close behind. Automated lab systems were also popular such as Bio-Rad’s TC10™ automated cell counter and Bio-Plex 200 for its user friendly software. Other top vote getters include Perkin Elmer/ABI thermocyclers and Thermo Fisher’s Nanodrop spectrometer.

For a third straight year, Waters UV-Vis HPLC detector is according to our readers, the product that packs the best bang for its buck. Likewise, last year’s winner the Thermo Fisher Nanodrop 2000 was a popular choice finishing in the runner-up position. Rounding out the top three was the EnviroGenie Benchtop Refrigerated Incubator. Other humble items not forgotten include the Beckman Spectrophotometer DU 640, Active Spectrum’s benchtop Micro-ESR, the Sysmex Clinitek 500 for Urinalysis, the Biorad TC 10 Cell Counter and the Enviro-Genie programmable meter.

6. Most Worthwhile Splurge: Instruments over $100,000

4. Must Have Consumables: Kit or product you can’t live without This list included such seemingly generic items as water, vials, disposable gloves, glassware and sample containers, which perhaps means that what is most needed is not always the most complicated item in the lab. However in terms of kits, the Promega pGem T-Easy cloning kit was the popular choice, and past winners like Roche’s PCR cleanup kit and the Qiagen RNeasy Mini Kit were also deemed indispensible. Honourary mention goes to the Ambion for its RNA Extraction Kit and Invitrogen for its ELISA kits. Pipettes were also a popular choice as were Balances for this category.

Annually, this question seems to generate the most buzz, with many respondents countering with their own questions, such as, who’s lucky enough in the industry to get that much money to splurge? That said, if they had the deep pockets from which to spend, two choices stand out from all the rest, the Agilent 7700 Series ICP-MS and the Shimadzu ultra-fast triple quadrupole LC-MS system, the model LCMS-8030. Additionally, the Dionex ICS-5000 ReagentFree IC System and Affymetric GeneChips® Fluidics Station 450 were singled out as worth the cost.

November 2011 Laboratory Focus www.bioscienceworld.ca

Feature 7. Most valuable online resource

9. Best Time-saving Instrument, Product, or Lab Tip This category was a mixed bag, with both a variety of lab tips and products listed. When the goal is to save time, where relying less on manual tools and products and more on automation devices is key. Not surprisingly, pipetting came to the forefront once again, with electronic pipetting technology like the Brand HandyStep Electronic Pipette as well as the similar models from Eppendorf and Gilson being selected. Similarly, the Skalar SP1000-BOD Robotic Analyzer and Vitros 250 were also nominated as time saving instruments for the lab. Rounding out the products, last year’s winner Water’s Acquity UPLC system was also chosen as a time-saver. In terms of lab tips, there were a number of common sense recommendations such as doing difficult jobs early in the day, keeping your lab space clean, and keeping yourself organized.

Lab researchers aren’t all that different from regular folk as Google is the web resource most commonly used by our readers to track down information and answers. However, in terms of getting in depth information and keeping abreast of the latest news and happenings in the lab industry, PUBMED is the online resource of choice. Other popular answers were The National Center for Biotechnology Information web portal and our own national research website, the Canada Advanced Research and Innovation Network (CANARIE). Laboratory Focus was also thrilled to see that its own website, www.bioscienceworld. ca was also mentioned. Flattery will get you everywhere.

10. Favourite Lab Clean-up Tip 8. Equipment or Product that generates the best word-of-mouth buzz

Laboratory Focus received so many valuable responses to this question; we figured we would just go ahead and print a handful: • Use a bench liner • Clean up after yourself; leave it cleaner than you found it. • Use Mr. Clean’s Magic Eraser for instrument cleaning. • Dettol cleans, disinfects everything and smells better than bleach and kills smell of urines fast. • Vinegar • Buy disposable paper towels from a cleaning supply company rather than a lab supply company • Limestone is best for acid spills. Some other common sense tips: • Wear safety glasses at all times in the laboratory. • Do not eat or drink in the laboratory. • Be aware of ignition sources, open flames, heat and electrical equipment.

The buzz was quite varied, although this year’s Pittcon’s 2011 star performers definitely held the inside track for popularity. Both Pittcon gold winners the Leco Citius LC-HRT mass spectrometer (liquid chromatography-high resolution time of flight) and the WITec’s Alpha500 Raman spectrometer scored highly with our readers. Also riding the wave of a good showing at Pittcon was the silver award winning Samplicity System from EMD Millipore. But it was Agilent’s 7700 Series ICP-MS which took top honours for generating buzz and interest. Honourable mention goes to Metrohm’s 885 compact oven sample changer, and Dionex’s ICS-5000 Reagent-Free IC System.

www.bioscienceworld.ca Laboratory Focus

November 2011

feature 11. tell us your favourite lab joke

5. Do molecular biologists wear designer genes?

7. What does PhD stand for? Permanent head damage

6. What is the fastest way to determine the sex of a chromosome? Pull down its genes.

8. Lab joke? Are you sure that isn’t an oxymoron?

Learn more about Lab Products on our Lab Product News Web Portal at www.bioscienceworld.ca

1. You enter the laboratory and see an experiment. How will you know which class it is? If it’s green and wiggles, it’s biology. If it stinks, it’s chemistry. If it doesn’t work, it’s physics. 2. So a lab worker calls into work sick, when his boss asks what is wrong, the worker responds it’s a bad case of anal glaucoma. The Boss has never heard of it and asks what that is. The worker responds, “I can’t see getting my ass in to work today.” 3. A physicist goes to an ice cream parlor every week and orders an ice cream for himself and offers an ice cream for the empty stool sitting next to him. This goes on for a while until the owner asks him what he is doing. The man said “well I’m a physicist and quantum mechanics teaches us that it is possible for the matter above this stool to spontaneously turn into a beautiful woman who might accept my offer and fall in love with me.” The owner says, “Well there are a lot of single beautiful women that come in here every day, so why don’t you buy an ice cream for one of them and they might fall in love with you.” And the physicist says, “yeah, but what are the odds of that happening!” 4. A poultry farmer was distressed because his chickens stopped laying eggs. He didn’t know what to do about it, but one of his friends, a physicist, offered to help. The physicist came out to the farm, took a bunch of measurements, and went back home to analyze the data. The physicist called the farmer on the phone and said: “Okay, I have a solution for your problem, but it only works with spherical chickens in a vacuum.”

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November 2011 Laboratory Focus www.bioscienceworld.ca

Feature

By: Deepak M. Mistry

Energy efficient, space-saving solutions for biological sample preservation

SANYO North America Corporation Biomedical Solutions Division has started a new program that focuses on energy efficient, space-saving solutions for biological sample preservation. The program will offer increased awareness on the best practices in sample preservation using the VIP® Series -86ºC freezers, which have already preserved over two billion samples since being introduced to the global market. “SANYO has reached a new milestone as a leader in commercial storage for temperature-sensitive biological samples, and our newer models now offer more capacity while actually reducing the footprint in the laboratory, said Deepak Mistry, marketing manager for the SANYO’s Biomedical Solutions Division based in Chicago, IL. One of the key phrases used in the program by the company is “Upgrade your Samples”, and is an invitation for laboratories to re-evaluate their preservation methods to determine if there are further savings that can be generated in changing or upgrading existing equipment to the latest SANYO freezers. The company is also using multiple platforms of interaction to promote the VIP Series lineup, from mobile landing pages and social media sites to traditional print and online mediums. Through a special online campaign website, SANYO has a host of tools available to help existing and potential customers understand the savings that

can be produced. Universities, companies, and researchers using the website will quantify both the energy and money savings that can be generated by upgrading to the company’s freezers to better guide decision-makers. SANYO, now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Panasonic, is encouraging best practices for laboratories, and is targeting sustainability and energy conservation. Because modern laboratories are energy-intensive, SANYO has developed a corporate-wide energy savings and environmental impact approach to new product development. Moreover, with a growing number of universities seeking green and sustainable products to match their practices and goals, the products directly appeal to leading universities, sustainability departments, companies, and researchers that can or do use this type of preservation equipment in the laboratory. For example, company testing of -80°C freezers in a 25°C ambient environment, SANYO found that its 25.7cubic-foot MDF-U76VC freezer demonstrated 32 per cent less energy use compared to its competitor throughout the day, with the results showing energy use at only 15.1-kilowatt hours per day. Lower kilowatt-hour usage

combined with lower heat rejection leads to both savings on freezer operation and HVAC operation costs to remove heat from the room generated by the freezer. The recently announced MDFU76VC also provides an example of SANYO’s space-saving features. The cabinet has been designed from the ground up using a combination of multiple high-performance vacuum panels with a newly developed highdensity foam insulation. These combine to achieve a thin-wall profile that allows for optimal interior storage volume despite the cabinet size. The U76VC stores more in the same footprint as other freezers with the same dimensions. The cost per 2” box of interior storage space is significantly lowered, which can generate an immediate return on investment based on first costs, operating costs, and maintenance costs over time in a SANYO ultra-low temperature freezer. Based on company research, this can lead to up to a 29 per cent reduction in cost on an annual basis. With an all new back cover and placed components in the refrigeration compartment, the freezers provide air flow which will also reduce the stress to the freezer, contributing to improved durability. While these savings add up in energy use, space use and in improving the bottom line, the VIP series also reduces a laboratories carbon foot-

print and can actually help in obtaining LEED certification best practices status. SANYO supports LEED certification requirements outlined by U.S. Green Building Council recommendations, and its freezers are designed to address these issues. LEED certification for laboratories has been gaining momentum after it was observed that typical laboratories can be from three to eight times as energy intensive as a typical office building. Furthermore, these labs can also cost about three times as much per unit area. It is of critical importance to take into consideration both the energy-efficiency of each piece of laboratory equipment and the potential for additional heat load that will need to be covered by the HVAC system. “As the first ultra-low temperature freezer manufacturer to employ nonHCFC R508 low-stage refrigerant, SANYO has demonstrated its commitment to environmental considerations. Our freezers support green initiatives, and they have been designed with lab space in mind – minimizing the footprint while maintaining industry-leading energy-efficiency,” said Joe LaPorte, senior product manager for the Biomedical Solutions Division. “Attention to these factors has helped us make a product that can actually help customers in achieving their sustainability goals, and in obtaining their LEED certifications.” For SANYO, the new campaign of-

www.bioscienceworld.ca Laboratory Focus fers another way to introduce potential customers to its environmental technologies, such as heat exchangers and compressors. The recently announced U76VC ultra-low temperature freezer serves as an example of these technologies. The freezer uses a new heat exchanger design that maximizes the surface area for heat exchange and provides ideal conditions for optimum heat transfer between the high and low stage, all while reducing stress on the compressor – which in turn boosts the efficiency of the refrigeration system. This type of optimal heat exchange is one of the reasons the VIP Series freezers are seeing an improvement in energy efficiency and greater system reliability. Freezer compressors also play a critical role in the performance and reliability of the VIP Series. New generation SANYO-designed compressors are specifically designed for low temperature applications. By apportioning the oil cooling function between specially the designed compressors, and by cooling the compressor oil to minimize compressor operating temperatures, the SANYO ultralow temperature freezer refrigeration system is balanced to decrease component stress, increase system longevity and reliability, and improve temperature uniformity necessary for better cell viability regardless of where the specimen is stored within the chamber. The last issue that the campaign addresses is temperature uniformity throughout the unit. While it has already been mentioned that temperature uniformity is one of SANYO’s focus points, the truth is that not all freezers are made equal. Some freezers can subject stored samples to temperatures in excess of five degrees above or below setpoint, depending on the location within the unit. SANYO claims that its freezers will stay within 2.6°C of setpoint regardless of where the sample is stored in the unit. Combining its technology with sustainable practices and energy conservation, SANYO looks to grow sales and is offering products to back up its message. SANYO states that its VIP ultra-low freezers are ideal for material storage in repositories, hospitals, clinics and research facilities and that the VIP Series is designed

November 2011

to reduce overall energy consumption. “Our newest products play both of our strengths – our products, like the MDFU76VC, and our focus on sustainability and the environment,” said Mistry. “SANYO reviews and makes product adjustments based on customer wants and requirements. Recently, our cus-

tomers are really focused on maintaining temperature uniformly while minimizing equipment footprint in the lab and how to cut or maintain costs. Labs have also demanded the storage space to remain the same or even better. Our products are designed to meet and exceed customer expectations.” To view the details of the

SANYO VIP Series product line or to learn more about the MDF-U76VC ultra-low temperature freezer, please visit http://www.upgradeyoursamples.com.

Deepak M. Mistry is manager, Strategic Development & Marketing Biomedical Solutions Division at SANYO North America

feature Corporation (A Member of the Panasonic Group).

Learn more about emerging Applications on our Life Sciences Web Portal at www. bioscienceworld.ca

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New Products Spectrometer Ocean Optics has added triggering functions to its Maya2000 Pro back-thinned CCD miniature spectrometer to provide accurate timing and synchronization between the spectrometer and other devices. Three lowjitter trigger and normal operating modes are now possible. Applications include pulsing a light source to occur when acquiring a spectra and synchronizing spectral acquisition to coordinate with samples moving through a process stream or sensors reaching a certain temperature level. In addition to triggering, Ocean Optics has enhanced Maya2000 Pro performance with support for RS-232 communications and improved optoelectronics that increase dynamic range (to 15000:1), lower trigger jitter (to 100 ns) and decrease dark noise (to 6 RMS counts). The Maya2000 Pro has a 30-pin connector and 10 user-programmable digital I/Os. Its onboard programmable high-speed FPGA controller enables triggering and provides other performance advantages. Available operating modes are Normal (spectrometer continuously acquires spectra) and the three trigger modes: external hardware level trigger, external synchronous trigger and external hardware edge trigger. The Maya2000 Series spectrometers are ideal for low light-level applications such as fluorescence, DNA sequencing and measurement of certain biological samples. The spectrometer can be used in the VUV (to ~150 nm) with the addition of a nitrogen purge box to help lessen the absorption of water and oxygen in the VUV.

November 2011 Laboratory Focus www.bioscienceworld.ca

Dispensing Auxiliary Modules METTLER TOLEDO introduces new Quantos® powder and liquid dispensing auxiliary modules that can be added to any 0.1mg or 0.01mg XP Excellence Series analytical balance. The addition of automated powder and liquid dispensing functionality to the balance increases laboratory efficiency, improves results, and eliminates errors in weighing, sample preparation, dilution and transcription. Additionally, the Q2 powder dispensing module lets users take advantage of Quantos dispensing head technology which automatically dispenses the compound to a target weight and replaces the tedious activity of weighing out powders by hand with a spatula. By also serving to store the compound, the dispensing head improves the containment of dangerous compounds during weighing, and provides new ways for laboratories to maximize compound yields and to improve workflows. The Quantos Q2 and QL2 kits are available to anyone with a previously installed or newly purchased XP Series analytical balance having 0.1mg or 0.01mg readability. Complete retrofit services, including equipment qualification is also available from METTLER TOLEDO.

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Flow Chemistry System

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Heaters Omega’s new AHPF series heaters are used to heat low flows of air, gas, water, or aqueous solutions with air/gas flow up to 15 CFM and air/gas out temperature up to 430°C (800°F). This 316 Stainless Steel constructed heater can handle pressures up to 100 PSI and 50 watts per square inch. Applications include those where clean air is necessary, as in laboratories, environmental testing areas, packaging and sealing. The heaters are ideal for automotive, petroleum and manufacturing industries.

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Pump Edwards’ new nXDS pump is an environmentally-friendly oil-free vacuum pump that has no lubricants in the vacuum. This eliminates the need for regular oil changes and users can benefit from low maintenance. It is fully serviceable in the field, which results in low downtime. It has reduced power consumption with minimum environmental impact and low acoustic noise levels, making it an ideal ‘fit and forget’ pump for the laboratory. The pump also features green modes, enabling users to reduce their carbon footprints and save energy costs.

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The Syrris Asia 330 is an integrated flow chemistry system that expands on the capabilities offered by other Asia systems by including the FLLEX module for flow aqueous work-up and the Asia Sampler and Dilutor, which allows integration of analytical devices such as liquid chromatography mass spectrometers (LCMS). Factors such as reaction time, temperature and reagent ratio can be varied and each reaction is collected and analysed automatically. Furthermore, the automatic control of syringe pumps, injection reagents, synthesis and waste diversion enable hundreds of solutions or phase experiments to occur. Asia Master PC software allows 1,000’s of system configurations, single or multi step reactions, graphical display of data and full data logging. The system also incorporates maximum chemical resistance with wide temperature (-15 to 250 °C) and pressure (0-20 bar) ranges.

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Containers Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. offers a complete portfolio of Thermo Scientific Nalgene bottles, carboys and containers, suitable for a broad range of applications. Each Nalgene bottle comes with a leak-proof guarantee to protect valuable liquids. Sizes range from 4 mL to 50 L, so scale-up can occur without the need to re-validate materials as projects progress from research into production. The bottles and containers are also available in a wide range of certified resins for laboratory, food and pharmaceutical use. Furthermore, an online bottle and selection guide, available at www.thermoscientific.com/safecontainer, aids users in choosing the optimal container for each application. Additional the bottles and containers come in a variety of sizes and shapes, with both narrow and wide mouth configurations.

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www.bioscienceworld.ca Laboratory Focus

November 2011

New Products

Filtration System The Sartorius Stedim Biotech SARTOFLOW® Alpha plus is a flexible modular bench-top cross-flow filtration system. The SARTOFLOW® Alpha plus provides semi-automatic micro, ultra diafiltration and is especially suited for process development, clinical testing and for smaller production processes. Thanks to its standardized options, the system can be adapted quickly and easily to the changing production demands of downstream processing. The unique SIP (steaming-in-place) module for thermal sterilization gives users the option to run all cross-flow processes aseptically. For such applications, heat-resistant Sartocon® filter cassettes are available along with custom-built valves and sterile connectors. This makes in situ sterilization of the entire system possible. The system operates with either disposable bag technology or permanently installed tank. Thanks to consistent modularity and wide-ranging accessories like conductivity sensors, pH electrodes, peristaltic pumps and 21 CFR part 11 compliant software, the SARTOFLOW® Alpha plus is adaptable to every process.

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ZM 200 RETSCH’s versatile ZM 200 can be used for the rapid size reduction of soft to medium-hard and fibrous materials down to 40 microns. Because of the efficient size reduction technique and the comprehensive range of accessories the ZM 200 ensures the gentle preparation of analytical samples in a very short time. For applications which require an optimum air throughput (e. g. heat sensitive materials) or if larger sample volumes need to be processed, the use of a cyclone is recommended. RETSCH offers a re-designed cyclone with improved functionalities for collector volumes from 250 ml to 5 litres which adds to the ZM 200’s great flexibility. Additionally, the ZM 200 can be easily adapted to suit a wide range of applications such as, for example, heavy-metal-free grinding, size reduction of abrasive materials or processing small volumes up to 20 ml.

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Vials Waters Corporation introduces TruView™ LCMS Certified Vials, a new line of low-adsorption sample vials certified for LC/ MS/MS analyses where analyte concentrations are on the order of ng/mL or pg/mL and where analytical sensitivity and accuracy are critical. TruView vials are manufactured under tight controls using a proprietary process that limits the concentration of free ions on the surface of the glass dramatically lowering analyte adsorption. Normally during the manufacture of glass vials, free ions are deposited on the surface. Problems occur when the ions are freed from the surface and enter the sample raising the pH and exposing ion exchange sites on the glass to sample analytes that can bind to the glass. The longer a vial awaits aspiration and injection of its contents, the greater the analyte adsorption.

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Micromanipulation System Eppendorf has announced the launch of a new micromanipulation system that offers improved functionality and intuitive usage benefits. The Eppendorf PiezoXpert is optimized for piezo-assisted manipulation or microinjection techniques, providing digital programmable parameter settings that allow for an optimal level of accuracy, reproducibility and yields. Penetration of the cell membranes is supported by piezo impulses which are directly transferred to the capillary without loss. Piezo-assisted micromanipulation improves the results of a host of applications including transfer of embryonaler or induced pluripotent stem cells to blastocysts, mouse ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) and enucleating/nuclear transfer. The system consists of a control unit, a space-saving piezo actuator and an ergonomic foot control, offering a high level of visual feedback and user-friendly functionality when perforating cell membranes. The device is intended for use in a wide array of microinjection procedures, including transgenics, developmental biology and other cell biology applications.

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Pipette Tips Beckman Coulter, Inc. introduces two new Biomek* P1000 Span-8 pipette tips for the company’s Biomek NXP and FXP Laboratory Automation Workstations. A clear, non-conductive P1000 Span-8 Tip and a P1000 Span8 Wide Bore Tip are now offered in addition to the current Biomek P1000 Span-8 Conductive Tip. The Biomek P1000 Span-8 Tip will allow users to visually inspect aspirated volumes and instill confidence during method development. Sample preparation times can be reduced by transferring a full 1mL of sample or reagent in a single pipetting action without having to split volumes. This is useful for large-volume media transfer in “seed and feed” cellular applications. The new P1000 Span-8 Wide Bore Pipette Tip offers a larger orifice, which facilitates pipetting of viscous liquids such as glycerol solutions or of samples with large particulates, which can clog standard tips. These tips are helpful in library construction and bead enrichment during sample preparation for next generation sequencing, in which viscous reagents such as the bead mixture are pipetted in large volumes.

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BrandTech UV-Cuvettes BrandTech UV-Cuvettes are a popular disposable alternative to quartz spectrophotometry cuvettes. They are excellent for DNA, RNA and protein analyses as well as many other applications between 220-900nm. BRAND UV-Cuvettes eliminate the washing, cross-contamination, breakage and expense associated with quartz cuvettes. Process QC applications avoid the need for qualified SOP’s for cuvette cleaning. The proprietary plastic material offers chemical compatibility superior to that of conventional plastic cuvettes of acrylic or polystyrene, and may be used with most polar organic solvents. The UV-Curvettes are available in macro (2.5– 4.5mL), Semi-micro (1.5-3.0mL) and ultra-micro (70-850mL) sizes for sample conservation.

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November 2011 Laboratory Focus www.bioscienceworld.ca

NEW PRODUCTS Pneumatic Test Pump

200” water column (500 mBar) pressure for low pressure calibrations. A convenient mode switch valve allows the pump to pull a vacuum of -14 psi (-0.9 bar), too. When it comes time to release the pressure, an easily controlled vent valve lets the user reduce the test pressure as needed to meet calibration procedure requirements. With dual ¼” NPT female ports, the MECP2000 is ideal for pairing with one of Martel’s line of BetaGauge pressure calibrators or BetaGauge PIPRO digital pressure gauges. Adapters for use with BSPP threads are also

pre-charges the high pressure piston with about 300 psi of air all in the course of one smooth stroke. In addition to easily generating high test pressures, an effective vernier fine adjust allows the precise setting of the final pressure needed. A unique feature is the pump isolation valve, which separates the pump internals from the vernier chamber and the external test system providing an extended adjustment range and better control of the pressure when using the vernier. The vernier assembly offers sufficient volume to produce up to

The new MECP2000 Pneumatic Test Pump from Martel Electronics Corporation allows users to generate up to 2,000 psi (140 bar) without using messy, contaminating fluids like hydraulic oil or water. This makes the pump a serious alternative to hydraulic pumps or Nitrogen cylinders where moderately high calibration ew:Layout 1 3/7/2011 1:45 PM Page 1 pressures are needed. A high leverage operating mechanism couples with a dual stage pump to make high pressures with relatively low effort. A low pressure, high volume piston

provided with the pump.

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NOVEMBER 2011 November 15 BioConnect 2011 Venue: Montréal, QC Email: bioconnect2011@ gmail.com Web: www.bioconnect2011.mcgill.ca/ registration.html

November 2011

JANUARY 2012 January 9–11 Biotech Showcase™ 2012 Venue: San Francisco, CA Email: update@ebdgroup. com Web: www.ebdgroup. com/bts/index.php

January 30-31 Bio Manufacturing Summit Venue: San Diego, CA Tel: (416) 214-1144 Fax (416) 214 3403 E-mail: melissa. youngsing@wtgevents. com Web: www. biomansummit.com

November 16-18 Canadian Science Policy Conference Venue: Ottawa, ON Email: info@CSPC2011.ca Web: www.CSPC2011.ca

November 16-19

FEBRUARY 2012

February 13-14

February 4-8 Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening 2012 Venue: San Diego, CA Tel: 630-256-7527 Fax: 630-741-7527 Email: slas@slas.org Web: www.slas.org

Bio CEO & Investor Conference 2012 Venue: New York, NY Email: bd_registration@ bio.org Web: www.bio.org/events/ conferences/ bio-ceo-and-investorconference/700-0

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Medica-World Forum for Medicine Venue: Dusseldorf, Germany Web: www.medica.de

November 17 MaRS Future of Medicine 2011 Venue: Toronto, ON Web: www. futureofmedicine. marsdd.com

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November 28-30 Canada Renewable Fuels Summit Venue: Calgary, AB Web: www.greenfuels.org

November 30-December 2 Therapeutic Area Partnerships 2011 Venue: Boston, MA Tel: (203) 840-6255 Email: conferences@ windhover.com Web: http://www. tapartnerships.com/

DECEMBER 2011 December 4-6 BioPartnering China Venue: Shanghai, China Tel: 1-831-464-4230 Fax: 1-831-464-4240 Web: www.techvision. com/bpc/

December 6 Connecting the Corridor Ontario/Québec Venue: Toronto, ON Web: www. lifesciencesontario.ca

December 8-9 FDA/CMS Summit Venue: Washington, DC Tel: (203) 840-6272 Email: p.cardone@ elsevier.com Web: www.windhover. com/windhover/content/ conferences/fda-cms.aspx

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November 2011 Laboratory Focus

career sPotlight Bio-economy Career Profile

from the lab to the marketPlace The question is often asked, where do new companies come from these days? In the life sciences industry, the seeds of company creation are planted in research, and more often than not, this research is to be translated to the marketplace through the efforts of technology transfer offices. This is the blueprint that many medical facilities, academic centres, government agencies and professional associations across Canada currently follow. But what about the researchers who think up these innovative ideas, how do they learn what it means to be a successful entrepreneur? The answer may lie in a new education program geared towards developing life sciences researchers’ business and commercialization skills that is being launched at the Ivey Centre for Health Innovation in London, ON. The Ontario Genomics Institute has provided $240,000 to fund this educational initiative under Genome Canada’s Entrepreneurship Education in Genomics Program. The course, titled “Leaders in the Lab,” according to organizers is to be an open-enrolment program of three days consisting of classes of 40 to 50 scientists from across Canada. In addition to the classes, participants will also have access to webinars that Ivey will host through the year. Dr. Anne Snowdon, chair of the Ivey Centre added that “Leaders in the Lab” will equip scientists with the business skills and knowledge of commercialization necessary to respond to market opportunities for Genomics research by utilizing expert faculty at the Centre for Health Innovation to deliver insights on strategic leadership, financial management, phrama-economics, business valuation, intellectual property, financing, licensing and regulatory issues. “What is truly innovative about our approach is that it will bring senior life scientists together – and keep them together through an alumni network – to think and learn about commercialization,” Snowdon said. It will be interesting to see how successful this model and approach will be, whether it will encourage more researchers to become entrepreneuers and likewise whether it can be duplicated to help improve our record on the commercialization front as a whole in other areas of the life sciences.

Compiled by BioTalent Canada Position: Regulatory Affairs Specialist/Consultant Name: Susan Ormsbee Company: Ormsbee & Associates Salary Range: $80,000 to $100,000 per year

What I do:

I assist small to medium-sized drug companies to ensure that they meet government requirements. Most companies this size don’t have the in-house expertise or are relatively new and inexperienced and require assistance. I spend about half of my time in discussions with clients about their systems and how to ensure they comply with regulatory guidelines. The other half of the day is usually used for discussions with Health Canada and meetings with potential clients.

What education and skills do candidates need for this position?

No specific training is required, however, a background in science is a definite advantage in understanding what clients are trying to achieve. The essential skills for this job are auditing, research, and analytical skills, including the ability to negotiate with government on behalf of clients. You should be a good listener, problem solver, flexible, and enjoy working with new clients; the position can also be a solitary pursuit at times. You should stay current in the regulatory world, keeping your knowledge up to date, and network as much as possible.

Y O B

T c S s p o w

What are the best parts of your job?

The best parts of my job are meeting with people who are driven and ambitious and truly believe in what they are doing, and seeing a company getting its product license after you have helped traverse the labyrinth of regulations.

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