Breaking News on Laboratory Equipment

Thermo unveils FT-IR spectrometer

Thermo Fisher has launched a new spectrometer that incorporates FT-IR technology for improved clarity and detail, aimed at pharmaceutical process scientists and other chemical disciplines.

New comprehensive database details all known bacteria in human mouth

A new, freely available database has been launched that provides comprehensive information about the 600 known bacteria living in the human mouth. Many of these bacteria also cause infections in the lungs, blood and skin, so the Human Oral Microbiome Database will be an important reference both for researchers working in the field of oral microbiology and researchers investigating the sources of infections throughout the human body.

Record R&D investment in US

Research and development investment by America's pharmaceutical and biotechnology research companies reached a record $58.8bn last year, a rise of $3bn since 2006.

EU's ageing science workforce could damage future innovations

The ageing population of the European Union (EU) could result in a stagnation in technological innovation, according to a new report. As science and technology professionals get older and less socially mobile, there are fears that it could result in a loss in scientific expertise.

Biotage introduces automation solution for microwave chemistry

Biotage has used the American Chemical Society (ACS) Spring 2008 meeting to introduce its new batch microwave synthesiser that allows the full automation of batch sequencing resulting in time savings for users.

Genomic research automation is goal for Febits analyser

German based Genomics specialists Febit aim to fully automate genomics research with the introduction of its analyser at Analytica 2008, which enables fully automated processing of microarrays on Geniom biochips.

Redpoint Bio receives taste sensor patent

Redpoint Bio has been issued with a patent for an assay technology which tests whether a compound enhances or inhibits the bitter or sweet taste of different ingredients, allowing the company to screen for flavour enchancing compounds.

Metagenomics indicates changes in microbial communities

A new bioinformatics technique, developed by researchers at the US Argonne National Laboratory, is allowing researchers to rapidly screen the genetic sequences present microbial communities.

Researchers achieve scalable fullerene production and separation

They showed promise in everything from drug delivery to the development of superconductive compounds, but so far fullerenes have been difficult to produce and purify in sufficiently large quantities for useful applications.

Product News in Brief

Varian, Invitrogen, BMG Labtech and Hosokawa Micron have all recently announced new product launches, detailing a selection of tools and equipment to aid the scientist working in the laboratory environment.

Mass Spec Delight

MassWorks sCLIPS (self Calibrated Line-Shape Isotope Profile Search), a new software tool for the mass spectrometrist to allow molecular formula determination from accurate mass determinations, was launched at Pittcon by Cerno Biosciences.

ISPE links with university for hands-on biopharma training

The International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) is offering a "unique training experience" for pharmaceutical professionals through a partnership with North Carolina State University in the US.

Researchers explain particle motion in microchannels

Engineers from the U.S think they have discovered a new technique that allows them to control the motion of fluid particles as they pass through the tiny channels that characterise nano-scale technologies such as drug delivery devices.

Biotech driving lab reagent market to 2010

The worldwide laboratory chemical reagents market is expected to reach $13.7bn by 2010, buoyed by the biotechnology sector, neuroscience research and proteomics.

Affymetrix to outsource jobs to Singapore

Microarray expert Affymetrix has started outsourcing some of its jobs in the US to Singapore.

Scientists wake up ancient Sleeping Beauty jumping gene

Scientists have successfully created the first artificial transposon - a piece of DNA which randomly "jump" around the genome, cutting and pasting itself throughout the strands of DNA.

EUR 15m project to uncover secrets of membrane proteins

They play an important role in diseases such as diabetes and epilepsy but until now the structure and activity of proteins found in cell membranes have been little understood compared to proteins dissolved within the cell's cytoplasm, nucleus, and mitochondria.

'Lego' construction kit eases lab automation

A new modular approach to automating laboratory techniques could ease the process of scaling small-scale manual methods to high-volume commercial production.

Peptide Technologies extends synthesis range with new Tribute

Peptide Technologies showcased their latest rapid automated peptide synthesis equipment at Pittcon 2008, including a new product, the benchtop Tribute instrument.

Applied Bio sequences a human genome for $60,000

Applied Biosystems has sequenced a human genome for just $60,000 in a project that significantly undercuts the $100,000 milestone achieved by the industry and setting the scene for a price war between DNA sequencing tool specialists.

FDA makes progress in plans for China presence

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has alerted the media that it has taken a significant step forward in its plans to establish a presence on the ground in China.

Laboratory product news in brief

LabTechnologist.com presents a round-up of new products that have been introduced to the laboratory equipment market of late, including items from Applied Biosystems, Olympus, Gentronix and Radleys.

Synthetic biology research centre established in NL

The University if Groningen in the Netherlands has established a new research centre dedicated to the growing discipline of synthetic biology and its application to the production of biologic medicines.

Biofuel analyser debuts at Pittcon

Aspectrics introduced a new biodiesel analyser at Pittcon 2008 based upon their Encoded Photometric Near Infra Red (EP-NIR) technology, which uses a specially designed 128 channel encoder disc.

FT-IR comes of age at Thermo

Thermo Fisher released a comprehensive range of new laboratory spectrometers at Pittcon 2008, with the firm's emphasis on FT-IR very much in evidence.

Eli Lilly seeks out Indian firm for second CNS partnership

Eli Lilly has again teamed up with Indian research firm Suven Life Sciences in a deal that will focus on preclinical research of molecules in the therapeutic area of central nervous system (CNS) disorders.

NanoDrop makes low volume analysis a cinch

NanoDrop, now part of Thermo Fisher Scientific, made a big impact at Pittcon 2008 with its range of micro-volume UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy instruments.

Device gives scientists the power to control cell reproduction

A unique device that allows control gene activity during cell multiplication has been produced by US researchers, who believe this technology will allow them to construct pedigrees, comparing gene activity from one cell to the next.

Thermo Fisher claims breakthrough with gene-silencing agent

Research into the use of RNA interference (RNAi) to "silence" gene activity has taken another step forwards, saysThermo Fisher Scientific which has launched an agent that accelerates the processes in which RNAi is used to shut off specific genes.

Crystallisation method yields new protein structure clues

A new method for crystallising proteins and making them easier to experiment on has been devised by scientists, who believe this technique will uncover the innermost structure of more complex proteins.

Genetic switches discovery could mean lights out on cancer

European researchers think they may have found a series of DNA switches that control which genes are switched on and when, giving rise to a new research direction that may shed new light on the molecular basis of cancer and development.

Mammalian-cell biosensor accelerates pathogen detection

A new biosensor made from mouse white blood cells could provide a quick and easy test for microbes and toxins in food. The sensor can return results in just a few hours, and it can be easily scaled to test up to 96 samples at one time.

GATC opens up shop in Sweden

DNA sequencing services provider GATC Biotech has announced the opening of a new subsidiary in Stockholm, Sweden, as it widens the net in Europe.

Roche deal tests drug cardiotoxicity on unique lab platform

Roche has entered into an agreement to provide drug compounds for cardiotoxicity testing using a cell-based platform that could play a major role in the preclinical safety evaluation of drugs and newly developed compounds.

Scientists challenge amniotic stem cell research

It had been touted as providing a less controversial alternative to embryonic stem cells, but Italian researchers have thrown into question the validity of research claiming to demonstrate the use of amniotic stem cells to generate neural tissue.

Silicon tuning fork provides early detection of prion diseases

A silicon tuning fork that changes pitch in the presence of deadly prions could provide an early detection of diseases such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and its human counterpart Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease (CJD).

Fumehood maker shows rivals how to go green

A new user and environmentally-friendly fume hood claimed to cut emissions as well as operating and energy costs has been launched at Pittcon 2008.

New products for the laboratory scientist

LabTechnologist.com brings you a round up of the latest product news and releases. This week Agilent, Biotage and Ruskinn Technology head the queue with products designed for laboratory research and automation.

Portable FTIR a hit at Pittcon

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) has hit the headlines at Pittcon 2008 with the release of ground breaking instruments from a number of companies.

Donut-shaped organic molecule mops up chemical waste

Dissolved charged particles frequently form the waste product of both industrial and biological processes, but while it has been easy to remove positive ions (cations) without disturbing the surrounding solution, it has been significantly harder to recover negative ions (anions).

Fighting bacteria produce new antibiotic

Scientists have provoked a soil-dwelling bacteria into producing a potent antibiotic by pitting it against another bacteria, despite the fact that previously it had never been known to produce such products.

Pharma should innovate through pharmacogenomics

Innovative pharma firms should take a closer look at pharmacogenomics in order to move away from the current 'one-size-fits-all approach' to drug development, according to an industry expert.

Applera shake up as company does the splits

Applera has announced its intentions to separate its Celera Group from the Applera Corporation, forming a separate, publicly-traded company, subject to approval from the US Securities and Exchange Commission and Applera's board of directors.

DiaMed helps Bio-Rad to strong growth in 07

Bio-Rad Laboratories has reported strong growth in the last quarter of 2007, with a 34 per cent increase in revenue compared to the last quarter of 2006. These results have contributed to an overall 14.7 per cent increase in sales for 2007, to $1.46bn.

Biodegradable 'cells' boost immune system

A "biodegradable yarn ball" filled with stimulatory proteins that boost the immune system could constitute the next generation of adaptive immunotherapy for cancer.

Rapid DNA testing kit could help in sex crimes

Applied Biosystems has developed a new chemistry reagent kit for DNA analysis by forensic laboratories of material recovered in sexual assault cases. In these cases speed and accuracy are the watchwords and the new kit will help the analyst to rapidly generate information from any complicated DNA evidence that is presented.

Weekly comment

Big pharma to persist with external reliance

Big pharma's thirst for external innovation is set to persist amidst the blockbuster drought.

Computer modelling improves lab data quality

A new study shows how to get high quality immune-system protein information at the fraction of the current cost. Researchers have introduced a statistical model, which makes use of existing high quality molecule data to infer information from cheaper low quality data.

Pittcon 2008 opens its doors

Pittcon 2008 has kicked off and as usual exhibitors have kept their newest and most innovative technology for release at the show. LabTechnologist.com's Huw Kidwell is on the ground in New Orleans to see what's new.

NIH to lighten up heavy peer review process

Researchers applying to the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) for research grants could find the complicated peer-review process easier to navigate in the future under new proposals designed to revamp the outdated system.

Bruker on R&D high as Q4 exceeds expectations

Life sciences systems maker Bruker Corp reported stronger-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings and revenue results on the back of the company's recent $1.1bn acquisition of affiliated firm Bruker BioSpin.