News Views


Bringing you the latest Business News and updates from the Science Industry By Heather Hobbs


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Boost for investment in UK science and technology


One of the largest research collaboration projects between the UK and Japan has been extended by seven and a half years until 2018, to enable vital research to continue in areas such as superconducting materials for computing and medical technology and the science underpinning fusion energy. The agreement builds on 20 years of collaboration between scientists and engineers at the RIKEN Nishina Centre for Accelerator-based Science in Japan and the ISIS Neutron and Muon Facility at STFC’s Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) which has already resulted in tens of millions of pounds of investment into ISIS by RIKEN over the period. Nobel Laureate and RIKEN President, Professor Noyori, said, "We are proud to be extending this highly successful agreement with STFC. The RIKEN-RAL partnership is not only at the forefront of muon science, having resulted in over 250 papers being published over the last 20 years; it has furthered the cultural understanding between Japan and the United Kingdom. We look forward to working together on the very promising new developments in muon science in the future, many of which have important potential benefits for society and the economy."


"One area the RIKEN-RAL group is working on is our understanding of superconductors which operate at high temperatures, said Dr Philip King, Leader of ISIS Muon Group. "Superconductors are used in applications such as hospital MRI scanners but currently have to be cooled to be effective which is very expensive. Research carried out in collaboration with the Universities of London and Oxford, has made significant contributions to our understanding of these materials". Other projects include detecting the signatures of fusion energy (muon-catalysed fusion) to underpin the science behind the search for generating alternative, clean energy and, in collaboration with Toyota Central R&D Labs., increasing our understanding of how the charge moves around in laptop and mobile phone battery materials. Professor Keith Mason, STFC Chief Executive said," We are honoured to work so closely with RIKEN and its many gifted and distinguished researchers. It is one of the most successful UK-Japan scientific collaborations. Today’s agreement not only celebrates the many highlights and achievements of our partnership over the last 20 years, it also opens up new possibilities for addressing the


Sistemic Ltd commences strategic growth plan


STFC


Professor Mason and Professor Noyori celebrate the signing of a new agreement at RAL in Oxford


exciting future challenges that muon science has to offer."


The extension of the partnership will also enable the operation of a unique instrument at the RIKEN-RAL facility – the Chronus Spectrometer - which will make it easier for scientists to study materials under extreme conditions of pressure and temperature using muons. The spectrometer will be especially useful for studying organic LEDs which are used in camera and mobile phone devices to make the images brighter and to produce thinner displays.


TO FIND OUT MORE CIRCLE NO. 538 Renishaw Diagnostics signs contract with Gen-Probe


Renishaw Diagnostics Ltd, a leading provider of trace level detection technologies based on the exploitation of surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and surface enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS) for infectious disease research and molecular diagnostics applications, has established a contract reagent manufacturing agreement with Gen-Probe's Cardiff facility. David Burns, CEO of Renishaw Diagnostics Ltd said, "We are very pleased to have engaged Gen-Probe to manufacture our RenDx molecular diagnostics kits for us under international standards. Gen- Probe has a very successful track record in manufacturing and selling their own nucleic acid based diagnostics kits to high quality manufacturing standards and we selected them as our


manufacturing partner of choice for our RenDx reagent kits because of this experience. We are moving our RenDx products into clinical evaluation studies in Europe and the USA for our three multiplex infectious disease panels and it was important to secure manufacturing of these to the standards that will allow us to go for regulatory compliance approvals to market our products in Europe and the USA as certified in-vitro diagnostics products." Dr Molly Price-Jones, Senior Director of the Gen-Probe Cardiff site, said, "We are delighted to be providing contract services for Renishaw Diagnostics Ltd to manufacture its in vitro diagnostic kits in our GMP manufacturing facilities in the UK."


TO FIND OUT MORE CIRCLE NO. 539


Building on the success of its analytical approach to microRNA (miRNA) profiling technologies, Scottish-based, Sistemic Ltd, (Glasgow,) has embarked on a major expansion programme which will bring additional key scientific and bioinformatic staff and a move to a larger dedicated facility forming the company’s new global headquarters. The new Glasgow site will enable faster completion of current contracts, provide capacity for acquired and future business and also support the company’s expansion of its key internal R&D programmes in drug toxicology and stem cell characterisation. The company, formed in 2008, is also growing its US commercial operations, developing its Boston location and opening an office in California. Jim Reid, Sistemic Chairman and CEO said "We are delighted that things are going so well for the company especially when so many businesses are downsizing or finding life tough. It is a real endorsement of the unique technology we are developing and the customer-centric approach we take to our business.” Dr Verna McErlane, Director of Commercial Operations, added; "We are committed to global expansion and see the developments in the US as key to providing customers with local support and dedicated resources aimed at the world's largest market."


Microanalytical Group Meeting Focuses on ICP


The summer 2011 meeting of the Royal Society of Chemistry, Microanalytical Group focusing on applications of Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) spectroscopy was recently held at the premises of Warwick Analytical Service, a division of Exeter Analytical (UK) Ltd. Paul Hemming, Chairman of


the RSC Microanalytical Group


commented 'We were pleased to welcome visitors from a range of UK organisations, involved with ICP, to our meeting'. He added 'As with previous meetings the summer 2011 event presented an excellent forum for people interested in or involved with microanalytical techniques to share experiences and knowledge


as well as networking with fellow professionals'. The summer meeting was followed by a tour of the company’s ISO 17025, UKAS and GMP compliant laboratory facilities. For information relating to the RSC Microanalytical Group please contact Paul Hemming on pehemming@aol.com.


TO FIND OUT MORE CIRCLE NO. 540


Dr David Mallinson, who previously worked for Merck Sharpe Dohme (MSD), joined the team on 1 May, as a Senior Scientist and will lead new projects at the expanded facility. Dr Max Bylesjo, who previously worked for ALMAC group join on 1 July, as a Senior Bioinformatician and will focus on continuing the development of Sistemic’s data processing technology. The company is currently seeking additional staff in anticipation of continued growth. The new Sistemic headquarters will dedicate 60% of its space to new laboratory facilities, equipped with state- of-the-art technology, and 40% as new commercial areas. The company’s core products include capability in the screening of drug discovery lead compounds to determine whole cell response to various chemistries as well as cell characterisation, QC monitoring, purity, potency and pluripotentcy assessment of cell lines.


TO FIND OUT MORE CIRCLE NO. 541


To be included in our next issue, send all your Business and Financial News stories to heather@intlabmate.com


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