Acquisition Brings Potential for Expanded Accessibility to NGS Protocols


Integra Biosciences is delighted to announce that it has acquired Miroculus, a biotechnology specialist focused on developing automation solutions for next generation sequencing (NGS) protocols. This will allow Integra to expand its product range for library preparation, which with the benefi ts of signifi cant time savings could enable academic, research and diagnostics laboratories to ultimately accelerate discovery in this dynamic fi eld.


Based in San Francisco, USA, Miroculus was founded to develop intuitive tools that simplify complex genomics protocols, expanding their accessibility to a wider range of scientists. Urs Hartmann, CEO of Integra, said: “We have acquired this promising start-up because we recognise the huge potential of its revolutionary digital microfl uidics technology for automating and miniaturising genomics protocols. Miroculus’ proprietary platform delivers assay fl exibility and automation capacity, which enables seamless workfl ow integration, streamlining the experimental process and empowering researchers to translate their discoveries into practical solutions that will improve people’s lives.”


The strategic acquisition will enable Integra to better serve the growing NGS market with solutions for applications such as automating long-read sequencing and target enrichment protocols.


It also ensures ongoing company growth and safeguards staff; high priorities for both companies. Urs continued: “Miroculus’ vision and product range complement our own innovative solutions for sample and library preparation, making it the perfect fi t for our company as we seek to establish a competitive edge in the genomics sector. We’re very much looking forward to welcoming the Miroculus team into the Integra family, and we’ll no doubt benefi t from their expertise and wealth of knowledge surrounding NGS. We are confi dent that our combined talents will allow us to accelerate and simplify science together, and we anticipate the launch of many exciting projects in the near future, with the aim of advancing discoveries in the crucial area of genomics.”


Alejandro Tocigl, Co-Founder and CEO of Miroculus, added: “We began Miroculus with the mission to advance science and improve lives faster and the last year has been signifi cant for us as we’ve worked toward this goal. Most notably, we launched the Miro Canvas™ system, which is a compact and easy-to-use digital microfl uidics platform that fully automates NGS sample preparation protocols and makes them accessible to scientists everywhere. We are extremely excited to now be a part of Integra and to continue our shared culture


Miroculus team members welcome new colleagues from Integra to their offi ce in San Francisco


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GCE R&D Lab Achieves ‘Golden Certificate’ of 5-Year ISO Accreditation


STFC Collaboration Brings Hope for First Quantum Computer


PsiQuantum, a Silicon Valley start-up is to open its fi rst advanced research and development (R&D) facility outside of the US at the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s (STFC) Daresbury Laboratory.


The collaboration, which will enable the company to develop advanced cryogenic systems critical in its mission to build the world’s fi rst useful quantum computer, followed a £9 million investment by the UK government to support PsiQuantum’s collaboration with STFC to overcome the scaling challenges facing ‘fault tolerant’ quantum computing.


Through this collaboration, PsiQuantum will gain access to: one of Europe’s largest cryogenic cooling facilities and its leading experts, large-scale R&D engineering facilities and workshops and future synergies with experts at STFC’s Hartree Centrefuture synergies with the UK National Quantum Computing Centre.


Scientists are already building intermediate-scale quantum computers with a few hundred qubits (also known as Noisy Intermediate Scale Quantum, or NISQ computers); but for a quantum computer to be commercially useful in solving real world problems, qubits are needed in the millions.


PsiQuantum’s cubits are based on particles of light, (photons) and photon detector technology which requires cryogenic cooling to reach the scale of a million qubits.


These devices operate at temperatures just a few degrees above absolute zero, equivalent to the temperature of deep space (in the region of -270°C).


GCE® Group (Gas Control Equipment, an ESAB brand) has been awarded a certifi cate of accreditation for the CSN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018, a standard that covers testing. The accreditation, achieved by GCE’s Research and Development Laboratory in Chotebor, Czech Republic, is valid for a fi ve-year period and encompasses new test methods and re-accreditation for its former scope of accreditation. GCE Group is the leading European manufacturer for gas control equipment, pressure regulators, valves and fl ow meters for oxygen and acetylene welding and cutting equipment, high-purity gases and medical and electronic industrial applications. The company’s R&D lab also provides services to industry users and other manufacturers.


“The extended ISO accreditation achieves a key goal in developing our capabilities,” said Gareth Pemberton, Director of Innovation, GCE. “The need for excellent testing services is increasing not only from regulatory requirements such as the medical device transition to MDR, but also from our customers.”


Newly accredited tests include those for oxygen compatibility of pressure regulating devices and auto-ignition test of non-metals in an oxygen enriched environment. GCE also offers more testing methods for artifi cial aging, salt mist corrosion, mechanical strength, leak tests, plastic parts that require checking for resistance against sunlight and heat, and metal parts that are to be checked for resistance to corrosion and many more.


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Although very cold, the photonic approach used by PsiQuantum is said to be far less demanding than that required of alternative technologies, thus circumventing the unprecedented challenge of having to develop large-scale milli-Kelvin dilution refrigeration.


Home to one of Europe’s largest cryogenic cooling facilities, STFC’s Daresbury Laboratory in the Liverpool City Region develops cryomodules for large-scale research facilities across the world.


PsiQuantum will work with STFC’s experts to build an advanced cryogenics centre that will increase its cryogenic capabilities 100- fold for testing quantum computing modules with the highest cryogenic cooling power to date.


Mark Thompson, Chief Technologist and Co-Founder at PsiQuantum, said: “We are very excited to be setting up a lab in the UK in collaboration with the STFC’s Daresbury Laboratory.


“The UK has a long history in quantum technologies and a talent pool of exceptional quantum engineers. The STFC team and facilities are absolutely world class, with a deep history of accomplishments in large-scale scientifi c infrastructure.


“Access to existing cryogenic infrastructure and expertise accelerates PsiQuantum’s mission to deliver a large-scale quantum computer.”


Paul Vernon, Head of STFC’s Daresbury Laboratory, said: “PsiQuantum is a shining example of how STFC is supporting pioneering businesses in their mission to develop the technologies that have the potential to change the world we live in, to transform industry and change our lives for the better.


“I am really excited to welcome PsiQuantum to Daresbury Laboratory, where our cutting edge technologies, facilities and expertise are contributing towards what could be a critical milestone in quantum computing for the world.”


This collaboration gives rise to clear synergies within the wider Sci- Tech Daresbury Campus. This includes the Hartree National Centre for Digital Innovation (HNCDI), a collaboration between STFC and IBM which provides businesses of all sizes access to the latest advanced supercomputing technologies, normally only available to academia and large-scale industry.


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CVIM to Accelerate Animal Vaccine Development


A new centre at The Pirbright Institute will focus on accelerating development of animal vaccines to combat emerging and urgent infectious diseases, that pose a very real risk to global food security and international trade, as well as presenting a signifi cant threat to global human health due to pandemic potential.


The Centre for Veterinary Vaccine Innovation and Manufacturing (CVIM) - a joint initiative of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC); the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Offi ce (FCDO) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation - aims to bridge the gaps between research and expertise in process development and manufacturing.


Scientifi cally independent the CVIM’s location provides leverage to signifi cant previous investments into Pirbright’s high containment facilities for laboratory and animal studies and its expertise in veterinary virology, immunology and vaccine development.


Totalling almost £40 million this new investment, promotes a ‘one health’ approach towards improving the health and wellbeing of


animals and humans on a global scale, while strengthening the UK’s own emergency response capacity and capability.


The new centre will work with partners in Africa and Asia, to fast-track the development of vital new livestock vaccines.


Samuel Thevasagayam, Director of Livestock at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, said: “It’s diffi cult if not impossible to address high rates of poverty and malnutrition in Africa and South Asia without a signifi cant focus on the several hundred million people – many of them women – who depend on livestock for income and proper nutrition. We always have viewed livestock vaccines as a powerful tool for supporting their needs, and promoting global health, which is why we’re excited to be part of a new effort to harness advances in vaccine science to confront zoonotic and neglected livestock diseases.”


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