SAN DIEGO, Aug. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Cyntellect, a privately-held biotechnology company, and the Burnham Institute for Medical Research (“Burnham”) today announced they have entered into a joint collaboration to develop new applications on Cyntellect’s in situ live cell imaging and laser processing product (called LEAP(TM)) to accelerate research by Burnham’s scientists. The collaboration efforts will focus on developing applications of LEAP for automated purification of stem cells, stem cell colonies and the differentiated cells derived from stem cells. Cyntellect and Burnham expect these new applications will accelerate discovery of new knowledge of stem cell differentiation factors and pathways, as well as generate cell populations that may be used to deliver the potential therapeutic benefits of stem cells. Under the agreement, Burnham will gain access to LEAP and Cyntellect will gain certain commercial rights to discoveries under the collaboration.
“In situ laser processing with LEAP has provided us the unique ability to purify rare adherent cell types in an efficient, automated and sterile manner,” said Mark Mercola, Ph.D., Professor and Associate Director, Del E. Webb Neuroscience, Aging and Stem Cell Research Center. “We also believe LEAP can be a transforming technology in the downstream use of stem cells and their progeny as it has clear potential as a sample preparation system for adherent cell types derived from stem cell populations.”
LEAP is an automated live cell analysis and processing system that combines high-speed optical imaging (brightfield or fluorescence) and real-time image analysis with high-speed in situ laser manipulation of cells. Using LEAP, researchers have demonstrated: (i) accelerated functional cloning of cells, including highly-secreting cells for biopharmaceutical manufacturing purposes, (ii) image-based cell purification of adherent and non-adherent cell types and (iii) laser-based macromolecule delivery into cells, including siRNA, small molecules, proteins and quantum dots.
“Burnham scientists are clearly among the elite in the world of stem cell biology and we are excited to be working closely with them to exploit LEAP’s capabilities to improve their potential in working with stem cells,” stated Dr. Fred Koller, Cyntellect’s President and CEO. “It is an important and noble endeavor that we hope and expect will offer some novel and powerful solutions to the life science and therapeutic markets.”
About Burnham Institute for Medical Research
Burnham Institute for Medical Research is dedicated to revealing the fundamental molecular causes of disease and devising the innovative therapies of tomorrow. Burnham is one of the fastest growing research institutes in the country with operations in California and Florida. The Institute ranks among the top four institutions nationally for NIH grant funding and among the top 25 organizations worldwide for its research impact. Burnham utilizes a unique, collaborative approach to medical research and has established major research programs in cancer, neurodegeneration, diabetes, infectious and inflammatory and childhood diseases. The Institute is known for its world-class capabilities in stem cell research and drug discovery technologies. Burnham is a nonprofit, public benefit corporation. For more information, please visit http://www.burnham.org.
About Cyntellect
Cyntellect, Inc. is a life sciences company committed to revolutionizing the use of living cells in life science research and cellular therapy. The Company combines expertise in high-speed cell imaging and laser-based manipulation to develop products that enable novel cell imaging, purification, and transfection capabilities to enhance the productivity of laboratory research, recombinant protein production, high-content cellular assays, functional genomics and proteomics, and cell purification, including processing of cells for therapeutic transplantation. For additional information please visit the Company’s web site at http://www.cyntellect.com.
CONTACT: Dama L. Linton, Media Relations of Cyntellect, Inc.,
+1-858-382-3202, dama@lintonbiotech.com
Web site: http://www.cyntellect.com/
http://www.burnham.org/
