Thermo Fisher Scientific Awards 2015 Attune Nxt Flow Cytometry Grant To California Cancer Researcher

UC San Diego scientist wins for immunology-cell treatment for cancer submission as part of a life science grant program

CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Thermo Fisher Scientific, the world leader in serving science, today recognizes Charles Prussak, Pharm D, Ph.D., professor at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, as one of two recipients of the 2015 Attune NxT Flow Cytometry Grant. The other recipient is Bruno Sainz, Jr., Ph.D., of the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain.

“At Thermo Fisher, we believe that, as a leader in our industry, it is our responsibility to inspire and support scientists who have innovative solutions to one of the world’s most pressing problems – cancer”

Thermo Fisher selected Dr. Prussak’s abstract from an applicant pool with submissions from 40 states and provinces in North America to receive the award, a new Invitrogen Attune NxT Flow Cytometer which is valued at $199,500. His submission focused on immune cell therapy for the treatment of cancer. Dr. Prussak will be honored Thursday, Dec. 10, during a ceremony at its Carlsbad facility.

“At Thermo Fisher, we believe that, as a leader in our industry, it is our responsibility to inspire and support scientists who have innovative solutions to one of the world’s most pressing problems – cancer,” said Valerie Bressler-Hill, vice president and general manager of flow cytometry at Thermo Fisher. “We were extremely impressed with the important research and paths toward discovery that scientists are currently engaged in, so it was very difficult to select a winner. However, we were impressed by Dr. Prussak’s application of the Attune Flow Cytometer. We are looking forward to the advances he will bring to cancer research and the field of immunology.”

The Attune NxT Flow Cytometry Grant Program, which launched in March 2015, challenged applicants to explain how the instrument’s novel acoustic focusing technology would further their research goals, as well as contribute to the broader life science community. Anonymized entries were judged based on significance, approach, conceptual framework, innovation, creativity and feasibility.

The Attune NxT Flow Cytometer from Thermo Fisher Scientific is a benchtop analyzer that uses proprietary acoustic focusing technology to align cells prior to laser interrogation and multicolor flow cytometry analyses. Acoustic focusing is largely independent of the sample input rate, enabling cells to be tightly aligned. This, in turn, allows the collection of more photons for high-precision analysis at superior volumetric sample throughput (12.5 µL/min–1 mL/min), which can be up to 10 times faster than traditional hydrodynamic focusing systems. This also provides other benefits, such as simplified sample preparation and easier rare-event identification.

“I feel honored to be selected by Thermo Fisher as the winner of the 2015 Attune NxT Flow Cytometry Grant,” said Dr. Prussak. “The instrument will be an essential component of the work we are currently doing in developing immune-based therapies for the treatment of cancer. It will help speed my research, hopefully putting us one step closer to discovering and developing new forms of cancer treatment.”

Dr. Prussak has more than 25 years of academic and biotech industry experience developing cell-based therapeutics. He is currently the director of the Cell Therapy Translational Laboratory (CTTL), created by UC San Diego to serve as the engine to generate translational cell-based therapeutics that take advantage of breakthroughs discovered in the university’s research laboratories.

Separately, Thermo Fisher awarded a 2015 Attune NxT Flow Cytometry Grant to Bruno Sainz, Ph.D., of the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain. His work focuses on the development of a state-of-the art liquid biopsy assay for the detection of circulating cancer stem cells fused to macrophages in human blood samples.

For more information on the 2015 Attune NxT Flow Cytometry Grant Program or Thermo Fisher Scientific, please visit www.thermofisher.com/attunegrant.

Thermo Fisher’s Invitrogen Attune NxT Flow Cytometer is for research use only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

About Thermo Fisher Scientific

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with revenues of $17 billion and approximately 50,000 employees in 50 countries. Our mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We help our customers accelerate life science research, solve complex analytical challenges, improve patient diagnostics and increase laboratory productivity. Through our premier brands – Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific and Unity Lab Services – we offer an unmatched combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience and comprehensive support. For more information, please visit www.thermofisher.com.

About the Attune NxT Flow Cytometer

The Invitrogen Attune NxT Flow Cytometer from Thermo Fisher Scientific is a unique benchtop analyzer that uses acoustic focusing, a technology that aligns cells prior to interrogation with a laser for multicolor flow cytometry analyses. It is modular in design and can be configured with up to four lasers and 14 colors, and can be designed to accommodate the most common fluorophores and fluorescent proteins used in flow cytometry. The Attune NxT Flow Cytometer can achieve sample-throughput rates of 12.5 µL/min–1 mL/min, up to 10 times faster than other flow cytometers. Acoustic focusing allows for significantly higher sample rates, which simplifies sample preparation, reduces protocol times and minimizes cell loss.