Technologies

Our wide range of technologies covers areas such as:

• Cellular and biochemical assays
  
  • Ion flux analysis
  • Enzyme activity measurement
  • Second messenger and metabolite quantification
  • Protein detection and quantification
  • Live cell imaging
  • Cell painting and high content imaging
  • 3D cell and tissue analysis
• High-throughput screening Assays 
  
  • Automation
• Biophysical assays
  
  • Characterization assays
  • Binding assays
• Molecular biology 
  
  • Gene expression analysis
  • Transcriptomics
  • Genetic modifications
• Spatial biology
  
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • RNA detection in FFPE
  • Combined RNA and protein detection assays
  • Histology

Cell-based and Biochemical Assays

Our cell-based and biochemical assays enable custom assay development screening to support drug discovery at every stage. By providing tailored solutions, we help advance target validation, mechanism-of-action studies, and lead optimization, ensuring impactful insights for therapeutic development.

Ion flux analysis

• FLIPR – Our team uses two FLIPR Tetra for high throughput cellular screening. 
• Calcium Imaging - Using PheraStar FS MicroPlate reader

Enzyme activity measurement

• IMAP

Second Messenger and metabolite quantification

• Fluorescence and Luminescence assays – We have a range of plate-based readers at our disposal for assay development and screening use

Protein quantification

• Western blotting
  
  • Check out or poster on development of a selective WEE1 inhibitor to see how we used western blotting as part of a screening cascade. 
• Automated western blotting - using ProteinSimple’s Jess™
• ELISA
  
  • Take a look at how we used ELISA to investigate the Implications of Targeting Novel Pathways in Exhausted T Cells for Immuno-Oncology Therapeutic Intervention
• AlphaLISA
• HTRF
• MSD
• Luminex
• Flow cytometry – the posters below showcase how we used flow cytometry as part of a screening cascade:
  
  • Implications of Targeting Novel Pathways in Exhausted T Cells for Immuno-Oncology Therapeutic Intervention
  • Identifying Disease Relevant Macrophage Subtypes in vitro using RNA-Sequencing Transcriptome Profiling

• Immunofluorescence – Take a look at how we use our Leica Thunder investigating in vitro and ex vivo models of OPC maturation and myelination for drug discovery

Live cell imaging

• IncuCyte - The posters below showcase how we use our Incucyte S3 and SX5 live-cell analysis systems for live cell imaging:
  • Priming of spheroids with IFN-γ increases efficacy of T cell mediated killing with PD-1 blockade
  • Assessing the effect of candidate drugs on the phagocytic activity of human iPSC-derived Microglia‍
  • Modelling neurotoxicity, neuroprotection and neurodevelopment for drug discovery applications

Cell painting and high content imaging

• High content screening platform - Using our Thermo Scientific CellInsight CX7 LZR Pro

3D cell and tissue analysis

• Automated sectioning of live tissue – Using Campden Instruments Vibrating Microtome 7000smz-2
• Automated Tissue Dissociation – Using Miltenyi Biotec gentleMACS™ dissociator
• 3D Imaging - Using our THUNDER Imager 3D Cell Culture

Find out more about how we use our 3d cell and tissues analysis here: 

• In vitro and Ex vivo models of OPC maturation and myelination for drug discovery

High-throughput screening assays

Automation enables our biochemical, biophysical, and cellular screening teams to perform high-throughput compound screening using a variety of advanced technologies. Access to our fragment library for fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD) further accelerates the identification of potential lead compounds.

This poster showcases how we use some of our technologies as part of a screening project. 

Automation

• We have access to a range of automated pipettes and liquid handlers including:
  
  • INTEGRA VIAFLO Assist automatic pipettes
  • CyBio FeliX liquid handler
  • TECAN Freedom EVO
  • D300 Digital dispensers

Biophysical Assays 

Biophysical assays offer crucial insights into molecular interactions and characterization, helping optimize drug design and development. Techniques like SPR and ITC measure binding affinities, kinetics, and thermodynamics, aiding in target validation and drug efficacy. These methods are essential for understanding drug-target relationships and enhancing therapeutic precision. 

Find out more about how we use our biophysical technologies here: 

• Identifying and Optimizing New Chemotypes for BRPF1b Inhibition with Grating-Coupled Interferometry 

Characterization assays

• Dynamic or Electrophoretic Light Scattering (DLS/ELS)
• Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)
• Size Exclusion Multi Angle Light Scattering (SEC-MALS)

Binding assays

• Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) - SPR, using the Biacore™ 8K
• Grating Coupled Interferometry (GCI) – find out how we use GCI to identify and optimize new chemotypes for BRPF1b inhibition here
• Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC)
• Microscale Thermophoresis (MST)
• Fluorescence Polarization (FP)

Molecular Biology 

Our molecular biology services focus on understanding and manipulating genetic material to support drug discovery and development. Techniques like gene expression analysis, genetic modification, and transcriptomics provide insights into molecular mechanisms, pathways, and disease processes. These capabilities enable precise and efficient research tailored to specific therapeutic needs.

Gene expression analysis

• qPCR
• Nanostring nCounter
• In-situ Hybridization 
• RNA Scope – Using our Leica BOND RX

Transcriptomics

• scRNSAseq - Using the 10x Genomics Chromium Controller™ or ScaleBio QuantumScale
• Bulk RNAseq
• Nanostring GeoMx platform - For spatial multiomics analysis of FFPE and fresh frozen tissue sections
• ATAC-seq - To assess genome-wide chromatin accessibility
• CITE-Seq - Quantitative, sequenceable readout of proteins

Gene Modifications

• Elecroporation – Using Neon Electroporation System‍
• AAV, Lentivirus

Spatial Biology 

Our spatial biology services use techniques like multiplex immunofluorescence, RNAscope, and spatial transcriptomics to study biomolecules within tissues at the single-cell level. These methods support biomarker discovery, therapeutic evaluation, and insights into drug response by examining the tissue microenvironment. Enabling us to offer end-to-end, GCP-compliant histology services to drive drug discovery and enhance therapeutic strategies.

Our poster showcases how we use different technologies to enhance spatial biomarker discovery and development.

Immunohistochemistry

• Autostainer 
• Whole Slide Scanning – Using our Axioscan A7 (Zeiss) and PhenoImager HT (Akoya)
• Chromogenic Staining 
• Phenocode Signature Panels 
• High-plex staining – Using our Phenocycler-Fusion

RNA detection in FFPE

• RNAScope 

Combined RNA and Protein detection assays

• RNA+Protein Panels 

Histology

• Sample processing to FFPE – Using TP1020 Tissue Processor (Leica)
• FFPE and Frozen Tissue sectioning
• Tissue staining