Acting as an intermediary between instrument manufacturers and reagent manufacturers and prospective clients, we can provide an expert lab-based environment for the validation of new technologies.
We can bridge the gap between clients and instrument manufacturers to validate new technologies and develop novel applications for existing technologies using our “real world” screening expertise.
We have collaborated with many instrument manufacturers to develop and apply new and novel technology to drug discovery.
Examples include; Molecular Devices FLIPR, FLIPRTetra and FLIPRTetra Jellyfish, Corning Epic label-free, Amersham IN-Cell high content screening, DiscoveRx beta –arrestin based screening, Applied Biosystems FMAT for bead-based FLISA and cell-based competition assays and Labcyte Echo 555 acoustic dispensing and Microsonic system acoustic mixing.
The image on the left showns a Labcyte 555 ultrasonic dispenser used to dispense compounds in triplicate into plates and screened within a 384 well FMAT binding assay. Right image shows the correlation between each compound, each of the three values per compound are plotted on the X, Y and Z axis – data plotted using the Spotfire application.
A fragment-based series as screened at high concentration within a kinase assay. Predicted hits did not give dose response curves consistent with activity (Image A). Compounds were subjected to mixing using the Hendix mixer (shown inset) and the assay repeated. Compounds were then active at high concentration (Image B) suggesting that they were insoluble under normal conditions and the ultrasonic mixing re-solubilised the compounds.
Using all of the technologies above we have successfully performed phenotypic screens for endogenously expressed targets in primary cells obtained from humans without the intervention of molecular biology to introduce reporters to these systems.
Furthermore, due to our HTS capabilities and our experience in this area, we have acted as a lab intermediary, performing validation of technologies using clients reagents and compounds. A description of the deliverables from such a project are given here…..
Beta testing – early stage feedback for engineering, software writers and reagent providers for development purposes
Description
Either consultative or practical feedback on the design and development of instruments and reagents
Deliverables
Package of data from a real world pharmacological evaluation providing written feedback on all aspects of the technology and prospective application development
Price
POA
Validation of the technology for the instrument and reagent manufacturer (confidential)
Description
“Real world” HTS lab evaluation and validation of the technology involving pharmacological characterisation using cells, proteins and compounds
Deliverables
Confidential report covering validation of the technology using real world practical examples, advantages, disadvantages, feedback on qualitative and quantitative measures, areas for improvement. Demonstration of statistical assay quality and reproducibility for publication purposes
Price
POA
Intermediary between vendor and prospective client
Description
Aurelia Bioscience provide trained resource and HTS equipment necessary to perform an evaluation of the technology by the prospective client to agreed standards
Deliverables
Documentation and presentation detailing the evaluation, the pharmacological behaviour of the compounds in the technology using the reagents and compounds provided by the client
Price
POA
We can provide services to clients who require:
An intermediary company to to work between the instrument manufacturer and the client to validate the technology for the client application and/or biology
Manufacturers wishing to identify and engage with a group of our scientists who can push their technology to the limit and identify the “killer application”
Instrument and reagent manufacturers from overseas wishing to establish a technology support base and training support in the UK