lab reports - Lab Business

Transcription

Summer
2006
LAB BUSINESS
Hitting the
right notes
Serving Canadian Laboratories and Lab Suppliers
Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement 40063567
New scientific lab keys
in on piano pedagogy
Pharmas size up the potential
of the obesity drug sector
The finer points of buying
and selling used lab equipment
reply online at www.labbusinessmag.com
LAB BUSINESS
Serving Canadian Laboratories and Lab Suppliers
top stories
12
also inside
Contents
25
Lab Reports
Better Equipped: Buying and
selling used lab equipment is
big business…but value has
many definitions
30
Supplier Profile
Thermo Electron: Global
instrumentation juggernaut
surges ahead by
empowering customers
32
Question & Answer
Question and Answer with
Amy Lemay, president of
Welland, Ontario-based
0Vista Science & Technology
Pharma Feature
Fat Chance: With obesity
rates climbing to epidemic
proportions, Canadian and
international pharmaceutical
companies race to find a
magic pill
12
38
Sitting With
Adrian Veres, 17, on winning top
honours at the 2006 Intel
International Science and
Engineering Fair
SUMMER 2006
Piano Lessons: A
new Ottawa-based
lab uses scientific
research, high-end
electronics and
video technology
to further the
unique field of
piano pedagogy
20
34
in every issue
5
EDITOR’S NOTE
7
NEWS BEAT
11
PHARMA NEWS
34
NEW PRODUCTS
LAB BUSINESS Summer 2006
3
© 2006 Thermo Electron Corporation. All rights reserved. All trademarks are the property of Thermo Electron Corporation and its subsidiaries.
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Sample preparation equipment
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LIMS and laboratory software
Service and support
From analytical instruments, lab equipment and software to pharmaceutical
testing, quality control and production, Thermo can provide the tools and
experience you need to help increase lab productivity. And let you spend
more time focused on finding solutions.
For a closer look at everything Thermo can provide, visit us at
www.thermo.com.
Look closer for answers
editor’s note
LAB BUSINESS
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Inspired Science
I
’
d love to hear your thoughts on the matter,
but if you’ll allow me to digress a
moment…from our point of view, this was a
fascinating issue to put together.
The varied editorial in this summer’s magazine
includes a look at the obesity drug sector (page 12);
the pros and cons of buying used lab equipment (page 25), and my two personal favourites this issue: a lab spotlight on the Piano Pedagogy Research
Laboratory (page 20), and a conversation with international science fair winner Adrian Veres (page 38). The latter two stories were quite inspiring and
encouraging.
“Piano Lessons,” for its part, exemplifies our ongoing effort to cover new,
unique or specialized Canadian labs—across all disciplines—each issue, and
broaden our horizons, so to speak.
The newly launched piano pedagogy lab in Ottawa is unique in that there
is not a tradition of applying scientific study to the field. “Musicians are looking at us with interest and fascination, but also suspicion at times, and scientists often see us as musicians without strong training in a specific scientific
field,” says lab director Gilles Comeau.
But he remains passionate and optimistic. In addition to trying to find
ways to quell the high rate of piano lesson drop-out among kids (research
shows piano lessons and swimming are the two extracurricular activities most
preferred by parents—but not necessarily by kids), the lab will touch on various subject matters including piano performance education, cognitive psychology, neuroscience and physiology.
In fact, the lab is using and developing some amazing tools and technology, including: a motion capture system; a psychometric scale to measure motivational levels; in-piano infrared sensors to measure movement and quality,
and the development of an electronic teaching assistant. It’s exactly such
techniques that Comeau ultimately hopes will inspire many other types of
research, and help the lab overcome the aforementioned stigma.
This issue I was also encouraged by 17-year-old Canadian high school student Adrian Veres, who took home top honours at this year’s Intel
International Science and Engineering Fair. His project, the development of a
time- and cost-efficient electrical biosensor that identifies the causes of infectious diseases, is a far cry from many of the projects I recall being on display
at my high school science fair, however many umpteen years ago. The Lab
Business staff was wowed by Veres’ enthusiasm, savvy and maturity, and we
extend our congratulations to him.
We’re always looking for inspiring stories. If you’re working on something
unique or know of a remarkable lab, please let us know.
JESMAR COMMUNICATIONS INC.
Publisher of
LAB BUSINESS Magazine
LAB BUSINESS Cards
BIO BUSINESS Magazine
Cheers,
Bernadette Johnson
Managing Editor
Printed in Canada
5
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news beat
Thanks to all the golfers
that turned out to this
year’s Canadian Laboratory
Suppliers Association / Lab
Business golf tournament in
June at the Nobleton Lakes
Golf Club. The event was a
great success. Congratulations
to our winning foursome:
(from left to right) Robert
Parsons, Lab Business’ Chris
Forbes, and Brinkmann’s
Bharat Shetty, Gord
McDonald and Colette Bailey.
AWARDS
Photos by Jarrett Tamaki
FPTT Awards Honours Excellence in Technology Transfer
The 10th Anniversary Awards Ceremony and Gala
Dinner of the Federal Partners in Technology Transfer in
Ottawa this summer honoured excellence in the transfer
of technology from federal laboratories that has had a
significant economic or social impact on Canada in the
areas of health, safety, environment or defence.
Winners this year included: National Research Council
Canada, Institute for Research in Construction, for the
commercialization of a unique compressed air foam
system used to fight fires; Communications Research
Centre Canada, Advanced Radio Systems Group, for
pioneering R & D in the field of Software Defined Radio,
and Dr Steve W Cui, Agriculture and Agri-Food
Canada, for exemplary leadership in the development of
inventive food extraction processes and the transfer of
flaxseed dehulling technologies. www.fptt-pftt.gc.ca
Excellence in Pollution Prevention Recognized
Six Canadian organizations were recognized for their environmental achievements at the 10th Canadian Pollution
Prevention Roundtable held in Halifax in June. The organizations received the prestigious Canadian Council of
Ministers of the Environment (CCME) Pollution Prevention
Award for addressing the root cause of pollutants. The
organizations honoured were, from small to large:
Chanterelle Country Inn and Cottages, in Baddeck, NS; Elite
Earth-friendly Cleaners, in Victoria, BC; Omron Dualtec
Automotive Electronics, in Oakville, ON; and Purolator
Courier, based in Mississauga, ON. The City of Fredericton,
NB was also recognized for its contribution to greenhouse
gases reduction. CCME established the Pollution Prevention
Awards program in 1997 to support its emphasis on preventing pollution at the source rather than cleaning it up or
treating it later.
Waters Receives Award For Customer Service
Waters Corporation has again been recognized for its customer service. In May the company received its fifth consecutive Omega Northface Scoreboard
Award for exceeding customer expectations in service and satisfaction during the prior calendar year. The
Omega Management Group’s survey
measured customer satisfaction levels
based on customer input, and included 3,100 customers in 20 countries.
Waters scored high on technical support, field service, sales process, customer service and product quality.
CCG Announces Excellence Award Winners at the 2006 ACS
The Chemical Computing Group (CCG) and the American
Chemical Society’s (ACS) Division of Computers in Chemistry
(COMP) gave out the 2006 CCG Excellence Awards at the
232nd ACS National Meeting in San Francisco earlier this
year. The CCG Awards recognize graduate students who
have excelled in the field of computational chemistry. The
winners this year include Ying Wei of Northeastern
University, Sara E. Nichols, from Yale University, Timothy H.
Click, of the University of Oklahoma, Johannes Hachmann,
from Cornell University, and Zhi Wang, from Emory
University. Winners were selected according to the distinction and relevance of their research, as well as the quality of
supporting materials.
7
n May, two big players in the life sciences business world
announced a merger that will create a leading provider of laboratory products and services in the life, laboratory and health sciences
industry. Thermo Electron and Fisher Scientific will bring together
their complementary technology capabilities in instrumentation,
life science consumables, software, and services to form Thermo
Fisher Scientific Inc., with headquarters in Waltham, MA. Fisher
shareholders will receive two shares of Thermo common stock for
each share of Fisher common stock they own. Based on Thermo’s
closing price on May 5, this represents a value of US$78.90 per
Fisher share, or an aggregate equity value of US$10.6 billion.
Thermo Fisher Scientific will employ 7,500 professionals serving its
customers worldwide, and is expected to have more than US$9 billion in revenues and US$1 billion in operating cash flow in 2007.
The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2006.
I
New lab at UWO
will improve
groundwater
research
SIAST offers online upgrading for lab techs
Life sciences mega-merger
brings Thermo Electron and
Fisher Scientific together
The Saskatchewan Institute of Applied
Science and Technology is offering
four online Chemical Technology
courses that stress safety and accuracy
in laboratory analysis for working
chem tech lab technologists. The
courses will be offered this fall. The
courses are designed for working lab
technologists who don’t live near a
SIAST campus or who find it difficult
to take a course on campus. The
virtual courses are also open to
current SIAST students seeking
flexibility in their class schedules.
The four online Chemical Technology
courses include Quality Control and
Quality Assurance, Lab Safety,
Sampling Techniques, and Lab
Math. For more information about
the courses and SIAST, see the SIAST
website at www.goSIAST.com.
t the University of Western Ontario, a new laboratory for the development of innovative
groundwater remediation strategies has received more than $200,000 in funding support
from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI). The lab will help researchers improve
groundwater through the use of technologies developed on the nanoscale. According to
Denis O’Carroll, professor of civil and environmental engineering, “Current remediation
technologies are rarely able to reduce contaminant concentrations below drinking water limits, but nanomaterials hold significant promise in achieving these goals.” The nanomaterials
“can flow with groundwater to a contaminated region and convert hazardous chemicals into
benign products like ethane and butane.”
A
Californian-Canadian research partnership established
The University of British Columbia and the University of California say that a growing
partnership between research leaders in Canada and California has resulted in the
completion of a new ultra-high bandwidth connection between Canada’s national research
and education network and the California state education network. The Corporation for
Education Network Initiatives in California (CENIC) announced the connection of its
high-performance California Research and Education Network (CalREN) to CAnet
4, the Canadian research and education network managed by CANARIE.
This Gigabit link was announced at the Canada-California Strategic
Innovation Partnership Summit, which took place June 11-12 in
Vancouver, BC. The partnership has also defined four areas of
potential research collaboration between Canada and California:
stem cell and regenerative medicine, infectious diseases,
nanotechnology, and advanced transportation and energy.
8
Summer 2006 LAB BUSINESS
L’Oréal launches new fellowships for women in science
L’Oréal Canada has launched two new fellowships of $20,000, each aimed at supporting
women scientists in Canada as part of its “For Women in Science” program.
Canadian women scientists at the post-doctoral level can apply for a Research Excellence
fellowship through the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) Web
Site (http://www.aucc.ca/programs/scholarships/index_e.html). Fellows will be chosen by a
6-member jury comprised of members of the Canadian scientific community, the Canadian
Commission for UNESCO and L’Oréal Canada. The Research Excellence fellowships will
alternate each year between the fields of Life Sciences and Engineering/Pure and Applied
Sciences. For the 2007-2008 academic year, the fellowships will be offered for research in
the field of life sciences.
Newborn Screening Program
Officially Opened
UBC celebrates: Discovery by chemist
honoured, renewed wing opens
n May, Canada’s most comprehensive newborn screening
program was officially opened at
the Children’s Hospital of
Eastern Ontario, meaning that
every baby born in Ontario will
now be screened for several rare
genetic disorders.
The government of Ontario
is investing $7 million annually
to expand the number of disorders newborns are screened for in Ontario. This investment will also support
the lab and help buy new, high-tech screening equipment. Currently, the lab
at CHEO screens newborns for three rare genetic diseases, but by the end of
the year, the lab will screen for 27 disorders. Early detection of a genetic disease means newborns can be treated sooner, which helps reduce the chance
of serious health problems later in life.
I
Eksigent and Phenomenex Establish
This spring the Department
of Chemistry at the
University of British
Columbia celebrated two
achievements: a landmark
discovery by a UBC chemistry
professor received international
recognition, and the reopening of a modernized building
that will encourage further
research and education. On
March 23, 1962, then UBC
Chemistry Prof. Neil Bartlett discovered
that a group of elements called “inert”
gases were in fact not chemically inert.
The discovery necessitated a revision of
all existing chemistry textbooks and
opened up a new area of research. The
newly renovated Chemistry North
Building was reopened in spring 2006,
as part of the ongoing UBC Renew project, a $120-million partnership between
the university and the Province of BC at
the Vancouver campus. The Chemistry
North Renew project included seismic
upgrades, research and administrative
space reconfiguration and
health and safety
improvements to modernize the building,
which was built in
1962.
HPLC Marketing and Technology Alliance
Eksigent, a provider of capillary HPLC systems and
Phenomenex, a manufacturer of HPLC columns,
announced a strategic marketing and technology
collaboration to develop columns that will be tested and optimized for Eksigent’s capillary HPLC
systems. Phenomenex will also now use Eksigent
systems in its QC processes for capillary columns.
The collaboration will provide Eksigent customers
with a wider range of columns. The companies will
also work together to present seminars and application articles highlighting research using
Phenomenex columns on Eksigent systems.
9
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pharma news
PMPRB reports on 2005 drug prices
n early July, Canada’s Patented Medicine Prices Review
Board (PMPRB) released its first quarterly report on NonPatented Prescription Drug Prices. A key element of the
federal government’s 10-year plan to strengthen health care,
the purpose of the report was to monitor and report on nonpatented prescription drug prices as part of the National
Pharmaceuticals Strategy (NPS). One of the many objectives of the NPS is to achieve international parity on the
prices of non-patented drugs. Different themes will follow
with each of the four quarterly reports issued each year. The
first of the series, this report gives prescription drug sales,
price comparisons with eleven countries, and price trends.
According to the report, generic drug prices were lower on
average in almost all countries than in Canada in 2005. In
the patented and non-patented branded drug segments,
Switzerland and the United States were the only countries
where drug prices were higher than in Canada.
The PMPRB’s 2005 Annual Report was released in June,
and gave information on sales and price trends of all medicines in Canada in addition to other information about the
Canadian drug industry. Sales in 2005 of all medicines
totalled $16.1 billion. This represents a 1.3% increase over
2004, and is the lowest rate of growth in the last fifteen years.
Manufacturers’ prices of patented drugs increased on average by 0.8% in 2005. Sixty-six new patented drug products
were reported to the PMPRB in 2005, which brings the total
of patented medicines under the PMPRB to 1,109 in 2005.
Approximately $1.23 billion was spent on R&D in 2005,
while basic research expenditures totalled $215.1 million.
I
Cangene awarded US$362 million supply contract by U.S.
government
Manitoba-based Cangene Corp. was awarded a US$362 million supply contract by the U.S. government for development
of an anti-botulism drug. The U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services gave Cangene a five-year development and
supply contract for 200,000 doses of botulinum toxin immune
globulin that will be available to treat individuals who have
been exposed to the bacteria or toxins that cause botulism.
Cangene has already started the development work through
an earlier contract with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention. In addition to the base contract, there is a possibility that optional work worth up to US$234 million may be
awarded, including further testing and maintaining product
manufacturing. Cangene will manufacture the product at its
Winnipeg facility but will use its U.S. subsidiaries and other
U.S. companies for all key subcontracting activities. LB
PHARMA BRIEFS
Saint Laurent,
Technologies
common shares
share, for gross
Quebec-based Advanced Research
Inc. completed its offering of 9,333,400
issued from treasury at a price of $0.75 per
proceeds of $7,000,050.
Vancouver-based Angiotech Pharmaceuticals Inc. acquired
North Carolina-based Quill Medical Inc. for US$40 million,
plus payments contingent on future product revenues.
Laval-based BioSyntech Inc. closed a third and final round of
financing of $3 million, having issued 7,125,000 units at $0.42
per unit. BioSyntech’s cumulative financing total is $21 million.
Montreal-based ConjuChem Inc. completed a financing in
which 7.5 million common shares were sold at a price $2.10
per share for proceeds of $15.75 million.
Vancouver-based EnWave Corporation licensed its
Vacuum Microwave technology to CVM Technologies Inc.
for the production of apple snack foods in Canada and the
U.S. CVM has a 5-year license for sales/manufacturing.
Vancouver-based MDX Medical Inc. changed its name to
Urodynamix Technologies Ltd. to reflect its focus on
urology, bladder diagnostics and monitoring solutions.
Montreal-based MethylGene Inc. completed a private
placement of 7,356,044 units at US$3.10 per unit, each unit
being one common share and 0.30 of a common share purchase warrant for gross proceeds of $19.9 million.
Vancouver-based Migenix Inc. raised $8.8 million through the
sale of a partial royalty interest to U.S.-based investment funds.
Campbellville, Ontario-based NIR Diagnostics Inc. entered
into an agreement with Shaklee Corporation, to develop,
manufacture, distribute and market NIR Diagnostics’ in-vivo
light-based technology and the HemoNIR CO-oximeter device.
Mississauga-based Nuvo Research Inc. closed its public
offering of 37,500,000 units at a price of $0.40 per unit for
total gross proceeds of $15 million.
Montreal-based ProMetic Life Sciences Inc. and the
American Red Cross are combining forces in a joint venture
called Pathogen Removal and Diagnostic Technologies. They
signed a licensing agreement with France-based MacoPharma
for P-CAPT, a filter that addresses the prion reduction of leucodepleted red blood cell concentrates.
11
Fat
Chance
pharma feature
With obesity rates climbing to epidemic
proportions, the race is on to find a “magic
pill.” Here’s a look at where the industry
stands—and how it looks for the future.
By Lisa D’Innocenzo
T
wenty-five years ago, the biggest guy on the block was
still considered healthy. Now the biggest guy on the
block is morbidly obese and the majority of his neighbours are carrying extra weight around too.
Blame our lifestyle if you will, but the fact remains that
Canada, like so many other nations, is now facing an obesity
crisis, one which healthcare professionals believe deserves
pharmacological treatment, not just lifestyle-related preventative measures.
Currently, there are few anti-obesity drugs on the market,
but due to the sheer number of Canadians affected by the disease, it’s no doubt the potential for this market is massive.
12
Just how big is the obesity issue?
In Canada, the rate of obesity has been increasing dramatically
across all age groups over the past 25 years. In fact, almost 60%
of adults, aged 18 and over—that’s 14.1 million Canadians—are
overweight or obese, according to a 2006 report entitled “Tipping
the Scales of Progress,” published by the Heart & Stroke
Foundation of Canada. And almost a quarter of the population is
considered obese, with a Body Mass Index over 30. Even more
disturbing is the number of kids who are displaying extra girth—
25% of children aged 2–17 are overweight or obese, suggesting
that this is a problem that will persist.
“The situation is critical,” says Denis Richard, who directs a
develop good pharmaco therapies for obesity.”
While there is much research being conducted to find answers,
right now there is a void in the marketplace, despite the fact that
two long-term “weight loss” drugs—Meridia and Xenical—exist.
“Neither of them are the magic pill—you have to take them in
association with healthy eating and exercise,” says Richard
Lewanczuk, a researcher who works out of the University of
Alberta’s Faculty of Medicine, who also works with CON on prevention, treatment and rehabilitation.
Certainly, current data suggests the obesity drug sector can
boom. According to IMS Health Canada, which publishes statistics on health-related trends, in 2003 an estimated 1.5 million
physician visits were directly associated with obesity, double the
number of visits in 1998. And in 36% of those meetings, a drug
therapy was recommended.
IMS Health also tracks obesity drug sales, specifically of
older prescription medications Ionamin and Tenuate, both
appetite suppressants recommended for short-term use and both
manufactured by Avenis, and newer, long-term medications
such as Roche’s Xenical and Abbott’s Meridia. Sales of the latter two pharmaceutical products for 2005 rung in at
$456,323,446 and $29,523,834 respectively.
Susan Jenkus, director of marketing for primary care at
Mississauga, Ont.-based Roche Canada, says that Xenical has
been the number-one prescription weight loss medication in
Canada since its launch in 1999. She explains that the product
targets lipases, an enzyme in the intestinal tract, and inhibits
two-thirds of it so that patients, when eating a normal meal,
aren’t ingesting as much fat. But to Lewanczuk’s point, Xenical
is offered in conjunction with a “body wellness program,” which
teaches lifestyle modification and provides dietary counsel.
“Right now, we’re very committed to Xenical. We have done
a large amount of research and we do have studies that show a
positive effect on lowering LBL cholesterol, which also reduces
blood pressure,” adds Jankus. “We have an indication of the prevention of diabetes, based on a large three-year trial, and as well,
we have an indication for the treatment of adolescent obesity.”
Roche’s ongoing support for Xenical is understandable
when you consider a study from Waltham, Mass.-based
Decision Resources stating that the obesity market generated
more than US$426 million in drug sales in 2000 (in seven major
markets, including the US, the UK, France, Germany,
Italy, Spain and Japan) and that this figure will balloon to US$1.3 billion-plus by 2010.
research centre located within the Laval Hospital in Quebec,
and also is the theme area coordinator of behavioural and
biological determinants for the Canadian Obesity
Network (CON), a consortium of obesity
“We lost
Burgeoning interest
researchers, health care professionals and other
control
on body
It is no wonder then that pharmaceutical firms
stakeholders dedicated to restraining the epidemic.
weight—and it’s
and researchers alike are turning their attention to
“We lost control on body weight—and it’s
this particular disease. “This is a billion dollar
very difficult to treat,” he adds. “In fact, many
very difficult
industry, so obviously every single pharmaceutical
programs aimed at changing lifestyle [work] in the
to treat.”
company is spending billions of dollars trying to
short term, but in the long term, those treatments
find a cure,” confirms Arya Sharma, director of CON
focusing on diet and physical activity aren’t very effiand a researcher at McMaster University, who believes there
cacious. We are hopeful that in the future we will be able to
13
likely won’t be a “cure” per se. “It’s a chronic disease so it
heart disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes and even some
needs chronic treatment.” Which is even better, from
cancers, such as colon and breast.
the perspective of pharmaceutical sales.
Niggling concerns
Sharma points out that players in this
“This is a billion
Despite the optimism, Sharma says there are
space have also been buoyed by findings of
dollar industry, so
still some obstacles to finding the Holy Grail.
various receptors and neurotransmitters
First there’s the fact that the body’s endothat have only been discovered in the last
obviously every single
cannabinoid system is very complicated and
five or six years.
pharmaceutical company also tightly regulated. “What that means is,
He explains: “There’s always been
is spending billions of
it’s also very highly redundant—there are a lot
research on obesity, but in the past there
of molecules that do very similar things, so that
hasn’t been as much sophisticated research
dollars trying to
if you knock off one, another steps in.”
and there hasn’t been as much money behind
find a cure.”
Indeed, that is exactly what happened when the
it. Now [with] our current understanding of how
hormone leptin, which when blocked suppresses
energy regulation works, you’re looking at the reguappetite, was discovered nearly a decade ago, points out
lation of appetite satiety, food preferences and food choice,
Lewanczuk. “Several other hormones popped up that do the
but also the regulation of energy expenditure, factors that affect
same thing as leptin. It’s a very complex endocannabinoid sysmetabolic rates, all the gastrointentestinal peptides, etc. Now
tem that is associated with obesity—it’s the most complex systhat you have special targets, there’s more hope that you will
tem in the body.”
actually find something that works.”
Even if new medications do break through—and Sharma
Some of these targets, according to Sharma, include the
endocannabinoid, leptin and PYY receptors, among others.
believes there will be many more anti-obesity drugs on the mar“This is completely different than five years ago, when a lot of
ket within the next 5 to 10 years—he says the Canadian governthese target molecules weren’t even known.”
ment needs to get behind the idea of “treating,” as opposed to
Lewanczuk agrees, pointing out that 10 years ago research
simply “preventing” obesity.
focused on treating heart conditions, then moved further
“When you have millions of people who have a disease you
“upstream” to zero in on issues that lead to heart disease, such
have to offer treatment, because whatever you do for prevention
as blood pressure, and that presently the attention has fallen to
isn’t going to help those who already have it … I don’t think
obesity itself. It makes sense, he adds, given that obesity is
government has bought into that.”
directly associated with so many health problems, including
He adds: “Right now drugs are not used to their full poten-
14
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Salary
tial, largely because there’s no coverage for them
and patients have to pay out of pocket. If you
“When
have to pay $120 a month for medication
you have millions
you have to take for life—that’s expensive. [Government needs to get
of people who have a
involved] to make it cheaper or have it
disease you have to offer
covered [by insurance companies].”
treatment, because whatever
Having said that, the fact that
you do for prevention isn’t
Canadians have to pay for the likes of
Meridia and Xenical mean that the
going to help those who
companies’ sales figures are that much
already have it … I don’t
more impressive.
think government
has bought into
that.”
New breakthroughs
There have been some major inroads in obesity treatment lately, says CON’s Sharma, who
points to advancements made in bariatric surgery. He is
particularly impressed by recent research around gastric pacing,
whereby an electronic pacemaker is implanted under the skin
and connected to the stomach. Studies have shown that gastric
pacing increases satiety and the ability to reduce food intake,
leading to significant weight loss. (Although how this happens
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is still unknown and continues to be studied.)
He also points to a new class of drugs known as CB1 blockers, the first of which is Acomplia, released in Europe by pharmaco Sanofis Aventis two years ago but not yet available in
Canada and the U.S. The product works by selectively blocking
CB1 receptors found in the brain and in peripheral organs
important in glucose and lipid (or fat) metabolism, including
adipose tissue, the liver, gastrointestinal tract and muscle. The
CB1 receptor blockade acts to decrease the overactivity of the
endocannabinoid system.
Meanwhile, Washington, D.C.-based Arena Pharmaecuticals
presented data on its obesity drug lorcaserin hydrochloride (formerly APD356) in June. Their phase 2b study indicated that,
when compared to placebo, patients treated with lorcaserin
enjoyed significant weight loss, as well as other reductions in
physical measures such as BMI and waist and hip circumference. The drug works on a specific serotonin receptor located in
the hypothalamus, an area of the brain known to impact satiety
and influence metabolic rate. The company is currently in disIn the future, he adds, more work will be done to figure out
cussions with the FDA about initiating a Phase 3 trial in obese
which cell type the molecule is impacting, by creating a transpatients later this year.
genic mouse with a truncated 107.
Here in Canada, Vancouver-based Xenon Pharmaceuticals
Meanwhile, on the other side of the world at the University
signed an agreement with Novartis Pharma AG two years ago, to
of Melbourne in Australia, Greg Steinberg, a Canadian
research, develop and commercialize compounds from Xenon’s
researcher and Target Obesity fellow (funded by the Heart and
Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase-1 (SCD1) drug development program.
Stroke Foundation of Canada, the Canadian Institutes of Health
The SCD1 protein induces weight loss by increasing metabolic rate
Research and the Canadian Diabetes Association), has discovthrough lipid oxidation.
ered a process generated by a small protein that could potenThere has also been progress in the area of adipose
tially play a big role in the future of obesity treatment.
tissue thanks to the University of Ottawa Institute.
The protein, known as ciliary neurotrophic facMolecular biologist Anthony Scime has discovtor (CNTF), acts directly within muscles to
“CNTF
ered a molecular switch in specially bred lab
increase the body’s metabolism to burn fat,
doesn’t just work
mice that makes them skinnier than their norwhile simultaneously suppressing appetite.
in the brain, like a lot
mal counterparts.
“So it doesn’t just work in the brain; like
These mice, explains Scime, who were
a lot of other weight loss drugs, it actually
of other weight loss
born without the molecule P107, have more
stimulates your metabolism at the same
drugs, it actually
brown fat, which oxidizes fatty acids and
time,” says Steinberg, who adds that the
stimulates your
releases energy as heat. Other mice have more
patented version of the drug is known as
white fat cells, which Scime calls “bad fat.”
Axokine from Tarrytown, N.Y.-based
metabolism at the
“When I was looking at these mice, what I
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals.
same time.”
discovered is that there was hardly any white tissue
He adds: “It’s a breakthrough because what we
in the animal. In fact, where there was supposed to be
discovered is that this protein can bypass factors that
white tissue, it was full of the brown kind of fat,” he says. “I
cause resistance to leptin, so that it still continues to be very effidelved in closer and found that there were a lot of undifferenticacious in obese people, whereas with other drugs, they are resistated precursors, so a lot of cells that were supposed to turn into
ant to them.” The drug also activates pathways similar to exercise,
fat, were unable to do so.”
he points out, which is another boon.
However, whether this discovery will revolutionize the antiCurrently in the FDA’s hands pending approval, Steinberg
obesity drug landscape remains to be seen. Scime says it
admits that the drug may never get to market. “[CNTF] is a hordepends on what part of the cell lineage P107 impacts. If it
mone that [can trigger] antibody response. They’re concerned
occurs during gestation, then it will have no effect on an obese
about the potential side effects of that antibody production.”
human being. However, if P107 is influencing white adipost
Still, such roadblocks won’t stop pharmaceutical firms and
precursors, then therapy is viable.
researchers from continuing their search for the “magic pill,”
Currently, Scime has put his mice on a 50% fat diet, to see
because as Lewanczuk says, “it will obviously be very profif they gain weight, with results expected at the end of summer.
itable if you find it.” LB
18
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lab spotlight
Hitting the right notes
New lab sets its sights
on getting kids to stick
with piano lessons
By Lisa D’Innocenzo
20
he scenario is familiar to many parents: after shelling out loads of
cash for their child’s piano lessons for the past year, the little one
decides she’s had enough. She drops out, and the piano in the living
room is transformed into a dusty retreat for knickknacks that can’t
seem to find a home elsewhere.
Gilles Comeau, director at the Piano Pedagogy Research Laboratory,
which officially opened its doors last October, hopes to ultimately eradicate this tendency to quit.
T
“We are studying ways in which
piano teaching can be more efficient
and more successful for a larger portion of the population,” he says.
“Statistics show that the majority of
students that begin piano lessons will
drop out before they master the instrument, so in the very early stages.”
Comeau believes the Ottawa-based
lab is unique for a couple of reasons.
First, there is not a tradition of scientific
research in the field of piano pedagogy,
which touches on various subject matters including piano performance, education, cognitive psychology, neuroscience, physiology and more. “What we
did here was establish in a music department [at the University of Ottawa] a real
scientific lab that benefits from the collaboration of many researchers in all scientific fields,” explains Comeau, who
has two years of post-graduate studies in
piano pedagogy, a PhD in the foundations of music education, and a masters
in education.
How does the lab work? Comeau
explains that strategically placed cameras detect motion in players, while
infrared sensors in the lab’s two
Disclavier grand pianos serve up a reading of the type of sound action produced on the keyboard. “We can look at
all aspects of music playing—volume,
duration, wrong notes, articulations and
expressions. All of that can be studied.”
Director Gilles Comeau officially opens the Piano Pedagogy Research Laboratory in October 2005.
timing in piano performance with a
Vicon 3D motion capture system that
tracks the movement of small reflective globes affixed to a player’s hands,
arms and head. The resulting data is
used to investigate how technical
movements are produced.
Along with finding a more “beneficial” and “efficient” teaching method
to keep youngsters interested in
piano, the lab will also attempt to
solve several other pressing issues facing the discipline. Comeau, for
instance, has a suspicion that some
children might suffer from musical
dyslexia that hinders their capacity to
“Everyone was very surprised that the arts faculty would apply
for a lab—we always have to show that good research can be
conducted in music and the education field.”
As well, a psychometric scale has
been created to measure motivational
levels of students, in order to determine a correlation between desire and
depth of involvement in piano studies.
This research will include a cross-cultural analysis, including results from
Canada, the U.S., Finland and China.
Meanwhile, another study specifically analyzes movement, force and
pick up the instrument. “In the last
few decades, there has been a lot of
research done to understand text reading dyslexia and schools are now better equipped to help those children,”
he notes. “We know very little about
musical dyslexia. For now, we can only
assume that the same kind of difficulty exists in the piano studio.”
The lab also hopes to improve
health problems that can stem from
performing a repetitive physical activity, often under stress and tension.
(These are similar problems to those
experienced by people who sit at a
computer for days on end.)
According to recent research, over
65% of musicians have medical problems and almost 17% of students will
suffer pain related to playing the
piano. The lab director believes these
troubles stem from a player’s early
days of piano studies, but that they
actually occur later on, when the student spends longer bouts of time practicing. “It’s the way they approach the
piano—the posture, the tension they
have in their body when they play—
and that is often in place in the early
stages of music lessons.”
To examine this, the lab is developing an electronic “Teacher Assistant”
which measures the three-dimensional displacements of a student’s upper
body, arms and hands. This information is then keyed to the tactile and
musical results provided by Musical
Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI)
data gleaned from the infrared sensors
in the piano. In the end, researchers
are able to achieve a quantitative
assessment of the relationship
between movement and quality of
performance. Infrared thermography,
21
meanwhile, analyzes the impact of
practicing on various parts of the body,
by detecting very small changes in
skin surface temperature, which can
be related to inflammation or stress on
the neuromuscular tissue.
sible through $1.3 million in start-up
funding—40% from the Canadian
Foundation for Innovation, another
40% from the Ontario Innovation
Trust, and 20% from the university and
from companies like Yamaha in the pri-
“This is a long and interesting process, because it opens up the
ground for many types of research.”
Another primary objective of the lab
is to scrutinize the impact of distance
learning. One of the university’s graduate students has been teaching piano to
eight Inuit children based in
Kangiqsualujjuaq, Northern Quebec
via broadband videoconferencing
equipment. And Comeau himself is
conducting an experiment with students in Finland, with special high-tech
equipment. Sensors on his piano are
connected through a special phone line
to their instrument oversees, so that
when he strokes the keys, the piano at
the other end repeats his actions “like a
ghost.” This overcomes any sound
transmission distortions, he says.
To support the distance education,
researchers are utilizing “capturing
and annotation” tools and methods
based on MIDI and current video
streaming formats, video indexing and
linked audio and video material, as
well as computational video analysis of
hand movement. Using ACT-R cognitive architecture (a theory for simulating and understanding human cognition), they are also building cognitive
models of piano learning.
So far, since its inception, the lab has
mainly focused on developing the aforementioned measuring tools. “We have
been experimenting with a lot of the
equipment to see what can be used and
what can be tested and we have been
developing various measuring scales,”
explains Comeau. “This is a long and
interesting process, because it opens up
the ground for many types of research.”
The lab’s work has been made pos-
22
gogy is not often associated with scientific study, he admits. “Musicians
are looking at us with interest and fascination, but also suspicion at times,
and scientists often see us as musicians without a strong training in a
specific scientific field.
“Even in the beginning, when we
talked about implementing a piano
lab, everyone was very surprised that
the arts faculty would apply for a lab—
the fact that the application came
The studio uses high-end electronics and video technology to achieve quantitative assessments of
the relationship between movement and quality of performance.
vate sector. But Comeau says that funding remains a challenge, and that he is
looking at foundations, as well as private investors, for future support.
He adds: “Of the money available
for research, the majority goes to the
medical and scientific fields. In the
humanities, there is a very small
amount of money available, and it is
hard to get.”
In addition, the lab faces a stigma
because the discipline of piano peda-
specifically from a music department
made it seem very unlikely. So we
always have to show that good
research can be conducted in music
and the education field.”
Regardless of the obstacles,
Comeau is determined to carry on,
particularly since research has proven
that piano, along with swimming, is
the extracurricular activity most preferred by parents. And he doesn’t want
them to waste their money. LB
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lab reports
Better equipped?
Value has many definitions in the used equipment business
By Catherine Muir
D
riving around to local flea markets on a Saturday afternoon, buying a cheap sweater
at a thrift store, or springing for a used car if the price of a new one seems unreasonable; these are what most people would think of if the idea of buying second hand
comes to mind. Thoughts of big business and a multi-million dollar industry are not
usually part of the picture.
But in the scientific world, universities and small research companies are facing
tighter and tighter budgets, and the difference in price between new and used equipment can be in the tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. The opportunity to purchase second hand lab equipment can be a saving grace for many.
With biotech companies going out of
business, big pharmaceutical companies
consolidating their labs, and manufacturers
discounting slightly out of date or overstocked equipment, a bounty of opportunity exists around the business of buying or
selling used lab equipment. Many companies deal specifically with used scientific
equipment in Canada and worldwide.
Manufacturers argue, however, that there is
little to protect those who buy second hand:
there are no guarantees the equipment is
still in working order, and often the warranty has expired.
“There is not just one dimension [in the
buying process for used equipment]. What
gives the highest value for the dollar, all the
time we are seeking that,” says Yves Jobin,
supply manager, grants with the University
of Ottawa. His buying philosophy in a nutshell? Cost, compared to benefit, will make
or break any sale. When equipping the uni-
25
versity’s engineering and science labs, Jobin buys new equipment, but also often looks at other options such as Internetbased used equipment dealers or auctions. His criteria for
buying, as one would expect from an academic institution
facing cash flow worries, is that “it depends on the budget.
Sometimes the budget does not allow for us to buy new
equipment, so we will look for refurbished.”
It also depends on the equipment, of course. Jobin says,
“there is equipment that is standard and is required on a
daily basis for research—this is where buying used equipment becomes convenient and stretches the budget many
times over.”
online, calls itself “the first place to look for scientific equipment,” according to general manager Ken Piech. “Currently,
we have over 100,000 products listed on the site.” LabX acts
as an auction site, and also has classified ads postings, but for
those who are time-crunched, the most important feature is
that the site collects and displays listings from many other
used equipment dealers. “Instead of people having to search
around the Internet or magazines, we’re sort of a central portal,” says Piech.
There are many Internet-based companies such as LabX
that are in the business of offering used and refurbished lab
equipment at a fraction of the price of new equipment. From
LabX, a business that Piech says was “born and raised an
Internet company,” to companies such as Markham-based
LabEquip, which started selling lab equipment at lower
prices in 1974 and has been Internet-based for less than half
“As long as the price is worth it, you take the
chance. It is still worth it to buy used.”
James Szeto, chemist at Petro Laboratories, a
Mississauga-based commercial laboratory, also buys used
equipment on a regular basis. “In general, you will save at
least 50%” compared to the price of new equipment.
Szeto utilizes online used equipment dealers such as
LabX to equip his labs. LabX, a site where buyers and sellers of new, used, and refurbished laboratory equipment can
find items, negotiate terms, and complete transactions
26
of its lifetime, the Internet has made connecting with customers who want to pay less for lab supplies a lot easier.
LabEquip president Mark Rafman says, “because of the
Internet LabEquip is selling worldwide now. We used to be
mostly Canadian-based, and most of it was Ontario. Ten
years ago sales outside of Canada were 2% of sales…today
it’s over half.”
LabEquip sells new, used, and reconditioned lab equipment, and also rents equipment to those who do not need to
own. Rafman says his customers save a lot of money on buying
used equipment. He estimates that on LabEquip’s site, savings
are generally between 40-60% and occasionally as high as 80%.
Saving money is an obvious advantage to buying used
equipment, but the disadvantages, although not so obvious
to the buyer initially, can be a big problem later on. Petro
Labs’ Szeto has had some surprises after opening the box at
the other end. “I have bought equipment that didn’t
work…the equipment had no manual, it was obsolete, it didn’t report...”
The list of potential hazards when buying used equipment goes on—and can include everything from products
not functioning properly to not having warranties or guarantees. But Szeto says the benefits outweigh the risks. “As
long as the price is worth it, you take the chance. It is still
worth it to buy used. If I [buy equipment that does not work
on arrival], I can use it for parts.”
He brings up a good point too—even guarantees can cost
you money. He remembers purchasing glassware. When the
company mailed it, it was not broken, but when he received
L
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the package the inner part of the condenser he’d ordered was
in pieces. “It costs you to send it back. So guarantees are not
worth it. Sometimes the cost of returning it is more than the
item,” he says, adding that when buying new “things are overpriced. If you buy something used, and it comes broken, the
cost of repairing it makes it cost the same as buying it new.”
There are, however, many organizations that simply can’t
afford to take the risk. While an admitted fan of looking for
cheaper options for everyday equipment, Jobin says “the
University of Ottawa is doing cutting-edge research and
innovation, and buying used is not always the best option.”
As a well-respected university, it wants to have the newest
and the latest technology. “For that we will not compromise
and buy used,” he says.
Naturally, Alan Koop, commercial leader for international analytical instrument maker Thermo Electron in Canada,
agrees with Jobin’s view. He believes that the distinction
between used and new equipment is huge. So too is the distinction between new and used dealers.
“Our concern is that researchers and scientists are buying this equipment to perform
important research. Equipment that is used.
This can put the research at risk.”
“The difference there is very clear. [Thermo Electron]
would never sell equipment that has not been fully serviced
and checked out to make sure that the unit is operating and
performing to peak performance and specifications,” he
says. “Our concern is that researchers and scientists are buying this equipment to perform important research. If they
are buying equipment that is used, they are buying it without knowing that an instrument is fully certified, or for that
matter, warrantied. Is it even performing the way it should
perform, meaning, is it doing the job it’s supposed to do
properly? This puts the research at risk.”
Koop states that companies like Thermo will always
stand by their products by offering things that Internetbased used dealers, for example, simply can’t provide,
including “keeping parts in stock, and having various customer support capabilities.”
Koop recognizes that price is often key to the customer,
but argues that long term, the value doesn’t always hold up.
“The price is so attractive that the customer will buy something at 20 cents on the dollar. It comes into the lab, they set
it up, it may function for a short period of time, and then it
fails, and when the product fails it could mean that the
researcher is losing far more than the money that they paid
to buy the used equipment,” he says.
28
Koop’s words of caution are acknowledged by many labs
who continue to put reliability, security, and servicing above
cost. However, providing a used equipment option is big
business and has certainly filled a niche in the industry.
For its part, LabEquip has found its place by offering
services, competitive prices and guarantees on its used
equipment. Rafman says, “we provide a higher caliber,
because we make sure that everything refurbished gets
checked, tested and calibrated and is in good working
order.” He half-jokes that LabEquip is “popular with
research because they never have enough money to do anything they like to do.”
Meanwhile, LabX’s Piech says, “buying second-hand is a
nice alternative for companies looking to save a bit of
money. Sometimes the value and the cost outweigh the
risks involved.”
Faced with an endless variety of equipment-purchasing
options, buyers must weigh the pros and cons and determine
their own definition of value. LB
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supplier profile
Thermo Electron
Global instrumentation juggernaut surges
ahead by enabling customers to make the
world a healthier, cleaner and safer place
T
hermo Electron started business in 1956, the same year
Dr. Albert B. Sabin discovered the polio vaccine and
Dwight Eisenhower beat Adlai Stevenson for the U.S.
presidency.
By Kevin Wilson
In a small old garage outside Boston,
Thermo Electron was born; the optimism and entrepreneurial spirit that
defined post-World War II America in
1956 was the ideal backdrop for
launching a company that today is dedicated to making lab equipment with
principles of global health, safety and
environmental stewardship in mind.
Today, Thermo Electron is 11,000
employee-strong with offices in 30
countries. The company is known as
the worldwide leader in analytical
instruments, but it sees its mission as
so much more. “Our company is committed to helping its customers stay at
the forefront of discovery and innovation, and our new product introductions and strategic acquisitions underscore this,” says Murray Wigmore,
Thermo Canada’s Scientific Instruments general manager.
Headquarted in Waltham, Mass.,
Thermo is now a global leader with
revenues of more than $2 billion. In
the past five years, revenue growth has
been in the double digits, averaging
14% between 2001 and 2003 and 18%
between 2004 and 2006.
“While bigger is not necessarily better,” Wigmore says, “recent acquisition
of NITON [portable x-ray fluorescence
technology] and GV Instruments [stable
30
isotope mass spectrometers and accessories], coupled with our own new
product introductions, enable us to offer
customers a solution for almost any
technique, almost anywhere in the
world, and in almost any setting.”
The acquisition of Ionalytics
Corporation, a developer of a patented,
dynamic ion filtering device is another
example of the company’s commitment to making complex technology
more accessible to customers, he adds.
Most recently, Thermo and Fisher
Scientific International Inc. announced
plans to merge—creating a veritable
powerhouse provider of laboratory products and services across several industries. The new company, Thermo Fisher
Scientific Inc., is anticipated to create
more than US$200 million in synergies
over a three-year period. The transaction, announced in May, is expected to
be complete (pending regulatory and
shareholder approval) by December of
this year, according to the company.
“Thermo has a legacy of strategic
acquisitions and new product innovation
and this shows in our company’s solid
performance,” says Wigmore: Thermo’s
global reach and broad range of products
and services give it the capacity to service virtually any laboratory need.
In Canada, he says, the focus is on
providing “Made-in-Canada” services
and solutions: “We have the largest
service organization in Canada for this
industry, and we’ve got service engineers across the country.” That nationwide presence, coupled with a seasoned
team, has cemented the company’s
strong Canadian position.
Overall, Thermo’s Scientific Instruments division represents the company’s core offering of instrumentation,
including mass spectrometry, chromatography and optical spectroscopy
for laboratory and industrial settings,
along with the automation, accessories,
consumables, software, spectral reference databases and services and support
to provide a complete solution.
“This past year has been especially
exciting on the product front,” says
Wigmore. “Our LTQ Orbitrap hybrid
mass spectrometer was awarded the
Gold Editors Award as the best new
product introduced at Pittcon 2006
and our iCap 6000 Series emissions
spectrometer was a runner up.”
Proteomics is one area where
Thermo is driving new innovation. Most
drugs—about 90%—interact with proteins, so multi-instrument systems that
can rapidly identify and quantify proteins are of increasing value to pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers.
Thermo’s
Product/Services
Portfolio
The Scientific Instruments team at Thermo Canada: (from left to right) Michel Alsayegh,
Stephen Hassan, Gary Veitch, Mike Lee, Bay Sheldrick, Vincent Paez, Murray Wigmore, Maroun
El Khoury, and Wayne Sceeles. Missing from the photo are Mathieu Gosselin and Eric Tusseau.
“We continue to introduce new systems
that address the breadth of primary analytical needs for high-throughput analysis and proteomics research, as well as
for other growing life science areas,”
says Wigmore.
In addition to continued innovation
across its product lines, the company is
also committed to providing quality
service for all those products to ensure
customers run their laboratories efficiently and profitably. “Customers are
looking for state-of-the-art technology,
faster analysis, incredible uptimes and
service that will bring it up and keep it
up,” says Wigmore.
Thermo’s greatest strengths in
meeting these needs, he adds, are “our
research, our technical innovation and
our people.” With its global reach and
extensive array of offerings, some companies might be tempted to coast, but
Thermo remains focused on ensuring
customer satisfaction and on its mission
to make the world a healthier, safer and
cleaner place. LB
Thermo at a Glance
Name: Thermo Electron Corporation, TMO (NYSE)
Founded: 1956
Headquarters: Waltham, Massachusetts
Canadian headquarters: Mississauga, ON
International Offices: A sales presence in more than 30 countries, and major
offices in Europe, South America, Asia, Oceania, in addition to its North
American offices.
Employees Worldwide: Over 11,000
Core Competency: Major integrated supplier of
scientific and analytical instruments and services
Contact Info: Canada: (905) 890-1034
U.S.: (781) 622-1000
Web Site: www.thermo.com
Key Competitors: Agilent Technologies, Beckman Coulter, Perkin Elmer
• Mass Spectrometry—A line of mass
spectrometers including ion traps,
quadrupoles and hybrid mass spectrometers (MS), as well as liquid chromatographs (LCs)
• Molecular Spectroscopy Spectroscopic
analysis of molecular structures across a
broad range of industries/applications
• Elemental Analysis—Instruments to
suit every technique, from AA and
ICP to ICP-MS, combustion analyzers,
XRF/XRD and OES
• Chromatography—Solutions for both
liquid and gas chromatography for
separating, identifying and quantifying individual chemical components
• Laboratory construction and fitout—A
single source for all equipment and
instrumentation needs, including the
coordination, procurement, delivery
and installation of fully operational labs
• Parts and accessories—A full range
of parts and accessories for chromatography, mass spectrometry,
elemental analysis and spectroscopy
• Instrument service/support—A full
range of support solutions to ensure
instrument uptime is maximized for all
chromatography, mass spectrometry,
elemental analysis and spectroscopy
• Anatomical pathology—A full range
of products targeting cytology, histology, autopsy and mortuary, and more
• Pipettes—Recently released, the
Finnpipette Novus is the culmination
of numerous independent ergonomic
studies, coupled with customer feedback. User-friendly and ergonomically correct, the lightweight handheld
pipette incorporates an adjustable
finger rest, graphical user interface, a
fast-charging, long lasting battery,
along with 10 different pipetting functions and nine speeds to choose from.
31
Question & Answer
Amy Lemay, president of Vista Science
& Technology
with
By Catherine Muir
Vista Science & Technology Inc., like many science organizations and labs across the country, is
in the midst of a commercialization process: it is developing a new scientific process that it
wants to bring to market. What makes the Welland, Ontario-based company unique, however,
is that what it is commercializing is the process of commercialization itself. Amy Lemay has
helmed the company since 1998, when it was first started as a pilot project funded by the NRC. The project, co-managed
by Brock University and Niagara College, operated as a technical information service for IRAP and in 2001 moved from a
pilot project to a business model. On July 1, 2005, Vista became a private company. Lemay believes that the process of
commercialization in the sciences should be applied to the expanding knowledge base of technology transfer and commercialization. The company is well on its way towards that goal, with the recent launch of its R&D Positioning &
Prioritizing Framework, Vista’s methodology for enhancing the commercialization outcomes of R&D—the first of the new
pipeline of products Vista plans to bring to the market.
Q
AQ
Q
A
How do your products cover the span of the commercialization process?
The new R&D Framework complements existing tools
we have licensed from American-based Foresight
Science & Technology since 2001. Its Technology Niche
Analysis methodology is used for existing technologies
at the prototype and later stages, whereas the R&D
Framework moves upstream and looks at research
before and as its being done, so we can end up with
technologies that we can assess and move to market.
Q
Q
A
What are Vista’s methods of assessment?
We’ve developed a people-based assessment process.
We do online searching of publicly available information and subscription-based or commercial databases.
We also draw on primary research, using conversations with market and technical experts to validate
our conclusions based on secondary research. Technology commercialization and knowledge transfer are
subject domains of their own and there is currently a
vast body of information in peer review journals.
Q
32
What is the major focus of your methodologies?
We focus on how the features, the advances or the
improvements of the technology or product meet the
demands of the market. The key focus for us is looking at end users—not the people who are going to
buy the technology but the people who are going to
use it. We ask them, ‘If you could have something
much better, what would better mean to you?’ That
helps us understand and compare the technology to
end user needs. We can say to those organizations
that would be the potential customers: ‘We know
what your customers are looking for and that’s why
we think this technology will be of interest to you.’
Q
A
How are the products used in a real setting?
We worked with the patent portfolio of one of the
NRC Institutes. We assessed 45 patents, and bundled
them into 27 discrete technologies, which we assessed
using a very early stage go-no-go assessment tool.
Should the institute let a number of patents lapse,
and what should they forward for more commercialization resources and efforts? More than half of those
technologies went to the next level of assessment, the
TNA, which is a full commercialization strategy. The
purpose of the TNA assessment tool is to identify
potential targets, which in the case of a government
lab is licensees of their technologies. In the end we
were able to identify 25 potential Canadian licensees
for nine of the 27 initial technologies. The NRC was
overwhelmed about having to follow up 25 leads.
Q
Q
A
Who would be interested in Vista’s services?
Our methodologies are generic, and we validate our
findings with experts, thus we have the ability to
apply our processes to any science or technology.
Q
We do some institute-level assessments. We could for
example be working with an individual researcher
who is applying for funding through a public funding
opportunity.
Researchers, including universities, government labs,
and some R&D intensive companies, along with the
technology transfer and business development arms of
government organizations, are definitely key markets.
The community colleges are becoming an emerging
market for us, since they are getting into applied
research and see their role as helping companies solve
exsisting problems by adopting new technology.
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Uniform temperature and low vibration chamber for optimum crystalline development
Powers Scientific introduced a new product: Protein Crystal Growth Chamber, available from
Betatek Inc. Available in 28 or 72 ft3, the chamber has uniform temperature (ranging from 10 to
40°C) and low vibration environment for optimum crystalline development. Ten lipped stainless
steel trays per door offer 38 to 76 ft2 of shelf space, with horizontal air flow across each tray.
Microprocessor temperature control combined with horizontal air flow maintains uniformity to ±1°C
of setpoint. A hi/low alarm monitors chamber temperature and electronic failsafes shut it down to
preserve temperature in the rare event of a temperature excursion. These models sit on vibration
absorbing pads to isolate them from floor vibrations, and metal to metal contact inside the chamber
is also dampened. Options such as chart recorder, RS-232 or re-transmits for computer monitoring
and recording, solid doors, access ports, lockable Plexiglas control cover, etc. are available.
re p ly o n l i n e a t w w w. l a bb u s i n e s s m ag . c o m
Smaller, faster single quadrupole mass
spectrometers
Agilent Technologies introduced its 6100
Series of single quadrupole mass spectrometers, which comprises four new
instruments. Each of the single quads
has a 40-percent smaller footprint than
previous models and features high sensitivity and ease of use, and a lower price
than earlier models. The Agilent 6100
Series spectrometers include the 6140,
a new high-performance, fast-scanning
model designed for high-throughput
laboratories; the 6130, the full-featured
research-grade model, the 6120, which
provides a cost-effective means of rapidly analyzing new compound libraries;
and the 6110, the entry-level model,
offering 10-picogram sensitivity. The
single quads feature Agilent’s autotune
function, which improves ease of use,
uptime and productivity by eliminating
the need for manual recalibration from
sample to sample. They are also compatible with the broadest range of ion
sources in the industry, each of them
easily exchanged. This further improves
productivity by reducing the need for
repeated experimental runs and producing more information per unit of time.
r e p ly o n l i n e a t w w w. l a bb u s i n e s s m ag . c o m
34
Fully automatic eluent preparation
The new 845 Eluent Synthesizer, introduced by Fisher
Scientific, is a user-friendly and precise technique for
preparing IC reagents. The Synthesizer eliminates the
time-consuming manual preparation of eluents and
standards used in ion chromatography.
The fully automatic system helps to
further reduce costs and guarantees
precise mixtures and excellent
batch-to-batch reproducibility. The
845 Eluent Synthesizer facilitates
work in research analysis and
quality assurance.
Linear ion trap addresses advanced needs of proteomics researchers
Thermo Electron Corporation’s new products for its Proteomics application suite
includes the LTQ XL linear ion trap. The new LTQ XL linear ion trap features Pulsed Q
Dissociation (PQD), rapid positive/negative switching capabilities and High Resolution
Isolation (HRI) scanning capabilities. This strengthens the proven protein detection
and characterization capabilities of the LTQ platform. The LTQ XL also has an Electron
Transfer Dissociation (ETD) option, taking advantage of the huge ion storage capacity
and fast cycle time of Thermo’s linear ion trap. The ability to use CID (collision
induced dissociation), PQD, and ETD interchangeably enables the LTQ XL to address
the advanced application needs of proteomics researchers.
More powerful lab grinding mill for
dry milling
The Kinematica Polymix PX-MFC
90 D lab-grinding mill from Brinkmann
Instruments is suitable for all dry
milling applications in the lab. A
successor to the company’s POLYTRON
System PX-MFC, features include a
500% more powerful motor; an integrated frequency inverter with LED
display; a milling chamber that can be
equipped with sieves with mesh sizes
from 0.2 mm to 6 mm; speeds up to
6,000 rpm; a low-noise brushless
3-phase AC motor; and a new base
frame with an integrated handle.
r e p ly o n l i n e a t
w w w. l a bb u s i n e s s m ag . c o m
Digital stereotaxic sensor system for small animal neurosurgery
Harvard Apparatus released a new digital stereotaxic sensor system that
makes some of the tedious work involved in small animal neurosurgery
easier. The system can count the vernier scales and calculate the distance measurements in neurosurgery on animals
such as rats and mice digitally, making the process easier and faster. This system allows a researcher to set a reference
point for targeting specific coordinates in the brain using a Zeroing Function, resulting in increased efficiency and
accuracy in surgery. Single and Dual Manipulator Arm Models are available. The small footprint takes up a small
amount of bench space, and the system easily accepts mouse adapters and anesthesia platforms.
Mass spectrometry system leads
to improved specificity and sample
definition
Improving productivity in analytical and
research laboratories was the purpose
behind Waters Corporation’s introduction of its new mass spectrometer. The
Synapt High Definition MS HDMS System
is for researchers who need to further
characterize and define their samples.
The Synapt HDMS System is the first
mass spectrometer of its kind to use new
ion-mobility technology and software to
enable the analysis of sample ions differentiated by size, shape, and mass, leading to improved specificity and sample
definition. The mass spectrometer means
scientists can now extract more information about their samples and detect previously unseen constituents in samples.
Operational control and data acquisition
and processing are performed through
Waters MassLynx Software.
Remote monitor and alarm notification system for medical facility
applications
It is important to be able to monitor medical and science laboratories
for unsafe environmental conditions to protect expensive equipment
and supplies. Sensaphone‘s new 1800 remote monitoring and alarm
notification system is designed to protect pharmaceutical, laboratory
and vaccine management systems for the science and health lab industry.
The Sensaphone 1800 system protects critical vaccines, blood storage,
tissue samples, analytical and testing equipment, culture environments,
and more by monitoring up to eight environmental conditions, including
power, water intrusion, and temperature levels. It offers the ability to
sense and alarm on ultra-low temperatures down to -85˚C. When the
system detects a problem, it automatically issues an alarm notification
to as many as eight recipients, and also offers alarm history reviews,
data logging, Web-based interface, and remote control capabilities.
The sensor system’s many features include custom voice messaging on
any alarm event, the possibility of having alarm notifications sent to
pagers and cells phones, and the ability to upload status and history to a
web server. The Sensaphone 1800 is packaged in a sealed, weatherproof,
lockable enclosure, and has a rechargeable battery backup and extended
temperature sensing.
Compact micro annular gear pumps for precise flow
The micro annular gear pumps introduced by Micropump offer precise
flow rate control for outstanding performance in a variety of applications.
Offered in a Low Pressure (Series ML) or High Performance (Series MH)
configuration, these pumps help conserve valuable liquids and increase
the overall efficiency of a system. Series ML and MH pumps feature highprecision rotors that provide tight flow rate control, even at differential
pressures as high as 80 bar (1,160 psi) for maximum dosage accuracy. These
rotors allow the pumps to dispense volumes as small as 0.25 microliters and
handle flow rates from 0.15 to 300 ml/min, with accuracies within +/- 1%. In
addition, the pumps provide smooth, constant flow, necessary in applications
such as medical diagnostics, chemical processing, fuel cells, biotechnology,
and micro reaction technology. The small-size Series ML and MH micro
annular pumps are easily integrated into OEM equipment with small
footprint, low weight, and short tubing length requirements.
Quiet microcentrifuges
Eppendorf North America introduced two new
microcentrifuges that optimize speed, silence and
simplicity. Models 5418 and 5424 include standard
aerosol-tight rotors that hold 18 or 24 microcentrifuge tubes, respectively. The lid designs
optimize airflow and reduce noise levels almost
to background level and operation is quiet
even for runs that do not use the rotor lid.
Additional optional rotors for Model 5424
include a 4 x 8-tube PCR strip rotor and
18 x miniprep spin column/filter rotor.
36
Software makes transcription of weight
data easier
Mettler Toledo introduced new software that
allows for easy entry of weight values into a
personal computer. LabX Direct Balance was
designed to replace time-consuming and
error-prone manual transcription of weight
data by sending it electronically from a laboratory balance to a PC. Installation, set-up,
and transferring the data are all easy procedures. The Direct Balance program allows a
choice of which balance string components
should be transferred, and parameters can be
set for values transferred. The software supports connection of one balance to an individual PC, and supports connection of a barcode reader for entering sample identification and other associated data.
Multichannel pipette calibrates 12 pipette channels at once
Sartorius’ new SpeedCal system accurately calibrates up to 12 pipette
channels simultaneously, reducing the average time for testing a 12
channel pipette to as low as 10 minutes. An integrated evaporation
trap ensures precision. Tests are performed gravimetrically in compliance
with DIN 12650 and ISO 8655. Features such as a computer
that records all data and generates a detailed calibration report
save users time and thus use of the pipette system reduces the risk
of repetitive strain injuries.
Durable, upgraded spectrometer
MIDAC’s new M4000 FTIR
Spectrometer is durable and reliable for general purpose spectroscopy, QA/QC measurements,
service lab and academic applications. The M4000 incorporates
many of the rugged components
used in the company’s industrial
gas analyzers. Recent upgrades
include dual 16 bit ADC and redesigned mirror drive board
combine for precision and sensitivity for demanding applications.
M Series laboratory FTIR benches feature 0.5cm-1 resolution,
a choice of DTGS, MCT or dual detectors, industry-standard
GRAMS/32-AI software, and a generous sample compartment
for easy access with a variety of sample accessories. An optional
beam output port provides even greater experimental flexibility.
L I S T
O F
A D V E R T I S E R S
&
W E B S I T E S
the
UpgradeYour HPLC
From Pesticides to Amino Acids
Analysis
innacle PCX
upgrades any HPLC
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Analytiqus . . . . . . . . . .Page 17 . . . . . . . . . . . .www.analytiqs.com
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Carbamates
. . .Page 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.fishersci.ca
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Glyphosate
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Mettler Toledo . . . . . . .Page 29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.mt.com
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Sartorius . . . . . . . . . . .Page 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.sartorius.com
•
Amino Glycosides
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Lab Salary Survey ad
Pall Life Sciences . . . . .Page 35 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.pall.com
Sigma . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 15 . . . . . . . .www.sigma-aldrich.com
Thermo Electron Corp .Page 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.thermo.com
Visit our web site for all applications
and development services.
Thermo Lab Eq. Div . . .Page 23, 39 . . . . . . . . . .www.thermo.com
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Waters . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 40 . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.waters.com
800-654-3330 • WWW.PICKERINGLABS.COM
sitting with
Adrian Veres
Top winner, 2006 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair
sensors that combine
microfluidics, biotechnology, and electrochemistry—it is
My work was in a field that’s really new. I have
something that is very new, because we didn’t have the knowledge in each of those
fields to be able to properly combine them together before a couple of years ago. The
way I got to working on this was not by seeing the issue and starting to work on the
of chemical reactions to develop new ways of doing things. I began to get real-
problem itself. Through science fair projects I had started to work on using a series
ly interested in detection methods as a whole. It is really a field that is growing right
now. By working on bringing new ideas and developing that whole field something
very profitable [can be done with my work]. Even if someone doesn’t just take my
exact idea and without modifying it just uses it somewhere. I don’t personally
as itself, by itself in the current state. However, that does not mean someone else
think that the method that I developed myself will in all realism, end up being used
going through my work wouldn’t look through it and see some of the novel ideas I
had brought in, and say ‘ok, here he manages to make this reaction 100 times faster
by doing this. Maybe this could be used in my own system that I’m working on in my
biomedical laboratory’… and that person just takes it up and does it.
High school student Adrian Veres, top winner at the 2006 Intel International
Science and Engineering Fair held in Indianapolis, Indiana, in May. Veres won Best in
Category and First Prize Grand Awards in Biochemistry, as well as a First Place
United Technologies Corporation Award, for developing a time- and cost-efficient
electrical biosensor that identifies the causes of infectious diseases.
38
© 2006 THERMO ELECTRON CORPORATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL THE TRADEMARKS ARE THE PROPERTY OF THE THERMO ELECTRON CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
Escape. To a brighter, quieter,
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The Forma® 1400 Series biological safety cabinet delivers
the comfortable, stress-free environment you deserve.
I
I
Brighter workspace: Glass sidewalls cut glare and let light
in for a more natural, open-feeling environment.
Ultra quiet: The Forma 1400 Series significantly reduces
the noise level so you can hear (and think) more clearly.
I
Angled for comfort: Angled front lets you work at the right
posture, reducing fatigue and body strain.
The Forma 1400 Series Class II
Biological Safety Cabinet
See what you’ve been missing. Visit www.thermo.com/comfort
Analyze
•
Detect
•
Measure
•
Control TM
eLAB NOTEBOOK ™
EMPOWER ™
MASSLYNX ™
NUGENESIS ® SDMS
Increase productivity. Improve collaboration. And put all your analytical results and knowledge to
use. The latest versions of Waters Laboratory Informatics software provide seamless integration that
helps your organization strengthen its competitive position from product concept straight through
to commercialization. Contact your Waters representative to find out the fastest way to upgrade
your Informatics software – and sharpen your edge. To learn more visit www.waters.com/i1
®
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