SLAS Europe 2024 New Product Award: Top Contenders Announced
Six finalists compete for the New Product Award at SLAS Europe 2024.
Complete the form below to unlock access to ALL audio articles.
New Product Award finalists are considered to be at the forefront of innovation in their respective fields, offering advanced technologies designed to revolutionize research and development in life sciences. Applications are evaluated based on technical merit and commercial feasibility, as well as other criteria, such as product originality, product impact and market opportunity.
The award is presented to companies that have launched products in the year since the previous conference and eligible products must be commercially available within 90 days before or after the Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS) Europe conference. Each product is evaluated by a judging panel and up to three award winners can be selected.
Winners receive a plaque in recognition of the award, along with various benefits such as media coverage, inclusion in the SLAS Awards news release, acknowledgment on SLAS social media and website and an invitation to be featured on the SLAS podcast.
Here, we take a closer look at the six nominees and the products competing for this year’s award.
Arralyze
- Product: CellShepherd®
- Booth: #712
- Key Applications: Cell and Gene Therapy │ Antibody Therapeutics │ Cell Line Development │ Synthetic Biology │ Single-Cell Analysis
Arralyze's CellShepherd is a multifunctional single-cell platform that integrates dispensing, imaging and isolation of single cells within a sterile, climate-controlled setting. The system utilizes microfluidics and artificial intelligence-driven imaging to enable high-precision experiments on a nanoliter scale. The CellShepherd is ideal for researchers working with limited, precious samples.
“We now have a network of international research groups working with CellShepherd on two continents. While I can’t disclose their projects before publication, I can safely say that they are our best resource for understanding exactly what the life science community requires from our device,” Dr. Nora Fekete-Drimusz, head of biology at Arralyze, told Technology Networks.
About Arralyze
Arralyze, developed by the technology company LPKF, aims to provide its customers with tools and solutions that enable them to make groundbreaking discoveries. Its laser-induced deep etching glass structuring technology processes thin glass without damage.
“One of the standout features of the Arralyze technology is its ability to create deep wells that physically immobilize cells, which is particularly beneficial for single-cell screening applications. This level of customization in well shapes and sizes enhances the versatility of glass microfluidic devices, catering to a wide range of assays,” said Fekete-Drimusz.
CellDynamics
- Product: PL8
- Booth: #227
- Key Applications: Drug Discovery │ Toxicology │ Cell Biology
CellDynamics’ PL8 platform integrates label-free quantification of organoid structure with automated liquid handling processes, transforming the evaluation of pharmaceutical effectiveness. By offering multiparametric quantification, PL8 standardizes drug efficacy results by adjusting for structural variables such as size, compaction and weight of organoids. This improved precision enhances the assessment of permeation and cytotoxicity, enabling researchers to effectively tackle the challenges of drug development.
About CellDynamics
CellDynamics provides in vitro testing solutions for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Its products are designed specifically for 3D cell models and support key decision-making processes by providing researchers with more reliable and accurate results. Its suite of laboratory tools integrates fluidics, optics and advanced image-based software analysis.
CryoLogyx
- Product: CryoLogyx PlateReady™
- Booth: #727
- Key Applications: Biobanking │ Drug Discovery │ Regenerative Medicine │ Long-Term Cell Culture Storage
CryoLogyx's PlateReady™ featuring cryopreserved cell cultures is designed to simplify the freeze–thaw process while maintaining high cell viability and functionality post-thaw. PlateReady incorporates cryopreserved cells using various proprietary cryoprotectant materials (Cryoshield™) that enable very high cell recoveries and cryopreservation of cells in non-standard formats. This approach ensures the cryopreserved cells work just as well as freshly cultured ones in terms of survival, function and response to drugs (within 24 hours post-thaw).
“Our PlateReady products enable a major shift in how cell biology and cell-based assays are approached in the laboratory. Our products are provided 'assay-ready'. PlateReady products are cryopreserved in the exact format that researchers use for running cell-based assays, with none of the conventional cell banking, expansion, counting and culturing required,” Dr. Tom Congdon, co-founder and CEO of CryoLogyx, told Technology Networks.
About CryoLogyx
CryoLogyx develops novel cryopreservation methods designed to enhance the reliability and efficiency of cell-based research. The company was established as a spin-off from the University of Warwick in 2020 and was founded by CEO Dr. Tom Congdon and Chief Scientific Officer Professor Matt Gibson.
“Our products and services have been designed to address the issues and challenges facing pharma and biotechnology. New, advanced cell-based assays cannot be effectively cryopreserved and banked using existing solutions. Primary and non-proliferating models cannot be regrown, so we focus on total recovery in addition to how viable the cells are post-thaw,” said Congdon.
CYTENA
- Product: UP.SIGHT
- Booth: #313
- Key Applications: Automated Cell Line Development │ Cell and Gene Therapy │ Monoclonal Antibody Production │ Genetic Engineering
CYTENA's UP.SIGHT is a single-cell dispensing and imaging system. It combines high-precision cell isolation with advanced imaging capabilities. The UP.SIGHT system supports 96-well and 384-well plate formats, offering flexibility for various research needs and can be integrated with C.STUDIO, an FDA 21 CFR Part 11 compatible software that enhances documentation and regulatory compliance within good manufacturing practices.
“The new UP.SIGHT eliminates the need for multiple devices, saving valuable time and resources,” noted Dr. Julian Riba, CEO of CYTENA in a recent press release. “There is a trend towards automating CLD [cell line development] to increase consistency and throughput, and the UP.SIGHT is the only single-cell dispenser and imager on the market that can be readily integrated into such automated workflows.”
About CYTENA
CYTENA was founded in 2014, with a mission to make the development of modern therapies faster, safer and cost-effective with its single-cell technology. Its lab automation instruments are designed to assist researchers in isolating, dispensing, imaging, analyzing and managing their cells.
SEED Biosciences
- Product: Dispen3D
- Booth: #218
- Key Applications: Cell Line Development │ Stem Cell Research │ Genetic Engineering │Drug Screening
SEED Biosciences' Dispen3D is a novel single-cell dispensing system designed to handle 3D cell models. Dispen3D has a user-friendly interface to enable researchers to navigate the system easily, helping them to select and isolate various 3D cell models including spheroids, organoids and tumoroids individually.
About SEED Biosciences
SEED Biosciences was founded in 2018 by Dr. Georges Muller and Dr. David Bonzon, who developed the initial prototype of DISPENCELL during their PhD studies at The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL). Their vision, encapsulated by the motto "One Click, One Cell," came to fruition under the guidance of mentors at EPFL, Prof. Barrandon and Prof. Renaud.
Yokogawa
- Product: CellVoyager CQ3000
- Booth #715
- Key Applications: Drug Discovery │ Regenerative Medicine │Basic Research
Yokogawa's high-content analysis system, CellVoyager CQ3000, captures high-definition 3D microscopic images of live cell cultures at high speed over long periods, with minimal damage to cells. This system allows researchers to conduct detailed analysis of intracellular organelles and cellular reactions to drug compounds.
“The CQ3000 is an enhancement to the CellVoyager series lineup that will accelerate the development of new drugs and streamline basic research in cutting-edge biology and medicine,” noted Hiroshi Nakao, Yokogawa vice president and head of the company's Life Business Headquarters, in a recent press release.
High-content analysis (HCA) systems are essential tools used for screening large libraries of candidate compounds in drug discovery. The demand for advanced, high-speed screening systems has increased due to the need to extract and analyze large volumes of data from cell images efficiently.
“Our technology, particularly in 3D imaging, has been ahead of its time. Traditionally, the industry focused on 2D cell assays due to a lack of demand for 3D applications. But recent advances in stem cells and organoids have increased interest in 3D imaging. While the scientific community was initially slow to adopt this technology, it has now caught up, positioning Yokogawa's 3D capabilities as a key strength,” Kevin Jan, business development/sales engineer at Yokogawa Life Science told Technology Networks.
“Older imaging systems fail to meet demand and scientists are turning to confocal imaging, utilizing dual micro-lensed spinning disk technology, to achieve the scale and quality they need. That's where we've been excelling ‒ and we've been waiting patiently,” added Jan.
About Yokogawa
Founded in Tokyo in 1915, Yokogawa provides advanced solutions in measurement, control and information across various industries. “Through the provision of products and solutions that contribute to drug discovery research and the advancement of individualized medicine and regenerative medicine, Yokogawa aims to ensure well-being and quality of life for all,” said Nakao.
When to expect award winner announcements
If you are attending SLAS Europe 2024, be sure to visit the nominees’ booths to learn more about these new products and how they can support your research.
The New Product Awards will be presented on Tuesday, May 28 at 17:30 CEST in the SLAS Booth Theater.
Dr. Nora Fekete-Drimusz, Dr. Tom Congdon and Kevin Jan were speaking to Laura Elizabeth Lansdowne, Managing Editor at Technology Networks.
Article updated May 28, 2024, to include original comment from Kevin Jan, business development/sales engineer at Yokogawa Life Science.
