[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Griffith University’s ground-breaking Institute for Glycomics in Queensland increases microarray throughput for new frontier in drug and vaccine discovery
Edinburgh; 29 June 2016; Arrayjet, the Scottish-based microarray instrumentation company, has secured a $400,000AUD contract with one of Australia’s flagship biomedical research institutes, housing some of the country’s most renowned research groups in developing the next generation of drugs and vaccines to fight diseases of global significance and impact.
The Institute for Glycomics at Griffith University, has awarded Arrayjet a contract to provide the most advanced instrumentation printing technology available for the throughput and rapid printing of ‘glycan’ arrays. Glycans are complex sugar molecules, which are present on the surface of all cells and are responsible for a variety of biological functions in humans and micro organisms such as cell to cell communication..
This addition will compliment the Institute’s existing state-of-the-art instrumentation, and help make its bio-analytical facility a world-leader in glycomics research, analysis and technology development.
The introduction of glycan array-based technology has advanced the field of biological glycomics analysis. This powerful tool helps academics and researchers understand how glycans relate to particular biological functions. Array-based technologies provide two related benefits, the incredible efficiency of sample use for analysis combined with achieving high-throughput parallel compound characterisation.
The Arrayjet Marathon Argus microarrayer has the ability to print the glycan compound library on 100 slides in less than 6 hours, significantly improving on their current throughput of 28 slides in 14 hours.
The cost and availability of glycans are the limiting factor in the production of large carbohydrate/glycan arrays. Displaying low dead volume quantities played a defining role in the decision making process, for which Arrayjet performed extremely favourably.
Moreover, the incorporation of Arrayjet’s Iris™ camera system on the Marathon Argus has transformed the Institute quality control procedures and allows its researchers and lab technicians to automatically inspect and record print quality which, in turn, provides its clients with high levels of glycan array product quality assurance. Iris™ is integrated with Arrayjet’s Command Centre™ software and is saving the Griffith scientists an enormous amount of time by flagging product irregularities automatically, rather than them having to manually check them with a microarray scanner.
Dr Chris Davis, General Manager, at the Institute for Glycomics commented;
“As an established world-leader in glycomics translational research, we are delighted to work with Arrayjet to further build translational capacity in our state-of-the-art glyco-bioanalytical facility. The speed, spot quality and superb batch-to-batch reproducibility of the Marathon Argus provides us with the reassurance we need to manufacture quality commercial glycoarrays for industry and academia.
Furthermore, being in a sub-tropical environment here in Queensland, it was imperative that we have exceptional temperature and humidity control. Arrayjet was able to offer both dehumidification and humidification in order to minimise the effect during the year, so we never have a need for downtime, which is vitally important for the seamless continuity required within our operations.”
Meanwhile, the Institute for Glycomics is working with Arrayjet to provide life science companies throughout the Asia-Pacific a consulting service based on Arrayjet Advance technology. The service promises fast, reproducible and precision-accurate microarray analytics through Arrayjet’s novel inkjet technology and instrumentation processes for a broad spectrum of diagnostic applications, tailored to suit individual needs.
Iain McWilliam, CEO of Arrayjet comments;
“The Institute for Glycomics is at the cutting edge of this complex technology and we are delighted they have chosen us to partner with them at this exciting phase of their development. The Marathon Argus will provide the means to effect fast and accurate microarray production giving them complete quality assurance and confidence in their products. What’s more, we are building a solid customer based across the Asia Pacific Rim and for an SME with its headquarters in Midlothian, Scotland, we are delighted with our international reach and impact.”
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