The devices developed using Amaxa's Nucleofector technology will be the world's first technology enabling high-throughput screenings in efficiently transfected and differentiated primary cells
Amaxa, a provider of transfection technologies to the life sciences, will co-ordinate a European collaboration of eight partners to develop devices for ultra high-throughput delivery and screening of primary cells, for use in the study of immunological, neuronal and liver disorders, for example.
The collaboration has been granted over euro2.75 million in funding from the EC and will use Amaxa's Nucleofector technology - described as a unique method for the highly efficient transfection of primary cells.
The 36-month project, named Modest-EU, is a collaboration between Amaxa (Germany), Deutsches Rheumaforschungszentrum (Germany), RNAx (Germany), Protobios (Estonia), Fotec Forschungs-und Technologietransfer (Austria), HTP High Tech Plastics (Austria), Dominion Pharmakine (Spain), and Prevas (Sweden).
The project will go on to study the application of this technology in the areas of immunology, neurology and liver disorders.
Birgit Nelsen-Salz, coordinator of the project, said: "Amaxa is the only institution worldwide, which has the necessary knowledge and experience to adapt the technical needs of device development to the conditions used for efficient transfection of primary cells and hard-to-transfect cell lines.
"As co-ordinator of the project we will ensure that the expertise brought by each partner will enable the collaboration to achieve the goal of providing powerful new tools for basic research and drug discovery".
Each partner will play a significant role in the development of the devices: Prevas will be responsible for the building of the device from proof-of-principle up to prototype; Fotec will develop the production process for micro-plates; HTP will be involved in the prototyping of the 384-well plates.
In addition, the application of nucleofection and cell based assays will be assessed by a team of outstanding experts: DRFZ (cell sorting and multiparameter flow-cytometry), RNAx (RNAi technology), Protobios (nervous system development and transcription regulation network) and Dominion Pharmakine (biomarkers related to site specific development of liver metastasis).
