Research & Development
We understand the need to deliver our customers state-of-the-art solutions for protein expression. To stay at the cutting edge of protein science, we develop our own internal R&D programs and are involved in several European interdisciplinary R&D projects.
Our internal R&D programs
These programs aim to constantly improve our service to our customers, develop our know-how and integrate the most recent technologies. Some examples of programs recently completed or still in progress:
- Optimization of the culture process with the CHO-Xpress system to improve expression yields
- Creation of new vectors and cell lines to offer additional solutions for expression in CHO cells
- Implementation of additional analytic methods to improve protein characterization (Thermofluor, Capillary electrophoresis, Endotoxin detection)
Our external R&D programs
We are currently involved in two specific projects with the aim of overcoming protein production-related bottlenecks for some challenging applications: production of industrial enzymes regarding the PolyModE program and production of new scaffold proteins as part of the Sniffer project.
PolyModE: Novel Polysaccharide Modifying Enzymes to Optimize the Potential of Hydrocolloids for Food and Medical Applications
Involving 15 universities, research centres, multinationals and small biotech companies, this project aims to identify, characterize, and optimize novel polysaccharide-modifying enzymes. Robust fermentation strategies will be developed for their large-scale production and the potential use of the modified biopolymers in food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and technical applications will be investigated. Two parallel approaches will be followed for various types of enzymes: a knowledge-based genomic or transciptomic approach and a broad un-biased metagenomic approach based on the use of soil or sludge samples with a history of contact with the polysaccharide in question.
To learn more www.polymode.eu
Sniffer project: a bio-mimicry enabled artificial sniffer
Launched in February 2012 with 14 partners, the SNIFFER Project aims at paving the way towards a promising marketplace for "artificial sniffing"-centred border security solutions and for olfactory applications in general. The project proposes a highly innovative approach to complement dogs and leverage their capabilities. This approach is based on state-of-the-art technologies centred on a new generation of olfactory biosensors. The SNIFFER devices to be developed combine sampling, pre-concentration and pre-treatment with bio-mimicry, synthetic diamond sensor technology and multi-parametric training software. This will enable the detection of odours arising from security threats which may occur in a panel of border security applications.
To learn more www.sniffer-project.eu
