Automated microscope

AUTOMATED MICROSCOPE FOR EXPRESSION ANALYSIS

Genomika (2002), Vol. 3, Issue 13

LifeSpan Biosciences Inc (Seattle, WA), a company that uses nucleic acid probes and antibodies for the selection of drug targets in the development process, has developed a robotic microscope system, which is capable of accelerating the analysis of gene and protein expression on a cellular level. The company’s CEO Dr Joe Brown told Genomika that the robotic system, designed to free pathologists from the need to perform routine screening, can collect and analyse 35,000 images per day.

The instrument uses special antibodies to pinpoint and visualise individual proteins expressed by a certain cell. Its artificial intelligence algorithms enable the system to distinguish between 14 different tissue types and pick out carcinoma cells and other disease-affected cells. Brown explained: “On a slide with 200 specimen, the system finds its sample and its imaging location within the specimen, unperturbed by the irregularities that you find in tissue samples.”

“We have collaborations with 70 pharmaceutical companies, and that’s where the instruments will remain: at the centre of our drug discovery and diagnostic services and collaborations,” said Brown. LifeSpan is generating an atlas of expression for over 30,000 genes in normal and diseased tissue. The company has been approached by tools companies about the use of the device in the hospital for molecular diagnosis and pathology. “If the right offer comes, we will think about it,” Brown conceded.

The 120-strong company, whose employees’ expertise encompasses pathology, genetics and bioinformatics, was founded in 1995 by Brown and his partner Dr Glenna Burmer. With initial private funding of $8 million, the company went through three more funding rounds, totalling $43 million. “Our series D round is about to close and with revenues crossing the double-digit million dollar line soon, our next aim is profitability,” said Brown. SF