Stem Cell applications and opportunities in drug discovery

By Dr Mark A. Thiede

The high attrition rate of late stage drug candidates has led the pharmaceutical and biotech industries to a reassess the in vitro models used to select and validate drug targets and subsequent lead molecules. more...

The microplate market past, present and future

By Dr Peter Banks

Microplates and the peripheral markets of liquid handling and detection technologies exist within almost all laboratories performing assays. This article discusses what, if any, are their growth expectations and whether there are new technologies on the horizon that could make the microplate obsolete. more...

Letting the target determine your compound acquisition strategy

By Dr John Harris

With compound libraries likely to remain the cornerstone of hit and lead discovery for the foreseeable future, this paper seeks to summarise current and future approaches to optimal library design and compound acquisition, using examples and experimental evidence of the success, limitations and weaknesses of target-led approaches in comparison with diversity-screening alternatives. more...

High throughput screening, high content screening, primary and stem cells new techniques now converging

By Dr Richard M. Eglen

Over the past decade, the use of cell-based assays has accelerated in modern drug discovery. Indeed, the majority of assays in either target validation or lead identification/optimisation all now employ cell-based technologies. more...

Livening up HCS IMAGING

By Dr John Comley

With the aid of recent end-user feedback, this article investigates interest in and use of live cell and kinetic HCS imaging; most wanted application areas: advantages of live cell HCS imaging; live cell HCS assays of greatest interest; what’s limiting live cell HCS; what is most needed to grow the live cell and kinetic imaging market; assay requirements; and preferred HCS instrument configuration. more...