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Lunchtime Workshop
19 February 2008
12:50-13:35
Applications of microcarrier cultured cryopreserved cells in screening assays for GPCRs
J M Kendall PhD, Scientist, GE Healthcare
Over 50% of primary screening assays now utilise live cells and GPCRs provide the largest group of therapeutic targets in drug discovery campaigns. Adoption of assays using frozen cells effectively decouples cell production from screening and has improved issues such as batch variation, cell production, scheduling and capacity management. Frozen cell methodologies also allows effective decoupling of transfection from assay reagent and therefore the emerging use of transient expression systems for the generation of cell based screening reagents. We describe the use of microcarriers combined with configured bioreactors as a format for producing single batches of cryopreserved stable cells or transiently transfected cells suitable for entire screening campaigns. Cryopreserved cells cultured by this method have been validated in functional GPCR assays and meet required performance criteria for primary HTS assays.
Tutor Biography
Bob Kendall obtained a PhD from UWCM, Cardiff, UK in 1990 and has worked for GE Healthcare (formerly Amersham) for the past 9 years. As a Development Scientist he has contributed to programmes focused towards the needs of pharmaceutical partners engaged in drug discovery. Working in a multi-disciplinary team at the Maynard Centre, Cardiff, UK he has contributed to the development of screening platforms including LEADseeker and INCell Analyzer as well as consumables such as cryopreserved cells and reporter-based biological reagents. |
Pre-Conference Breakfast Workshop
20 February 2008
08:00-08:45
Achieving accurate nanolitre pipetting for miniaturising serial dilutions and assay-ready plates
TTP Labtech Ltd is presenting the mosquito at the Screening Europe 2008 conference in Stockholm.
The workshop is an opportunity for all attendees to learn more about the benefits and practicalities of low volume liquid handling, as well see mosquito in action carrying out a variety of low volume pipetting tasks for applications including serial dilutions, compound distribution and assay miniaturisation. Further information will be provided on other application areas related to screening, that mosquito can be applied to.
mosquito is a flexible and accurate nanolitre liquid handler for miniaturising assay volumes. Its low-cost disposable pipettes ensure zero cross-contamination, allowing it to produce assay-ready plates directly from high-concentration DMSO compound stock solutions. Mosquito aspirates and dispenses in columns, making it ideal for creating single step serial dilutions. Its narrow bore pipettes can address different plate formats in the same protocol, including 384 to 1536 reformatting, and also pierce plate seals.
The workshop will offer a brief overview of the instrument, detailing some of the work that has been done using mosquito in relevant application areas, as well as describing its functionality and capabilities. A live demonstration will then be given to allow attendees to appreciate first-hand the accuracy, precision, speed and robustness of mosquito. The demonstration will be interactive and specific requests will be met where possible.
This is a rare opportunity for industry professionals to use and assess the mosquito directly and allow those who attend to fully understand why this is the instrument of choice in many labs throughout the world. |