This week a Scanning Ion Conductance Microscope (SICM) was received by Shanghai-based Genetimes for installation in the Faculty of Basic Medicine of Zhe Jiang University in Hangzhou (China).

“SICM devices allow nanoscale topographic imaging of live cells without destroying the fine structures on the cell membrane or disrupting cellular processes. No other approach can currently do this,” said Dr Giovanna De Filippi, Applications Scientist at ionscope.

Genetimes and Ionscope have worked together for several years to introduce ionscope’s capabilities into the Chinese market, where Genetimes has been supplying the biotechnology industry since 1998. Further orders have been placed for 2014.

Three Chinese institutions now use SICM to study (in real time) changes in cell morphology and membrane topography as result of pharmacological manipulation, or to compare healthy and diseased living cells.

Dr De Filippi said about the shipment “It is very exciting for us that a steadily increasing number of medical researchers in China are keen to implement SICM in their laboratories.”

Genetimes is the exclusive distributor of ionscope’s product in China.

“We are very glad to provide SICM systems and services to Chinese life-science researchers through our professional marketing and technical team of PhDs, coupled with our 15-year wholehearted dedication and excellent reputation in the industry. And we firmly believe Chinese life-science innovations and biomedical discoveries will be accelerated by our strategic cooperation with Ionscope,” said Mr Xu Chen, President and CEO of Genetimes Technology, Inc.

“It is crucial for an exporter such as ionscope to have a partner who understands both the technology and the market in China,” said Dr Ward Hills, ionscope’s CEO.

Over 30 Ionscope SICMs are installed across the globe in life-science and materials-science laboratories. The Melbourn UK- based company’s technology was developed at Imperial College London and the University of Cambridge. It has received investment and funding from Imperial Innovations, the Cambridge Angels, Cambridge Enterprise, the East of England Development Agency and the European Union. Dr David Cleevely CBE serves as Chairman.

Genetimes is based in Shanghai and serves the Chinese market for new biotechnology, pharmaceutical production and healthcare products through its offices in all major Chinese cities and regions.