The 47^th annual meeting for the Society for Neuroscience (SfN), held November 11­–15, 2017, in Washington, D.C., hosted 30,021 attendees, on par with last year’s number (see IBO 11/30/17). The event also welcomed 534 exhibitors, down 4.5% from the 2016 figure, that were eager to introduce their products to the attendees from 80 countries across the globe. The conference covers a wide range of areas within the field of neuroscience, with an emphasis on hot topic areas such as addiction, sleep science, PTSD, sports-related injuries and the continual battle to understand Alzheimer’s.

As the premiere conference for neuroscience, SfN is a platform for companies to highlight new instruments to help study the brain. This year was no different with exciting new product announcements.

At the show, Quanterix created quite a buzz with a new product announcement for the Quanterix SR-X Ultra-Sensitive Biomarker Detection System, which employs Simoa (SIngle MOlecule Array) technology to provide ultra-sensitive biomarker detection of proteins and nucleic acid biomarkers directly from blood without PCR. The Simoa technology spans several different research areas (oncology, neurology, cardiology, inflammation and infectious diseases) and is particularly useful in detecting biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis and sports-related injuries such as CTE. Additionally, the company has already raised $80 million in financing ($55 million dilutive and $25 million non-dilutive). During a sit-down interview at the conference with the CEO of Quanterix, Kevin Hrusovsky, IBO learned about the company (see Executive Briefing), including a soon-to-be-released new instrument.

The new instrument, the SR-Plex, primarily focuses on life science research in academia and pharma, allowing researchers to analyze blood at 1,000x greater sensitivity than ELISAs, in a benchtop format, with multiplexing capabilities to reduce sample costs. The instrument requires less sample than the firm’s HD-1 Analyzer, which uses sample volumes of 50 µL. In contrast, the SR-Plex only requires a 35 µL sample volume, with an average cost per sample of $5–$15. With multiplexing, the per sample cost can be cut by a third to $1.60–$5 per sample. While the HD-1 Analyzer costs between $160,000 and $160,500, Quanterix also plans to introduce the 25-plex system towards the end of 2019 at a price of $75,000. According to Mr. Hrusovsky, the company has already pre-sold all available instruments for 2018 and is looking to expand availability for new buyers.

Other vendors demonstrated technologies specifically related to providing better imaging solutions. ZEISS unveiled the next generation of its ZEISS EVO SEM. The last major refresh on the system was in 2013, although a new detector was added on in 2015. Some of the new significant features include a touchscreen/simplified user interface, a system scan to generate larger images, an integrated EDS workflow and a lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6) emitter allowing for highly stable emission images.

SEM technology allows 3D reconstruction of the brain with high resolution at faster speeds and covering larger volumes.

One of the main differentiators of the EVO SEM as compared to competing SEMs is resolution, according to company representatives at SfN. In addition, its ease of use allows for novice users to quickly adapt to the instrument.  A tablet-version interface allows for control of the instrument. According to the ZEISS team, an experienced customer stated he was even able to “train his novice daughter” on the instrument. As far as the SEM’s contributions to neuroscience, the ZEISS team commented that SEM technology allows 3D reconstruction of the brain with high resolution at faster speeds and covering larger volumes.

Another vendor, Andor Technology, a division of Oxford Instruments, introduced the Dragonfly 200 high-speed confocal imaging platform. The Dragonfly platform is up to 20X faster than conventional confocal microscopes, according to an Andor representatives at SfN. Dragonfly 200 is smaller and lighter than the Dragonfly 500, and can be used in an upright position. Compared to other confocal microscopy systems, the company told IBO that Dragonfly 200 has a higher dynamic range, is comfortably operated at 400 frames per second at dual wavelength with low phototoxicity, and can image live cells or fixed cells in both clear and unclear tissue. The system is already shipping, and depending on the customer requirements, the systems sells for anywhere between $300,000 and $700,000.

Continuing the journey through microscopy-related product announcements at the show, Nikon released a new objective, the CFI90 20XC Glyc, for biological microscopes. The company prides itself on the objective providing large field of view (a distance of 90 mm), as well as high-resolution neural images across immersion media and tissue clearing agents. It also supports observation of large samples with an ultra-long working distance of 8.2 mm. According to Nikon, no other comparative product can provide close to the same working distance. The objective will begin shipping by the end of 2017.

Finally, MilliporeSigma introduced a new Stericup Quick Release system for improved cell culture filtration. It has been at least 10 years since the last update to the Stericup Sterile Vacuum Filtration System. The new, next generation system is designed to alleviate pain points experienced by lab scientists during sterile filtration processes. Although the membranes inside the filter remain the same, the redesign of the filter unit and the receiver bottle improves user experience with ergonomic enhancements to streamline the filtration process. The receiver bottle is offered in sizes 100–150 mL volumes with multiple membrane material and pore sizes. The main design enhancements include a quick-release filter funnel, which disconnects with only a quarter turn to help avoid spillage, a frosted side on the receiver bottle for ease in writing notations, and a slip-resistant lid that clicks into place. In addition, the receiver bottles are stackable, and the system also works with regular receiver bottle from the previous generation system.

Next year’s SfN conference will be held November 3–7 in San Diego, California.