An X-ray diffraction (XRD) system transmits X-ray beams to a sample (generally a single crystal, metallic solid or a powder) and records the diffraction pattern that occurs when the X-ray photons encounter the inter-atomic gaps within the crystal structure. The results from the scattered photons are used to determine various properties of a sample, such […]

This month, Sweden announced the largest R&D investment in its history. The Swedish government’s 2009 budget commits SEK 2.4 billion ($364 million) in 2009 to research funding. Such funding will reach SEK 5 billion in 2012. The funding includes the elimination of the value added tax on education. Medicine, technology and the climate will receive […]

Company Announcements Illumina partnered with Genpathway to provide whole-genome ChIP sequencing services. Illumina named its first certified genetic analysis service provider (CSPro) in Japan, Mitsubishi Chemical Safety Institute, and its first German CSPro, LIFE & BRAIN. Illumina named Fredrick Clerie vice president, Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs. He was previously vice president of Global Quality […]

Chalfont St. Giles, England 9/30/08; Boston, MA 9/30/08—GE Healthcare has acquired MicroCal, a developer and manufacturer of microcalorimeters, for an undisclosed amount from majority owner Riverside Partners and other investors. MicroCal’s 2008 revenues are estimated to be $28 million, up from $21 million in 2007, and have grown at more than 25% annually. According to […]

San Diego, CA 9/23/08—Sequenom has agreed to acquire the Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act–approved molecular pathology lab, for approximately $4.0 million, less CMM’s cash at closing. Ninety percent of the purchase price will be paid in stock. Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, CMM is a joint venture of nonprofit health […]

New regulations designed to simplify pesticide residue laws in the EU took effect on September 1. The rules harmonize the maximum residue levels (MRLs) for pesticides and cover approximately 1,100 pesticides used both in the EU and elsewhere. MRLs are listed for 315 agricultural products, including processed products. In addition, a new publicly available database […]

Point-of-care testing (POCT) is contributing to the growth of the diagnostics product market. In the first six months of this year, the FDA approved 152 POC tests. InteLab estimates that POCT represented 35% of the in vitro diagnostics market in 2005 and that, by 2011, it will account for 41%. In 2005, the market for […]

Eden Prairie, MN 9/30/08—SurModics, a surface modification and drug delivery technologies company, has acquired GE Healthcare’s CodeLink Activated Slide microarray business. Terms were not disclosed. The CodeLink Activated Slides use SurModics’ PhotoLink technology, which creates a three-dimensional matrix for the attachment of biomolecules. SurModics stated that it plans to sell the product line directly into […]