Nikon establishes “Nikon BioImaging Lab” in Boston to support drug discovery research
Nikon Corporation (Toshikazu Umatate, President, Tokyo) and its subsidiary Nikon Instruments Inc. (Toshiaki Nagano, President, NY, USA) have established the Nikon BioImaging Lab in Boston, USA to provide contract imaging and assay services for pharmaceutical companies and venture companies involved in drug discovery, and to provide product demonstrations. The Lab will begin operations in July, 2019. Nikon aims to serve the biotech community in its drug discovery efforts by making advanced live cell imaging and data analysis technology more accessible.
Overview of the Nikon BioImaging Lab
| Location | 21 Erie St, Cambridge, MA 02139, U.S.A. |
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| Phone number | +1- 888- 315-9598 |
| Major equipment | BioStation CT (Cell Culture Observation System), BioStudio-T (Cell Observation Device), Eclipse Ti2-E (Inverted Microscope Systems), Eclipse Ts2(Inverted Routine Microscope), etc. |
Facility tours and demonstrations will be available by appointment only.
Advancements in the field of stem cell biology have enabled drug discovery efforts to transition away from relying on animal models and towards using stem cells and iPSC*-derived cells that more accurately reflect the workings of cells and processes in the human body. In pursuit of further accuracy in drug evaluation, even patient-derived iPSCs are starting to be used for personalized drug screening assays. Using more accurate readout models such as stem cells can accelerate drug discovery and shorten the path to clinical trials. The role of stem cells in the drug discovery process will likely continue to expand, as advancements in this field enable the development of a wider range of cells and even tissues and organoids to be used for compound screening and testing.
*iPSC: induced pluripotent stem cell
Nikon’s advanced live cell imaging technologies enable researchers to evaluate drug-induced effects at the cellular level, both spatially and temporally. Such image-based assays can also help accelerate cell manufacturing processes from cell line development to expansion, further aiding the field of drug discovery.
Nikon has established the Nikon BioImaging Lab in Boston, one of the premier biotechnology hubs for pharmaceutical companies and drug discovery venture companies. At the Lab, Nikon will provide a wide variety of drug discovery support services, including development of custom assays for drug discovery research and screening as well as optimization of cell culturing conditions, to meet the needs of individual clients. For users looking to develop cell manufacturing processes, Nikon’s advanced cell culture observation system, the BioStation CT, and comprehensive cell quality evaluation system will be available.
