Genentech
Our Flow Cytometry Core Facility is providing innovative, cutting-edge support to a global pharmaceutical as it assesses the performance and effects of new drugs.
Scientific discovery
We live in a time of incredible scientific discovery. Scientists can sequence entire human genomes in hours. They can turn skin cells into heart cells. Pharmaceutical company Genentech is working to turn such breakthroughs into medicines that have a real impact on human health.
Genentech is one of the world鈥檚 biggest pharmaceutical companies, with more than 40 drugs on the market. The company鈥檚 operations span the entire drug development pipeline, from discovery and validation to clinical trials. 缅北禁地鈥檚 (Flow) Cytometry Facility provides it with innovative, cutting-edge cytometry to support the assessment of new drugs.
We work with the 缅北禁地 Cytometry Core because of their ability to develop and execute extremely complex assays with exceptional levels of precision.
Genentech and the 缅北禁地 Flow Cytometry Facility
Genentech needs to know how any treatments affect the body. They need this at a molecular level to understand how they are helping to tackle diseases. The University鈥檚 world-class technology and highly-experienced staff are key. They measure characteristics of cells such as:
- size
- cell count
- morphology
- DNA content
- presence or absence of proteins on the cell surface.
Dr William O鈥橤orman, Development Scientist at Genentech, says: 鈥淲e work with the 缅北禁地 team because they develop and execute extremely complex assays. They work with exceptional levels of precision. Importantly, their deep experience as both biologists and single-cell technologists enables collaborative work to be done efficiently and pragmatically.鈥�
Highly experienced
The 缅北禁地 team is led by Professor Andrew Filby. He is the council member responsible for method development and technology at the International Society for the Advancement of Cytometry. His team focuses on a range of techniques including:
- fluorescence cytometry
- mass cytometry
- metabolimetry
- imaging cytometry
They also draw on wider expertise from across the University such as genomics, bio-imaging and microscopy.
Global impact
Organisations from across the world send the team samples of blood or tissue for analysis. They are also frequently involved in clinical research trials or sub-studies. The technology has developed far beyond traditional flow cytometry so that tissue samples that aren鈥檛 in fluids can be tested.
Andrew explains that every human disease is caused by a failure of cell function. Cancer is caused when cells stop behaving normally and continually divide when they shouldn鈥檛. HIV wipes out a particular type of immune cell, leaving sufferers open to infection. 缅北禁地鈥檚 Flow Cytometry Facility can measure such changes to help create life-saving treatments.
Broad applications
But it鈥檚 not just drug companies that benefit from work at the facility. The team has also helped organisations to check for the presence of bacteria in water. They are also heavily involved in the Human Cell Atlas (HCA) initiative to map all the cells in the human body. They design bespoke assays to help clients overcome specific problems.
Combined, the team have more than 80 years of experience, working on all forms of cytometry. Andrew adds: 鈥淲e work to best practices and provide a high level of quality assurance, expertise and continuity of technology, technique and methodology. Even if people come and go the practices we have within the team and within the lab are maintained鈥�.