Scanalytics Announces Collaborative Research and Development Agreement with the Naval Medical Research Center

(FAIRFAX, VA - August 23, 1999) Scanalytics, Inc., a developer of imaging software and systems for biotechnology and life sciences applications, today announced a Collaborative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC), Department of the Navy. The research agreement is the basis of a six-month study to enhance the capabilities of Scanalytics’ IPLab Elispot Imager™ system to complement NMRC’s innovative anti-malaria strategies. Further enhancements to the system are aimed at making it more flexible and expandable to accommodate other imaging and analysis applications. The study will focus on the characterization of protein expression by enzyme linked immunospot (Elispot) assays.

As a part of the agreement, Scanalytics has an option to negotiate an exclusive license with NMRC for inventions that arise from the CRADA research. "We believe the collaboration with NMRC on enhancements to our IPLab Elispot Imager product will result in a system with a broader range of applications for imaging technologies in immunological research." stated Michael Mort, Ph.D., President of Scanalytics.

Features of Elispot Assays and IPLab Elispot Imager
Certain aspects of immunological research focus on the role of lymphocytes in the human immune response, specifically, with cell-cell communication via cytokine molecules. Elispot assays were originally developed to detect individual antibody-secreting and cytokine-secreting lymphocyte cells. Using conventional staining techniques such as alkaline phosphatase and horse radish peroxidase, the secreted proteins, e.g., interferons or interleukins, can be detected with specific enzyme linked detection methods. The stained cells and secreted proteins, which are bound to the bottoms of nitrocellulose 96-well microtiter plates, can be identified and counted using robotic CCD camera imaging technology found in Scanalytics’ high-throughput image analysis system, the IPLab Elispot Imager. The technique has important applications in the study of AIDS, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, asthma and inflammation, as well as in the comprehensive malaria vaccine program undertaken at the Department of the Navy NMRC facility.

For more detailed information on IPLab Elispot Imager, contact Scanalytics' Sales Department at 703-208-2230 or email us at info@scanalytics.com.