The
Dolomite Centre Ltd, a world leader in the design and manufacture of
microfluidic devices, has signed a collaboration agreement with Sphere Fluidics,
a leading company in commercialising picodroplet technology that performs
thousands of simultaneous analyses on single cells and small populations of
molecules.
Sphere Fluidics is commercialising new lab-on-a-chip and picodroplet
technology developed at Cambridge University by company founders Professor Chris
Abell and Professor Wilhelm Huck. Sphere Fluidics offers extensive expertise in
miniaturised Discovery Systems and Services based on microfluidics and
picodroplets. Focussing on storing and retrieving individual picodroplets
containing a unique sample, their technology benefits a wide range of
applications, including rapid antibody discovery, identification of novel algal
strains and the generation of new biocatalysts.
The agreement between Sphere Fluidics and Dolomite establishes core areas
where the two companies will collaborate:
- Dolomite will become the exclusive worldwide distributor for Sphere
Fluidics' standard products, including a range of PDMS picodroplet handling
chips and surfactants;
- Dolomite will develop and sell new products in picodroplet technology, based
on Sphere Fluidics' expertise.
"We are very excited about the agreement with Sphere Fluidics," commented Dr.
Andrew Lovatt, CEO of Dolomite.
"Microdroplets are a fascinating and fast growing area of research,
especially useful where tests need to be conducted on only a few nanolitres of
sample containing, for example, cells or DNA. Sphere Fluidics' scientific
know-how and capability in the core areas of picodroplet based systems will
enable Dolomite to enhance our market leading solutions, for example by adding
further functionality such as droplet merging. This will give our customers new
capabilities, and strengthen our position as world leader in microfluidic
solutions through a more comprehensive product and service solution", said Dr.
Lovatt.
"Sphere Fluidics is very pleased to enter this collaboration with Dolomite.
We are impressed with Dolomite's technical, manufacturing and commercial
expertise. Specifically, we see superb synergy between our scientific and their
engineering skills. They also provide us with a rapid "route to market". We are
all looking forward to a very successful collaboration", said Dr Frank F. Craig,
CEO of Sphere Fluidics.