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Science: Biology

Expedition Reveals Pink Land Iguana Is on the Verge of Extinction

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Given the presence of introduced predators and the lack of juveniles, as well as the limited geographic range of the species, the Pink Land Iguana is at risk of imminent extinction.


SANTA CRUZ, Ecuador (PRWEB)

Preliminary results from the first-ever comprehensive census of the Pink Land Iguana reveal that the species is in dire need of conservation action.

During the recent 10-day joint expedition of Galápagos Conservancy and the Galápagos National Park Directorate (GNPD), 30 scientists and park rangers surveyed the population of Pink Land Iguanas across an area of nearly 1,000 acres on Wolf Volcano on Isabela Island, the only place in the world that the species inhabits. Using a mark-recapture method of population analysis, Galápagos Conservancy scientists have estimated the total number of Pink Land Iguanas at 211.

Alarmingly, no juveniles were found — the last juvenile was sighted in 2014 — and our scientists are concerned that introduced predators such as rodents and feral cats are preying on eggs and young hatchlings.

GNPD and Galápagos Conservancy have stationed a series of camera traps near the summit of Wolf Volcano. Triggered by movement, footage from these cameras will help scientists gain a better understanding of Pink Land Iguana behaviors and threats.

According to GNPD Director Danny Rueda and Galápagos Conservancy Director of Conservation Washington Tapia, saving the Pink Land Iguana has become an urgent conservation priority. Given the presence of introduced predators and the lack of juveniles, as well as the limited geographic range of the species, the Pink Land Iguana is at risk of imminent extinction.

But thanks to a collaborative international effort of scientists and conservation experts, there is hope. Immediately following the expedition, a team of scientists and researchers was convened by GNPD to develop a conservation plan for the Pink Land Iguana. Strategic actions developed during the workshop will soon be launched to save this species from extinction.

About Galápagos Conservancy: For more than 35 years, Galápagos Conservancy has helped protect the unique biodiversity and ecosystems of Galápagos by supporting research, conservation, outreach, and building a sustainable society. Galápagos Conservancy is the only US-based organization focused exclusively on protecting the Galápagos archipelago.

Images for Media Use: Unrestricted use with credits to “Galápagos Conservancy” and photographer(s) listed in each image. https://www.galapagos.org/about_us/about-us/media/

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Science: Biology

Alucio™ Expands Executive Team with Proven Relationship Builder and Business Development Leader

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“I’m very excited to become part of such a talented and successful team. I’m passionate about helping our customers enhance productivity, increase efficiency and deepen relationships with their KOLs,” explained Marie Urban, Senior Vice President of Business Development.


SAN FRANCISCO (PRWEB)

Alucio™, a fast-growing provider of cloud-based software for the life sciences industry, is pleased to announce that Marie Urban has joined the company’s executive leadership team as its Senior Vice President of Business Development.

Marie will help lead the company’s sales initiatives and partnership activities associated with Alucio’s flagship product, Beacon, as well as future offerings. Beacon is a user-focused, cloud-based scientific exchange platform specifically designed for Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs) and other medical affairs professionals.

“I’m very excited to become part of such a talented and successful team. Beacon is a truly innovative product that can significantly benefit many of the medical affairs teams that I’ve worked with over the years. I’m passionate about helping our customers enhance productivity, increase efficiency and deepen relationships with their KOLs,” explained Marie.

With nearly 20 years working in the healthcare and technology arenas, Marie brings a unique skill set and credible voice to Alucio. Her prior experience includes senior positions within the Sales, Trade, and Marketing functions with leading pharma manufacturers and life science tech companies such as Pfizer, AstraZeneca (MedImmune), and Epocrates.

Most recently, Marie held the title of Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Viscira. Viscira is a provider of digital marketing solutions to the life science industry, and part of WPP, the largest agency holding company in the world. During her highly successful tenure there, Marie built long-term partnerships across therapeutic areas with leading pharma and biotech companies including AstraZeneca, Biogen, Bristol Myers Squibb, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson and Johnson, Novartis, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals.

“We are delighted to have Marie join Alucio! She has a proven track record of success and is extremely well respected within our industry. I am looking forward to seeing her impact at Alucio and with our customers.” commented Jeff Asada, Co-Founder and Chief Revenue Officer (CRO).

About Alucio:

Alucio is dedicated to the development of innovative software applications specifically for the life sciences industry. Alucio’s Beacon is a cloud-based scientific exchange platform that enhances scientific dialogue and engagement between life science companies and healthcare professionals. For more information, please visit the company’s website at http://www.alucio.io or contact Lisa Amin at lamin@alucio.io (925) 788-3533.

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Science: Biology

2-year Backlog in Biologicals Manufacturing Hinders Medical R&D, Development of New Therapies for COVID-19

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The demand for biologicals skyrocketed so quickly that supply has not been able to keep pace.

There is a gap between research and manufacturing that has been highlighted by COVID-19. America is in desperate need of more CDMOs to provide the resources to bring about a natural solution to these complex post-viral conditions.


GAINESVILLE, Fla. (PRWEB)

One area where COVID-19 has had a substantial impact is the development and manufacturing of medicines, medical devices, and pharmaceutical products. The CDMO industry is showing enormous growth and projected to become a $315 billion industry by 2026.(1) However, the demand for products skyrocketed so quickly that supply has not been able to keep pace. According to Dr. Ian White, President and CSO of Neobiosis, a company that focuses on the science of regenerative medicine, demand has caused a two-year backlog of desperately needed cellular and acellular products for the use in research and clinical trials directed at treating the COVID-19 virus and its complications (AKA Post-COVID Syndrome).

“There is a dearth of facilities to manufacture these tissue products. The field of regenerative medicine is sluggish. This has affected research and development, clinical trials, and the production of treatments. Many of the companies working in this area are in need of an external organization to manufacture their product,” says Dr. White.

This backlog in the manufacture of biologicals will have a huge impact on the population. Owen Carhart, co-founder and CEO of Neobiosis, explains this delayed supply will reduce research and decrease the number of clinical trials because organizations will not have reliable access to the materials they need. “Every day, science discovers new ways COVID can affect people long-term. Now, it’s not just that clinicians have to treat the virus, but all the other after-effects and symptoms that will manifest post-COVID,” Carhart says.

Treating COVID-19 and post-COVID Syndrome

People who contracted COVID-19 and now face a protracted recovery time have been dubbed “long-haulers” referring to the length of time following the initial infection these patients still experience symptoms. But as White explains, the true picture of post-COVID Syndrome is continually evolving.

The most common health problems long-haulers have shown include damage to the lungs, heart, liver, and kidneys. Patients also experience fatigue and mental and emotional problems as a result of the vascular and metabolic damage caused by the patient’s own immune system in response to infection with the virus. Patients who were treated in the Intensive Care Unit have also shown signs of post-traumatic stress disorder.(2)

Given that there are multiple symptoms and organs being affected, finding an effective treatment is a significant challenge for scientists. Regenerative medicine physicians and scientists, including Dr. White, are looking at how purified amniotic fluid can be used to combat long-term symptoms. Amniotic fluid is the liquid that surrounds an unborn baby during pregnancy, and which is typically discarded following birth.

“This fluid is collected by [American Association of Blood Banks]-accredited and Food and Drug Administration-approved cord blood banks with maternal consent and following extensive infectious disease testing, which is standard for all transplantable human tissue,” wrote Dr. White in a scholarly paper about the use of amniotic fluid to treat COVID.(3)

To this end, White and his team have opened a new CDMO laboratory in Gainesville with the purpose of manufacturing a natural product derived from amniotic fluid. “The use of perinatal tissues in medicine is the result of natural evolution over millions of years. Nature has provided potent tools for the treatment of serious medical conditions. Following extensive testing, we are poised to submit an IND [Investigational New Drug] application with the FDA. Once approved, we can move to clinical trials. We have been successful with our pre-clinical testing of this product, and we are ahead of the curve. Our goal is to shine a light on post-viral syndromes, and hopefully provide a safe and effective treatment where none currently exist,” says White.

Given the shortage of facilities, this new contract manufacturing facility looks to serve as a catalyst not only for post-COVID Syndrome but for other post-viral manifestations. Post-viral syndromes are a disease in and of themselves, explains White, and regenerative medicine may be a solution.

“There is a gap between research and manufacturing that has been highlighted by COVID-19. America is in desperate need of more CDMOs to provide the resources to bring about a natural solution to these complex post-viral conditions,” added White.

About Neobiosis

Neobiosis, LLC is a clinical-stage contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) run by scientists focused on the science of regenerative medicine. They produce regenerative medicines from perinatal tissues, cells and extracellular vesicles (EVs) for research and clinical trials. Regenerative medicine taps into the body’s innate ability to heal itself relieving pain without opioids, being more cost effective and safer than many surgical alternatives. Neobiosis is an FDA-registered CDMO operating under current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) standards with cleanroom laboratories located in Gainesville, FL. Visit https://neobiosis.com/

1.    Newsroom; “COVID-19 Impact on Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) Market”; 19 May 2020; Research Dive; prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/covid-19-impact-on-contract-development-and-manufacturing-organization-cdmo-market-research-dive-814385664.html

2.    Chung, Tae; Hosey Mastalerz, Megan; Kole Morrow, Amanda; Venkatesan, Arun; Pfeil Brigham, Emily; “COVID ‘Long Haulers’” Long-Term Effects of COVID-19”; 1 April 2021; Johns Hopkins Medicine; hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/covid-long-haulers-long-term-effects-of-covid19

3.    White, Ian A; “The Potential of Amniotic Fluid-Derived Extracellular Vesicles to Treat Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infections versus Hydroxychloroquine in Human Patients”; 29 July 2020; Epidemiology Open Journal; secureservercdn.net/104.238.68.196/u6s.f87.myftpupload.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/The-Potential-of-Amniotic-Fluid-Derived-Extracellular-Vesicles-to-Treat-Severe-Acute-Respiratory-Syndrome-Coronavirus-2-Infection-Versus-Hydroxychloroquine-in-Human-Patients.pdf

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Science: Biology

SYNERGIO Launches BiomEco™ – A Range of Antimicrobial Components

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“By utilizing nature’s micro-targeting techniques, BiomEco is delivering formulators the desired positive end results of a long-lasting product shelf life without the negative side effects on the skin microbiome,” said Itamar Levy, CEO of SYNERGIO.


JERUSALEM (PRWEB)

SYNERGIO, a new next-gen smart component startup, is announcing the launch of BiomEco™, a range of broad-spectrum antimicrobial components that can target specified microorganisms at low concentration. This multifunctional breakthrough technology, made solely of botanical INCI in a unique proprietary process, is a microbiome-friendly preservation system that fights microbial resistance.

SYNERGIO’s smart components are a novel synergistic combination of various protection mechanisms found in nature, designed to overcome health challenges in personal care, food and beverage, and home care consumer products. BiomEco is high in antioxidants, hypoallergenic, skin-sensitive, eco-friendly, 100% natural by ISO, and COSMOS-CERTIFIED.

“As more and more chemical ingredients are being regulated in CPG products as a result of health and environmental side effects, the demand for natural, sustainable products that also deliver on performance are growing with it,” said Itamar Levy, CEO of SYNERGIO. “BiomEco, is the first realization of our goal to develop these kinds of components that ultimately reach consumers via forward-thinking manufacturers and consumer brands in the personal care space.”

SYNERGIO’s innovations are based on its computational platform called EcoDato™, a data-driven, chemistry-based innovation engine that is the result of a decade worth of high-level biochemical research. Based on the company’s deep understanding of plants, synergies, and predictive modeling, the EcoDato™ illuminates the synergistic combination of plant bioactive compounds that can overcome CPG industry challenges.

“Inspired by nature’s own microbial protection methods, we made it our goal to develop a long-lasting natural shelf-life system designed to target and destroy harmful bacteria that affect product longevity, while protecting the healthy bacteria that initiate the skin immune functions,” continued Levy. “By utilizing nature’s micro-targeting techniques, BiomEco is delivering formulators the desired positive end results of a long-lasting product shelf life without the negative side effects on the skin microbiome.”

BiomEco is currently utilized in the new skin care/beauty product line of one of the world’s multinational consumer goods companies. It is now available to all formulators, brand owners and CPG manufacturers that are seeking to offer clean, sustainable, and healthy products that have a long shelf-life.

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About SYNERGIO:

SYNERGIO specializes in the development of smart ingredients that are healthy, sustainable and 100% natural. Based on EcoDato™, a proprietary and computational platform, SYNERGIO leverages a deep understanding of plant synergies and predictive modeling to develop bioactive components that make healthier and more sustainable personal care, food and beverage, and home care consumer products. Headquartered in Jerusalem, SYNERGIO is led by a team of industry veterans whose mission is to reshape global CPG product lines with smart components that make better products

For more information, visit: https://synergio.com/

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Science: Biology

Pace Analytical® Expands COVID-19 Monitoring Services to Include Variants

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COVID 19 Quantitative Wastewater Testing

Quantitative Testing Identifies Areas of Potential Infection Spikes

The additional investments Pace has made in detecting variants will help our customers create a data-driven response to the ongoing threat of COVID-19.“


MINNEAPOLIS (PRWEB)

Pace Analytical® Services, LLC, committed to advancing science through innovative services, today announced the expansion of its quantitative COVID-19 wastewater monitoring service to detect virus variants defined by the World Health Organization. Introduced in May 2020, Pace Analytical® was the first commercial scientific laboratory to offer COVID-19 wastewater monitoring.

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is a single-stranded RNA virus and part of a group of viruses referred to as coronaviruses. Pace Analytical® monitors and analyzes wastewater samples for coronavirus and variant RNA, the genetic signature of a virus.

“Over the past year, Pace has partnered with a variety of organizations to monitor SARS-CoV-2 RNA levels in wastewater,” notes Eric Roman, CEO of Pace Analytical®. “This data has proven critical in helping our customers track the spread of COVID-19 and alerting communities to potential increases in infection rates even before clinical diagnoses can be made. The additional investments Pace has made in detecting variants will help our customers create a data-driven response to the ongoing threat of COVID-19.“

Pace Analytical® customers who responded to a recent survey indicated that wastewater monitoring provided an early warning of an outbreak, ranging from 2 days to 2 weeks. “Consistent, routine monitoring provides data that not only indicates the presence of a virus, but the relative level of symptomatic and asymptomatic infections,” said Johnny Mitchell, Chief Technology Officer at Pace Analytical®. “Identifying the presence of the variants within a population can provide additional insight, such as potential changes in transmissibility or the severity of illness caused by a new variant.”

Pace Analytical® COVID-19 monitoring services have helped cities, universities, congregated living facilities, manufacturers, industrial plants, and others better prepare their communities and businesses for potential outbreaks. Pace monitoring services for SARS-CoV-2 and its variants are immediately available. Visit pacelabs.com for more information.

Pace Analytical® is a portfolio company of Los Angeles-based Aurora Capital Partners.

About Pace Analytical® Services

Pace Analytical® Services, LLC makes the world a safer, healthier place. For decades, Pace has been the trusted source for quality life sciences and environmental lab testing and analysis services and the resource for professional services to support our client’s in-house lab needs. Our work is done in partnership with our clients by providing the service, science, and the data they need to make critical decisions that benefit us all. Pace people advance the science of businesses, industries, consulting firms, government agencies, and more through the largest, American-owned, and nationally certified laboratory network. Science matters at PACELABS.com

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Science: Biology

TeselaGen Biotechnology Partners with Agile BioFoundry to Develop Tools for Optimizing Fermentation with Machine Learning

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“This project offers a unique window into how a modern, scalable infrastructure can aid early-stage companies, and simultaneously demonstrate its utility with real-world data sets,” said James Gardner, program manager, Agile BioFoundry.


SAN FRANCISCO (PRWEB)

Project aims to develop an industry-wide interoperability standard for the easy exchange of fermentation process data to accelerate the commercialization of bioproducts

TeselaGen Biotechnology announced today a collaboration with the Agile BioFoundry (ABF) to lay the groundwork for deploying machine learning models on community-generated data to accelerate biomanufacturing and commercialization of bioproducts. Under terms of the collaborative research and development agreement, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), TeselaGen will assist in the creation of a set of interoperable, data acquisition and sharing tools to enable machine learning in the fermentation process. The development of Phycus Biotechnology’s sustainable bioproduct alternatives to petroleum-based chemicals used in cosmetics will be used as a real-world test case.    

“We’re excited to work with the Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts Process Development Unit (ABPDU) of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and Phycus Biotechnology, as part of this Agile BioFoundry project to develop a cloud-based commercial fermentation operating system that will modernize data and workflow management and incorporate machine learning to optimize production,” said TeselaGen CEO Eduardo Abeliuk, PhD. “As an extension of our partnership with the ABPDU, this collaboration will also further help to advance the technological readiness of our software and machine learning solutions for accelerating and optimizing fermentation processes.”

The development of advanced bioinformatics tools and machine learning techniques have enabled the rapid expansion of new, high-quality bioproduct candidates, but downstream fermentation studies and strain optimization workflows have become a bottleneck in the development cycle. High-throughput bioreactor services and larger scale-up services alleviate some of the strain and incorporate various software and hardware to manage the data generated. Despite this, data from disparate sources does not easily integrate and is not machine learning ready, increasing the time it takes to develop and commercialize products.

“Use of machine learning-enabled strain engineering & bioprocess development holds promise to rapidly advance bioengineering, but this won’t happen unless data are captured and integrated in a systematic and standardized fashion,” said James Gardner, program manager in the Agile BioFoundry. “This project offers a unique window into how a modern, scalable infrastructure can aid early-stage companies, and simultaneously demonstrate its utility with real-world data sets. As such, this collaboration has the potential to promote widespread adoption of interoperability standards in industry.”

This is one of six projects totaling over $5 million announced last month by DOE to conduct research and development needed to accelerate the U.S. biomanufacturing sector. The DOE Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) Agile BioFoundry is a consortium of seven national laboratories and more than a dozen university and industry partners. Through the Agile BioFoundry, these projects will leverage national laboratory capabilities to address early-stage challenges in biomanufacturing.

About TeselaGen Biotechnology

TeselaGen has developed the first artificial intelligence-enabled operating system for biotechnology, enabling scientific organizations to commercialize high-performance bioproducts – from pharmaceuticals to food to fabrics – faster and easier than ever. The TeselaGen® operating system connects biologists, lab technicians, and bioinformaticians so that they can collaboratively design and build experiments, organize and standardize data and then test and continually learn. TeselaGen has been deployed by Fortune 50 companies and emerging innovators in biopharmaceuticals, agriculture, and specialty chemicals. The company is privately held and based in San Francisco, CA. For more information, visit http://www.teselagen.com

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Science: Biology

Power Knot Releases LFC Security Package for Correctional Facilities

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The LFC Security Package was designed to help bring security to sustainability. Power Knot’s onsite food waste solution reduces the number of trucks that need to enter the facility. This helps save hauling and tipping fees while bringing a peace of mind to operations.


FREMONT, Calif. (PRWEB)

Power Knot LLC, the market leader for onsite organic waste management solutions announced today that it has shipped the LFC-500 biodigester complete with the LFC Security Package to Stony Mountain Institution. The LFC Security Package helps prevent any unauthorized person from configuring, using, or otherwise tampering with the LFC biodigester.

Typical uses for the LFC Security Package include prisons and correctional institutions, multi-tenant buildings, food courts, plantations that must securely destroy organic waste, and facilities where the LFC biodigester is accessible to the general public. The LFC Security Package is available for the LFC-200, LFC-300, and LFC-500 biodigesters.

Stony Mountain Institution is a federal multi-security facility located in Stony Mountain, Manitoba, about 18 km from Winnipeg. The LFC biodigester will dispose of the waste food at the facility and is safe to position it in areas that are accessible to prisoners.

“The LFC Security Package was designed to help bring security to sustainability.” said Iain Milnes, President at Power Knot. “It is estimated that a correctional facility generates 1.2 lb (0.5 kg) of food waste per inmate per day, depending on the type of correctional facility and the type of feeding program. Our onsite food waste solution reduces the number of trucks that need to enter the facility. This helps save hauling and tipping fees while bringing a peace of mind to operations.”

The LFC Security Package includes six aspects of the LFC biodigester that have been modified to meet tamper resistance. It includes a specialized door lock, protection of the color touch screen, locking of the hose used to clean waste bins, protection of the load cells, and the use of security screws on all exposed fittings.

All LFC biodigesters are made of stainless steel with no plastics or soft metals. Multiple computers on the LFC biodigesters allow easy configuration of operating parameters and access to statistics (including the weight of food waste ingested), and diagnostics. Connection to the internet allows remote viewing of parameters and data via the LFC Cloud. All LFC biodigesters are certified to worldwide safety and environmental specifications. The LFC Security Package adds to these qualifications to ensure the integrity of the machines.

Inquire about the LFC Security Package here.

About Power Knot

Power Knot LLC is the market leader of onsite organic waste management solutions for commercial and industrial operations that demand hygiene and durability. The LFC® biodigester digests organic waste and reduces the expense, inconvenience, mess, and carbon footprint of disposing of food waste that would otherwise be hauled to a landfill. With installations globally, Power Knot offers the most technologically advanced machines available today with eight biodigester models that process from 10 kg (20 lb) per day to 3000 kg (6600 lb) of food waste per day. Power Knot designs, develops, and manufactures its products in Silicon Valley, California.

For more information, visit http://www.powerknot.com

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Science: Biology

International Underwater Robotics Competition In-person and Virtual

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Each year we challenge students to be innovative and entrepreneurial. This year, we’re certainly challenging ourselves to be the same. We have upped our game with this foray into VR. No other robotics competition is doing what we are doing this year.


MONTEREY, Calif. (PRWEB)

After a canceled season of competition due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the next annual MATE ROV Competition World Championship has been reimagined to include an in-person event, a telepresence competition and a MATE Virtual Reality (VR) World thanks to a collaboration with the National Center for Autonomous Technologies. The in-person underwater robotics event is set for Aug. 5-7 at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee, but also will be livestreamed and shown on Twitch.

Some of the brightest minds from around the globe will compete with remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) they designed and built both in-person during the event in Tennessee and through telepresence, which involves submitting videos of their ROVs performing the tasks and presenting virtually.

This year’s competition theme is “Excite, Educate, Empower: Students Engineering Solutions to Global Problems.” Participants have been challenged to tackle real obstacles that impact the global community, including plastic pollution clogging our oceans and waterways, and climate change altering ocean temperatures and adversely affecting coral reefs. From the U.S. and Australia to India and South Africa, no where in the world is untouched.

More companies and corporations are taking environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into consideration when making business decisions, from responding to climate change and treatment of employees to whether they have a corporate culture that builds trust and encourages innovation. Students preparing for the working world should be aware of and prepared to do the same. This year’s competition theme is helping them better understand ESG factors while putting them into practice by engineering their ROVs to address global issues.

The MATE ROV Competition VR World includes a Welcome Center with orientation and onboarding resources, gallery of slideshows and videos, an aquarium, interactive activities to engage visitors, an exhibit area for sponsors and supporters, and more. Participating teams submitted “assets,” such as photos of their team and ROV, to populate their virtual workstations and earn bonus points. Other VR spaces include a pool and auditorium where the championship will be livestreamed. Anyone over 13 years old can access the free space and set up an avatar. The competition also will be shared via Twitch at http://www.twitch.tv/mateinspires1.

“Each year we challenge students to be innovative and entrepreneurial. This year, we’re certainly challenging ourselves to be the same. We have upped our game with this foray into VR. No other robotics competition is doing what we are doing this year,’” said Jill Zande, president and executive director of MATE Inspiration for Innovation (MATE II) and one of the founders of the competition.

The MATE ROV Competition challenges students to apply math, electronics, engineering and physics toward solving problems based on real-world workplace scenarios. The competition tasks students from K-12, community colleges and universities within four levels (EXPLORER, RANGER, NAVIGATOR and SCOUT) to design, build and test underwater robots to complete specified, simulated real-world missions. Students also must organize themselves into mock companies, encouraging them to develop entrepreneurial thinking and business and project management skills while spurring innovation and collaboration to produce and compete with ROVs.

Organized by the MATE II, the competition is supported by the Marine Technology Society and its ROV Committee, the National Science Foundation and other technology and education-related organizations, including Schmidt Ocean Institute, the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. Local sponsors include Ballad Health, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Niswonger Foundation and the Bank of Tennessee.

For more information on the VR World, visit http://ncatech.org/mate-virtual/. For the in-person event, visit https://materovcompetition.org/worldchampinfo.

About the MATE ROV Competition

Established with funding from the National Science Foundation at Monterey Peninsula College in 1997, the Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center worked with the Marine Technology Society’s ROV Committee to create the MATE ROV Competition. The first event kicked off in 2001. Fifteen years later, MATE Inspiration for Innovation (MATE II) incorporated in the state of California as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in 2016. MATE II was founded to support and sustain ongoing education activities initiated at the MATE Center. To learn more, visit https://www.marinetech.org/rov-competition/.

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Science: Biology

Debut Biotech and DIC Enter into Joint Development to Biomanufacture Natural, Sustainable Colors

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Debut Biotech’s new approach for the production of a range of color ingredients will have applications across many industries, from food and cosmetics to health products.


SAN DIEGO (PRWEB)

Today, Debut Biotech, a next generation biomanufacturing platform harnessing cell-free enzymes announced entry into a joint development with DIC, a fine chemicals company. The multi-million dollar deal, spanning several years, will enable Debut Biotech and DIC to leverage advanced biomanufacturing approaches to produce natural color ingredients to be used across DIC’s and Debut’s portfolio of products. The new approach for the production of a range of color ingredients will have applications across many industries, from food and cosmetics to health products.

Traditionally, colors used in consumer products have been derived from plants, animals or synthetically produced from petrochemicals. However, growing concern around the health and environmental impacts of petrochemical-based food colorings have created a consumer-driven push for manufacturers to offer more natural and sustainable ingredients. The shift is already happening in the consumer marketplace, although industries can access only a limited array of natural alternatives, especially when focusing on sustainable ingredients.

“The market for naturally derived and sustainably produced ingredients is growing exponentially, but industries’ ability to meet those needs is limited by traditional biomanufacturing methods,” said Joshua Britton, CEO of Debut Biotech. “With our advanced, cell-free, biomanufacturing platform, we’re able to produce important ingredients that are simply not possible with traditional fermentation-based biomanufacturing. For example, color ingredients are naturally-derived with a fraction of the inputs—less waste and energy—and without the use of petrochemicals. With this approach, we’re able to take on a level of complexity that creates entirely new possibilities for the color ingredient landscape across industries. We’re thrilled to work with DIC, as they’re established leaders in the color ingredients industry.”

Debut Biotech’s proprietary biomanufacturing platform utilizes cell-free and other advanced approaches such as continuous biomanufacturing to overcome the limitations of traditional methods, dramatically reducing the need for space, water, and expensive and unsustainable inputs. This approach leverages natural enzymes to produce valuable materials — including color ingredients — across all major industries, including food, agricultural chemicals, cosmetics, beverages, fashion, health and wellness, additives, and dyes.

“As a leader in the color ingredient market, we’re looking forward to working with Debut Biotech to deliver innovative processes for developing color ingredients that create more options for consumers and improve sustainability metrics at the same time,” said Kiyofumi Takano, Managing Executive Officer and General Manager of New Business Development Headquarters of DIC. “Our organization has identified sustainability as an overriding company priority, but we’ve been limited by the constraints of traditional cell fermentation. Debut Biotech’s platform removes these constraints, enabling us to increase and diversify our color products for a wide range of applications.”

Beyond work with Debut Biotech, DIC will continue to advance wide-ranging sustainability efforts across its organization, including increasing its use of renewable energy, deploying its proprietary sustainability index, introducing in-house, carbon pricing and collaborating to establish closed-loop recycling systems.

To learn more about Debut Biotech, and their cell-free approach to biomanufacturing, visit http://www.debutbiotech.com.

About Debut Biotech

Debut Biotech is dedicated to unlocking natural products through sustainable biomanufacturing. Their unique biomanufacturing platform harnesses natural, cell-free enzymes to overcome the limitations of cell-based manufacturing and access previously unobtainable products. Debut Biotech truly believes that cell-free biomanufacturing will be how materials and ingredients are created in the future and are committed to leading the cell-free revolution.

About DIC Corporation

DIC Corporation is one of the world’s leading fine chemicals companies, with top shares of the global printing inks, organic pigments and polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) compounds markets. Established in 1908 as a manufacturer of printing inks, DIC has capitalized on its capabilities in organic pigments and synthetic resins to build a broad portfolio of products for diverse industries, including automobiles, electronics, food and housing. DIC is also the core of the DIC Group, a multinational organization with operations in more than 60 countries and territories worldwide. Website: http://www.dic-global.com/en/

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Science: Biology

Oxford Biomedical Research, Inc. Awarded USDA Grant to Develop Tests for the Quality of Animal Feeds

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The quality and taste of the meats that we consume are based on several factors, including the animal’s diet, environment, and breeding.


ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. (PRWEB)

Oxford Biomedical Research, Inc., a privately held biotechnology company, has been awarded a $99,203 Phase I Small Business Innovation Research Grant by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture [NIFA, award #2021-33530-34397]. This grant, entitled “SIMPLE & RAPID TESTS FOR THE QUALITY OF ANIMAL FEEDS” will support the development of rapid tests to evaluate the freshness of animal feeds, with an initial focus on on-site measurement of antioxidants and rancidity in poultry feed for farmers.

Consumers have become more conscious of the quality – including taste, nutritional value, and integrity – of what they eat. The quality and taste of the meats that we consume are based on several factors, including the animal’s diet, environment, and breeding. Although there are well-established laboratory tests for determining a food’s nutritional value, there are presently no simple ways for farmers to quickly test feed for freshness and quality. These tests, which incorporate two methods that have already been granted U.S. patents, along with a simple, rapid and robust protocol for preparing samples for analysis, will be used to promote healthier livestock and more tasty/healthier products for human consumption. We also envisage this technology will allow discerning consumers to select top-quality pet food for their animal companions. Ultimately, the company plans on expanding this product line to include additional tests for food quality, such as protein and fat content.

Led by Dr. Enrique Martinez, researchers at Oxford Biomedical Research will develop and optimize a simple method for uniform sampling and emulsifying feed specimens. The patented dry chemistry rancidity and antioxidant tests will be optimized and validated compared to established laboratory liquid assays using both fresh samples and samples subjected to accelerated rancidification. The precision, accuracy, and percent error of each method will be evaluated with respect to standardized laboratory equivalents.

Oxford Biomedical Research, Inc. develops, manufactures, and markets products for biomedical research, companion animal veterinary diagnosis and food quality testing. Our Food Quality Testing Corp. subsidiary will manufacture and market these products.

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