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Industrial Liaison Group:
Tel: +44 (0) 1235 778797
E-mail: industry@diamond.ac.uk
The ‘resolution revolution’ has brought with it great advances for drug discovery, firmly establishing cryo-EM as a technique of great value to the field of structure-based drug design. Although the technique has been around for decades it has spent many years playing second fiddle to NMR and MX, the favoured techniques for understanding and guiding ligand:protein binding and design studies. That is, however, until now, where atomic resolution insight is within everyone’s grasp.
For companies that have the resources and discovery leaders willing to take the leap of faith and invest in the technology, they are already leveraging the unique benefits that cryo-EM offers over more traditional structural research techniques.
The ability of the technique to study non-crystallisable proteins, epitope-mapping of large biologics, large heterogenous drug and gene delivery systems, and the ability to investigate dynamic biomolecules is opening new avenues of research for these early adopters.
But is this a closed club for those with the biggest budgets? Well for smaller biotech companies or those with more cautious outlooks, this might feel like the case, as they are left playing catch up. For many, the risk of establishing a complete end-to-end cryo-EM pipeline may be too great, especially without first knowing how the technology can contribute to their existing discovery environment; but don't worry help is at hand!
This is where access to cryo-EM microscopes and bespoke training at eBIC for Industry (eBIC4i) shines above all others. Not only do these allow you to get to grips with the technique, but you can also apply your training to real projects whilst enjoying the added confidence of having an expert at your side.
This approach allows you to de-risk the expense of evaluating and learning about cryo-EM whilst also delivering real results; this will help to make the case for future usage or investment much easier.
We know that there are very limited training facilities for cryo-EM globally, so being able to access training ‘on the job’ is quite unique, especially at a world-class facility where dedicated professional support services (user, data, legal, and logistics) are part and parcel of the service.
Not only will you be guided by experienced industry experts who appreciate the efficiency demanded by commercial partners, but you’ll also get to use the latest available microscopes and equipment – in the case of eBIC for Industry, from microscope leaders, Thermo Fisher Scientific.
Nothing is guaranteed in the field of scientific research, but if there are challenges in the experiment, you will also get help to either navigate around these or to understand why they are causing issues.
Whether simple or complex, you will have well-informed, and honest, answers to carry on your cryo-EM journey. By taking this approach you will get the best achievable results, and actionable insight to take back to your company, along with the learnings you have gained about the compatibility of cryo-EM with your existing discovery pipelines. What's not to like?
At the other end of the spectrum to training, eBIC4i also offers cryo-EM as a service to provide an integrated route from protein all the way to structures. In a similar fashion, our training offering can be tailored to meet the needs of any clients; so, no matter where you are in your journey towards adopting cryo-EM, from: personalised one-on-one sample preparation to data collection optimisation or processing and anywhere in between, we have you covered.
To find out more about eBIC for Industry's services, or to discuss how we can help you to put cryo-EM to use in your research, please complete an enquiry form or contact the Industrial Liaison team on 01235 778797.
You can also keep in touch with the latest developments by following us on: Twitter @DiamondILO or LinkedIn.
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