CTI Medtech Award nomination for automated, quality controlled cell culturing system

A novel automated solution developed through a collaboration between Tecan and researchers at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences in Wädenswil and at the University of Zurich, has been nominated for an award by Innovation Promotion Agency CTI of the Swiss Confederation. The new automated system controls all required steps of cell culture, including isolation, seeding, proliferation, harvesting and quality control of cell lines and primary cells, providing standardized and affordable procedures for research into ground-breaking regenerative medicine.

Since 1997, the CTI Medtech initiative has funded around 200 projects to promote close cooperation between science and industry. Each year, CTI presents an award to the project that best demonstrates an innovative product that combines strong market potential and medical relevance. This year’s four nominees will present their work on 1 September in Bern, Switzerland, where 800 attendees, including scientists and industrial partners, vote to decide the winner of CTI Medtech Award 2009.

Prof Ursula Graf-Hausner, group leader of the Cell Biology Division at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences, said: “We have worked closely with Tecan throughout this project and I believe we have made a significant breakthrough. For us, it is an enormous achievement to be nominated alongside Switzerland’s prestigious universities and federal institutes.”

Prof Norbert Boos, Head of Spinal Surgery at the Orthopedic University Hospital Balgrist, and Head of the Spine Research Group, Centre of Applied Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, University of Zurich, said: “Automated cell culture systems are a prerequisite to bring tissue engineering from the bench to the bedside. We have achieved a major leap forward in making regenerative medicine a clinical reality.”

Roland Durner, Director Market & Application Management for BioPharma at Tecan, added: “We are delighted that we continue to be closely involved at the forefront of cutting-edge scientific research, and are very pleased to be nominated for this much sought after award.”