New Technologies for the Highly Parallel Optimization of Cell Culture Processes

Funding announced for the EU research project iConsensus

12 Jul 2018
Aidan Barry
Administrator / Office Personnel

Industry news

The EU Commission and the “European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations” (EFPIA) have announced funding for another joint research project called iConsensus. The project has the aim of developing new scientific methods for the optimization of cell cultures. Cell cultures are used especially in the development and production of complex pharmaceuticals. In this way, highly effective substances can be produced in a biological manner. Environmental pollution which could be linked to chemical production processes is, for the most part, avoided completely.

Within this project, m2p-labs GmbH will be developing a new device in cooperation with other specialized companies and prestigious research facilities in Europe to be able to improve cell culture processes quickly and transfer them to the production scale. m2p-labs will benefit from the expertise of involved pharmaceutical companies in terms of product requirements and future research applications of the new device generation. A central element of the cooperation with the involved research facilities will be the online 2D fluorescence spectroscopy1), used for the analysis of parallel miniaturized cell cultures for the first time.

“The iConsensus project represents an ideal expansion of our internal activities in the further development of our BioLector technology”, Anna Kress says, Head of the Mammalian Cell Cultures area at m2p-labs. “The combination of our online biomass, pH and oxygen measurement in microtiter plates with 2-dimensional spectroscopic methods has the potential to start a new chapter in the automated process development of cell cultures.”

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Fluorescence SpectroscopyFluorometers and spectrofluorometers (also called fluorescence spectrometers) are used to measure the intensity and wavelength of fluorescent light emitted from a sample after excitation by illumination. Spectrofluorometers utilize monochromators to select the desired wavelengths, whereas filter fluorometers employ a set of filters. Spectrofluorometers for measuring steady-state fluorescence and lifetime fluorescence (or time-resolved fluorescence) are available, as well as fluorescence microscopes and microplate readers. Find the best fluorescence spectroscopy products in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Cell / Tissue CultureCell culture or tissue culture is used to study the biology of cells or tissues and to isolate cellular products in an environment which can be manipulated and well defined. Accurately control your culture environment with bioreactors or culture incubators, bind your cells to a surface or together with an extracellular matrix. Distinguish cell types with differential media or proliferate cells with certain characteristics using selective media. Enrich your media with supplements such as growth factors, sera and vitamins. Find the best cell and tissue culture products, kits and equipment in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.FluorescenceThe emission of fluorescence occurs when a photon of energy is supplied to a fluorescent chemical compound by an external source, causing it to become excited. Fluorescence can be detected and measured for different purposes using microplate readers, fluorescence microscopes, fluorescence scanners, and flow cytometers.AutomationAutomation in laboratories and manufacturing processes enhances efficiency, precision, and scalability by reducing the need for manual intervention. It plays a critical role in improving productivity, minimizing human error, and accelerating workflows in fields like diagnostics, drug development, and industrial testing. Automation technologies include robotic systems, automated liquid handlers, and process control systems that streamline complex tasks and ensure consistent, reproducible results. Explore our peer-reviewed product directory to discover the best automation solutions, compare options, read user reviews, and get prices directly from manufacturers.