Novel Imaging Application of ChemiGenius2 Is Helping with Vital Research into the Causes of Diabetes Related Blindness

August 23rd 2005: Cambridge, UK: Syngene, a world-leading manufacturer of image analysis solutions, is pleased to announce its ChemiGenius²multi-purpose imaging system, is being used by the University of Oklahoma for a fluorescence imaging application which is part of an important study into the causes of blindness associated with diabetes.

Scientists at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine are using the ChemiGenius² in a unique way to analyse slides of fluorescently labelled eye tissue. The system is also in use for routine tasks such as checking the quality and size of DNA fragments and determining protein expression by Western blotting. The ultimate goal of this research is to develop natural peptides as new non-invasive therapies to block vascular leakage in the eyes, preventing retinal degeneration and subsequent blindness caused by diseases such as diabetes.

Dr Jian-Xing Ma, Professor in the Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine commented: “Before installing the ChemiGenius² we used several thousands of dollars of Polaroid film ever year to document our research. Using the system means we don’t need to do this any more, as we can produce excellent, publication quality images and store them on our desktops.”

“We chose the ChemiGenius² because we have to perform a number of diverse imaging tasks and this system offers the most versatility. Also the software is so simple to use that we can quickly and easily email images back to our desks for analysis with Syngene’s GeneTools and therefore allow maximum access to the ChemiGenius².”

Paula Maia, Syngene’s Sales & Marketing Manager in the USA added: “It is very exciting to see the ChemiGenius² being successfully used for imaging fluorescently stained slides as this is a unique application of it. This interesting research shows how a ChemiGenius² can save time and expense in generating quality images which can be confidently submitted to any regulatory authorities.”

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Dr Jian-Xing Ma, Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Centre, 940 Stanton L. Young Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.

Note to Editors

Syngene is a world-leading supplier of integrated imaging solutions for analysis and documentation of gel-based information. Syngene’s systems are used by more than 10,000 research organisations and over 50,000 individual scientists worldwide and include many of the world’s top pharmaceutical companies and major research institutes.

Syngene, founded in 1997 is a division of the Cambridge based Synoptics Group. The Group’s other divisions, Syncroscopy and Synbiosis, specialise in digital imaging solutions for microscopy and microbial applications respectively. Synoptics currently employs 55 people in its UK and subsidiary operation in Frederick, USA. The Group has profitable revenue of almost $10 million and continues to grow rapidly.

The Department of Cell Biology is part of the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. The College of Medicine is one of seven colleges that make up the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Centre (OUHSC), one of the largest comprehensive health sciences centres in the United States. Located in Oklahoma City, the OUHSC offers a wide range of clinical and research opportunities.

Scientists in the Department of Cell Biology carry out fundamental biomedical research in many areas and use a variety of experimental approaches including molecular biology and histology. The research is supported by grants from bodies such as the National Institute of Health, the National Science Foundation, American Heart Association, The Foundation Fighting Blindness, Research to Prevent Blindness, the Oklahoma Centre for the Advancement of Science and Technology and the Presbyterian Health Foundation.