Cyntellect to provide LEAP Cell Processing Workstation to Harvard University and HHMI researchers

Cyntellect, Inc., a privately-held life sciences company commercializing products to advance the study of cell biology, stem cell research, biopharmaceutical production, and drug discovery, has entered into an agreement with Harvard University and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute to provide their researchers with the LEAP™ Cell Processing Workstation. The LEAP Workstation is an award-winning, microplate-based cytometry system used for in situ cell analysis, purification, and processing that will give these researchers the ability to conduct research across a broad spectrum of stem cell related projects. The LEAP Workstation allows rapid and automated physical passaging of stem cells and consistent embryoid body generation, in addition to unique in situ cell purification protocols.

“We are thrilled to participate in this relationship with Harvard and HHMI, and to help fuel the truly innovative stem cell research undertaken by their scientists”

Harvard researchers, including Amy Wagers, Associate Professor of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Early Career Scientist, will work with Cyntellect’s Stem Cell Manager on the LEAP Workstation. Initial projects will use the LEAP Workstation to selectively process stem cells to define the factors and mechanisms that regulate the migration, expansion, and regenerative potential of adult blood-forming (hematopoietic) and muscle-forming (myogenic) stem cells.

Blood-forming stem cells generate all of the red and white blood cells needed to deliver oxygen to body tissues, fight infection, and stop bleeding. Similarly, muscle-forming stem cells generate mature muscle fibers necessary for controlled contraction of skeletal muscle.

“We are thrilled to participate in this relationship with Harvard and HHMI, and to help fuel the truly innovative stem cell research undertaken by their scientists,” said Dr. Fred Koller, Cyntellect’s Chief Technology Officer. “Stem cell research has the potential to significantly improve drug discovery processes and revolutionize new therapeutics. The ability to control differentiation of stem cells into specialized cell types with high yield and precision is a key success factor that will determine the ultimate utility of such research.”

Harvard’s stem cell research community, including scientists in its Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the Harvard Medical School, and in affiliated hospitals and research institutions, is the largest direct collaboration of stem cell researchers in the world.