BIOVAL - Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe

valencian
biotechnology
.com
BIOVAL: Supporting growth
in the Valencian Biotech Sector
Bioval is an association that represents private companies, research
centers, universities, hospitals and other organizations conducting
RD related to biotechnology.
BIOVAL is a private association
born as a business oriented initiative to help develop the biotechnology sector of the Valencian
Region as an impulse in economic and social development.
Since the end of last year, we
have been included in the Innovative Business Group (Agrupación Empresarial Innovadora or
AEI in Spanish), a title given by
the Spanish Ministry of Industry,
Tourism and Commerce.
After establishing BIOVAL as the
reference for the biotechnology
sector in the Valencian Region,
we put together a strategic plan
for the development of the area
as a Bioregion. This is the regio-
nal development model used
throughout Europe and the USA
for emerging technologies, which
includes biotechnology.
The 2009-2013 Strategic Plan
makes a point to focus on becoming international leaders in specific market niches. In order to
achieve these objectives, we are
carrying out actions within the
following strategic areas:
• Increase the technological competence and competitively of
the Biotechnology sector.
• Position the Valencian Region as
an international leader in biotechnology.
• Develop strong alliances between the partners within the
Bioregion.
At the end of July of 2010, we
signed an agreement with the
Valencian regional government
with the objective of establishing
strong collaborative ties with the
regional administration to further implement BIOVAL’s strategic
goals for the development of the
Valencian Bioregion.
It is our intention at BIOVAL to
keep working in the development
of the biotechnology sector at
the same level of other advanced economies and make it an
integral piece of the Valencian
Region’s economy, while becoming an international leader in
biotechnology.
For further information:
www.valencianbiotechnology.com
www.bioval.org
UNIÓN EUROPEA
Proyecto cofinanciado por los fondos FEDER dentro del
Programa operativo FEDER de la Comunitat Valenciana 2007-2013
Fondo Europeo de
Desarrollo Regional
Una manera de hacer Europa
iGenomix ERA
test helps
improve fertility
treatments
Endometrial Receptivity Array: A suitable
endometrium physiological condition is
implanted blastocyst process event key, that
occurs during a period called “window of
implantation” (WOI) and it can be evaluated
by ultrasound. However, traditional dating by
Noyes criteria has demonstrated not to be
related with the fertility status and is affected
by the subjectivity of the observer (ultrasound
evaluation). For that, it was important in
reproductive medicine, to objectively identify
and diagnose the endometrial receptivity
status during the WOI. Now it is possible
with the Endometrial Receptivity Array (ERA),
a genomic tool composed of a customized
microarray and a bioinformatic predictor for
endometrial dating and to detect pathologies
of an endometrial origin.
This is the first time that a molecular tool,
based on functional genomics can be used
clinically in reproductive medicine to evaluate
the endometrium, for that, providing a new
perspective to the clinician.
iGenomix was founded in January 2009 as the
division for genetic analysis of IVI (Infertility
Institute of Valencia). Built on deep knowledge
of Human Genome, iGenomix is currently
developing a variety of reliable genetic
diagnosis products and services. Research
projects are also being carried out in the
fields of human reproduction and women’s
health (e.g. male infertility, ovarian cancer and
pharmacogenetics in ovarian stimulation).
Card) used to identify people, a microarray
service for research and diagnosis as well as
a Luminex Platform for prenatal diagnostic
testing, early ovarian cancer detection and
cystic fibrosis diagnosis.
In short, iGenomix is a young and innovating
company focusing on investigation and
development of biotechnology for health.
www.igenomix.net
The Endometrial Receptivity Array is the most
recent development made by iGenomix a
result of its dedication to RD.
Our services are aimed at investigators in
genetics, gynecology professionals and the
general public. iGenomix also offers other
products as CGI (Genetic Identification
Endemic Biotech S.L.,
technology in service
of sustainability
Throughout history the natural environment has been the source of
wealth for man, providing it with food, materials, medicinal plants
and a long list of commodities for the development. From ENDEMIC
BIOTECH we work with a business philosophy based on three pillars:
economic growth, social progress and respect the environment.
ENDEMIC BIOTECH S.L. is a technological base company founded
in 2006 to develop and market a
products range with an added value, its business philosophy. The
company acquires a philosophy
based on the sustainability principle, ecological values and the
mission to develop an own RD.
This business philosophy has
led to the creation of a range of
hygienic and cosmetic products
with two main features: they are
based on certified organic pro-
duction and the concept of Green
Chemistry, resulting in a toxic reduction and the use of raw material of plant origin in its development.
This research vocation that characterizes us has led us to launch
products range, presentations
and solutions that are now being referenced in the professional sector. In recent years we
are developing research projects
to search for active principle of
plant origin containing benefi-
cial properties and that improve
the environmental performance
of the life cycle of products. For
this, we have established technology support contracts with several universities, from which have
been published several scientific
papers resulting from these investigations, as well as the request for a patent in 2009 related
to a principle active plant interest
to create a cosmetic range.
The complete and further training
of our technicians, allows that
the study and characterization of
new biological activities is a continuous and permanent process,
which makes the investment of
RD is a hallmark for us. Research
is the future and ENDEMIC BIOTECH S.L. bet on it day by day.
www.endemicbiotech.com
Hospital La Fe:
the only Medical Center
with GLP-certified
laboratories
The Analytical Unit of the Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria
(IIS) La Fe is accredited in accordance with the highest
international standards of quality and reliability, making
the Hospital Universitari i Politècnic La Fe in the only
Spanish Medical Center to obtain the GLP (Good Laboratory
Practices) certification in its Analytical Unit.
The Analytical Unit (AU) of La Fe
provides analytical support to the
research developed at the Hospital, as well as to RD projects
of the pharmaceutical, chemical
and cosmetic industry. One of its
main fields of research focuses
on the use of in vitro models for
pre-clinical stages of drug development, thus speeding up drug
development with regard to in
vivo studies, reducing time and
cost in the selection of the molecule suitable for the clinical trial.
This Unit is provided with cutting-edge equipment and, with
an investment of over one million
Euros, is committed to using triple quadrupole (TQ) and Q-TOF
mass spectrometers as analytical
techniques.
The AU has recently added to its
services the Metabonomics Platform, providing the Hospital with
a greater research capacity in this
area due to its ability to measure
multiple metabolites. The AU of
the Hospital Universitari i Politècnic La Fe is strongly committed to
using high resolution mass spectrometers by developing a highly
sensitive detection technique
that provides new capabilities
for solving analytical problems,
allowing this unit to exploit the
potential of metabolic profiling of
biological systems in different pa-
thological or physiological states
to determine the probability of an
individual to suffer from a disease, or to monitor or even predict
the progress of such disease.
Another exclusive service of
the IIS. La Fe is the Clinical Assessment of Nutriceuticals. The
Clinical Trials Unit has set up a
division specialized in this type
of nutritional studies, that is aimed at evaluating clinically those
functional foods with probiotic
action that promote a biological
activity to improve the health
status.
www.iislafe.org
Green Molecular is raising
a financial round to take
its products to phase I
Green Molecular is a spin-off company from Universitat de
Valencia specialized in the development of naturally occurring
poliphenols as drugs for different indications.
Nature has taken millions of
years to develop poliphenols:
small molecules that have extraordinary biological properties
yet not fully described. The main
representative of this group is
well known, resveratrol, although
there are other compounds that
could have more interest from
the pharmaceutical point of view.
Green Molecular is a young company that focuses its efforts in
developing these molecules as
new drugs and take profit of its
benefits in indications in need of
new solutions, such as glioblastoma, melanoma caused by solar
radiation and others.
The company was started one
year ago, by Dr. José Mª Estrela
and Dr. Miguel Angel Asensi, professors from Universidad de Valencia (UVEG). The Tech-Transfer
Office of UVEG was instrumental
in the initial support to the young
Spin-off, and helped the entrepreneurs to contact Cross Road
Biotech, the lead VC investor that
has financed the company’s initial growth.
Today the company has a portfolio of three patents and has positive in-vivo proof of concept of
the application of its products in
different oncology and dermatology indications. Dr. Estrela and
the rest of the management team
of Green Molecular consider these results extremely positive and
expect to have a full preclinical
development in one more year.
give us the strength to position
Green Molecular as an international reference by taking our first
project in melanoma up to Phase
1 Clinical trial”.
www.greenmolecular.es
Dr. Estrela says “We expect to
close a second financial round by
the end of this year and this will
The CIPF collaborates in
the development of clinical
predictors for prognosis and
diagnosis.
This advance has been published in Nature Biotechnology and represents a step towards personalized
treatments for each patient. These predictors consider the heterogeniety of the population and can
be used to predict the evolution of the illness or the
different reactions to the same type of treatment.
Researchers from the Department of Bioinformatics and
Genomics of the Prince Felipe
Research Center (CIPF) have
collaborated in a study for the
development and validation of
predictive models based on microarray techniques that allow
an individual analysis of each of
the genome’s genes and localize what gene combinations are
marked for certain illnesses or
other traits such as the intolerance to medications.
36 independent research teams
participated in this initiative,
the results of which were just
published in the scientific journal Nature Biotechnology. The
teams analyzed gene expression
data derived from microarrays
with the objective of generating predictive models indicative of toxicity in rodent lungs or
livers, of breast cancer, of multiple myelomas or of nueroblastoma in humans. Within these
research groups in research
centers, pharmaceutical labo-
ratories, and international universities, the CIPF was the only
Spanish team.
The predictors are the basis for
personalized medicine, as its
objective is to prognosticate the
course of an illness or the possible complications that exist,
optimize and personalize the
treatment and augment the efficiency of drugs and predict there possible adverse side effects
and virtually eliminate the risks
in its administration.
The project, named the The
MicroArray Quality Control
(MAQC)-II, is an initiative by the
American FDA (Food and Drug
Administration) to clarify what
methods work better as predictive model in the cases that are
known to be characterized as
heterogeneous.
Visit us in Stand 42B.
www.cipf.es
IMEGEN:
the widest
portfolio of
genetic tests
in Spain
The Institute of Genomic Medicine (IMEGEN, www.imegen.es),
just one year after being created,
has been able to develop genetic
tests for the clinical diagnosis of
more than 260 hereditary diseases, thus becoming a Reference
Laboratory for genetic testing in
Spain and Europe.
Currently, more than 6,000 genetic diseases have been discovered. Due to the high number and
complexity of genetic diseases, it
is not easy to find a testing laboratory offering a specific genetic
test for a particular gene. For that
reason, IMEGEN focused all efforts
in developing a wide number of
in house tests for a large number
of genetic diseases. Thus, IMEGEN
is now the laboratory offering the
largest portfolio of genetic tests
in Spain, according to GeneTests
(www.GeneTests.org). GeneTests
is the most important and prestigious international directory of
genetic tests and laboratories.
Funded by US National Institutes
of Health and supported by the
National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), GeneTests
includes the technical information for more than 600 laboratories in the world.
Dr. Javier Garcia-Planells, Scientific Director at IMEGEN, sais that
“when a patient consults a Genetics Unit, we cannot know in advance which type of disease he or
she is suffering. In order to provide clinical services of highest
quality, a Genetics Lab ideally has
to be able to adapt to the needs
of each clinical case. Genetic Testing is not an easy task, but we
at IMEGEN have a team of geneticists and molecular biologists
with such experience and expertise to deal even with the most
complex cases”.
Dr. Carlos Ruiz, Technical Director
at IMEGEN, remarks: “the analysis of some genes can result in a
huge challenge, due to the large
size (or the structure) of the gene.
Also, for the case of diseases with
complex mutational mechanisms, we need to develop and
apply special lab protocols”.
Many genetic diseases are classified as Rare Diseases because
their low frequency in the population. It is estimated that about
six percent of the population suffers some genetic disease of this
type, therefore, affecting 24 million people in Europe; three million of them living in Spain.
About the Institute of Genomic
Medicine (IMEGEN)
IMEGEN was founded in 2009 and
is based at the Science Park of the
University Valencia. The main activity of IMEGEN is to develop and
provide specific testing services
for molecular diagnosis in Medical Genetics.
Visit us in Stand 54.
www.imegen.es
Valenciabiofactory
VBF® - Poll
versus red mite
of the hen
Dermanyssus gallinae, known as red mite of the
hen, is a mite that is parasitic to domestic bird
Gallus gallus. It does not live on the host, but
during the day it remains hidden in the cracks far
from the light where it mates and reproduces. At
night it goes out and feeds on the blood of the
bird while they rest. It has a very short life cycle
(close to 7 days) and an increased reproduction
rate, which can increase population very
quickly. When the population of the parasite in
a henhouse is very high, it can cause anemia in
the birds, a decrease in the production of eggs
and spots due to the crushing of the parasite
on its rind. Thus the yield of the hen diminishes,
as it has to contribute more food to obtain a
smaller number of eggs and part of which are
defective due to spots or presence of parasites.
Present treatments such as acaricides chemicals
are limited to application in the empty henhouse
in most of the countries. Nevertheless, the
breeder needs an effective treatment for the
control of the mite without poisonous residues
that affect the animal or that go on to the
nutritive chain. In VBF®-Microorganisms has
completed set of studies and assays on the
industrial scale creating a bio insecticide by
means of microorganisms and their enzymes,
which eliminate the parasite without leaving
poisonous residues. Also under development is
a plant extract (azaridactina) which works alone
and in conjunction with micro-organisms. The
results up to the date are satisfactory. Intending
for its availability on October 1.
www.valenciabiofactory.com
Edyfruit Arroz:
A biotechnology leader
for efficiency and results
in rice cultivation
EDYPRO fertilizers, reference
company in Biotechnology research for to Zero Waste / Ecological Agriculture nationally and
internationally, presents its new
hit: EDYFRUIT ARROZ, vegetable
bioregulator renewing the traditional concept of rice cultivation,
providing a higher crop yield.
From the Biotechnology Laboratory EDYPRO fertilizers, we study
the real needs of agriculture today and tomorrow.
The result of testing and rigorous
studies have resulted EDYFRUIT
ARROZ, a product unique, innovative biotechnology-based,
created to cover the current
need of rice cultivation.
Rice production is affected by incorrect and uneven development
of the plant. They often lead to
incomplete fertilizations spike
with a high number of missed
and medium grains, behaving
low yields and low profitability.
“
These factors imply greater crop
yield, since a very uniform spike
provides greater number of
Kilos of rice harvested and, consequently, more profitable crop
for farmers.
The added value of EDYFRUIT
ARROZ in our agriculture, is the
innovation in culture: an increased level of daily photosynthesis
of the plant to increase the fertilization and the number of grains
shape at the stem and the stem
thickness, reducing ailamiento.
Increases consistency and weight
of the grains and increases the
AUC of the immune system of the
crop against pests and diseases.
All these factors imply greater
crop yield, since a very uniform
spike provides greater number of
Kilos of rice harvested and, consequently, more profitable crop
for farmers.
www.edypro-online.com
“
LifeSequencing and Era7
establish an
ambitious
partnership in
the competitive sector of
next generation sequencing (NGS)
LifeSequencing, pioneer and leader Spanish company in massive sequencing services (NGS: Next Generation Sequencing), and the bioinformatic company Era7, leader in Spain in high throughput DNA
sequencing data analysis have engaged a strategic collaboration for
the development and promotion of important sequencing projects
focusing on NGS-multiplatform approach, providing a global service
approach with superior added value: sequencing strategies adapted
to each type of project This partnership furthers previous fruitful collaboration in the area of bacterial genomics which is also expected
to grow next year.
NGS technologies allow generating large amounts of fast and
cost-effective sequence data facilitating the approach to new
applications such as “de novo”
sequencing of genomes, resequencing, transcriptomic and
analysis of non-coding RNA sequencing analysis, metagenomics and targeted/amplicon sequencing.
The equipment offering the most
suitable data for “de novo” genome sequencing is the 454 GSFLX Roche sequencer, which uses
pyrosequencing technology with
the longest available reads in
the market (average read length
of 500 nucleotides). Other equipments are especially useful for
the re-sequencing known genomes – as they have been specially
designed to reduce the cost of
sequencing of the human genome- and are capable to output
several Gigabases of information
in one run. The use of combined
sequencing technologies has
shown better results more adequately covering different regions
of complex genomes.
A huge amount of data using
NGS requires management and
specialized analysis. Different technologies giving a huge output
need strategies designed to manage them. Era7 Bioinformatics is
a leader in Spain in handling and
analysis of massive sequencing
data that uses specially designed
workflows for NGS based on cloud-computing.
Together LifeSequencing and Era7
will offer to their customers a global and integrated service of high
quality at very competitive price
with single bill. This alliance is expected to increase and accelerate the international presence of
both companies.
Visit us in with Biopolis in Stand 32B.
www.lifesequencing.com
Sistemas Genomicos.
Innocash
2010 program
“Development of a software package for the analysis of data
generated with next generation sequencing” funded by the Innocash
2010 Program, of inverse technology transfer, promoted by GENOMA
ESPAÑA
The biotechnology company Sistemas Genómicos S.L., pioneer in
Spain in acquiring the year 2008 a
massive sequencing platform, capable of resequencing the human
genome in only a few days, has
invested part of its RD capital in
the development of a software
for the analysis of the data generated by this technology.
The project of SISTEMAS GENOMICOS, in line with the objectives
set in the Innocash Program, is
developed in collaboration with
a group of researchers from the
University Pompeu Fabra led by
Dr. Nuria López-Bigas. The software will provide a quality service
that will answer the increasing
demand of this kind of technologies. This bioinformatic platform
will be able to analyse the large
number of nucleotide reads that
are generated in each run, and
will facilitate its consistent interpretation in an easy way for the
non-expert user. The development of this tool will get the company closer to the “personalized
medicine”, in which genomic and
molecular data are correlated to
facilitate diagnosis and treatment
of the disease.
According to Sheila Zuñiga, responsible of the Bioinformatics
Unit of SSGG “The new generation
of sequencing technologies make
it possible to get genomic data
from an individual at a lower cost.
Thanks to these technologies, in
a nearby future it will be feasible
to have available the complete
genomic information of the patient to assist with the diagnosis
and prognosis of certain diseases as well as to personalize the
treatment.”
The successful implementation
of a software package aimed to
users with limited bioinformatic
knowledge, and that meets the
requirements established by a
technical and scientific team with
extensive experience in bioinformatics and diagnosis through
sequencing, will provide Sistemas
Genomicos with a high added value tool that will help to consolidate the company as one of the
pioneers in offering a complete
ultrasequencing service that will
encompass from the initial consultancy about the project to the
final interpretation of the results.
www.sistemasgenomicos.com
The combined expertise
in fermentation and
metabolomics will also
contribute to the optimization
of complex bio-processes,
offering clients an integrated
high quality service at a very
competitive price
Biopolis and
Metabolon engage
into a collaboration
to enhance the use
of global metabolism
analysis tools
Biopolis (www.biopolis.es) is located in the Science Park of the
University of Valencia and specializes in the development and
production of microorganisms,
yeasts, enzymes and proteins,
for their use in industrial sectors
including food, agrochemicals,
environment, fine chemistry and
medicine.
Metabolon, Inc. is located in the
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, United States (www.metobolon.com) and is the world
leader in discovery and analysis
of metabolomic biomarkers. The
companies have signed a commercial and technical collaboration agreement for the development of new technologies to
scan global metabolism in biological samples.
Biopolis will offer European-based metabolomic analysis servi-
ces thereby, strengthening the
development and application of
new metabolomic techniques
in the European Research Area
(ERA). Metabolon will make Biopolis service portfolio commercially available in North America.
The analytical method developed
by Metabolon allows to scan metabolites such asdrugs, nutrients,
biochemical toxic compounds as
well as optimize complex industrial
bio-processes. The bioinformatics tool developed by Metabolon
provides a unique comprehensive analysis of complex biological
samples for discovering markers
and metabolic pathways, associated with the mechanisms of drug
action and disease.
Metabolomics application to nutrition sciences provides a unique
opportunity to explore the molecular mechanisms involved in the
individual responses to the modulations of human and animal diet.
Biopolis-Metabolon alliance will
further the reach of global studies from clinical specimens in
the field of personalized human
nutrition providing supplementary information to pharmacogenomics studies. Combined
expertise in fermentation and
metabolomics will also contribute to the optimization of complex
bio-processes, offering clients an
integrated high quality service at
very competitive price.
Visit us in Stand 32B.
www.biopolis.es
Celeromics:
A new cell counter
targeted to cell
culture research
Celeromics, the Spanish leader in cell
culture devices, is launching a new
line of cell counting products targeted to the needs of researchers working with cell cultures. Its technology
is based on image analysis. The main
value added for users is having lower
contamination rates, fewer personnel manipulation of the samples and
very easy to use.
Celeromics new cell counting device has
been specially tailored to the needs of
academic and private sector researchers
working with cell cultures. Given the fact
that contamination is one of the main
problems of cell culture research, Celeromics has designed a system is able to
count the number of cells or particles in
adherent cultures without exposing the
culture medium.
The main values added for users are:
1) Drastic reduction of contamination rates.
2) Easy to use. The system has been designed for high usability, so that counting
cells become as easy as taking pictures.
3) Fewer personnel manipulation of the
samples, compared to equivalent solutions for cell counting. No cleaning of
the device is necessary.
The system can also measure cell viability,
cell morphology, represent several growth
kinetics graphs for comparison and cap-
Water On-Line Analysis Europe (WOLA)
has developed and patented technologies that enable on-line and low-cost
analysis of biological parameters of
water quality (BOD, toxicity and quantification of microorganisms), promoting the optimization of industrial
processes and energy saving in watertreatment plants and industries.
Wola:
Biological
analysis of
water at low
cost
After years of research in the field of
biosensors for the environment and as
a result of the participation in numerous
national projects and international R D
projects, WOLA has developed technologies that perform on-line and low-cost
analysis of biological water quality parameters such as Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), overall toxicity and quantification of aerobic microorganisms.
• On-line analysis of BOD in 30 minutes
• Frequency of analysis: 10 to 20 tests
per day.
• Use of new micro sensors in each
analysis.
• Self calibration.
• Remote data capture and feedback
thanks to our specific software.
• High correlation with BOD5 and reliability (R2 = 0.98).
• Storage of water sample in case of alarm.
Its patented technology in 17 countries
and verified by the European Technology Verification (PROMOTE-ETV) consists
ture microscope images at different moments during the growth process.
Simple Counter allows for counting cells
in Neubauer chamber, Howard chamber
or equivalent container, eliminating the
tedious part of manual counting. Culture
Counter, targeted to adherent cultures is
able to measure cell density in 24 and 96
wells plates, flasks, etc. without touching
the cells.
Celeromics is looking for heavy-users
of cell counting devices to beta test the
new versions of their products at no cost.
Celeromics has is Headquarters in Valencia, Spain, with commercial offices in
Grenoble, France. Celeromics is located
in booth #23 in BioSpain Congress.
Visit us in Stand 23.
www.celeromics.com
in three analytical equipments:
• MB-BOD: It carries out on-line analysis
of the Biochemical Oxygen Demand
(BOD) in 30 minutes time.
• POLYTOX-RES: Analytical equipment
that performs continuous analysis of
the overall toxicity in liquid media in 1
hour time
• MICROBIAL COUNTER: It carries out in
15 minutes time analysis of the quantification of aerobic microorganisms in
liquid media
Among the highlights, highly valued by
our customers, all the equipments allow:
• Sending data to remote devices (mobile phone, screen control, internet)
thanks to their user-friendly software,
• Customized frequency of analysis by
the user from 10 to 20 tests per day.
• Low cost analysis (1 €/analysis).
• Storage of water sample in case of high
toxic presence for its analysis in labs.
The technology increases the control and
the optimization of the purification and
industrial process in water in treatment
plants and industries (chemicals, paper,
automobiles, chemical, beverages, etc.),
promoting saving energy, more significant than other technologies and techniques in the market.
In addition, the equipments are powerful analytical tools for the environmental
monitoring in case of spill accidents in
rivers, lakes and protected areas.
www.biosensores.com
Monitoring
infection risks
in the clinical
environment
Molecular Diagnostics Center (MDC)
markets a complete validated system for
the rapid detection of resistant nosocomials pathogens in the air/environment
of high risk clinical rooms.
One of the most important problems in the
Health System is the Nosocomial intra-hospital infection, in particular in risk areas like
surgical rooms and intensive care units in
a hospital. Nosocomial infections are these
which are a result of treatment in a hospital
or a healthcare service unit, but secondary to
the patient’s original condition. This type of
infection is also known as a hospital-acquired
infection. Common known nosocomial diseases include ventilator associated pneumonia,
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus
(VRE), extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-producing Gram-negative bacilli, Pseudomonas
aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Clostridium difficile, Tuberculosis, and several hospital-acquired
pneumonia. The currently used detection techniques are based upon findings by Pasteur,
Koch and Petri and are thus firmly rooted in
the past. These classical methods have some
limitations; the time to have results is so long
and dependent on a variety of factors, they
are an intensive labour and unable to detect
viable but non-culturable organisms wich
may recover in product.
The present situation with new emerging pathogens and increases in antibiotic resistant
strains requires effective process follow-up
and optimisation while management requires
fast and reliable (rapid) microbiological results.
Molecular Diagnostics Center has developed
and validated a new system that combines
effective air collectors, automated worksta-
tions, with real-time PCRs. By full solutions
MDC includes a range of automated equipment, from processing samples, extract DNA,
and PCR thermocyclers, together with a large
series of chemicals, plastic ware, and RT-PCR
different tests on kits. This method makes
possible to test for the total bacteria, fungi
and moulds, in less than 4 hours. MDC provides specific QPCR kits for more than 150 different pathogens, compatible with all Real Time
platforms available in the market, and supported by MDC-validation following guidelines of
the norm UNE-EN ISO/IEC 17025. The system
was developed during the course of a European Union Project which gave to MDC the
Eureka label (research of excellence) for this
project. MDC is working on the project, NOSORESISTOME-CHIP, consist on the development
of a large collection of DNA probes and PCR
primers specifically designed to accurately detect most, if not all, known genetic elements
that code for antibiotic resistance factors. Simultaneous antibiotic multi-resistance genetic profiles would be of invaluable support for
infection therapy.
Our marketing objective to the hygienists is to
propose new technologies for air sampling in
health environment and alternative MICROBIAL detection methods using nucleic acid
detection technologies. The rationale of this
product market is integrated in a framework
of interventions at the hospital level to reduce
the disease burden and the spread of antimicrobial-resistant infections.
www.mdc-bt.com
The Kit Bioalarm Legionella
Biotica.
Are you going to take
a risk with Legionella?
The Kit Bioalarm Legionella allows the detection of Legionella
in a fast, simple and economic form in the water of its Hotel.
Biotica is a biotechnological
company that is born in 2005.
It focuses on the activities of investigation, development and
commercialization of systems of
precocious detection of pathogenic microorganisms.
Its objective is to provide the
client with reagents and simple
and fast procedures of detection
of pathogenic microorganisms as
a first step to avoid its effects on
the human and environmental
health.
In Biótica, it is considered that the
necessity for adopting preventive
measures is fundamental by:
• To be a real problem: nº of alerts
by legionelosis in Spain according to the National Network
of Monitoring ascends to 1,232
(during the year 2008)
• To avoid sanctions and indemnifications.
• To avoid bad image to the final
clients, since when detecting an
alert is gathered quickly by the
press.
• To avoid closings you will prevent: As much from the facilities
as its totality.
• To be prepared and calm: Before
possible and periodic inspections of health.
• To fortify the image: doing of the
prevention a positive and differential factor of the establishment, offering total security to
its clients.
The Kit Bioalarm Legionella:
• The maintenance personnel can
make it, without the necessity of
an own laboratory.
• It is made in a simple and safe way.
• The result is fast and trustworthy (50 minutes) what allows:
• To take corrective measures in
time.
• To diminish the risk of considerable form.
• It allows the accomplishment of
plans of prevention more effective.
• To avoid positives of obligatory
declaration.
• Value added for its clients.
The Kit Bioalarm Legionella has
been validated by laboratories of
recognized national and international prestige facing the traditional method of culture, demonstrating its reliability of result.
www.biotica.es
Lafitt develops
cutting-edge
technology
for spine surgery
The TRANSPINE System introduces new, innovative technology for the treatment of
spinal disorders such as scoliosis. More than 300 patients
have been successfully treated using this new technique,
proving that it is safe, effective
and reduces the surgical time
in the OR.
An ambitious development pro
ject was started in 2001 between
Valencia-based orthopaedics manufacturer Lafitt, The Valencia
Institute for Biomechanics (IBV)
and Dr. Luis Pérez Millán, Head of
the Spine Department at Hospital
La Fe in Valencia. The goal was
to develop a novel system that
would be safer and more timeefficient than existing models
on the market. The first operations on scoliosis patients using
TRANSPINE took place in 2005,
and the product was marketed in
Spain in 2006. To date, more than
300 patients have proven the
TRANSPINE System’s efficiency
and safety.
The deformity of the spine known
as scoliosis is most frequent in
young women. When the deformity is severe, the only option is
to perform a surgical correction
using some kind of metal fixator. Despite continuous evolution
and improvements in the products commercially available on
the market, scoliosis surgery has
been reserved for very few specialized surgeons because of the
complexity and risks associated
with the techniques available.
The major concern of surgeons
is the risk of damaging the spinal
cord during the surgery, so the
first priority for Dr. Pérez Millán
was to develop a system that
would reduce this risk.
The novelty of the TRANSPINE
System is that it avoides the use
of screws or wires that necessarilly pass close to the spinal cord,
but instead uses a special kind of
clamps that do not risk damaging
the vital structures in the spine.
Then a unique cable system tenses the wire to long bars in order
to gradually correct the deformity.
The benefits are clear: TRANSPINE
is a safer, faster system for performing complex scoliosis surgery.
“The main advantage of the System is that we can perform a pure
translation of the spine without
the need to put wires close to
the spinal cord. We have here a
system that is effective and that
reduces the risks involved”, says
Dr. Pérez Millán.
The new TRANSPINE system also
adds other important advantages. Acording to Carlos Atienza,
engineer at the IBV, “We have
developed a technique that is a
worldwide novelty… it simplifies
the technique and reduces the
OR time, so in the future we can
expect that the training period
for surgeons will be reduced and
that more hospitals will be able to
perform this kind of surgery, up
to now reserved to the very few
due to the complexity of other
fixation systems.”
Although the initial idea was to
develop a system to treat exclusively deformities such as scoliosis or kyphosis, the final version
of the product has proven itself
useful in treating many other
conditions and injuries of the spine, such as lumbar degenerative
disease, tumors or fractures.
The company that make it all
possible is the Valencia-based orthopaedics manufacturer Lafitt,
which develops and sells medical
devices internationally. The development of this particular system
was co-financed by IMPIVA and
by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology. Because of the
product’s level of innovation, an
international patent was awarded.
www.lafitt.es
meters, analytic and precision
balances, water baths, agitating
mixers…
• Cryopreservation sample equipment: Liquid nitrogen and ultrafreezers.
• Access to advanced equipment
of the different research groups
of the Miguel Hernández University
CIEB:
New Infrastructure for
Biotechnology Companies
The CIEB offers the following laboratory material:
• “Turnkey” laboratories of 50
m2 include laboratory furniture (laboratory benches, closets,
The interest that the CIEB has generated nationally and internationally has led the Scientific Park
of Elche to solicit new project
funding to amplify its facilities.
www.fundacionquorum.es
• Equipment for pure water, ultra
pure water, ice, autoclave, and
drying ovens.
• Molecular biology equipment:
DNA extractor, nanodrop, thermocyclers, quantitative PCR, gel
documenter, table centrifuge,
and ultracentrifuge…
• Cellular biology equipment:
CO2 incubator, fluorescent microscope, inverted microscope,
microbiology incubator…
• Other basic equipment: pH
about
bioval
“ Bioval is a meeting platform for the biotechnological
A strong support to Biotechnology in the Valencian Community
sector in the Valencian Region. Our objective is to
promote and support the growth and cooperation of the
Valencian biotechnological sector.
Bioval is an association that represents private
companies, research centers, universities, hospitals
and other organizations conducting RD related to
biotechnology.
Catedrático Agustín Escartino, 9
Parque Científico
Edif. 1 - 2ª Planta - Dpcho. 11
46980 Paterna - Valencia (Spain)
The companies of the CIEB also
have access to the technology
and knowledge of the distinct
research groups of the Miguel
Hernández University, a university characterized for its focus
on biotechnology research and
technology transfer activity with
institutes dedicated to the following areas: Neuroscience, Bioengineering, and Molecular and
Cellular Biology.
The CIEB has been co-financed
by the Science and Innovation
Ministry (project reference PEPG54016977-2009) with a quantity above 500.000€ and by the
Valencian Generalitat through
IMPIVA within the European
Regional Development Fund
(FEDER).
The CIEB has the following scientific equipment available for its
companies:
e-mail.
info@bioval.org
website.
www.bioval.org
Provide the services and support
to help his members achieve
their maximum potential in the
development of new products
and services through leading
edge biotechnology.
“
Recently, the Miguel Hernández
University opened the doors to
the Biotechnology Entrepreneurship Innovation Center (CIEB) in
Elche’s Science Park. This center is the first of its kind in the
Levante region. The CIEB offers
the infrastructure, scientific
equipment and added value
services to existing and newly
created companies in the area
of biotechnology.
etc.) fume hoods, laminar flow
hoods, sinks, etc. The area can
accommodate between 5 to 8
workstations. These laboratories have a modular interior,
which can be used as an office
or other activities if the laboratory requires compartmentalization.
• Diaphanous modules between
50 to 200 m2 are available for
biotech companies that would
like a tailor made laboratory.
On the other hand, the companies can also count on company
services focused on promoting
growth, helping in the search
for public and private financing,
networking activity, and strategic
business planning.
Create an open forum for the
interchange of ideas to promote
member synergies.
Organize educational courses,
conferences, and sessions to
promote both member and public knowledge in Biotechnology.
Promote the Valencian Region
through attendance in tradeshow and events, constant activity in the media, and a dynamic
internet presence.
Phone Number
+34 902 88 99 90
Identify and obtain public capital investment opportunities to
encourage member growth.
Assist in the transfer of cutting
edge biotechnology to more
traditional industry sectors.
Represent member’s interests
before governmental agencies.
Support the creation of new biotechnology based companies.
Provide general consulting services to all members.