New start-up company promises to speed the discovery of a cure for cancer,diabetes...

[Abdelmoumene]

New start-up company promises to speed the discovery of a cure for cancer, diabetes, HIV and other diseases

October 17, 2005 -- Wasatch Microfluidics Inc. may have the potential to speed the discovery of a cure for cancer, diabetes, HIV and a host of other diseases. The new biopharmaceutical start-up company is announcing a new product, the Continuous Flow Microspotter™. This microspotter is a protein printer which prints proteins onto glass producing micro arrays more accurately than other technologies. Researchers in various fields can use this device in applications such as drug discovery, genetics and clinical diagnostics.

Based on technologies developed at the University of Utah, the Continuous Flow Microspotter™ is more efficient and produces better results than technologies that are currently being used in a variety of research fields. The spotter works by continuously delivering material to the spot of interest until either a maximal or ideal concentration is reached. Because the spotter seals around the spot, background signals and cross talk are eliminated. Specifically, Wasatch’s microspotter produces an 86 fold improvement over technologies that are currently being used. It is the hope of all involved at Wasatch Microfluidics that this device will become a standard protein research platform.

Wasatch’s technology was developed at the University of Utah by company founder Dr. Bruce Gale, a Biomedical Microfluidics professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department. He developed the technology in conjunction with Dr. David Myszka, a world-renowned protein interaction researcher at the University of Utah School of Medicine. The University of Utah Technology Commercialization Office is assisting with the company’s business development plan.

“Wasatch Microfluidics is an excellent example of creating a win for the University, and a win for the State,” said Jack Brittain, Vice President, Technology Venture Development and Dean of the David Eccles School of Business. “By focusing our efforts on building an entrepreneurial community and servicing the needs of our researchers we are able to keep a new company within the State of Utah and foster economic development.” Partnerships like the one created with the University of Utah and companies like Wasatch Microfluidics, Inc. mean future economic benefits for the citizens of Utah through increased job opportunities and tax revenue.

Wasatch Microfluidics Inc. has already been recognized with several honors and awards, including first place in the Utah Entrepreneur Challenge, a statewide business plan competition sponsored by The Utah Entrepreneur Center at the David Eccles School of Business, and finalist in the New Venture Championship, an international competition held at the University of Oregon.

[Al-khiyal]

The article is from 2005. For me, the key phrase in the article is "Wasatch Microfluidics Inc. may have the potential ..." No guarantees with 'may', eh? Here we are, four years later, and no definite claims of progress yet.

You can learn more about Wasatch Microfluidics Inc. >>> here <<<

[Abdelmoumene]

Thank you very much for the link and the pass.