COMPANY

Live Cell Assays, LLC (LCA) is a privately-funded biotechnology company. We offer a patented method for automated decision-making during live cell imaging experiments. This method is called "Visual-Servoing Optical Microscopy" (VSOM). The VSOM Method allows us to rapidly discover and optimize new live cell imaging assays, new bioprotocols, and new bioprocesses.

LCA offers:

● VSOM Method Sublicenses (to qualified third parties)

● Discovery and Optimization of Live Cell Imaging Assays

● Bioprotocol Discovery and Optimization

● Bioprocess Optimization

● VSOM^® System Sales

● VSOM^® Instrument Integration Services (including custom software development)

● High-Resolution, Multi-Field-of-View Live Cell Time-Lapse Video Microscopy

VSOM^® Systems

A VSOM^® System typically comprises an automated live cell imaging instrument (usually a digital imaging instrument with fluid handling capabilities) and system control software capable of monitoring individual live cells and making automated decisions during live cell imaging experiments. LCA VSOM^® Systems include a dedicated VSOM^® Experiment Database (VED) and all necessary experiment visualization and analysis software.

Assay Development Services

At the most basic level, the VSOM Method facilitates the rapid, automated discovery and optimization of live cell imaging assays. VSOM^® Assays are custom-designed by the individual researcher for specific applications. LCA is currently designing a library of live cell imaging assays suitable for the identification and tracking of different cell types and an additional library of live cell assays suitable for the gentle, long-term monitoring of specific aspects of live cell physiology. We call these assays VSOM^® physiological state Interrogation Assays (VIAs). A VSOM^® cell type identification assay is simply a VIA designed for the purpose of cell type identification and tracking.

Bioprotocol Development and Bioprocess Optimization Services

The real potential of the VSOM Method is realized when libraries of VIAs are used by VSOM^® Systems during the automated discovery and optimization of new bioprotocols and bioprocesses. Our VSOM^® Instrument and System Control (VISC) application software is designed to use VIAs to monitor the physiological state(s) of large numbers of individual live cells during on-going experiments. Our VISC application software tracks and monitors many individual live cells over time as it makes real-time, automated experiment or process control decisions.

Experiment control decisions might include decisions to actuate the computer-controlled fluid handling devices built into a given VSOM^® System. Other experiment control decisions might include decisions to actuate any stimulation and/or manipulation device built into a VSOM^® System. All VSOM^® System decisions, actions and subsequent live cell physiological responses are archived in a VSOM^® Experiment Database.

VSOM Method Overview

In general, the goal of VSOM^® Systems and VSOM^® Application Software is to manipulate the physiological state(s) of live cells so that one or more cells can be autonomously guided (via computer-controlled stimulation and manipulation devices) to a user-specified biological endpoint or a user-specified physiological state.

For example, in one type of experiment, a VSOM^® System might be assigned the task of placing all cells of type "A" into the physiological state "labeled" (retaining high levels of an intracellular fluorescent probe) while at the same time leaving neighboring cell types B, C, and D in the physiological state "unlabeled" (retaining little or no fluorescent probe). The resultant assay discovered by the system (a series of additions and removals of various solutions at precisely timed intervals) would be a new cell type identification assay ( a live cell imaging assay) for cell type A.

In yet another type of experiment, a VSOM^® System might be assigned the task of altering microenvironmental conditions in an autonomous search for microenvironmental conditions that favor the proliferation of cell type "A" over cell types B, C, or D. In this case, the resultant bioprotocol discovered by the system (a series of additions and removals of various solutions at precisely timed intervals or a series of other microenvironmental alterations) would be a new bioprotocol (or bioprocess) for growing large amounts of cell type A that are not contaminated with cell types B, C, or D.

Knowledge-Based VSOM^® System Operation

VSOM^® Systems do not complete assigned tasks in the absence of outside information or outside biological "knowledge". VSOM^® Systems employ knowledge that is contained in and derived from several sources. For example, custom-designed VIAs are developed by local experts (the individual researcher) for specific applications with specific model systems. Thus, expert knowledge is a critical component of a given VIA.

Another source of expert knowledge is an investigator-specific set of rules that give VSOM^® Systems the ability to (repeatedly) make expert experiment or process control decisions during real-time live cell imaging experiments. VSOM External Decision Aid (VEDA) software is being designed that will make entering complex experiment control rules easy for non-programmers.

Summary

The VSOM Method is a new approach to live cell imaging and a new way of thinking about the automation of scientific experiments. VSOM^® Application Software, VIAs, and custom-built VSOM^® Systems facilitate the long-term, gentle, autonomous, and intelligent interrogation and manipulation of live cells. A VSOM^® Experiment Database (VEDB) can comprise a large suite of VIAs, sets of expert rules that assist automated decision-making, and predictive, model-based, cell response simulation software that further assists automated decision-making. Thus, over time a VED becomes a VSOM^® Knowledgebase (VKB). As VSOM^® Knowledgebases expand, VSOM^® Systems acquire new capabilities and become more versatile. This can be recognized as a virtuous cycle of VSOM^® System operations. Although VSOM is still an emerging technology, VSOM^® Experiments are currently in progress and our third generation VSOM^® System prototype is available for inspection and demonstrations. Please contact us for additional information.