Cyntellect, a privately-held biotechnology company, and the Burnham Institute for Medical Research (Burnham) have entered into a joint collaboration to develop new applications on Cyntellect's in situ live cell imaging and laser processing product (called LEAP) to accelerate research by Burnham's scientists.

Cyntellect is a life sciences company committed to revolutionizing the use of living cells in life science research and cellular therapy. The collaboration efforts will focus on developing applications of LEAP for automated purification of stem cells, stem cell colonies and the differentiated cells derived from stem cells.

Cyntellect and Burnham expect these new applications will accelerate discovery of new knowledge of stem cell differentiation factors and pathways, as well as generate cell populations that may be used to deliver the potential therapeutic benefits of stem cells.

Under the agreement, Burnham will gain access to LEAP and Cyntellect will gain certain commercial rights to discoveries under the collaboration. "In situ laser processing with LEAP has provided us the unique ability to purify rare adherent cell types in an efficient, automated and sterile manner," said Professor Mark Mercola associate director, Del E. Webb Neuroscience, Aging and Stem Cell Research Center. "We also believe LEAP can be a transforming technology in the downstream use of stem cells and their progeny as it has clear potential as a sample preparation system for adherent cell types derived from stem cell populations."

LEAP is an automated live cell analysis and processing system that combines high-speed optical imaging (brightfield or fluorescence) and real-time image analysis with high-speed in situ laser manipulation of cells.

"Burnham scientists are clearly among the elite in the world of stem cell biology and we are excited to be working closely with them to exploit LEAP's capabilities to improve their potential in working with stem cells," stated Dr Fred Koller, Cyntellect's president and CEO. "It is an important and noble endeavor that we hope and expect will offer some novel and powerful solutions to the life science and therapeutic markets."

Burnham Institute for Medical Research is dedicated to revealing the fundamental molecular causes of disease and devising the innovative therapies of tomorrow.