Novel platform for live-imaging of cells in action

CYMOPLIVE – Cyto-Motility and Cyto-Plasticity in Vitro Live-Cell Assay

About the technology

Cymoplive is a platform that allows us to study cells in action and how they smartly tackle obstacles in our body. Cell movement or motility governs how cells migrate, invade, repair injuries, and develop tissues and organs. These processes are critical for a healthy, functioning body. Cell plasticity, in the form of individual or collective cell migration, has long-standing consequences and can help identify diseases and how much they have progressed. In the Cymoplive platform, cells are placed in a 3D maze where they need to overcome designed obstacles as they move through the maze. Cymoplive has a live-imaging friendly format compatible with all optical microscopes. The complexity of the maze can be customized based on the experimental setup and what is to be studied.

Value proposition

  • Live-imaging of process
  • Intelligence of cell movement can be studied
  • Mimics tissue environment with the 3D patterned obstacles matrix
  • Customisable physical environment
  • Customisable chemical environment
Image: Cymoplive is a unique cell migration assay platform that contains 3D obstacles in a solid hydrogel environment to study cell motility in a physiologically and functionally relevant environment.

Resources and partners

  • UiT Nanoscopy group
  • EU H2020-funded FET-Open RIA project OrganVision (EIC Pathfinder)
  • Proof of concept in a small-scale lab setting has been demonstrated
  • Patent application filed

Opportunities for Collaboration

We are currently looking for industry partners or potential users who finds interest in our technology. We are open for working together on the development of Cymoplive to accommodate your needs.

Image: The image shows how embryonic fibroblast cells are moving in the maze by changing their direction as they encounter obstacles on their path from high cell density to a low cell density region. In phase microscope, the morphological features of the cells can be observed and evaluated labelfree. In fluorescence microscopy, the molecular changes due to cells’ motility in the maze can be measured. Here we see how the actin cytoskeleton is modified to maneuver cells along the maze path.

Collaboration partners

Universitetet i Tromsø

Contact information

Foto: Marius Fiskum

Ingrid Skjæveland

Forretningsutvikler | Tech Transfer

ingrid@norinnova.no
Tlf. 991 57 143

Les om andre prosjekter:

mSpider

•
16. november 2023

Motivating continous Sharing of Physical activity using non-Intrusive Data Extraction methods Retro- and prospectively About the technology Data collection of physical data …

Thyroid Assist

•
8. november 2023

– A novel decision support aid tool (DST) for optimal levothyroxine dosage after thyroidectomy About the technology Levothyroxine is a necessary synthetic …

, ,

FiRsT – Optical microscope calibration targets

•
8. november 2023

About the technology New and advanced label-free and super resolution microscopes and nanoscopes have emerged, and their characterization is becoming more demanding. …

,

Nanospacer

•
30. oktober 2023

– Bringing nanofluidic technology to the people About the technology The Nanospacer is a specially designed microscope coverslip that allows nanoscale particle …

, , ,

SPICE: Sea sPray ICE prediction model

•
11. august 2023

A tool that predicts ice amount and distribution on marine structures About the technology Due to climate changes the Arctic marine territories …

,

Novel platform for live-imaging of cells in action

•
9. august 2023

CYMOPLIVE – Cyto-Motility and Cyto-Plasticity in Vitro Live-Cell Assay About the technology Cymoplive is a platform that allows us to study cells …

, ,

SMOLTR – Synchronizing seawater readiness of salmon smolt with seawater transfer

About the technology

SMOLTR is a smolt-verification tool to be utilized in the smoltification process of salmon. Data indicates that this technology is superior to current commercially available options, this robust tool will ensure long-term salmonid growth and welfare in seawater. SMOLTR is based on a set of superior and precise markers that can predict seawater performance and can be used to synchronize the seawater readiness with seawater transfer. Thus, the animal welfare is superior with SMOLTR compared to state of the art.

Value proposition

  • Predicts smolt development state
  • Predicts long-term seawater survival and growth
  • Provides highly accurate results with regards to smolt seawater readiness with less bias and variation than state of the art
  • Animal welfare increased due to optimal timing of smolt transfer to seawater

Areas of application

  • Test before smolt is transferred to seawater
  • Tool to evaluate smoltification protocol optimizations within R&D for farmers
  • Could be offered by service and lab analytic providers serving the Aquaculture industry
  • Internal test by smolt producers

Resources and partners

  • Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT
  • Proof of concept validated in lab scale
  • Patent pending

Opportunities for Collaboration

We are currently looking for industry partners who finds interest in our technology. We are open for working together on the development of SMOLTR to accommodate your needs.

Collaboration partners

Universitetet i Tromsø

Contact information

Foto: Marius Fiskum

Ingrid Skjæveland

Forretningsutvikler | Tech Transfer

ingrid@norinnova.no
Tlf. 991 57 143

Les om andre prosjekter:

mSpider

•
16. november 2023

Motivating continous Sharing of Physical activity using non-Intrusive Data Extraction methods Retro- and prospectively About the technology Data collection of physical data …

Thyroid Assist

•
8. november 2023

– A novel decision support aid tool (DST) for optimal levothyroxine dosage after thyroidectomy About the technology Levothyroxine is a necessary synthetic …

, ,

FiRsT – Optical microscope calibration targets

•
8. november 2023

About the technology New and advanced label-free and super resolution microscopes and nanoscopes have emerged, and their characterization is becoming more demanding. …

,

Nanospacer

•
30. oktober 2023

– Bringing nanofluidic technology to the people About the technology The Nanospacer is a specially designed microscope coverslip that allows nanoscale particle …

, , ,

SPICE: Sea sPray ICE prediction model

•
11. august 2023

A tool that predicts ice amount and distribution on marine structures About the technology Due to climate changes the Arctic marine territories …

,

Novel platform for live-imaging of cells in action

•
9. august 2023

CYMOPLIVE – Cyto-Motility and Cyto-Plasticity in Vitro Live-Cell Assay About the technology Cymoplive is a platform that allows us to study cells …

, ,

Single-objective light-sheet imaging system (SOLIS)

Instant volume microscopy

The SOLIS Microscope

A new type of fluorescence microscope that combines the best aspects of confocal with light-sheet microscopy. SOLIS efficiently removes parasitic light from out-of-focus planes that would bleed through between adjacent focal planes and degrade image contrast. 

SOLIS is posed to fill this technology gap between methods that offer the required speed and gentleness on the one hand, and usability and resolution on the other. A prototype has been successfully demonstrated and the technology has patent pending.

 

Value proposition

Being able to observe these tiny, yet fast, cell constituents in their natural environment would provide completely new insights into cellular function and potential starting points for cures of a whole range of diseases.

Opportunities for Collaboration

  • We are currently looking for commercial partners for licensing of the technology. 
Illustration of the SOLIS microscope. (a) Depicted in purple is the scanned oblique light-sheet path; green is the detection path over a multi-plane optical element onto a synchronised rolling shutter camera that consolidates the light paths through the sample volume, instantly producing a high-resolution volumetric image without parasitic light. (b) Conventional widefield and SOLIS images of mitochondria within human heart tissue. Virtually all parasitic out-of-focus light is removed by SOLIS and all z-planes were acquired simultaneously within 100 ms. Depth is colour coded.
Collaborators
Universitetet i Tromsø

Contact information

Foto: Marius Fiskum

Lars Sørensen

Forretningsutvikler | Tech Transfer

lars@norinnova.no
Tlf. 942 45 511

Les om andre prosjekter:

mSpider

•
16. november 2023

Motivating continous Sharing of Physical activity using non-Intrusive Data Extraction methods Retro- and prospectively About the technology Data collection of physical data …

Thyroid Assist

•
8. november 2023

– A novel decision support aid tool (DST) for optimal levothyroxine dosage after thyroidectomy About the technology Levothyroxine is a necessary synthetic …

, ,

FiRsT – Optical microscope calibration targets

•
8. november 2023

About the technology New and advanced label-free and super resolution microscopes and nanoscopes have emerged, and their characterization is becoming more demanding. …

,

Nanospacer

•
30. oktober 2023

– Bringing nanofluidic technology to the people About the technology The Nanospacer is a specially designed microscope coverslip that allows nanoscale particle …

, , ,

SPICE: Sea sPray ICE prediction model

•
11. august 2023

A tool that predicts ice amount and distribution on marine structures About the technology Due to climate changes the Arctic marine territories …

,

Novel platform for live-imaging of cells in action

•
9. august 2023

CYMOPLIVE – Cyto-Motility and Cyto-Plasticity in Vitro Live-Cell Assay About the technology Cymoplive is a platform that allows us to study cells …

, ,

Spermotile – A sophisticated tool for improved fertilization success rate

Sperm filtration for improved success rate of assisted reproduction technology

About the technology

With current automated or manual IVF methods focusing on motility, the chance of identifying a sperm for fertilization is high, but the likelihood of the selected sperm being the best is small. This means an inaccurate quality analysis that takes a toll on success rate and asks for multiple fertilization attempts.

Spermotile solves this issue by an ‘all-rounder’ sperm selection criterion that is morphologically healthy, motile and demonstrates desirable dynamic behavior, enabling that the sperms picked are of indeed high quality and highly likely to result into success in the first attempt. In turn, it translated to better throughput and leaner operating costs.

Value proposition

The spermotile is an end-to-end solution for selecting the best sperm automatically in terms of motility, morphology and behavior and performing the fertilization process with improved accuracy, efficiency, and success rate, while simultaneously providing a low-cost, ready to use, and low training option for the end user. Patent pending.

Opportunities for collaboration

  • Development and testing of Spermotile
  • Pilot-testing with customers
Illustrated comparison between Spermotile and current solutions’ processing of filtering dead, non-progressive, and haphazard semen to isolate the best quality sperm. Current CASA solutions use phase contrast microscopy (PCM) to identify and analyse sperm, restricting analysis of advanced sperm motility.

Collaborators

Universitetet i Tromsø

Contact information

Foto: Marius Fiskum

Lars Sørensen

Forretningsutvikler | Tech Transfer

lars@norinnova.no
Tlf. 942 45 511

Les om andre prosjekter:

mSpider

•
16. november 2023

Motivating continous Sharing of Physical activity using non-Intrusive Data Extraction methods Retro- and prospectively About the technology Data collection of physical data …

Thyroid Assist

•
8. november 2023

– A novel decision support aid tool (DST) for optimal levothyroxine dosage after thyroidectomy About the technology Levothyroxine is a necessary synthetic …

, ,

FiRsT – Optical microscope calibration targets

•
8. november 2023

About the technology New and advanced label-free and super resolution microscopes and nanoscopes have emerged, and their characterization is becoming more demanding. …

,

Nanospacer

•
30. oktober 2023

– Bringing nanofluidic technology to the people About the technology The Nanospacer is a specially designed microscope coverslip that allows nanoscale particle …

, , ,

SPICE: Sea sPray ICE prediction model

•
11. august 2023

A tool that predicts ice amount and distribution on marine structures About the technology Due to climate changes the Arctic marine territories …

,

Novel platform for live-imaging of cells in action

•
9. august 2023

CYMOPLIVE – Cyto-Motility and Cyto-Plasticity in Vitro Live-Cell Assay About the technology Cymoplive is a platform that allows us to study cells …

, ,

New therapeutic for liver disease, NASH

An unmet medical need

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an advanced form of fatty liver disease that is expected to become the major cause of liver transplantation in the US by 2025. There is an enormous unmet medical need to treat the disease because of its high prevalence and lack of treatment options: there are currently no approved therapeutics for NASH.

Impact

Over 25% of adults worldwide have non-alcoholic fatty liver, and 10-30% of these people will progress to the more serious disease, NASH. Beyond lifestyle changes, there are no FDA approved therapeutic treatments for NASH.

The invention

We have a novel therapeutic approach to NASH based on a new understanding of disease-causing signalling pathways in the liver. Our approach reduces all 3 hallmarks of disease:

  • fat accumulation
  • fibrosis (liver scarring)
  • inflammation
Plan and commercial strategy

The project is currently supported by the Research Council of Norway, Novo Nordisk Foundation, and UiT – The Arctic University of Norway. Upon generation of proof-of-concept data, we plan to continue pre-clinical and clinical development through a spin-off company. We are seeking collaborations with the right partners to bring the project forward into pre-clinical and clinical development, including:

  • industry collaborations and partnerships
  • investors
Image: Treatment resulted in 41-58% reduction in all 3 disease characteristics in NASH mice.

Partners and collaborators

Universitetet i Tromsø

Contact information

Foto: Marius Fiskum

Bronwyn Smithies

Forretningsutvikler | Tech Transfer

bronwyn@norinnova.no
Tlf. 412 47 420

Les om andre prosjekter:

mSpider

•
16. november 2023

Motivating continous Sharing of Physical activity using non-Intrusive Data Extraction methods Retro- and prospectively About the technology Data collection of physical data …

Thyroid Assist

•
8. november 2023

– A novel decision support aid tool (DST) for optimal levothyroxine dosage after thyroidectomy About the technology Levothyroxine is a necessary synthetic …

, ,

FiRsT – Optical microscope calibration targets

•
8. november 2023

About the technology New and advanced label-free and super resolution microscopes and nanoscopes have emerged, and their characterization is becoming more demanding. …

,

Nanospacer

•
30. oktober 2023

– Bringing nanofluidic technology to the people About the technology The Nanospacer is a specially designed microscope coverslip that allows nanoscale particle …

, , ,

SPICE: Sea sPray ICE prediction model

•
11. august 2023

A tool that predicts ice amount and distribution on marine structures About the technology Due to climate changes the Arctic marine territories …

,

Novel platform for live-imaging of cells in action

•
9. august 2023

CYMOPLIVE – Cyto-Motility and Cyto-Plasticity in Vitro Live-Cell Assay About the technology Cymoplive is a platform that allows us to study cells …

, ,

MicroRNAs for reduced bleeding risk in Venous thromboembolism patients

– MicroRNAs for risk assessment and treatment of venous thromboembolism

The challenge

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a highly prevalent disease, affecting around 1.1 million individuals in Europe each year, with 540,000 associated deaths. No modifiable risk-factors have been identified yet. The current anti-coagulant treatment is associated with serious bleeding risks. We therefore need to find a drug that prevents VTE without serious side affects.

Our approach

  •  Specific microRNAs associated with a higher risk of VTE were found
  • Targeted intervention of these microRNAs has the potential to effectively prevent VTE
  • Treatment of VTE with microRNA therapeutic without bleeding risk

Opportunities for Collaboration​

  • Searching for a collaborative R&D deal with industrial partner
  • Looking for a pharmaceutical partner with the expertise, commitment and financial strength to take it through the clinical phase and into the market.

Results

  • Population study

A pilot and a validation study show that specific miRNAs can be potential predictors of VTE and the risk of VTE is highly associated with miRNA level.

  • In-vivo mouse model for venous thrombosis

The addition of a specific miRNA show reduction in thrombose size in a in-vivo mouse model

  • Patent application for the technology is filed
Figure: VTE is a serious and common disease, 40% of cases accors spontanously with unknown cause.

Collaboration partners

Universitetet i Tromsø
norinnova logo. Ikon.

Contact information

Foto: Marius Fiskum / www.mariusfiskum.no

Morten Elde

Forretningsutvikler | Tech Transfer

morten@norinnova.no
Tlf. 414 06 762

Les om andre prosjekter:

mSpider

•
16. november 2023

Motivating continous Sharing of Physical activity using non-Intrusive Data Extraction methods Retro- and prospectively About the technology Data collection of physical data …

Thyroid Assist

•
8. november 2023

– A novel decision support aid tool (DST) for optimal levothyroxine dosage after thyroidectomy About the technology Levothyroxine is a necessary synthetic …

, ,

FiRsT – Optical microscope calibration targets

•
8. november 2023

About the technology New and advanced label-free and super resolution microscopes and nanoscopes have emerged, and their characterization is becoming more demanding. …

,

Nanospacer

•
30. oktober 2023

– Bringing nanofluidic technology to the people About the technology The Nanospacer is a specially designed microscope coverslip that allows nanoscale particle …

, , ,

SPICE: Sea sPray ICE prediction model

•
11. august 2023

A tool that predicts ice amount and distribution on marine structures About the technology Due to climate changes the Arctic marine territories …

,

Novel platform for live-imaging of cells in action

•
9. august 2023

CYMOPLIVE – Cyto-Motility and Cyto-Plasticity in Vitro Live-Cell Assay About the technology Cymoplive is a platform that allows us to study cells …

, ,