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:

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

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

About the technology SMOLTR is a smolt-verification tool to be utilized in the smoltification process of salmon. Data indicates that this technology …

– Based on the Aliivibrio wodanis chassis (PsyXpress) The challenge The main challenge in protein production is to achieve optimal solubility, activity …

Instant volume microscopy The SOLIS Microscope A new type of fluorescence microscope that combines the best aspects of confocal with light-sheet microscopy. SOLIS …

Superior gas monitoring and measurement Industry challenges Traditional gas sensing with absorption spectroscopy uses large multi-pass cells containing a sample gas, through …

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:

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

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

About the technology SMOLTR is a smolt-verification tool to be utilized in the smoltification process of salmon. Data indicates that this technology …

– Based on the Aliivibrio wodanis chassis (PsyXpress) The challenge The main challenge in protein production is to achieve optimal solubility, activity …

Instant volume microscopy The SOLIS Microscope A new type of fluorescence microscope that combines the best aspects of confocal with light-sheet microscopy. SOLIS …

Superior gas monitoring and measurement Industry challenges Traditional gas sensing with absorption spectroscopy uses large multi-pass cells containing a sample gas, through …

Predicting relapse in Ulcerative Colitis patients

- A novel biomarker with the potential to improve the lives of millions of UC patients world-wide

About the technology

Ulcerative Colitis is a chronic autoimmune disorder of the colon characterized by alternating periods of remission and relapse. Disease flares occur in a random way and are currently unpredictable.

Our novel prognostic biomarker can identify patients with a high risk of relapsing, enabling clinicians to escalate treatment before the onset of symptoms and keep patients in remission (figure below). The test is based on mucosal samples from the colon, which might sounds challenging at first. However, endoscopy represent that mainstay evaluating the disease activity, meaning the test can be incorporated without need for additional endoscopies.

Market and competition

2.7 million people are carrying a UC diagnosis in Europe and US. According to the European Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation (ECCO), about 48% of the prevalence is in remission during a typical year, representing a substantial market potential for our test

Currently there is no biomarkers on the market which can predict relapse in UC patients hence our biomarker is targeting an unmet clinical need.

Value proposition

UC patients

  • Fewer relapses
  • More well managed disease and quality of life

Healthcare system/Society

  • Hospital bedtime reductions, examinations, tests, etc
  • Reduce need of proctocolectomies
  •  
Figure: Long term goal by implementing the test ~50% of the UC patient population are experiencing relapse at any given time (left). Our ultimate goal is to create a prevalence shift by increasing the population in remission offering great benefits for patients and the healthcare system (right)

More about the test

  • Molecular – measuring expression ratio between two cytokines (qRT-PCR)
  • Based on mucosal samples from the colon sampled during routine endoscopies
  • Patent pending (2021)
  • Invention originates from the University hospital of North Norway
Figure: Basic principle of relapse test on a per patient level. Test will enable the clinician to stay ahead of the curve, escalating treatment before the flare up and keep the patient in remission (blue line). Time of treatment not shown for simplicity.

Opportunities for Collaboration

We are currently looking for a licensing partner to develop the project further with test design and clinical IVDR- approval.

Universitetet i Tromsø
image (5)
unn

Contact information

Thomas Seppola, Norinnova.
Foto: Marius Fiskum

Magnus Seppola

Forretningsutvikler | Tech Transfer

magnus@norinnova.no
Tlf. 951 12 385

Les om andre prosjekter:

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

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

About the technology SMOLTR is a smolt-verification tool to be utilized in the smoltification process of salmon. Data indicates that this technology …

– Based on the Aliivibrio wodanis chassis (PsyXpress) The challenge The main challenge in protein production is to achieve optimal solubility, activity …

Instant volume microscopy The SOLIS Microscope A new type of fluorescence microscope that combines the best aspects of confocal with light-sheet microscopy. SOLIS …

Superior gas monitoring and measurement Industry challenges Traditional gas sensing with absorption spectroscopy uses large multi-pass cells containing a sample gas, through …

Tau-on-Chip: nanofluidic amyloid aggregation within seconds

About the technology

On-demand production of protein aggregates: We produce oligomers and fibrils within seconds in a nanofluidic environment. This has potential for high throughput screening of drug candidates, automated in-vitro assays, and binding assays with single molecule sensitivity.

Areas of application

We envisage producing the nanofluidic Tau-on- Chip devices for use in drug development, clinical trials, research, and protein production.

Value proposition

  • Single molecule sensitivity.
  • For use in drug development, clinical trials, research, and protein production.
  • Patent pending.
 
Bilde microfluidic
Image: Microfluidic chips fabricated on glass slides.
Image: Induced fibrillation and oligomerization events in seconds.

Opportunities for Collaboration

We are looking for industry partners for collaboration and licensing. We are open to working together on the development of our Tau-on-Chip technology to accomodate your needs.

Resources and partners

Universitetet i Tromsø

The inventors:

Oliver Vanderpoorten

  • MSCA Fellow, Tromsø (NOR), EPSRC PhD in BioEng, Cambridge (UK), Background: electrical engineering, nanotechnology

Kevin Baumann

  • SNSF Swiss Postdoctoral Fellow, Basel (CH), PhD in Chemistry, Cambridge (UK), Background: biophysics, medical engineering

Contact information

Foto: Marius Fiskum

Ellen Dybdahl

Business developer

ellen@norinnova.no
Tlf. 974 79 260

Les om andre prosjekter:

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

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

About the technology SMOLTR is a smolt-verification tool to be utilized in the smoltification process of salmon. Data indicates that this technology …

– Based on the Aliivibrio wodanis chassis (PsyXpress) The challenge The main challenge in protein production is to achieve optimal solubility, activity …

Instant volume microscopy The SOLIS Microscope A new type of fluorescence microscope that combines the best aspects of confocal with light-sheet microscopy. SOLIS …

Superior gas monitoring and measurement Industry challenges Traditional gas sensing with absorption spectroscopy uses large multi-pass cells containing a sample gas, through …

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:

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

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

About the technology SMOLTR is a smolt-verification tool to be utilized in the smoltification process of salmon. Data indicates that this technology …

– Based on the Aliivibrio wodanis chassis (PsyXpress) The challenge The main challenge in protein production is to achieve optimal solubility, activity …

Instant volume microscopy The SOLIS Microscope A new type of fluorescence microscope that combines the best aspects of confocal with light-sheet microscopy. SOLIS …

Superior gas monitoring and measurement Industry challenges Traditional gas sensing with absorption spectroscopy uses large multi-pass cells containing a sample gas, through …