LABSPEC 2017

THE MAGAZINE FOR LABORATORY PROFESSIONALS
In a sociation with The NZ Microbiological Society Inc. VOL. 2 No. 1 JUNE 2012 I SN 172-7101
n MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND INNOVATION STEVEN JOYCE VISITED crobiome that has many people around
DUNEDIN-BASED BLIS TECHNOLOGIES’ SCIENTIFIC SERVICES
the world excited by the possibilities.
LABORATORY TO LOOK AT DEVELOPMENTS THE COMPANY HAS BEEN Brian Watson said this wave of interest
MAKING IN THE GLOBAL PROBIOTICS MARKET.
in the microbiome right across all of our
international markets is showing that
Blis produces the world’s only probiotic strains that specifically target the early work by Professor John Tagg at
the health and wellbeing of the oral cavity such as ear, nose and throat Otago University was probably 20 years
issues as well as the mouth, gums and teeth. Blis Technologies CEO ahead of its time.
Minister of Science and
Brian Watson and R&D manager Dr John Hale showed Mr Joyce the microbiological
work going on, as well as demonstrating the tests showing while Blis was defining its groundbreak-
“After many years of difficult times Innovation Steven Joyce
potential various Blis strains have to assist lower government health costs ing technology and establishing efficacy through clinical trials, we can
by reducing the reliance on antibiotics.
now see a wave of interest starting to build momentum. That wave is
Also of interest, given Mr Joyce’s Tertiary Education portfolio, is that being powered by people starting to understand the potential for managing
the microbiome, and Blis products fit perfectly within that new un-
Blis products are the commercialised results from science developed at
Otago University. Mr Joyce heard how internationally there is a wave of derstanding.”
interest in what is being termed the microbiome. The microbiome refers Mr Watson said it was good to have the Minister of Science and Innovation
in the laboratory so he could see for himself an example of a 21st
to a relatively new area of understanding of health where communities of
microbes living within human bodies can influence wider human health century New Zealand business that has high value per weight of product
but which also opens up options for the microbiome to be managed that is carving out a niche in international markets.
through the delivery of healthy bacteria (probiotics), for better health Blis Technologies provided guidance to the NZX earlier this year that
and wellbeing.
after 16 years of development and pouring money into R&D the company
expected to turn a profit for the first time this financial year. Mr Watson
People have around 10 trillion human cells but they also carry around
and a 100 trillion microbes that live with all humans. Therefore, it makes said Blis continues to invest heavily in its product pipeline spending more
sense that if the impact of beneficial microbes (e.g. probiotics) is stronger than 10 percent of revenue on R&D.
than the populations of harmful microbes then a human has the potential
to be healthier. It is the health potential of management of the mi-
backing our products that differentiates us in the markets we operate
“That figure is high by New Zealand standards but it is the science
in.”
LN_0416_FS_HAMCO_Diluter600_trsfr.indd 1
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6/04/2016 4:26:57 p.m.
[ For company contact details see company profiles pages 6 to 26 ]
TEXTILE TESTING
SCIMED
PERKINELMER
Range of spectrophotometers
are the industry standard for ultra
high performance, flexibility and
convenience and are designed for
analysis of coatings and component
performance in both research and
manufacturing.
TEXTURE ANALYSIS
ALPHATECH SYSTEMS
CHATILLON
Force gauges; Torque gauges;
Dynamometers
ALPHATECH SYSTEMS
LLOYD INSTRUMENTS
THERMAL ANALYSIS
INSTRUMENTS
ALPHATECH SYSTEMS
TA INSTRUMENTS
World’s leading supplier of thermal
analysis hardware and software
products. Includes all traditional
TA techniques - DSC, TGA, TMA
and DTA, specialised techniques
- PDSC, automated DSC, DPC,
MEA and highly innovative rheology
techniques - DMA and DEA.
GLOBAL SCIENCE - a VWR
company
METTLER TOLEDO
Mettler TA and FP series
instruments for DSC, TMA, TG,
DTA, melting point, boiling point,
cloud point and thermal microscopy.
Application information and support
is available.
SCIMED
PERKINELMER
TMA 4000
TMA 4000 is a simple, easy-to-use,
rugged thermomechanical analysis
system that’s ideal for measuring
expansion of small components
and low expansion rates – circuit
boards, component materials, and
so much more.
SCIMED
PERKINELMER
DSC xx00
Offering a full suite of DSC solutions
designed to give you the results
you’ve been looking for.
SCIMED
PERKINELMER
Thermogravimetric Analyzers (TGA)
The PerkinElmer Thermogravimetric
Analyzers (TGA) provide high
performance sensitivity for solving
even the toughest problems.
SCIMED
PERKINELMER
STA 6000 simultaneous thermal
analyzer
Designed with routine and research
applications in mind, the STA 6000
simultaneous thermal analyzer
applies advanced innovative sensor
technology to yield higher accuracy
and quality results.
THERMAL ANALYSIS
INSTRUMENTS, HIGH PRESSURE
SCIMED
PERKINELMER
DSC xx00
High-performance DSC solutions,
enables you to see more than
you ever thought possible.
Whether you’re performing QA/QC
applications, studying processes
in polymers or pharmaceuticals, or
developing the cures of tomorrow,
our new DSC platforms will open
your eyes to a world of exciting new
opportunities. Truly comprehensive,
our DSC portfolio of applications,
instruments and services.
THERMOHYGROGRAPH
BELL TECHNOLOGY
ESCORT
Electronic data logging version.
For traditional psychrometer
type instruments refer to our Dr
Friendrichs range.
GLOBAL SCIENCE - a VWR
company
CASELLA
A range of digital and analogue
thermohygrographs.
THERMOMETER
ALPHATECH SYSTEMS
VARIOUS
Alphatech provides a number of
electronic thermometers, including
pocket size up to benchtop with
many types of probes.
BELL TECHNOLOGY
DIGITRON
2000 and 2100 series
Large range of robust waterproof
thermometers. Thermocouple,
Thermistor and Pt100 sensors.
BELL TECHNOLOGY
DOSTMANN
P600 series
Precision digital laboratory
thermometers suitable for reference.
0.1C and 0.01C resolution.
BELL TECHNOLOGY
DOSTMANN
LT-101
Low cost lab digital min/max
thermometer with alarm. +/-0.5C
accuracy
BELL TECHNOLOGY
DOSTMANN
LT-101 and LT102
Low cost lab digital min/max
thermometer with alarm. +/-0.5C
accuracy
BELL TECHNOLOGY
EIRELEC
MT160C
Hand held thermometer with
immersion/insertion probe. Strong
extruded aluminium case with touch
pad control, waterproof design.
Accurate resistive temperature
sensor. MAF Approval Certificate.
BELL TECHNOLOGY
EIRELEC
IR 300E
Non-contact, infrared thermometer.
Models for -25 to 200 °C and -25
to 300 °C.
BELL TECHNOLOGY
ESCORT
THERMOCHECK
Hand held thermometer that records
temperatures of multiple products at
multiple locations. Programmable,
PIN enabled. Data recording of
critical temperatures, product type,
location, user time. 1000K memory.
BELL TECHNOLOGY
JENCO
PORTABLE DIGITAL 7000 SERIES
A range of thermometers in all
sensor types. Temperature range
from -222 to 1768 °C. Probes
locally manufactured to any design.
GLOBAL SCIENCE - a VWR
company
JENWAY
Digital thermometers.
GLOBAL SCIENCE - a VWR
company
TPS
Digital electronic pocket and
portable thermometers.
GLOBAL SCIENCE - a VWR
company
ZEAL
Electronic or glass thermometers.
Glass standard laboratory
thermometers, calibrated with
traceable certificate. Mercury, red
spirit, safe green, ASTM etc.
LAB SUPPLY
BEL-ART
LAB SUPPLY
HEATHROW SCIENTIFIC
Freezer thermometer
MEP INSTRUMENTS NZ
ANTON PAAR
Millikelvin Thermometer MKT 50
Millikelvin Thermometer MKT 50
THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC
BRANNAN
A wide range of spirit and mercury
thermometers.
THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC
LABSERV PRODUCTS
Selection of spirit and digital
thermometers over various
temperature ranges.
THERMOMETER, CRYOGENIC
THE MAGAZINE FOR LABORATORY PROFESSIONALS
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Issue 113 | June 2016
NOW INCORPORATING
In a sociation with The NZ Microbiological Society Inc. VOL. 2 No. 1 JUNE 2012 I SN 172-7101
Coral reefs fall victim to overfishing,
pollution aggravated by ocean warming
n THE STUDY THIS STORY IS BASED
ON IS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT
http: /go.nature.com/1RWidFQ
By DAVID STAUTH
Coral reefs are declining around the world
because a combination of factors – overfishing,
nutrient po lution, and pathogenic disease
– ultimately become deadly in the face
of higher ocean temperatures, researchers
have concluded.
A study published recently in Nature Communications,
based on one of the largest and courtesy of Oregon State University)
Researchers studied corals in contro led experiments near the Florida Keys. (Photo by Cory Fuchs,
longest field experiments done on this topic, nutrient po lution on a coral reef in the Florida “This makes it clear there’s no single force
suggests tha the widespread coral deaths observed
in recent decades are being caused by an extended period of time helped resolve Loss of fish that help remove algae, or the
Keys. The large body of field data co lected over that’s causing such widespread coral deaths.
this combination of multiple local stressors and some of the fundamental questions about the addition of excess nutrients like those in fertilizers,
can cause algal growth on reefs. This
global warming.
cause of coral reef declines, scientists said.
These forces greatly weaken corals, and allow
opportunistic pathogens to build to such se tle the argument over why corals are dy-
become more pathogenic, and a l of these
“This is grim news, but at least it will help changes the normal microbiota of corals to
levels that corals cannot survive.
ing,” said Rebecca Vega Thurber, an assistant problems reach critical levels as ocean temperatures
warm.”
The findings were made by researchers professor in the Co lege of Science at Oregon
from six institutions fo lowing a three-year experimen
that simulated both overfishing and the study.
Continued on page
State University and co responding author on The end result, scientists say, is a global de-
3
QIAGEN's GeneGlobe® Web portal provides
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Never miss an issue…receive the latest Lab News and BioScience
straight to your inbox. Send your details to: Barb@wbn.co.nz
Check out our facebook page: facebook.com/NZLaboratorynewsandNZBioScience
Minister of Science and Innovation
visits Blis Technologies
Sample to Insight
info@bio-strategy.com | T: 0800 34 24 66 | www.bio-strategy.com
LN_0616_FS_QIA_GeneGlobe_trsfr.indd 1 16/06/2016 2:13:34 p.m.
Issue 114 | August 2016
THE MAGAZINE FOR LABORATORY PROFESSIONALS
NOW INCORPORATING
Never miss an issue…receive the latest Lab News and BioScience
straight to your inbox. Send your details to: Barb@wbn.co.nz
Check out our facebook page: facebook.com/NZLaboratorynewsandNZBioScience
New research targets
drug-resistant breast cancer
Breast Cancer Cure is proud to
announce the funding of two new
research projects as part of
The Breast Cancer Research in New
Zealand 2016 initiative, a joint
partnership between Breast Cancer
Cure, the Health Research Council
of New Zealand (HRC) and The New
Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation.
T
he first project led by Dr Francis Hunter
from the University of Auckland , will
see New Zealand researchers use cutting-edge
genetic technology to help control
resistance to the latest drug for treating HER2-
positive breast cancer that has spread to other
parts of the body (metastatic breast cancer).
Each year more than 3000 New Zealanders
are diagnosed with breast cancer and 600
will die from the condition. One-quarter of
these breast cancers are driven by increased
amounts of a gene ca led HER2, which can be
targeted with the drug trastuzumab, more
commonly known as Herceptin.
“Herceptin markedly improves outcomes
for HER2-positive breast cancer. Unfortunately,
treatment resistance develops in many
patients, leading to a very aggressive disease
with poor prognosis,” says Dr Hunter.
In 2013 a new drug ca led trastuzumab
emtansine (T-DM1) was approved for treating
HER2-positive, metastatic1 breast cancer
that has stopped responding to Herceptin.
However, T-DM1 shrinks tumours in only half
of patients and the reasons why the other patients
are resistan to it remains unclear.
“We’re going to use a powerful genetic
tool to identify genes that control – and thus
predict – the sensitivity and resistance to
T-DM1 in HER2-positive breast cancer. Our
aim is to reduce the distressing uncertainty
associated with treating this illness and to enable
patients and their caregivers to make informed
treatment decisions,” says Dr Hunter.
Phi lipa Green, general manager for Breast
Cancer Cure comments: “We are proud to be
able to announce the funding of another vital
research project, to help us move closer to
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info@bio-strategy.com | T: 0800 34 24 66 | www.bio-strategy.com
Issue 115 | October 2016
NOW INCORPORATING
In a sociation with The NZ Microbiological Society Inc. VOL. 2 No. 1 JUNE 2012 I SN 172-7101
achieving our goal of finding a cure for breast
cancer. The work that Dr Hunter is doing is
ground breaking, and wi l drastica ly change
the lives and treatment journey of many people
in New Zealand who su fer from Breast
Cancer.”
“This new project takes us to a total of
nine projects funded via the breast cancer
partnership with the Health Research Council
of New Zealand since 2013.”
HRC chief executive Professor Kath
McPherson says recu rent HER2-positive
breast cancer is a major cha lenge in New
Zealand, particularly as this type of breast
cancer grows rapidly and is associated with a
high risk of metastasis and relapse, with devastating
impacts for the women concerned
and their family/whānau.
“Developing a diagnostic tool that can
predict how patients will likely respond to
the drug T-DM1 – and advancing our understanding
of why some people are resistan to
it – would help improve the chances of survival
for people with this aggressive type of
breast cancer and allow more targeted and
e ficient use of expensive cancer medicines,”
says Professor McPherson.
Cancer researcher Dr Tracy Hale from
Massey University has also received funding
Continued on page 4
LN_1016_FS_ESC_AirstreamPlusE_trsfr.indd 1 6/10/2016 12:32:59 p.m.
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