LGC Science & Technology

Examples of our work

Click on the images to access the full case study

		Catalyst December 2011 Find out how LGC is applying leading-edge science and the development of improved measurement procedures to underpin some of the most challenging and important measurements made in the UK. Highlights include: - Determining biofuel origin and quality - Toxicity testing using microarray technology - Research to support diabetes treatment - Improving the success of organ transplants - Establishing protein traceability

		Over coming rejection - Reducing risk of organ rejection after transplant operations LGC has developed the first commutable matrix reference material for the immunosuppressant drug tacrolimus, in order to improve therapeutic drug monitoring following an organ transplant.

		In the balance – measurements for improving therapeutic drug monitoring LGC is developing a range of certified reference materials to help IVDD compliance and the setting of tighter threshold levels for therapeutic dosing.

		Novel 3D imaging to improve type 1 diabetes treatment In collaboration with academics, industrial partners and accredited laboratories, LGC has developed a novel imaging technique to improve the success rate of pancreatic islet transplants for people with type 1 diabetes.

		From peptides to proteins – Establishing traceability to the SI In order to improve clinical measurement robustness for enhanced patient care, LGC and several European National Measurement Institutes are collaborating to establish reference measurement procedures for protein biomarkers that are capable of providing results traceable to the SI. Human growth hormone was used as a test case to investigate these new approaches.

		We are all chemists... You may not realise it without stopping for thought, but chemistry affects almost every aspect of our daily lives, from the fuel in our cars, to the safety of our food and water, the quality of the air we breathe and our cosmetic products. But chemistry is not all about the chemists wearing white coats in the laboratory. Meet 28-year-old Sarah. Read on to see how she interacts with chemistry through a typical day...

		The importance of measurement A celebration of measurement for World Metrology Day 2011. Find out how measurement is important to our daily lives, how our ancestors used it in the 3rd millennia and how LGC is applying good measurement practice to ensure 'Science for a safer world'.

		Catalyst The Chemical and Biological Metrology Programme, managed by LGC and the National Physical Laboratory, aims to improve the accuracy and reliability of chemical and bioanalytical measurements that are fundamental to the UK’s international competitiveness. This is achieved through the application of leading-edge science and the development of improved measurement procedures to underpin some of the most challenging and important measurements made in the UK. Catalyst is the e-newsletter highlighting projects delivered by LGC under the Chemical and Biological Metrology Programme.

		3D...the future of cells LGC scientists, through collaboration with Reinnervate, a spin-out from Durham University, are growing cells in a novel three dimensional (3D) cell culture technology to imitate the more natural structure of the liver and improve in vitro screening of potentially toxic compounds.

		‘The drugs don’t work’... detecting counterfeit drugs and packaging LGC, in collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline, is applying high accuracy mass spectrometry to measure small variations in isotope ratios to detect counterfeit pharmaceutical drugs and packaging and distinguish between counterfeit sources.

		HD - not TV...but it does hold the key to a clearer picture For the first time LGC scientists, in collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline, UCB, Nottingham University, NIBSC and the National Physical Laboratory are using novel hydrogen deuterium exchange (HD) experiments on monoclonal antibodies and pegylated Fab fragments to provide high-resolution information on structure and structural change caused by manufacturing processes.

		RNA quality for diagnostic applications; Integrity vs. Degradation LGC scientists, using their expertise in RNA degradation measurements and standards have helped Lab901, an Edinburgh based SME, develop a fast, simple and robust system for determining RNA integrity.

		Nano interactions: overcoming limitations in nanoparticle safety testing using real time measurements As nanotechnologies become incorporated into more and more commercial products, it is increasingly important to understand the potential risk they pose to human health. In response to this worldwide need, LGC is developing new in vitro testing regimes which can overcome the potentially misleading results obtained from traditional toxicity assays.

		Reference materials - ensuring your results measure up LGC produces a wide range of certified reference materials for the industrial, pharmaceutical, clinical, environmental and food sectors, in order to help laboratories ensure traceability and accuracy of their results.

		May contain nuts... LGC has led a collaborative project on the development of a sensitive and accurate DNA based screening approach for the detection of allergenic nuts in food that will benefit consumers by improving food labelling thereby reducing adverse reactions to food products.

		Life through a lens - novel quantitative cell imaging LGC scientists, in collaboration with leading tissue engineering companies, have developed a rapid, quantitative imaging approach to measure the quality of cells in tissue engineered products in order to improve manufacturing, storage and transportation processes.