Thermo Fisher Scientific Launches RNAi Services Laboratory, Supporting Researchers in Drug Discovery and Development

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has opened a new RNAi Discovery and Therapeutic Services laboratory at its RNAi research and production center in Lafayette, Colorado, USA.

The new laboratory offers advanced RNAi (RNA-interference) screening and analysis services, as well as development of new therapeutic technologies involving RNAi.

"We have an industry-leading position in RNA- and RNAi-based technologies through our Dharmacon product line, now marketed under the Thermo Scientific brand," said Marc N. Casper, executive vice president of Thermo Fisher Scientific.

"Our core expertise in RNAi biology and therapeutic technology development, high-throughput screening, RNA chemistry and drug discovery research, combined with our unique portfolio of bioreagents, instrument systems and robotics, enables us to perform highly advanced contract services in-house. We can also offer customers the option of transferring this integrated workflow to their own facilities," Casper added.

The RNAi Discovery and Therapeutic Services laboratory features a highly integrated platform of Thermo Scientific technologies, including Dharmacon siRNA and miRNA libraries, BioImage and Cellomics high-content screening reagents and image analysis instrumentation, as well as robotics and software for laboratory automation.

"By providing RNAi-based screening on a contract basis, we will make it possible for any laboratory to realize the benefits of this important advancement in drug discovery," added Casper. "The RNAi Discovery and Therapeutic Services laboratory provides clients with access to unmatched scientific expertise and the ability to rapidly achieve meaningful results from this innovative workflow, while providing training and systems recommendations to clients establishing their own internal capabilities."

The RNAi contract services support researchers in pharmaceutical, biotechnology and academic fields by providing critical drug-discovery activities including target identification, target validation, biomarker discovery and RNAi therapeutic technology development.

The laboratory will also provide supplemental resources and expertise for overburdened labs already using RNAi technology. Services range from a single screen to multi- component projects, and include RNAi-based high-throughput screening and hit validation, high-content screening, microRNA expression profiling and analysis, as well as lab automation and integration. Therapeutic discovery and technology development is also available for clients pursuing RNAi-based therapeutics.