NanoImaging Services uses cryo-EM technology to accelerate drug discovery and development for pharmaceutical and biotech companies
Published: 2023-06-11 | Author: VisionariesNetwork Team
NIS (NanoImaging Services) is a pioneering Contract Research Organization (CRO) that has been at the forefront of cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) services since 2007. With a diverse range of skill sets and state-of-the-art technology, including more transmission electron microscopes than any provider in North America, NIS has made cryo-EM imaging and analysis accessible to companies of all sizes, and teams across the drug discovery pipeline.
NIS's commitment to quality results and collaboration with clients has enabled them to accelerate the development of new and life-changing therapeutics. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies and expertise, NIS helps clients overcome the historical bottlenecks associated with sample preparation, including sample suitability, stability, and reproducibility.
One of the key areas where NIS excels is in sample preparation. Their team of experts uses optimized methods to assess sample suitability and stability for cryo-EM, including negative stain analyses to evaluate sample quality. They also offer advanced services such as protein purification, grid substrate preparation, and vitrification and plunge freezing to optimize the output of cryo-EM studies.
NIS's protein purification capabilities include buffer exchange and removal of soluble aggregates from samples using their microvolume AKTA Go equipped with Superose 6, Sephadex 200, and desalting columns. This service is available at their East Coast site and requires advance request.
Their expertise in grid substrates is another area where NIS stands out. They have developed innovative methods for deploying grid variations to solve complex sample challenges. For example, they often use continuous support grids to optimize the distribution and orientation of difficult samples. They also prepare continuous carbon grids and have developed a reliable method for preparing graphene oxide grids, which are ideal for biological macromolecules due to their hydrophilicity and minimal background in cryo-EM imaging.
NIS's sample vitrification and plunge freezing capabilities are also unparalleled. They have accumulated decades of experience and established reliable standard operating procedures for both Vitrobot and manual plunging devices. They can vitrify a wide range of samples, including soluble proteins, membrane proteins stabilized by detergents, nanodiscs, and amphipols.
In addition to their expertise in sample preparation and vitrification, NIS also has a state-of-the-art computational infrastructure that supports both on-site and co-localized high-speed computing resources. This includes over 500 processing cores, 50 GPUs, and six petabytes of storage space, all located within secure facilities behind multiple high availability firewalls and following NIST security guidelines.
NIS's commitment to innovation is evident in their deployment of the latest generation transmission electron microscopes across their San Diego and Boston sites. They are constantly acquiring new technologies to remain at the forefront of the field.
Overall, NIS is a leading provider of cryo-EM services that enables companies to accelerate the development of new and life-changing therapeutics. With their expertise in sample preparation, vitrification, plunge freezing, and computational infrastructure, NIS is well-positioned to help clients overcome the challenges associated with cryo-EM imaging and analysis.
John Rigg, Chief Executive Officer
John Rigg brings over 20 years of leadership experience within the pharmaceutical and biomanufacturing industries to NIS.
Most recently, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Exelead Biopharma, a biopharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing organization specializing in complex injectable formulations, including lipid nanoparticle (LNP) based drug delivery.
Prior to joining Exelead in June 2014, John served as the Vice President of Manufacturing for Ventria Bioscience, Fort Collins Co., a progressive bioscience company specializing in developing and commercializing proteins expressed in rice. Prior to Ventria, John spent 25 years at Eli Lilly and Company with a multitude of assignments across manufacturing sites in the US, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom. John has extensive knowledge and experience with the development, scale up, and commercialization of therapeutic proteins.
Originally from Liverpool, England, John attended Liverpool University where he graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Applied Chemistry.
“NanoImaging Services (NIS) is the industry leader with the longest history in cryo-EM.”
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