Live Cell Assays, LLC (LCA) offers live cell assay development services, software development services and general live cell imaging services. The President/Manager is the co-inventor of Visual-Servoing Optical Microscopy (VSOM), a patented method for vision-based automated decision-making during live cell imaging assays, experiments, processes and procedures. The VSOM Method is a practical implementation of next-generation automated scientific experimentation. VSOM can be implemented (via software) on commercially available automated live cell imaging instruments (i.e., High Content Analysis (HCA) and High Content Screening (HCS) imaging instruments). VSOM-capable live cell kinetic imaging instruments have the ability to (repeatedly) make real-time automated decisions during live cell imaging assays, experiments, processes and procedures. These real-time automated (software-based) decisions are based, in part, on real-time live cell response analysis. This active and responsive mode of automation (VSOM Automation Mode) equips HCA imaging instruments for next-generation biological complexity and next-generation live cell imaging assays. VSOM Automation Mode provides long-term, vision-based, active and responsive automated experiment control during live cell imaging experiments. This mode of automation also accelerates automated discovery and optimization of new assays, processes and procedures. Thus, VSOM Automation Mode makes HCA and HCS instruments more versatile, efficient and productive. Cloud-based remote control of live cell imaging instruments is a key feature of the patented VSOM Method. (Notes: Commercial use of patented VSOM Method technologies may require a commercial use license. Contact LCA for details.)

Research Medicine and Radiation Biophysics Division andLife Sciences DivisionLive cell in vitro fluorescent microscope digital imaging studies:(1) Nuclear Imaging of Gene Expression (NIGE): Development of radiotracers for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging applications. Development of fluorescent and/or F-18 labeled antisense compounds suitable for imaging levels of specific mRNA transcripts in humans and small animals. (Sponsor: US Department of Energy)(2) Development of compounds for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT). Intracellular biodistribution of boron rich fluorescent compounds designed for neutron capture and photodynamic therapies for human brain cancer. (Sponsor: US Department of Energy)(3) Development of VSOM live cell assays for multidrug resistance (MDR) and ex vivo chemosensitivity testing. (Sponsor: US Department of Defense)(4) Development of assays and instrumentation for studies of live cell responses to ultra high intensity static magnetic fields and ultra fast switched magnetic fields. Implications for human exposure(s) during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies. (Sponsor: US Department of Energy)Other fluorescent microscope digital imaging studies:(5) Bioeffects of intergalactic cosmic rays. Quantitation and Statistical Analysis of the Physiological Responses of Mice to 1 GeV/nuc Fe Particle Irradiation. Implications for human exposure during deep space travel to Mars. Quantitative fluorescence microscope digital imaging studies of immunostained thin tissue sections (Sponsor: NASA)(6) Visual-servoing for automated microdissection and manipulation of single DNA molecules. Technology development for human genome sequencing efforts (Sponsor: US Department of Energy)Other:(7) Automated digital image analysis and archiving of optical microscope digital images (LBNL ImgLib). Digital image bioinformatics system development for optical microscope digital images (LBNL BioSig). .

(1) Spectroscopic studies (CD, NMR, Fluoresence) of DNA conformation and conformational transitions: relationship between DNA conformation and gene expression(2) NMR studies of intracellular water and the distinction between normal and transformed cells: T2-specific relaxation mechanisms, T1 and T2 as a function of frequency, studies of the self-diffusion coefficient of intracellular water(3) Use of nonionic, membrane permeable oligonucleotide analogues (methylphosphonates) as fluorescent probes or MRI contrast agents specific for a particular gene or mRNA target(4) Antisense applications of methylphosphonates: studies of copy number and localization of specific mRNA transcripts using fluorescence microscopy(5) Quantitative fluorescence microscopy and optical sectioning: 3D mapping of genes and chromosomes in mammalian cells, relationship between chromosome or genome conformation and gene expression

Photochemisty and General Chemistry (14 quarters total)

Organic Chemistry Laboratory

(1) Scintigraphic imaging of In-111 labeled blood platelets in humans and animals; effects of antithrombotic agents on platelet aggregation.(2) Radiopharmacetical kit preparation using aseptic technique: biodistribution studies; sterility and pyrogen testing.(3) Polarographic techniques: trace metal detection using differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry; cyclic voltammetry.