ÄKTA™ start makes automated and reliable protein purification affordable to wider Life Sciences Community.
Bangalore, India -- 06 March 2014: ÄKTA™ start, a compact, affordable and easy-to-use preparative chromatography system for laboratory-scale protein purification by GE Healthcare Life Sciences, a business unit of GE Healthcare (NYSE: GE), has been awarded the prestigious Scientists' Choice Award. ÄKTA start was announced as the winner of 'Best New Separations Product of 2013' award during a ceremony held at the Pittcon 2014 Conference and Expo in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
The Scientists' Choice Award is conducted annually by SelectScience, an independent, expert-led scientific review resource for the worldwide scientific community. The awards enable scientists around the world to voice their opinions on the best laboratory products. This year's Scientists' Choice Awards attracted over 2,500 nominations and votes from scientists around the world.
Kerry Parker, Editor-in-Chief of SelectScience, said: "We are delighted to recognize the new products that have made a real difference to laboratory work in 2013. We received a huge number of nominations and votes, which confirms what a successful year it has been for innovative laboratory products."
The award is a testimony to GE's commitment to developing innovative solutions and technologies that makes healthcare more accessible and affordable around the world. ÄKTA start, launched in December 2013 is the latest addition to GE's new generation of ÄKTA systems and is the first Life Sciences product designed and developed by the company's research and development center in India, for the world. GE Healthcare is a pioneer of medical technology innovation in India with over 125 product innovations and 25 complete products coming out of its John F Welch Innovation Centre, Bangalore.
Anurag Gupta, Managing Director, Life Sciences, GE Healthcare, India, said: "This is truly an outstanding recognition for our solution. ÄKTA start breaks new ground as it improves affordability and helps to accelerate research and innovation not only in India but also globally. We are excited that scientists around the world have recognized the potential of this solution. We would like to thank those over 400 enthusiastic scientists and manual users who provided us feedback, insights and direction in designing this simple, easy to use protein purification system"
Protein purification is a laborious process that isolates a single type of protein from a complex biological mixture, and is essential in developing bio-pharmaceutical drugs used in the treatment of diseases such as cancer, viral diseases and when developing vaccines. ÄKTA start helps researchers eliminate the hassle of manual protein purification, while providing automated control of the purification procedure.
Its affordability will allow more researchers to take advantage of GE Healthcare Life Sciences' protein purification expertise and experience.
GE Healthcare Life Sciences provides expertise and tools for a wide range of applications, including basic research of cells and proteins, drug discovery research, as well as technologies for start-to-finish large-scale manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals and medical imaging. The company has been steadily increasing its footprint in India through the establishment of an R&D center, Fast Trak BioPharma Services that support India's rapidly growing biopharmaceutical industry, and a customer training and education center in Bangalore. Its extensive range of products are, for example, used for dope testing in Indian Sports, forensics/human identification by the Indian Army, and filter papers by steel, cement, water, beverages and healthcare industries.
India is one of the largest producers and exporters of generic drugs and it is fast emerging in the bio-pharmaceutical space, with more than 20,000 educational and research institutions preparing the next generation of bio-researchers and scientists.
About GE Healthcare
GE Healthcare provides transformational medical technologies and services to meet the demand for increased access, enhanced quality and more affordable healthcare around the world. GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter - great people and technologies taking on tough challenges. From medical imaging, software & IT, patient monitoring and diagnostics to drug discovery, biopharmaceutical manufacturing technologies and performance improvement solutions, GE Healthcare helps medical professionals deliver great healthcare to their patients.
GE Healthcare is at work for a healthier India. We are focusing on some of the toughest healthcare challenges of India -- lowering maternal and infant deaths; enable early detection of cancer for early treatment, addressing heart disease the burden etc. We design, develop and manufacture technologies in India for India and the world that will enhance access to quality healthcare at affordable costs to more people. For our latest news, please visit http://newsroom.gehealthcare.com.
GE's Presence in India : Present in India since 1902, GE works to innovate, partner and develop technology solutions in energy, healthcare, infrastructure and financial services that improve the quality of life in the country. With over 13,000 employees, GE's imagination is taking the nation to the future with ideas designed and developed in India - for India and for the rest of the world.
With over 5300 technologist, GE's research centers in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Chennai are developing new technologies for both India and the world while the 13 local manufacturing facilities bring products, services and technologies closer to the customers. GE in India has partnered with a number of Indian companies to develop localized solutions, meeting the needs of the country. Committed to social development across the world, GE in India is closely engaged with local communities on social and environmental issues. Follow us on @GEIndia for updates.
| Manoj Menon | Parvathy Jaya |