Analyst Blog

1st UK Microfluidics for Analytical Chemistry Conference will be held on Thursday 1 February 2018 at the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton, UK.

This one day conference aims to bring together UK researchers developing and applying microfluidic systems for chemical and biochemical analysis. The meeting will cover all types of devices (lab-on-chip, digital microfluidics, paper microfluidics, total analytical systems etc.) and concern application to all forms of molecular analysis (biomedical, environmental, forensic, quality control etc.)

It will provide an opportunity to discuss recent developments in the field and develop future research opportunities as part of an overall aim to nurture and promote the UK microfluidic and analytical communities. This will also offer PhD students and early career researchers a chance to present their work.

Sessions will feature presentations by invited speakers, including keynote presentations from Nicole Pamme (Advisory Board Member for Lab on a Chip) and Joshua Edel (Advisory Board Member for Analyst), in addition to presentations selected from submission of abstracts. There will also be a chance to view the posters and exhibition, with additional networking possible during a wine reception at the end of the event.

Key deadlines:

Abstract deadline – 3^rd December, 2018

Earlybird registration deadline -17^th December, 2018

Standard Registration deadline – 12^th January, 2018

To register, please click here and for more information, please visit the Conference website here.

The 34th International Symposium on Microscale Separations and Bioanalysis (MSB 2018) is to be held at the conference center of the Windsor Barra Hotel (Barra da Tijuca) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from February 18-21, 2018.

Since its inception in 1989 (Boston, Massachusetts, USA), MSB has evolved into an interactive forum for the discussion of cutting-edge research on the frontiers of separation science, spanning fundamental theory, method development, technology advancements to innovative applications relevant to human health, medicine, food and the environment.

MSB 2018 centers on science and people by creating a confidential ambience that facilitates vigorous exchange between delegates. This edition will feature stimulating pre-conference short-courses, distinguished plenary speakers and a parallel program covering a wide spectrum of current microscale bioseparation techniques.

The symposium format encompasses several significant features:

• A scientific program, where over 70% is based on submitted abstracts.
• A double-blind peer review process ensuring top science regardless of reputation or seniority.
• Oral presentations with 1/3 of the time reserved for active discussion.
• Topic sessions introduced and chaired by leading researchers.
• A young investigator session with rising stars in microscale separations.
• Poster sessions with selected 3-minute talks.
• Science Café lunch seminars by vendors presenting advances in commercial separation technology.

Registration includes lunches, opening & closing receptions, and a symposium dinner at the iconic “Pão de Açúcar” (Sugar Loaf) scenic venue.

Since the MSB 2018 date is just one week after Carnival in Rio, delegates are invited to come a day earlier to join  a pre-symposium social activity: the Champion’s Parade of Rio Samba Schools on Feb. 17, 2018.

Key Dates

• Nov. 21, 2017: Abstract Submission for Oral Presentation closes
• Dec. 1, 2017: Notification of Acceptance for Oral Presentations
• Dec. 8, 2017: Deadline for Registration of Authors for Oral Presentation
• Dec. 15, 2017: Preliminary Oral Program Posted Online
• Jan. 19, 2018: Close for Early Bird Registration at Lowest Fees
• Jan. 26, 2018: Close for Poster Abstract Submission for Inclusion in the Online Program
• Feb. 2, 2018: Program Posted Online
• Feb. 9, 2018: Deadline for Submission of Late Breaking Presentations
• Feb. 18, 2018: Symposium Short Courses and Opening
• Feb. 19-21, 2018: 34th International Symposium on Microscale Separations and Bioanalysis

Click here to register

The 66^th Annual Meeting for the Society of Analytical Chemistry was held from 9th – 12th September, 2017, in Tokyo, Japan.

Analyst was honoured to sponsor poster prizes for the meeting. Our Executive Editor (Philippa Hughes) was also in attendance and presented the awards.

Analyst poster prize presentation

(left to right) Fukui Yoshiharu, Yoshida Kentaro, Philippa Hughes and Tenda Keisuke

List of winners:

• Kohno Soshi, Tokyo Institute of Technology
• Yanaga  Yohei, Kyushu University Faculty of Engineering
• Yoshida Kentaro, Tokyo Science University Graduate School
• Fukui Yoshiharu, Tokyo Institute of Technology
• Nagashima Moeko, Tokyo Metropolitan University
• Tenda Keisuke, Keio University
• Yamamoto Sho, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology
• Takeuchi Riko, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences
• Kobayashi Mizuki, Tokyo University of Science

Congratulations to all of the poster prize winners!

The RSC Tokyo International Conference 2017: Analytical Science & Technology for Global Sustainability was held from 7th – 8th September. The Royal Society of Chemistry and JAIMA (JAPAN Analytical Instruments Manufacturers’ Association) jointly organised the RSC-TIC（Royal Society of Chemistry-Tokyo International Conference）during JASIS 2017, one of the biggest exhibitions of analytical and scientific instruments in Asia.  The conference focuses on analytical science and technology and consists of invited lectures and poster presentations.

Top: Plenary Speaker, Professor Craig Banks

Bottom: Event organiser Professor Takehiko Kitamori 

By all accounts, the 6th instalment of the RSC-TIC was another success. Across the two days, there were 277 delegates, coming from around the globe. The number and diversity of delegates made for some high quality poster presentations. As an official sponsor of the poster presentations, Analyst Executive Editor (Philippa Hughes) was delighted that there were 120 poster presentations at the conference. We would like to congratulate the Analyst poster presentation award winners:

• Direct measurement of Pd-107 in Pd metal recovered from spent nuclear fuel with laser ablation ICP-MS
  Shiho Asai1, Ohata Masaki 2, Takumi Yomogida1, Morihisa Saeki3, Hironori Ohba3, Yukiko Hanzawa1, Takuma Horita1, Yoshihiro Kitatsuji1
  1 Japan Atomic Energy Agency, 2 National institute of advanced industrial science and technology, 3National institute of quantum and radiological science and technology
• A Thiol Sensing Probe Based on a Caged Luciferin
  Mayu Hemmi, Yuma Ikeda, Yutaka Shindo, Shigeru Nishiyama, Kotaro Oka, Daniel Citterio, Koji Suzuki
  Keio University Graduate School of Science and Technology
• High sensitive nanobeads’ immunoassay with preconcentrator enhancement
  Yu-Jui Fan1, Chih-Zong Deng2, Horn-Jiunn Sheen2
  1 School of Biomedical University, Taipei Medical University, 2 Institute of Applied Mechanics, National Taiwan University

Philippa Hughes (second from left) presenting the Analyst post prizes

Whilst attending RSC-TIC, Philippa also gave a talk entitled “How to get published in high impact journals”. The talk was well received and offered invaluable insights into the world of scientific publishing. Other guest speakers included Craig Banks, who is a member of Analytical Methods‘ Editorial Board and Abe Lee, Editor in Chief for Lab on a Chip.

  Speakers dinner attendees

Join us in London to discuss diagnostics for Antimicrobial Resistance

In a recent report, the World Health Organisation reiterated concerns that not enough antibiotics are in development. Along with making new antibiotics, we also need to manage demand for these medicines. For example, in the US, it is estimated more than 2/3 of antibiotics prescribed to treat respiratory problems are unnecessary, that equates to about 27 million doses a year. Reducing the over-consumption of antibiotics is multifaceted involving stewardship programmes, regulation and crucially diagnostics. In his final report for the Review on AMR, Lord Jim O’Neill outlined how “doctors must still prescribe antibiotics based only on their immediate assessment of a patient’s symptoms, just like they used to when antibiotics first entered common use in the 1950s.”

Rapid, high quality and affordable diagnostics are urgently needed. As part of the Learned Society Partnership on AMR (LeSPAR), we are bringing together experts to discuss some of the challenges facing discovery, development and use of diagnostics for infectious disease. Topics covered at the workshop will include the clinical challenges, molecular diagnostics, metrology and analytical technologies. With a particular focus on supporting early career researchers from academia and industry, we hope to stimulate links across the many disciplines and sectors needed to realise a healthy pipeline of new diagnostics tests and technologies. We hope that you can join us in London on 20 November 2017.

Secure you place by registering online now at rsc.li/diagnostics4AMR

Early bird registration deadline  – 02 October

Standard registration deadline – 06 November

Euroanalysis 2017, will be held from 28th August – 1st September 2017, in Stockholm, Sweden.

Along the lines of the long traditions of Euroanalysis, the meeting will cover all aspects where analytical chemistry plays a role including fundamental and applied sciences. It will offer plenary and keynote presentations on cutting-edge topics by internationally renowned leaders of the field, followed by contributed talks and poster presentations to stimulate interdisciplinary discussions. In addition, a young researchers’ session will be organized to provide opportunities for and encourage Ph.D. students and postdocs to share their findings.

The conference has attracted about 500 participants from more than 30 countries, covering academia, governance and industry. The organisers hope that this will help to strengthen the networks between chemical societies and their members, working in diverse fields.

In addition to the lectures offered in the program, there are also opportunities to visit the exhibition, attend short courses and vendor’s seminars. A number of prominent analytical chemists will also be awarded.

The Newton fund workshop on exploring new collaborations – working at the chemistry microbiology interface to develop new antibiotics is being held from 14th – 18th December, 2017, at the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases in Bengaluru, India.

One of the largest issues that modern medicine is currently facing is how to combat the emergence of bacteria which is resistant to antibiotics. With potentially fatal ramifications worldwide, this is an area of research which is clearly vital. As such, Public Health England (PHE) and the Rajiv Gandhi Institue of Chest Diseases (RGICD) are combing forces for a five day residential workshop.

The workshop is aimed at early stage scientists from India and the UK, with a rough split of 20 participants from each country. Successful applicants will benefit from a hugely valuable mentoring system from luminaries in the fields of medicinal medicine,  clinical microbiology and translational research.

The cost of travel, visas, accommodation and meals will all be covered by the organisers.

Application Deadline: 15th September 2017

Click here to find out more

The first TISuMR Symposium on Tissue Culture and Magnetic Resonance will take place from 24th – 27th September, 2017, in Winchester, UK.

The culture of tissue under controlled conditions holds great promise for the future of medicine and the life sciences in general. While the study of cells provides detailed insight into biological processes at the molecular and supra-molecular scale, understanding many disease processes requires a more systemic approach.

Culture of  tissues, either from organ samples or grown entirely in vitro, can provide insight at the organ system level, revealing not only the function of individual cell types, but also their interaction with each other as well as with the extracellular matrix.

Combining advanced microfluidic lab-on-a-chip approaches to tissue culture with non-invasive, in-situ NMR investigation of life processes is the central theme of the TISuMR project. This symposium will bring together clinical experts on liver pathology,  researchers working on microfluidic tissue culture,  and scientists developing novel magnetic resonance techniques, with the following aims:

• Exchange ideas across discipline boundaries.
• Discuss opportunities and challenges in the field.
• Establish the potential of the TISuMR approach for developing liver disease models.
• Foster mutual understanding between the biomedical and technical aspects of the project.

The technical program will feature a number of leading scientists in the fields of hepatology, microfluidic technology, and magnetic resonance as keynote speakers. In addition, members of the TISuMR team will present their projects and early results.

Register here for the conference