| Friday 10 September, 2010 |
GöteborgBIO
Medicinaregatan 8A
SE- 413 46 Göteborg
Sweden
Phone: +46 (0)31 - 61 24 02
Fax: +46 (0)31 - 41 97 00
The foundation for Denator was laid in 2001 by Karl Sköld and Marcus Svensson, two researchers from Uppsala University who were studying various Parkinson models in mice brains. The researchers were interested in comparing levels of specific peptides, small proteins, in diseased and healthy tissue. When they analysed the tissue sample, they discovered that the degradation process began to affect the sample significantly more quickly than they had previously thought, and that the analysis was substantially more difficult to perform after just a few minutes. They made use of conventional methods to preserve the tissue, but were not satisfied with the results they obtained. This problem led to the idea to stabilise biological samples. This idea is the basis for Denator´s very existence.
Technique
Concept development and research took a few years, and in 2006 the project was transformed into a separate company. Denator primarily aims towards academic research labs and pharmaceutical companies, selling a technique that quality-assures and stabilises biological samples. The system includes an instrument, Stabilizor T1, and a single-use product, Maintainor Tissue, which preserves the tissue sample.
"Our technique is based on a combination of heat, vacuum and pressure, without the need for chemical additives, and unlike many other players in the market we have also focused on design," says Charlotte. "People often assume that research scientists only bother about function, but design is an important aspect too."
The future
In August 2008 Denator launched its product Stabilizor T1 (see photo below) at the HUPO (Human Proteome Organisation) fair in Amsterdam.
Photo: Denator
To date the product has been sold to customers in Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands, but there is close cooperation with key market players in several other countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Belgium, Portugal and Norway. The company has therefore built up sales channels both in Europe and the United States.
Photo: Denator
Photo: Denator
for more informationBy Sandra Nordström
Facts about human proteins
There are approximately 25,000 human genes, and the number of different proteins is estimated at more than a million. Proteins are often present in several modified forms, are very important to biological function and may be changed in various pathological conditions. The protein and its modifications may be rapidly destroyed in the sampling and storage of biological samples and therefore lead to incorrect test results.
Facts about tissue samples
The classic way of studying tissues has been with tissue sections embedded in wax, which are examined under the optical microscope. In the last few decades of the 20th century methods such as cryosectioning, where frozen samples are cut extremely thinly, electron microscopy and immunochemical methods have brought about a substantial increase in knowledge in this field. However, classic histopathology remains an important method for diagnosing cancer, for example.
Year of birth: 1981
Education: M.Sc in Biotechnology and M.Sc in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Chalmers University of Technology.
Background: Has worked as head of school at GIBBS (Göteborg International Bioscience Business School) and as a consultant in IP and knowledge management at CIP Professional Services.
Hidden talent: Makes the world's yummiest pancakes, but needs to work on her tossing skills.
