Public Funding for Drop-Tech Ltd

Cell-based assays for single cells currently rely on imaging and thus 'fixing' the cells on a glass slide, or screening cells by flow cytometry: both techniques damage or even kill the cells. Droplet technology is becoming attractive because of its inherent sample and cost savings and microfluidic droplets are particularly suited to isolating single cells into individual droplets. We believe that repeat analysis of the same cell (different assays or over time) will provide a new tool for assays that are currently not possible. Drop-Tech is developing a new laboratory instrument that allows researchers to quickly and easily encapsulate single cells and conduct multiple experiments on the same cell; this is not immediately possible with existing technologies. At first, the Drop-Tech platform will enable critical research for the understanding of cancer and stem cell processes. It will then be developed into a diagnostic system to screen patient tumour samples, to determine the class and subclass of cancer, which will help dictate the correct prescription of drug. This will result in a more efficient first time treatment of patients and significantly reduce costs to the health system. We believe this technology should address a real problem in cancer research and diagnostics and so the aim of this project is to examine the best route for this technology to be brought to market and to help guide further developments of the system