Lightworks Optics Begins 2nd Year of NIH Grant

Precision optical subassemblies and systems provider LightWorks Optics Inc., announced it received approval for the second year of funding fro a Small Business Innovation Research Grant (SBIR) awarded by the National Institute of Health (NIH).

The company received funding under the SBIR “Lab to Marketplace” program. It is working with researchers from the University of California, Irvine to develop and commercialize a technology that can integrate micro-device fabrication and optical design to enable selection, separation and collection of adherent cells.

Cell selection and isolation can be attained by culturing adherent cells in polymer micropallets fabricated on a glass surface that facilitates biological imaging. When an adherent cell is identified, a laser microbeam is delivered to the micropallet to release the cell.

When collected, the cells can be used to study genomic and proteomic analysis, cultured to form a monoclonal cell population, or to evaluate the effectiveness of potential therapeutic agents.

For more information, visit: www.lightworksoptics.com