TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OPPORTUNITY: Ultralow-Volume, Shallow, Microwell-Based Spatial Proteomics for Scalable Proteome Mapping of Tissues

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, operated by Battelle Memorial Institute, Pacific Northwest Division (PNNL)’s Technology Transfer Program solicits inquiries from companies interested in obtaining license rights to commercialize, manufacture, and market the following technology. License rights may be issued on an exclusive or nonexclusive basis and may include specific fields of use. PNNL provides no funding in conjunction with these potential licenses.

TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OPPORTUNITY: A specially designed standardized 96-well plate for collection, microscope compatibility, and spatial proteomics analysis of tissue voxels.

Overview:  High-resolution spatial proteome mapping requires the ability to analyze anywhere from thousands to tens of thousands of small tissue voxels (or pixels) using proteomics conducted via mass spectrometry (MS). The efficient collection of tissue voxels presents a significant challenge—this is a labor-intensive process, and it often takes up to 2 weeks to collect 240 tissue voxels. By developing an optimized well plate, researchers can pave the way for routine, robust, high-throughput, and cost-effective collection.

Description: Collaborating with industry to design, optimize, and refine an ultralow-volume, shallow, microwell-based well plate, researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have developed a prototype of an ultralow-volume plate that is fully compatible with all types of load cell measurement instruments and that can achieve the automated, rapid, and precise collection of thousands of single voxels. This plate has broad applications for the collection and processing of various types of tissues before they are subjected to MS-based proteomics analysis.

The researchers have acquired significant amounts of spatial proteome mapping data and are currently preparing this new technology for mass production.

Benefits:

• A unique technology featuring an ultralow-volume, shallow, microwell-based SBS 96 well plate design to ensure processing compatibility.
• Addresses the challenge of achieving the efficient, high-throughput collection of small tissue voxels.
• Broad application to different types of tissues (fresh, frozen, optimal cutting temperature-embedded, and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded).

Development Status:

TRL: 6

IP Status: Patents pending.

For all inquiries, please reference Battelle IPID 33279

By coming to Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, operated by Battelle Memorial Institute, Pacific Northwest Division (PNNL), businesses of all sizes tap into technology and expertise, much of it already developed through multi-year government investments. At PNNL, we have created and moved technologies into the marketplace for over 50 years. Making our broad array of intellectual property and expertise available to businesses is part of our mission as a taxpayer-funded laboratory operated for the U.S. Department of Energy. It’s our job to tackle the most challenging problems in science, energy, the environment, and national security. By partnering with us, businesses gain valuable insights into emerging and new technological developments to solve their problems. 

What We Offer Businesses

• New technologies and other intellectual property available for licensing
• Collaborative development to transform technologies into customized products
• Access to nationally and internationally known, entrepreneurial-minded staff who understand the fast-paced, solution-focused culture of industry
• Connections to a vast entrepreneurial ecosystem for specialized expertise
• Access to EMSL, the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, a DOE scientific user facility at PNNL 

Learn more about our licensing opportunities and the support we provide at: https://www.pnnl.gov/licensing-technology-transfer

NOTE:  THIS IS NOT A PROCUREMENT.  This opportunity aims to promote public awareness of PNNL-developed technology products and potential for future licensing opportunities. We do not engage in purchasing, manufacturing, procurement decisions, or providing funding. Please send letters of interest to the attention of the POC identified within this opportunity and reference Battelle IPID 33279.

Primary POC: Commercialization Manager, Kannan Krishnaswami