More than 60 customers shared their experiences with high-content screening (HCS) and analysis and provided insights for the development of new tools at Cellomics' second annual European user group meeting, held this month at Trinity College in Dublin.

Cellomics, a Pittburg, Pa.-based creator of HCS systems and a unit of Fisher Biosciences, uses meetings in the US and Europe that bring together scientists from pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and academic institutions to address HCS applications and technologies, which are playing an increasing role in cell biology research and drug discovery, the company said.

The meeting at Trinity College, which is a Cellomics customer, included an update on Cellomics' expansion in Europe (its European headquarters is in Berkshire, England); scientific presentations by customers, who briefed attendees on their use of HCS; and an introduction to complementary technologies offered by Fisher Biosciences, including HCS and analysis reagent technologies from BioImage AS of Denmark, which Fisher acquired in April; and an overview of new products including two new technologies: the Neuronal Profiling BioApplicaton, an image analysis module for studying neurite outgrowth and different types of measurements associated with neuronal biology; and the VTI Live module, live cell chamber and kinetic software for Cellomics' ArrayScan VTI HCS readers.

About 40 scientists at Trinity College use HCS technology, and the number is growing, said Anthony Davies, high-content analysis research facility manager at Trinity's Institute of Molecular Medicine. The college has also developed a master's program in HCS, with the participation of specialists from research institutions and high-content analysis technology companies including Cellomics.

Cellomics' East Coast user group meeting will be held August 11 at the Hyatt Regency Boston. For more information, visit: www.cellomics.com