Thermo Fisher Scientific presents 2015 Attune NxT Flow Cytometry Grants

Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced the recipients of its Attune NxT Flow Cytometry Grant programme for 2015.

Dr Charles Prussak, a professor at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, was selected for the award in recognition of his research into immune cell therapy for the treatment of cancer.

Meanwhile, Dr Bruno Sainz of the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid in Spain was also awarded for work focusing on the development of a state-of-the art liquid biopsy assay for detecting circulating cancer stem cells fused to macrophages in human blood samples.

Both scientists will be presented with an Invitrogen Attune NxT Flow Cytometer, which is valued at $199,500 (131,590 pounds), to support their future research.

Valerie Bressler-Hill, vice-president and general manager for flow cytometry at Thermo Fisher Scientific, said: "At Thermo Fisher, we believe that, as a leader in our industry, it is our responsibility to inspire and support scientists who have innovative solutions to one of the world’s most pressing problems – cancer."

This comes after the firm agreed to develop a next-generation sequencing-based companion diagnostic in association with Novartis and Pfizer last month.