AUBURN
SCIENTIST TO UNVEIL REVOLUTIONARY MICROSCOPE FOR SCIENTIFIC
COMMUNITY
A major breakthrough in microscope technology by an Auburn
researcher is being unveiled to a national scientific audience
this week.
 A
microscope using technology invented by Vitaly Vodyanoy of the
College of Veterinary Medicine provides far higher resolution
and has other significant advantages over current top-of-the-line
research microscopes. The new technology enables medical and
other researchers to observe living cells in extremely fine
detail and without delays or extra steps for processing which
are typical of current high-technology microscopes.
“The new technique extends light microscopy, offering a
unique view of live cells and cell processes while they are
occurring,” Vodyanoy said.
Aetos Technologies Inc., which licensed the technology from
AU, is announcing the national market entry of Vodyanoy’s
microscope technology at the American Society for Cell Biology
Annual Meeting on Dec. 4-8 in Washington, D.C.
The patented technology is based on a model Vodyanoy developed
nearly 10 years ago to support his research on other projects.
The veterinary researcher said he designed and built the first
model because no other microscope could meet his needs.
The technology has won praise from other researchers, including
John A. Smith of the University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical
School. Smith, division director of laboratory medicine in pathology
at UAB, told a Birmingham reporter that the new technology,
with its higher resolution and “real time” applications,
could help answer some fundamental questions of human biology.
The microscope accessory will be the first market offering by
Aetos, a company created in October 2003 to introduce the inventions
of AU and other researchers to commercial markets. “This
is our Phase 1 microscope product,” said Aetos President
and Chief Executive Officer Charles Ludwig.
Trademarked as the CytoViva 150, the microscope accessory is
adaptable to most major research and clinical microscopes currently
on the market and will sell for about $15,000 per unit, Ludwig
said. The price is a fraction of the cost of comparable but
lower-resolution technologies, added Barbara Foster, a nationally
recognized microscopy expert and marketing consultant working
with Aetos.
The journey from laboratory bench to a marketable product was
achieved in about 10 months. “We took Dr. Vodyanoy’s
proven technology and developed it into a high-end, extremely
versatile and cost effective package,” said Aetos Chief
Operating Officer Sam Lawrence.
AU Vice President for Research Michael Moriarty noted that Auburn
owns a 45 percent share in Aetos, but up to 60 percent of the
company’s net income will flow back to the university.
A portion of revenue from marketing the discovery will support
additional studies in veterinary and human medicine by a research
team that includes Vodyanoy and 15 colleagues in the College
of Veterinary Medicine.
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