When Cerba Research opened its New York facility 20 years ago, it founded its United States company as a leading provider of clinical diagnostics and clinical laboratory services.
To support international clientele, Cerba Research has recently extended this facility — now the U.S. Immuno-Oncology Center of Excellence — granting the company the capacity to offer even more comprehensive, integrated central lab services, specialty lab and biomarker solutions and diagnostic services across the world.
Over the course of a single weekend in July, Cerba Research U.S. moved into a 30% larger facility with no loss in activity, giving the lab 35,000 more square feet than before.
To make optimal use of that space, the U.S. team introduced additional cutting-edge equipment, increased capacity of its testing, sample handling and logistics areas and brought in additional scientific and operational experts.
“It’s a new space with a lot of light and a lot of color,” explains Chief Operating Officer Nele Langenaken, who founded Cerba Research U.S. in 1999. “Overall, it provides a clean, inviting, positive environment, which helps improve efficiency and motivation among staff, as well as helps us attract and retain top scientific talent.”
Cerba Research U.S. intends to maintain its close relationship with Northwell Health, the region’s largest laboratory. With more than 75 pathologists and a lab capable of processing more than 30,000 tests a day, its support means that Cerba Research U.S. can manage large-volume and fast turnaround requests.
With that said, its combination of advanced equipment and expert scientists makes Cerba Research U.S. a prime option for precision medicine clinical trials.
The industry is moving from quantity to quality and from routine to specialized. Nele created an ideal environment for customized assay development and validation for R&D projects.
Mario Papillon, Chief Executive Officer, Cerba Research
Cerba Research U.S.’s most exciting updates include:
Triple the flow cytometry capacity
The development meant that Cerba Research U.S. increased its complex flow cytometry capacity more than threefold. Additions to equipment included automated flow cytometers and full-spectrum machines that exhibit up to 40 colors.
We not only expanded our capabilities, we also optimized the process and created space for a new level of excellence in flow cytometry.
Nele Langenaken, Chief Operating Officer, Cerba Research
Quadruple the PBMC capacity
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are key components of immunology, oncology and infectious disease research. Cerba’s expansion offered an increase in PBMC and cell isolation capabilities as the company is now able to handle up to four times more sample volume than at the former location.
New histopathology immunohistochemistry (IHC) lab
Cerba Research U.S. now has an in-house histopathology laboratory with tissue processing, cytology and IHC solutions for biomarker discovery through to clinical validation for the first time. Cerba’s IHC capabilities cover multiplex, automated and specialized IHC.
Increased kit production
In 2021, Cerba Research U.S. was able to increase kit production by 40%, in contrast with this time last year. The new facility will enable Cerba to expand that production even further.
Increased sample reception and storage
Between 8,000 and 10,000 tubes per day are received by the expanded Cerba Research U.S. laboratory. It is anticipated that an increase of 20 to 25% will be seen in the next few years. Added storage space includes temperatures from ambient to -20°, -80 °C, with available liquid nitrogen, all monitored by a central temperature monitoring system.
An even stronger team
As the facility expands, so does Cerba’s team. With the addition of more scientists and operational experts, the U.S. team now has the depth to handle even the most exacting of projects.
Expansions in flow cytometry, PBMC and IHC capabilities offer the U.S. CoE an even greater global footprint with which to assist immuno-oncology clinical trials.
The expansion also supports CerbACT Asia, Cerba Research’s other immuno-oncology Center of Excellence, a purpose-built facility in Taiwan, which can provide state-of-the-art technology in FCM, IHC, histopathology and NGS sequencing.
We have a substantial team of flow cytometry scientists in the U.S., all with high international profiles. Combined with the clinical expertise of Northwell Health, our capabilities in North America are remarkable.
Mario Papillon, Chief Executive Officer, Cerba Research
Regardless of trial location, Cerba Research will be able to support projects from early research through to commercialization as part of a network that includes seven offices and access to over 400 labs across five continents.
Cerba Research, a strategic provider of diagnostic solutions, helps facilitate drug development by leveraging patient data and scientific insight to optimize R&D and commercialization globally.
Cerba offers early phase research, clinical development through central laboratory and diagnostic testing, assay and biomarker development and validation thanks to its international network of specialized laboratories.
Cerba partners with pharma and biotech organizations as well as government agencies and non-government organizations to transform clinical development and advance healthcare. Cerba Research is part of Cerba HealthCare, a prominent competitor in medical diagnosis.
About Cerba Research
For over 35 years, Cerba Research has been setting the industry standard for exemplary clinical trial conduct. Today, across five continents, with a focus on precision medicine, we are changing the paradigm of the central lab’s role in complex clinical research.
From protocol inception through development and to market, our passionate experts deliver the highest quality specialized and personalized laboratory and diagnostic solutions. Partner with us for the most efficient strategy to actualize your biotech and pharmaceutical products sooner and improve the lives of patients worldwide.
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