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Nucleome Therapeutics is a leading UK biotech which specialises in decoding the dark matter of the human genome to deliver first-in-class precision medicines.
Its mission is to shine a light on the dark genome – the largely unexplored non-coding regions of DNA – to unlock the potential to inform drug discovery and development for autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
Originating as a start-up within Oxford University’s Biotech incubator, the BioEscalator, huge investment from capital investors including Oxford Science Enterprises, M Ventures, Pfizer Ventures, and Johnson & Johnson Innovation, has helped the company to expand its pioneering genetic research and development.
When relocating from a shared facility at Oxford’s Old Road Campus – home to many of the University’s world-class institutes and departments – Nucleome Therapeutics needed a reliable and highly efficient autoclave to support its pioneering genetic research and development.
As a leading manufacturer of autoclaves in the UK and a familiar and trusted brand around the Oxford campus, LTE Scientific was commissioned to undertake the project within the company’s new laboratory in Oxford Science Park’s Schrodinger Building.
The road to installation
Working closely with LTE’s Sales Manager, Anthony Campbell-Carr, Nucleome Therapeutic’s Director of Facilities Paul Brackstone managed the project from identifying the requirements of the research-grade autoclave to the installation itself.
Paul advised on the specifications to meet Nucleome Therapeutic’s requirements of waste disposal and Anthony carried out several site visits to ensure a swift and smooth instal process.
Due to the nature of Nucleome Therapeutic’s research, the autoclave steriliser was essential to the facility achieving Containment Level 2 for handling biological materials, a HTA licence for disposing of biological waste and GMO consent.
Installing an on-site autoclave also removed the need and high costs of hiring a private contractor to collect discarded lab waste materials.
With the relocation to the Schrodinger Building well underway, the manufacture lead time was critical.
The Touchclave-LAB 200K: Model K200KE3AB went into production and instal was completed as scheduled just a few months later.
Installation
The install itself went smoothly with just one relatively minor challenge to overcome due to the logistics of the Schrodinger Building itself.
“The Schrodinger Building was originally built as an office and converted into a lab,” said Paul.
“The lift is a problem because it’s small and wasn’t designed to accommodate some of the types of equipment laboratories need. It’s a widely known issue here.”
“Anthony was aware of the size limitations from previous site visits and the LTE team took the autoclave apart to transport it in the lift and reassembled once it was in the facility.”
“The install itself was a fairly straightforward one. We didn’t need any validation of the cycles, it’s not for clean rooms and we’re not using any products for injectables and so forth, it’s just used for discard materials.”
The Touchclave-LAB 200K is a mid-sized rectangular chamber lab autoclave, which is easy-to-use and exceptionally versatile. The general-purpose autoclave machine is capable of processing a wide range of load types, offering maximum efficiency in steam sterilisation.
“It’s very high performing and we’re really happy with it,” said Paul, who has worked in laboratory settings for around 30 years.
“The user function is great, and the cycle times are much better compared to previous equipment I’ve used.
“It has enhanced our health and safety procedures for waste control and helped us to achieve time efficiencies.”
“Alongside discarding waste, we also use it for sterilising lab coats because of the materials we work with. That’s always a challenge because of the steam penetrating and shrinking the fabric, but this autoclave does it really quickly and they don’t come out sopping wet thanks to the effectiveness of the vacuum system.”
“It means we don’t have to have our lab coats commercially cleaned or use disposable lab coats which is a saving for us. We’re also able to move away from environmentally damaging disinfecting chemicals which is something I’m looking to achieve more and more.”
Customer support
LTE provide a comprehensive range of support and expertise when it comes to choosing equipment, through to installation, after sales and servicing.
Paul said he’s been impressed by the level of customer service from Anthony and all the LTE team involved in the project.
“One thing that LTE does, and which other companies should do but often don’t is site visits.
“Anthony did an initial site inspection to ensure everything was going to fit and we had the right water and electricity supplies. That identified that we needed to upgrade our power supply and drainage early on which helped to smooth and speed up the install.
“The lead time was essential for us. One of the main reasons we went with LTE was their ability to manufacture what we wanted within the right time frame.”
“They’re also competitively priced and the quality is high. You know with LTE you’re going to get something that’s going to last and they have equipment in some very well respected and eminent places. They have a long standing, well-earned reputation.
“The customer service has been great throughout.”
“We had an issue with the fuses and an engineer was out the next day.”
“We wanted to change a cycle temperature and after contacting Anthony, LTE gave advice over the phone and went through it over email so my lab manager could do it himself instead of sending an engineer out.”
Overseeing the LTE purchase and instal from start to finish, Anthony said it was definitely a very closely aligned project which helped to smooth the entire process.
“Our collaboration with Nucleome Therapeutics was a great example of close teamwork,” said Anthony.
“We worked together to ensure that the autoclave we provided met their specific requirements for waste disposal and containment levels.”
“The Schrodinger Building presented us with a few challenges due to its size limitations, but we were well-prepared for it. Our team’s dedication to making the installation process smooth and efficient was evident in how we disassembled and reassembled the autoclave steriliser to transport it.”
“The Touchclave-LAB 200K provided to Nucleome Therapeutics is not only efficient but also versatile, catering to a wide range of load types. It’s a testament to our commitment to providing high-quality autoclaves for laboratory settings.”
“Customer support is a cornerstone of our service. We believe in thorough site visits and ensuring that our customers have the equipment they need within the right timeframe. Our consultative approach, flexibility and high-quality equipment are key aspects of what sets LTE apart.”
“The customer service we offer doesn’t end with installation. We stand by our equipment and provide timely support. Whether it’s addressing issues or guiding clients on the use of their autoclave, our team is always ready to assist.”
Find out more about how LTE Scientific can provide tailored solutions for your laboratory requirements and equipment servicing or call 01457 876221.
