BD and A*STAR's Singapore Immunology Network Enter Research Partnership to Advance Cell Analysis Technologies

SINGAPORE, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Becton Dickinson Holdings Pte Ltd (BD), a global leader in life science technologies, and the Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN) a research institute under Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), with expertise in immunology and flow cytometry, today announced a research partnership aimed at improving existing cell analysis technologies in order to advance immunology research and bring forth discoveries that can be translated into positive healthcare outcomes.

Under the collaboration, BD will provide SIgN with their novel Horizon Brilliant™ reagents which, combined with BD's state-of-the-art flow cytometer, the FACSymphony™, will enable more identification and detailed analysis of cell populations than before. The flow cytometer and reagents will be employed by SIgN in their ongoing research on age-related loss of immunity, or immunosenescence, through deep immune phenotyping of a cohort of elderly who suffer from various acute and chronic conditions.

The BD FACSymphoy™ system can simultaneously detect up to 30 different markers at the single cell level, and offers high-speed analysis with detection rates of up to 40,000 events per second. SIgN is the first in Asia to employ the BD FACSymphony™ system. This game-changing technology will greatly increase the number of parameters that can be investigated simultaneously in a single cell, thereby enabling SIgN researchers to rapidly identify the components of the immune system that are most affected by aging, and accelerate the development of solutions to immunosenescence.

Dr. Anis Larbi, Principal Investigator of SIgN and the scientist leading this collaboration, said, "To stay at the forefront of research excellence, SIgN is looking forward to uncover profound insights in the biology of aging and disease progression through the use of cutting-edge technologies. We are certain that the FACSymphony™ will yield invaluable information on cell phenotypes and functionality in the field of fluorescence cytometry."

"The FACSymphony™ is a state-of-the-art instrument which enables researchers to take cell analysis to the next level, leading to greater understanding of cellular processes, including age-related loss of immunity, and facilitating the discovery of novel biomarkers for translational research that can lead to new diagnostics and therapies for patients," said Mr. YJ Kim, Vice President of BD Biosciences.

About BD

BD is a global medical technology company that is advancing the world of health by improving medical discovery, diagnostics and the delivery of care. BD leads in patient and health care worker safety and the technologies that enable medical research and clinical laboratories. The company provides innovative solutions that help advance medical research and genomics, enhance the diagnosis of infectious disease and cancer, improve medication management, promote infection prevention, equip surgical and interventional procedures, optimize respiratory care and support the management of diabetes. The company partners with organizations around the world to address some of the most challenging global health issues. BD has more than 45,000 associates across 50 countries who work in close collaboration with customers and partners to help enhance outcomes, lower health care delivery costs, increase efficiencies, improve health care safety and expand access to health. For more information on BD, please visit www.bd.com.

For more information, please contact:

Chris Colwell
Public Affairs, Greater Asia
Becton Dickinson Holdings Pte Ltd
DID: (65) 6664 2740
Email: Christopher.Colwell@bd.com