CRT Introduces Online Reagents Portal

Cancer Research Technology (CRT), the development and commercialisation arm of Cancer Research UK, has launched Ximbio an online reagents portal for the life science community, where knowledge can be exchangedand reagents traded.

Researchers and technology transfer offices can virtually deposit their reagents to the portal and life science reagents companies can source new products via a straightforward commercialisation process. Ximbio returns a share of product-based revenues to the depositing institution.

Scientists looking for specific reagents have access to a fully searchable database, extensive datasheets and supplier options; it is intended that peer reviews of listed products will also be included as information becomes available. Each reagent record can be linked to the originating inventor, enabling scientists and institutions to be credited for their work.

Keith Blundy, Cancer Research Technology’s Chief Executive Officer, commented: “Over the past 25 years CRT has successfully built one of the world’s largest and most well-respected collections of life science reagents. Ximbio now provides us with the opportunity to extend our reach globally to provide an enhanced offering that better meets the needs of researchers, technology transfer offices, and life science companies.”

“Through in-depth analysis of our partnerships with technology transfer offices, life science reagents companies, and the research community, we recognised a real need for an easy to use, online reagents portal. This has been validated by the extensive stakeholder research we have undertaken over the past 8 months,” said Melanie Hardman, Head of Ximbio.  

“By unifying the reagent community in this way, to make tools more widely and easily available, we hope to accelerate life science research.”