News

Apply now for the ATCC Innovation Challenge

ATCC is excited to launch their 2025 Innovation Challenge, inviting researchers to explore bold, creative applications of their ThawReady™ Assay Ready Cells, an innovative line of products  designed to accelerate cell-based assays and eliminate the need for lengthy cell expansion and banking prior to starting bioassays, saving valuable time and money.

Running through November 30, 2025, the challenge offers researchers an opportunity to win free ThawReady™ products and gain visibility through collaboration with ATCC in webinars, conference showcases, and other scientific platforms. To enter, researchers must submit a short proposal (up to 1000 characters) describing how they plan to use ThawReady™ cells in their innovative research. Winning entries will receive complimentary products and the opportunity to share their work with the broader scientific community.

Two models are available for the challenge:

ThawReady™ THP-1 (TIB-202-AR)

  • Derived from a human monocytic leukemia patient.
  • Ideal for immunology, toxicology, and cancer research.
  • Supports assays such as monocyte differentiation, phagocytosis, and co-culture studies.
  • Preserved in a chemically defined, animal-free formulation.
  • Ready to use upon thawing with ≥80% viability.

 ThawReady™ THP-1 NF-κB-Luc2 (TIB-202-NFkB-LUC2-AR)

  • Engineered to express luciferase under NF-κB control.
  • Enables sensitive, quantitative analysis of NF-κB activation.
  • Demonstrates over 200-fold increase in luminescence upon LPS stimulation.
  • Maintains functionality and morphology post-thaw, even after extended rest periods.
  • Suitable for drug screening, pathway analysis, and biocompatibility testing.

 

Recent News

06/02/2026

TearSolutions Receives FDA Orphan Drug and Fast Track Designations for Lacripep® in Neurotrophic Keratitis and Initiates Phase 2 Clinical Trial with First Patients Dosed

TearSolutions, Inc. (“TearSolutions”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel ophthalmic therapeutics, today announced receiving Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Orphan Drug (ODD) and Fast Track Designations for Lacripep in Neurotrophic Keratitis (NK) and initiating a Phase 2 clinical trial with first patients dosed. The FDA’s ODD provides incentives, including tax credits for clinical testing and

06/02/2026

Contraline Announces $92.5 Million Series B Financing to Advance NES/T Male Contraceptive into Late-Stage Development

Contraline, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel male contraceptives, today announced the closing of a $92.5 million Series B financing co-led by BVF Partners L.P. and RA Capital Management, with participation from GV (Google Ventures), Lumira Ventures, Invus, and other new and existing investors. In conjunction with the closing of the Series B financing,

06/02/2026

GEN Names BioHealth Capital Region a Top 3 U.S. Biopharma Cluster for Fourth Year in a Row

The BioHealth Capital Region, spanning Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., has once again been named one of the nation’s Top 3 biopharma clusters by Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN), marking the region’s fourth consecutive year in the Top 3. GEN’s 2026 “Top 10 U.S. Biopharma Clusters” ranking was authored by Alex Philippidis, Senior Business