Life Science award for Innovative Space Science Company: XCAM
23 Mar 2012
Scientific Camera System Manufacturer XCAM Ltd has won the national Innovation Award for their work in Life Sciences.
The front two camera elements in a vacuum chamber (detectors are about 3cmx6cm).
Credit:XCAM
The Medilink UK Healthcare Business Awards celebrate the best of the British Life Sciences sector. This award recognises XCAM’s achievements as the leading innovator in the sector over the past year.
Surprisingly XCAM didn’t start life in the field of biological research but was created in 1995 as a spin-out from world class Space Science research at the University of Leicester. Now, the expertise that XCAM has developed from working with X-ray detectors which were originally for astronomy allows it to provide vital customised camera equipment for a range of scientific and industrial applications.
The advanced camera systems designed and manufactured by XCAM, using charge-coupled device and CMOS imaging technology, are applied in some of the most advanced life science research in the world. They are providing much clearer images of atomic-level structures such as viruses and proteins. Such detailed imagery is revolutionising our understanding of potentially deadly viruses which will provide global benefit by informing the development of future antivirus products. For example, XCAM have supplied cameras used to capture world leading images of the giant Mimivirus, at the world’s first XFEL (X-ray free electron laser) experiment at Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron (DESY) in Germany.
XCAM CEO Karen Holland says, “Whilst we began many years ago as a small company selling just a sensor controller, we began to recognise that our expertise, gained through working on varied interesting projects could be applied commercially to bioscience research. We researched the opportunities and decided to take the bioscience development further, a decision that has lead to this award. The greatest accolade is always to be recognised by your peers for what you do.”
Medilink East Midlands is the life science industry association for the East Midlands. Medilink’s have provided XCAM with a wealth of expert support and guidance over the years. They aim to provide a range of specialist support services to its network of over 4000 contacts in order to help healthcare and bioscience companies establish, develop and grow.
