October 2024 Results presented by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) at the Metabolomics Association of North America (MANA) demonstrated the reproducibility of the TruQuant workflow across laboratories.
The goals of the study were to evaluate the IROA TruQuant metabolomic profiling platform across multiple labs and to differentiate heterogenous sample mixtures using metabolic profiles generated using the platform.
Unsupervised random forest clustering of normalized metabolic data from all labs revealed anticipated clustering by sample groups with pure samples clustering furthest from each other and mixtures clustering toward the middle.
September 2019 – IROA’s TruQuant Semi-targeted Workflow Kit is now available. The kit includes two high-quality fully labeled standards which enables the identification of common and new metabolites, correction for all source ionization losses and “Dual-MSTUS™” normalization for better quantitation and tools to assure QC platform reproducibility within/across studies. Economical and software automated.
September 2019 – IROA’s profiling approach is established as a tool in the actinomycete natural product chemistry arsenal. Using a modified IROA protocol for global evaluation, researchers at the Department of Chemistry, University of North Florida determined the impact of a iron chelator on the Nocardiopsis dassonvillei metabolome. Results suggested that N. dassonvillei produces novel siderophore(s) to adapt to iron limitation.
July 2014 IROA Technologies, University of Florida Collaborate on Cancer and Fatty Liver Disease Biomarkers
ANN ARBOR, MI – IROA Technologies will provide its patented technology, software and expertise to support the University of Florida in a collaborative search for biomarkers of liver cancer and other liver diseases. The collaboration will leverage the University of Florida’s Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) Biorepository, which contains a diverse collection of normal and diseased human tissues and may be used for IRB-approved research. In addition, UF’s Southeast Center for Integrated Metabolomics (SECIM) will provide state-of the-art metabolic profiling using the IROA protocol as a foundation for exploring liver biochemical diversity and disease response.
IROA Technologies and UF will focus on analyzing and validating clinical tissue biomarkers in liver cancer and fatty liver disease, de Jong said, adding that UF will provide medical support and interpretation of results through an established expert liver disease and mass spectrometry Advisory Committee. Beyond the initial discovery phases, the ability of CTSI and SECIM to support all levels of validation and testing will be critical to the long-term success of this endeavor.
“The partnership with IROA Technologies and Dr. Chris Beecher will allow UF to develop novel methods for the identification of biomarkers for human disease. UF and the CTSI are now uniquely positioned to advance and translate metabolomics to improve health for millions of Americans,” said David R. Nelson, M.D., an assistant vice president for research at UF and director of the UF CTSI. “The relationship between IROA Technologies and SECIM keeps us at the cutting edge of new and powerful metabolomics technologies,” said Art Edison, Ph.D., Director of SECIM.
Financial and other terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
About IROA Technologies LLC: (IROATECH) develops analytical tools to simplify the measurement of metabolites for multiple applications including general research, diagnostics, toxicology, agriculture, and bioprocess. IROATECH markets IROA Biochemical Quantitation kits providing labeling reagents and the IROA ClusterFinder™ software package for data analysis. IROATECH also offers complimentary access to the IROA Portal for advanced statistical analysis.
About CTSI and SECIM: The UF Clinical and Translational Science Institute works on many fronts to improve human health by accelerating the translation of scientific discoveries into practical applications and practices for the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and cure of human diseases. The Southeast Center for Integrated Metabolomics is part of the UF CTSI and is developing an integrated metabolomics service to provide high-quality data, user-friendly statistical analysis tools, training and pilot funding to help users get the most out of a metabolomics study.
March 2014 Nicolas Barthelemy Joins IROA Technologies Board of Directors
ANN ARBOR – Nicolas Barthelemy has been elected to the IROA Technologies Board of Directors. Prior to joining IROA’s board, Nicolas served nine years at Life Technologies, in various executive-level business and operations positions, including serving as President of the $850M Cell Systems Division and finally Chief Commercial Officer. “I am thrilled that Nicolas has agreed to join our board. He has a wealth of commercial experience and his reagent and cell culture background coupled with his enthusiasm and intelligence is a huge plus to help us as we move into new markets. His presence will certainly make us stronger,” said Felice de Jong, CEO of IROA Technologies.
Prior to joining Life Technologies, Nicolas held a series leadership positions with increasing responsibilities in Biogen Idec’s commercial and manufacturing organizations. His career began with at Merck, Inc., where he held technical positions in both the pharmaceutical and vaccine divisions.
“I am very excited to join the board of a company who is poised to make a real difference in the exploding field of metabolomics”, Nicolas said. “IROA enables an accurate metabolite profile of cells, tissues and biofluids which has tremendous diagnostics potential.”
September 2013 IROA Technologies Partners with University of Florida in the Establishment of the SECIM
ANN ARBOR – IROA Technologies has partnered with the University of Florida to join in the establishment of the Southeast Center for Integrated Metabolomics (SECIM) which was awarded on September 18th with a five-year, $9 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.
Chris Beecher, Chief Scientific Officer of IROA Technologies had this to say, “The IROA protocol represents an important step in the evolution of metabolomics. The inclusion of IROA as a core platform in the SECIM center is tremendous. The pre-eminence and stature of Professors Yost and Edison makes this an incredible opportunity to push the edges in metabolomics technologies. The recognition of this potential by the NIH and their study sections has been very gratifying.”
Arthur S. Edison, co-principal investigator and director of the Southeast Center for Integrated Metabolomics and a Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in the UF College of Medicine commented, “Isotopic Ratio Outlier Analysis (IROA) has really changed the way my lab has been doing metabolomics. It is a powerful method that I think can transform the entire field. I am thrilled that IROA is a big part of SECIM and that we can help demonstrate to SECIM users the importance of this new technology.”
With the grant funding, the SECIM is developing an integrated metabolomics service to provide high-quality data, user-friendly statistical analysis tools, training and pilot funding to help users get the most out of a metabolomics study, whether it is a basic science metabolomics study or for clinical purposes.
“The University of Florida and SECIM are excited to receive this NIH U24 grant. IROA is poised to have a big impact on metabolomics, and we’re looking forward to playing a major role in IROA development and implementation” said Richard A. Yost, co-principal investigator and co-director for SECIM, Professor and Head of Analytical Chemistry in the UF College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
The CEO of IROA Technologies, Felice de Jong expressed that she was also proud and excited that IROA has joined the SECIM. “The expertise of the multiple core resources within the university is leveraged and integrated with world-class tools and technology. This Center has every opportunity to revolutionize the way we currently measure metabolites and the world will benefit through the discoveries that will be made at the SECIM. We look forward to advancing the IROA protocol”.
IROA Technologies develops metabolic profiling tools for the comprehensive analysis of a biological system’s global metabolism with enhanced ability to identify and quantitate compounds, and provide accurate data interpretation. To learn more about the IROA technology visit “Our Technology” on IROA Technologies’ homepage, www.IROAtech.com or click on the link “What is IROA?”
SECIM brings together expertise and resources from multiple colleges and units at UF as well as Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory at Florida State University, Ohio State University, the University of Georgia, Imperial College London, the University of Geneva and industry partners IROA Technologies and Thermo Fisher Scientific. Learn more
August 2013 IROA Technologies Featured as a Technology Team Success Story by the Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center, “Developing the Next Generation of Metabolomics”
ANN ARBOR – Metabolomics, also known as metabolic profiling, offers the best and most direct measure of physiological activity. It is a perfect vehicle for exploring any system that fundamentally relies on a biochemical foundation. In 2010, Felice de Jong along with co-founder and technical inventor Chris Beecher, both with deep backgrounds in metabolomics , set out to impact one of the thorniest and longstanding issues for researchers in this space – materially improving the ability to measure metabolites. Read More
June 10-11th, 2013 IROA Biochemical Quantitation Protocol Featured at the American Society for Mass Spectrometry
Together with collaborators, IROA Technologies presented three research studies each using the Isotopic Ratio Outlier Analysis (IROA) biochemical quantitation protocol at the 2013 ASMS conference held in June in Minneapolis. In separate experiments, the method was used to measure the metabolomes of C. elegans, myxobacteria and field-grown maize and in each case hundreds of metabolites were detected, identified and quantitated, including many metabolites that have not been previously described. The IROA protocol has many advantages over current methods including the removal of artifacts, noise and ion suppression, resulting in dramatic data reduction so that only pure biological data can be more easily interrogated using the IROA ClusterFinder software. In addition, the number of carbons in every molecule is readily calculated, enabling accurate molecular formula assignment and identification. Read More
May 1st, 2013 The Isotopic Ratio Outlier Analysis (IROA®) Protocol is Featured in Genetic Engineering News Article
The Isotopic Ratio Outlier Analysis (IROA®) Protocol was highlighted in a Feature Article, entitled “Metabolomics Advances Reshape Dx Arena” in Vol 33, No 9 of Genetic Engineering News. Read More
April 15th, 2013 NextGen Metabolomics Changes Name to IROA Technologies and Raises Series A to Launch Metabolic Profiling Technology
IROA Technologies, LLC (formerly known as NextGen Metabolomics, Inc.) announced the closing of a Series A equity financing round to continue the company’s strong commercial and operational growth. An affiliate of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, based O2 Investment Partners, LLC led the round, and Ann Arbor SPARK and Invest Detroit also participated.
Proceeds will be used to fund, among other things, the development of IROA® cell culture media for metabolic profiling, according to CEO Felice de Jong. The firm said today that they are currently in discussion with potential marketing partners and expect their products to be widely available within one year.
“We are looking forward to providing tools to researchers, including cell culture media and software, so that important small biochemical biomarkers can be identified to understand how organisms respond to stressors such as drugs and disease. Tools such as these are critical for drug development and diagnostics”, Dr. de Jong commented. Read More
April 9th, 2013 Dr. Chris Beecher Presents at the 2nd International Conference and Exhibition on Metabolomics & Systems Biology.
IROA Technologies’ Dr. Chris Beecher presented as a Key Note Speaker at the 2nd International Conference and Exhibition on Metabolomics & Systems Biology in Chicago. Dr. Beecher spoke about the precise measurement of biological response in metabolomics using the IROA® protocol. Read More
March 13th, 2013 Dr. Chris Beecher Presents at the Pittcon 2013 Technical Program
Dr. Beecher, NextGen’s CSO gave a presentation at PittCon on March 13, 2013 during the Integrated Metabolomics: New Strategies and Innovations session that was arranged by Professor Richard A. Yost, University of Florida.
The title of Dr. Beecher presentation was “An Isotopic Labeling Technique for Metabolomics”. Read More
October 24th, 2012 MetaboNews features an interview by Chris Beecher, PhD, NextGen’s Chief Scientific Officer
MetaboNews is produced by The Metabolomics Innovation Centre (TMIC), and is intended to keep metabolomics researchers and other professionals informed about new technologies, software, databases, events, job postings, conferences, training opportunities, interviews, publications, awards, and other newsworthy items concerning metabolomics. The October issue of MetaboNews features an interview with Chris Beecher, CSO of NextGen Metabolomics. Read More
September 15th, 2012 Bioanalysis Special Report Outlines the Advantages of the IROA Protocol
The September issue of Bioanalysis featured a special report entitled, “Addressing the current bottlenecks of metabolomics: Isotopic Ratio Outlier Analysis, an isotopic-labeling technique for accurate biochemical profiling”, describing NextGen Metabolomics’ advanced metabolic profiling protocol. Read More
June 25th, 2012 NextGen Metabolomics Presents Phenotypic Analysis, a Unique Application of the IROA® Protocol
At the Metabolomics Society meeting held on June 25th-28th at the Marriot Wardham Park Hotel, Washington DC, NextGen Metabolomics presented a unique application of the Isotopic Outlier Analysis (IROA) technology, namely the creation of the “Phenotypic” signal. This technique is used to perform an IROA experiment that is useful for biopsies, or other situations where it is not possible to label both the experimental and control samples. In this case the 95% signal with its M-1 may be used to identify its natural abundance carbon equivalent by using the height of the M-1 to absolutely identify it.
February 2012 NextGen Metabolomics is Presented Best 2011 Technology Award
Every year, the New Enterprise Forum (NEF) presents awards to exceptional entrepreneurs in the following categories: Best Technology, Best Presentation, and Best Business Model. NEF honored NextGen Metabolomics with the Best Technology Award for 2011. Read More
November 2011 NextGen Metabolomics Wins Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition Award