Bruker Announces Ultra-High Field NMR Orders from Major NMR Infrastructure Investment in the UK

Bruker today announced recent orders for its AVANCE® ultra-high field (UHF) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy systems from the United Kingdom.

Investment of £20 Million for Eight UK Universities Includes Two 1 GHz Systems

BILLERICA, Massachusetts – August 6, 2018 – Bruker today announced recent orders for its AVANCE® ultra-high field (UHF) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy systems from the United Kingdom. The orders include two 1 GHz NMR systems for the University of Warwick and for the University of Birmingham. The orders also include CryoProbes® and AVANCE NEO console upgrades to existing 800 and 950 MHz systems at several universities across the UK.

The funding was provided by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), in collaboration with the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). These councils also form part of UK Research & Innovation (www.ukri.org). 

UKRI’s Chief Executive, Professor Sir Mark Walport, said: "The UK's global stature in research and innovation is founded on access to internationally competitive infrastructure. This investment means researchers will have systems that provide greater sensitivity and a greater understanding of molecular structures, with potential impacts in pharmaceuticals, biomaterials, materials science and biotechnology."

Dr. Falko Busse, President of the Bruker BioSpin Group, commented: “The major investment in next-generation NMR technology by the UK research councils is evidence of the importance of NMR for structural biology, research on disordered proteins, drug discovery and advanced materials research. We are very pleased to support this initiative and to provide the enabling tools for this cutting-edge research.”

The University of Warwick has ordered an AVANCE 1.0 GHz solid-state NMR spectrometer which will serve the UK national research community in the physical and life sciences. The instrument will provide new structural and dynamic information in chemistry, materials science and biology, and adds to Warwick’s capabilities that include an AVANCE 850 MHz solid-state spectrometer. The new 1 GHz will enable researches from across the UK to be trained with the most advanced equipment. Crucial industrial research in sectors such as pharmaceuticals and catalysis will also benefit from this investment.

Professor Steven Brown from the University of Warwick's Solid-State NMR Group stated: “It is tremendous for the UK research community that a world-leading 1 GHz NMR system dedicated to solid-state applications has now been ordered, following support of scientists from 18 UK universities and 6 UK industry companies for the funding application.”

The University of Birmingham will focus their future 1 GHz NMR spectrometer on biomedical applications, and to develop new analytical methods for drug discovery and development. Professor Ulrich Guenther added: “The 1 GHz technology will be a crucial step-change for the UK NMR community by providing a tool to study the most challenging problems in structure and behaviour of molecules across chemical and biomedical sciences, including real-time measurements of metabolism in cancer cells.”

In addition, upgrades to existing systems will invigorate NMR research throughout the UK:

  • University of Oxford: A new CryoProbe for an existing AVANCE 950 MHz system will provide increased sensitivity for the analysis of a wider range of scarce and low-concentration compounds.
  • University of Edinburgh: An upgraded 800 MHz system and probes will provide a focal point for NMR research together with major Scottish universities as well as with an outreach to industry. 
  • University of Leicester: An upgraded 800 MHz system will be used for method development and training of new NMR scientists, as well as to develop in-cell NMR technology.
  • University of Nottingham: An upgraded 800 MHz system will provide enhanced sensitivity and an increased range of applications.
  • University of Liverpool: An upgraded 800 MHz will include additional solid-state capabilities.
  • University of Sheffield: The 800 MHz NMR facility will be upgraded to give five times faster acquisition, and also to add high-pressure NMR analytical capabilities.

About Bruker Corporation (NASDAQ: BRKR)

Bruker is enabling scientists to make breakthrough discoveries and develop new applications that improve the quality of human life. Bruker's high-performance scientific instruments and high-value analytical and diagnostic solutions enable scientists to explore life and materials at molecular, cellular and microscopic levels. In close cooperation with our customers, Bruker is enabling innovation, improved productivity and customer success in life science research, in applied and pharma applications, in microscopy and nanoanalysis, and in industrial applications, as well as in cell biology, preclinical imaging, clinical phenomics and proteomics research and clinical microbiology.

Bruker 1.0 GHz NMR magnet

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