Click here to read the full press release.

SBIR PHASE II GRANT RECEIVED.   March 2006.

EcoArray was granted a Phase II SBIR grant by the NIEHS to continue research with microarrays in the field of environmental toxicology.  Our successful Phase I grant (begun OCT 2002) validated the use of microarrays for a small set of environmental contaminants and resulted in prototype gene chips for the two species, as described in our publications, presentations and posters.  Our goal for this Phase II work is to expand the current gene chips to a larger, more robust format, resulting in a 10,000+gene fathead minnow array and 2,000+ largemouth bass array.  We will use these arrays to identify and characterize the genetic signatures for 14 different compounds commonly found at superfund sites, and that are known to have distinct modes of action.  Many of these compounds are on the 2003 Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) Priority list. 

The Principal Investigator for this project is Dr. Patrick M. Larkin, Vice President for Research and Development at EcoArray. Collaborators include:

Dr. Donald Tillitt, Branch Chief, US Geological Survey, Columbia, MO

Dr. Donald Versteeg, Project Director for Environmental Toxicology, The Proctor and Gamble Company, Cincinnati, OH

Dr. Maria S. “Marisol” Sepulveda, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

Dr. Alan Kolok, University of Nebraska, Omaha, NB

Matthew Schwarz, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Grand Island, NB

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GROWING CUSTOMER BASE.  2004-2005

We conducted a variety of services for 24 customers.  Customers included researchers from North America and Europe.  Services included gene discovery, array construction, bioinformatics and laboratory services. 

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2,000-GENE FATHEAD MINNOW ARRAY.  November 2005. 

The 2,000-gene Fathead Minnow Microarray (CH-FHM-2000) was introduced at the 26th annual Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) meeting in Baltimore, MD.  The arrays are manufactured by Agilent Technologies using their SurePrint inkjet deposition of in situ synthesized 60-mer oligonucleotides on superior quality 1” x 3” (24.2 mm x 76.2 mm) treated glass slides for overall excellent performance.  This process minimizes variability across each production lot (batch to batch) and provides the highest consistency in slide-to-slide comparisons.  This array is well annotated: 70% of these genes have been matched (e-score < E-5) to named genes in the published databases, The 2000, gene fathead minnow array was developed as part of a research agreement (CRADA) with the EPA. 

 Click here to read the full press release

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NANOTECHNOLOGY PROJECT.   May 2005

EcoArray used its 2,000-gene FHM microarray in a project with the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (WWICS), Washington DC.  The project was designed to use microarray technology to look at gene expression patterns in fathead minnows after exposure to nanoparticles and to compare microarray technology to traditional analysis for effectiveness and cost.  Mr. David Rejeski, Director, Foresight and Governance Project, WWICS, was investigating promising emerging environmental technologies.  The project, defined by EcoArray and Dr. Eva Oberdorster, Southern Methodist University, used nano-iron particles from Toda Kogyo Corporation and Biox Tech, Japan. Dr. Oberdoerster conducted traditional survivability tests using daphnia to determine the exposure level for FHM, and EcoArray used a beta version of its 2000-gene fathead minnow microarray.  Interpretation of the data is complete, and a final report should be released in 2006.  (Back to top)

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25th ANNUAL SETAC MEETING.  November 2004.

EcoArray‘s booth at the 25th annual meeting of the Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry in Portland, OR featured services and membrane arrays.   John Rogers, Dr. Patrick Larkin, and Barbara Carter were on hand to display the products and services offered by EcoArray.  EcoArray founder and advisor Dr. Nancy Denslow and EcoArray Vice President Dr. Patrick Larkin presented microarray technology in several sessions.

SBIR PHASE 1: GRASS SHRIMP/SHEEPSHEAD MINNOW.   September 2004.

EcoArray received notification that funding has been approved for the SBIR Phase 1 project “Microarrays in Grass Shrimp and Sheepshead Minnows.”  Principal investigator for EcoArray is Dr. Patrick M. Larkin.  EcoArray’s collaborator is Dr. Marius Brouwer, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, The University of Southern Mississippi.  The project sequenced genes from both species, constructed 500-gene nylon membrane arrays for each, exposed animals to pyrene and copper, and used the arrays to obtain gene expression patterns for genes that are differentially regulated by these compounds.  (Back to top)

“PROTECT WILD DOLPHIN” GRANT.  August 2004

EcoArray (Dr. Patrick M. Larkin) and the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Inc. (HBOI, Dr. Gregory D. Bossart) have entered into a joint project entitled “Development of Genetic Assays for Health Assessment in Wild Dolphins.”  The 18-month grant will allow EcoArray to test the feasibility of using microarrays for performing health assessments in Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus).  More specifically, we hope to identify unique genetic biomarkers in dolphins that are correlated with overall health status, levels of anthropogenic compounds, and exposure to brevetoxins and/or bacteria.  The award is funded by the sale of Protect Wild Dolphins license plates in Florida. 

CRADA with EPA.  November 2003. 

EcoArray entered into a formal Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the EPA to review several microarray platforms and decide upon a commercial manufacturer for the fathead minnow environmental toxicology microarray.  EPA laboratories in Duluth, MN and Cincinnati, OH participated in the study with EcoArray. Agilent Technologies products were chosen based on a number of criteria, such as quality of results, ease of hybridization, consistency of results, compatibility with a broad range of equipment, and cost.  EcoArray then developed a 2000-gene fathead minnow microarray and tested it with samples exposed to estradiol and fadrazole.  The analysis of the data from these exposures is ongoing, and we expect publications in 2006.

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START-UP.  October 2002. 

EcoArray began operations.  The company was co-founded by John B. Rogers, Dr. Nancy D. Denslow, and Dr. Patrick M. Larkin.  A 2-year SBIR (Small Business Initiative Research) grant, “Arrays to Measure Endocrine Disruption in Multiple Fish," from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) provided early funding.  EcoArray began licensing gene and array technology that was developed by Dr. Denslow and Dr. Larkin at the protein core laboratory at the University of Florida.  Our administrative offices and development laboratory are located at the Biotechnology Development Incubator ("BDI") of the University of Florida in Alachua, FL, a small business facility.  We hired our first Research Scientist, Barbara J. Carter, at this time.