February 22, 2021 -- Thermo Fisher Scientific acquired cell-sorting technology assets from Propel Labs, a wholly owned subsidiary of SIDIS. Under the terms of the agreement, the recently introduced Bigfoot Spectral Cell Sorter and approximately 40 employees will become part of Thermo Fisher's Biosciences business. Propel Labs will continue to operate as a separate entity, according to a press release.
The Bigfoot Spectral Cell Sorter accelerates sorting by up to 10 times that of other sorters while maintaining cell viability and improving ease of use, Thermo Fisher said. It has an integrated class II biocontainment system that eliminates the need for separate biosafety cabinets. Researchers can study more cell populations from samples of limited quantity to better understand biological systems, the firm added.