As a returning attendee now working in biotech, I have spent much of my time on the exhibit floor at the Moscone Center looking for technologies that address some of the common challenges we face in the lab, from improving assay throughput to increasing sensitivity and finding more physiologically relevant models.

So far, a few exhibitors have really stood out. ORIA Bioscience is a completely new company for me, and their technology for isolating intact organelles such as lysosomes and mitochondria could open new possibilities for functional assays and screening intracellular targets that are otherwise difficult to access. This capability feels particularly relevant for de-risking early-stage R&D. Cube Biotech is a company I had heard of before, but I had not yet explored their approach to membrane protein stabilization using copolymer-based platforms. I found their methodology really interesting for tackling notoriously tricky targets, as preserving the native lipid environment is vital for both small molecule screening and structural studies.

FIDA Bio also caught my attention with their in-solution, label-free biophysical assays. While these are highly relevant for protein stability work, I also see them as a powerful tool for quantifying molecular aggregation directly. Similarly, the progress at Sophion Bioscience and Nanion Technologies in automated electrophysiology is impressive. Their move toward organelle-based patch clamping and high-throughput off-target screening for ion channels is a great example of how biophysical tools are evolving to meet the safety and efficacy demands of modern drug development.

On the final day of exhibits, I plan to visit several more exhibitors I have been curious about, including NanoTemper, Refeyn, Lumicks, and Molecular Devices. The exhibit floor is a great reminder of how these tools help address key challenges in both basic research and industry. The exhibit floor is a great reminder of how these tools help address key challenges in both basic research and industry. If there are other exhibitors you think are worth visiting, or if you have found something particularly compelling on the floor, please leave a comment. I would love to hear your recommendations.