We believe in the power of research.
Scientific progress often begins with a change in perspective.
At Zellmechanik Dresden, we believe that understanding cells requires looking beyond molecular markers alone. Mechanical properties reveal aspects of cellular state, history, and function that are otherwise difficult to access.
This perspective led to the development of technologies that bring cell mechanics and label-free analysis into high-throughput experiments. By combining microfluidics, high-speed imaging, and real-time data analysis, we enable researchers to explore cellular properties from a different angle.
To support this approach, we design and build instruments for real-time deformability cytometry (RT-DC) and related methods for imaging cytometry, mechanical phenotyping, and label-free cell sorting.
Our goal is simple: provide scientists with tools that open new ways of looking at cells.
Our Team
Zellmechanik Dresden was founded by scientists and engineers working at the interface of physics, biology, and microfluidics. Our team develops technologies for label-free cell analysis and supports researchers worldwide in applying RT-DC methods to their biological questions.
The development of RT-DC technology and the AcCellerator platform has been supported by several research grants, innovation programs, and scientific collaborations.
Our work has received recognition through research funding initiatives and innovation awards supporting the translation of cell mechanics and label-free imaging cytometry into practical research tools.
A team of six partners joined forces for a SAB project funded by the SMWA with funds from the European Regional Development Fund. Aim of the project "TrioMed" is to develop cell-based assays and to establish them in clinical practice for the treatment of autoimmune or oncological diseases. Multiple sclerosis is the first target area in this project (partner: Zentrum für klinische Neurowissenschaften an der Technischen Universität Dresden, Medizinische Fakultät). Therefor will automate and standardize our AcCellerator (together with Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. and HTW-Dresden – Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Dresden). Additionally, laboratory management processes will be digitalized (partner: qualitype GmbH) and software for patient management will be integrated (partner: MedicalSyn GmbH).
Die ZELLMECHANIK DRESDEN GmbH ist im bundesweiten Unternehmenswettbewerb KfW Award Gründen 2018 als Landessieger Sachsen hervorgegangen. Die feierliche Auszeichnung fand am 11. Oktober im Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie in Berlin statt. Dies ist gleichzeitig die Auftaktveranstaltung für die Deutschen Gründer- und Unternehmertage (deGUT), in deren Rahmen der Preis vergeben wird.
Der Gewinn des Awards ist eine Qualitätsauszeichnung für junge Unternehmen. Mit seiner Vergabe möchte die KfW sowohl die erfolgreichen Gründerinnen und Gründer auszeichnen als auch dazu beitragen, dass der Schritt in die Selbstständigkeit mehr öffentliche Anerkennung erfährt. Unternehmen aller Branchen ab Gründungsjahr 2013 konnten am Wettbewerb teilnehmen. Die Preisträger aus 480 Bewerbungen sind von einer Jury mit erfahrenen Vertreterinnen und Vertretern aus der KfW, Förderinstituten, Wirtschaft, Politik und Medien ausgewählt. Bewertet wurden die Geschäftsideen nach ihrem Innovationsgrad, ihrer Kreativität und der Übernahme gesellschaftlicher Verantwortung. Für die Auszeichnung war auch maßgeblich, wie umweltbewusst die Umsetzung erfolgte und ob Arbeits- und Ausbildungsplätze geschaffen oder erhalten wurden.
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Time to celebrate: Incredible how time flies! It's already three years ago that we officially started our ZELLMECHANIK journey, now running a successful business with the best team in the world.
Looking forward to the coming years and our ultimate goal of cell mechanics for diagnostic and prognostic decisions in healthcare! Happy Birthday, ZELLMECHANIK DRESDEN!
Main author is our Head of Product Development: Philipp. The Guck lab did a great job combining RT-DC and fluorescence based cytometry. Here is the article. Here is the commercial version of the system. Contact us, if you are interested in RT-FDC.
The European Research Council (ERC) has awarded a Proof of Concept (PoC) Grant to Prof. Dr. Jochen Guck, research group leader at the Biotechnology Center of TU Dresden and ZELLMECHANIK DRESDEN GmbH. It is already the second PoC Grant for Prof. Guck. The first PoC Grant in 2014/15 (ERC Grant Agreement No 632222) allowed us to translate basic science of ERC-funded research (ERC-StG, Project No 282060) into a commercially available device. As a result of this work ZELLMECHANIK DRESDEN GmbH was founded and started selling the first product - AcCellerator - to customers in scientific research. Applications of this technology on blood cells start to show its great potential for therapy management of severe infections (see eLife publication). The current PoC Grant (ERC Grant Agreement No 780669) will enable us to intensively explore the best way to translate the latest research results into an in-vitro diagnostic device and prepare an access strategy to the market of medical devices. Our long-term mission is to help health care providers to improve their diagnostic and prognostic decisions for sustainable therapies, especially in the case of severe sepsis. For the next 18 months, the PoC Grant for a total amount of 150,000 € will serve to support the analysis of the competition, planning of clinical trials, development of intellectual property strategies, the search for strategic partners, and much more
Nadine is honoured as "foundress" of the year 2017 from the Saxonian Ministry of Social Affairs and Consumer Protection. Check out the nice portrait (sorry, only in German).
In October we presented our ideas amongst the 40 best european teams to more than 70 investors at HIGHTECH VENTURE DAYS in Dresden. We made very important connenctions, had a lot of fun and ... won the best pitch award 2016. (Photos: Frank Grätz)
Two team-members got a personal stipend for one year from the European scocial fund. We are happy to be supported by the European Union and proud that our business model got another approval.
The Business idea and commercialization concept was awarded with the second price as one of the best innovations in cross-cutting innovations. Read here.
ERC review panels, composed of independent experts, have favourably reviewed our proposal entitled:"High-throughput real-time characterisation of cell-mechanical properties" submitted to the ERC-2013-PoC deadline of the Call for Proposals ERC-2013-PoC-2. The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Research Council under the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP/2007-2013) / ERC Grant Agreement n. 632222.
