TIRF instruments and TIRF accessories for microscopy and spectroscopy, fluorescence illuminators
TIRF Labs offers instruments and TIRF accessories for microscopy and spectroscopy for real-time detection and analysis of biomolecular interactions, including nucleic acid hybridization, protein-DNA and protein-protein interactions, detection of molecular markers, including proteins, nucleic acids, and metabolites. TIRF limit of detection is at the level of single molecules, volume of bioanalyte - down to sub-nano-liters. Our novel lg-TIRF microscopy systems are well-suited for cell biology studies, monitoring real-time dynamics of lipid rafts, analysis of antobody-antigen interactions, and numerous other applications.
Keywords: Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) TIRF spectroscopy, TIRF microscopy and TIRF electrochemistry. Single molecule detection and manipulation, biodetection, molecular diagnostics devices and methods. TIRF microscopy and TIRF spectroscopy accessories, fluorescence illuminators.
Interview Q&A
How long have you been in business?
TIRF Labs was founded in September 2012. However, TIRF Labs inherited long-term know-how and four lines of well-refined TIRF products from our predecessor - TIRF Technologies, which was founded in 2004 and received $4.2M in SBIR and BAA grants from U.S. government to develop advanced TIRF instruments and methods.
What is your primary product or service?
TIRF - Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence, also known as evanescent wave or evanescent field fluorescence, is in our name. TIRF Labs offers broad range of TIRF products - from add--on accessories for microscopes and fluorometers - to turnkey systems for molecular diagnostics, drug screening and single molecule detection experiments. Two of our most popular products include TIRF Flow System accessory for fluorometers, and lg-TIRF system for fluorescence microscopy.
How did you first become interested in your line of business? (if owner) - What is your background? (If owner or store manager)
I am Dr. Alexander Asanov, the founder, CEO and Scientific Director of TRIF Labs. I am a scientist, naturalized U.S. citizen, in 1997 immigrated to the U.S. from Russia. In 1992, back in Moscow my former student Ludmila Larina and I were working on a challenging project, which goal was to detect and manipulate with single biomolecues - globular proteins and DNA. We combined TIRF with electric field, watched TIRF images of single molecules and made them to rock and roll using electric field. Later, when we published our studies, it turned to be that we pioneered new exciting technique, which finds applications in numerous areas, such as cell biology, real-time microarrays, molecular diagnostics of cancer and other diseases, nanotechnology, screening for drugs, etc.
How do you differentiate yourself from other businesses in your category and area?
TIRF in combination with electric field control (TIRF-EC) is several orders of magnitude better than alternative biodetection technologies. TIRF Labs offers broad range of TIRF and TIRF-EC products that are uniquely sensitive - down to single molecules, rapid - detect bioanalytes in several seconds or a few minutes. TIRF requires no or minimal sample preparation and can detect in parallel hundreds of biomarkers of different classes: proteins, nucleic acids, metabolites, and even chemical agents. No other biodetection technology exists, which combines this unique set of advantages and can be miniaturized down to small handheld device.
How many locations do you have and do you have plans to expand?
One location in Cary at the present time. There is potential for rapid expansion if we recieve new U.S. goverment grants and/or venture capital investments.
Provide detailed directions to your location
In Cary, North Carolina, from High House Road, turn to Jenks-Carpenter Rd.. Grendon Place is next to the intersection of Jenks-Carpenter Rd and Waldo Rood Blvd
What type of payments do you accept?
We accept checks, wire transfer, all major credit cards via PayPal
Which areas do you service?
The entire U.S., Western Europe, Japan, China, Mexico
Who owns your company or runs daily operations?
Dr. Alexander Asanov
What are your hours of operation?
9AM- 6PM Monday-Friday
What is the best compliment anyone can give you?
We are happy to hear when our TIRF products help to our customers to more accurately and rapidly diagnose a disease or pathology, better understand biology of cancer, realize, for example, that humans and yeast employ similar mechanisms and proteins to perform basic biologic functions. Life is amazingly complex, we are happy that our TIRF products help to understand how certain block of this complex molecular machinery works so that most of the time we are healthy and fully functional.
What is your favorite quote or Bible verse?
75.Mic 6:8: He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.