In June 2025, a team of engineers from eCyte, Inc. visited the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein at Imperial College London, where they successfully installed a high-throughput Raman-activated flow cytometer (FlowRACS) instrument and conducted technical training sessions. This milestone marks the establishment of Europe’s first demonstration centre for Raman-activated cell sorting (RACS) technology, initiating a long-term collaboration in synthetic biology between eCyte and Imperial.
During the visit, the eCyte team introduced the fast, non-disruptive, and label-free RACS technology and showcased the microfluidic flow cytometry design enabling high-throughput single-cell Raman analysis and sorting. The successful installation of the FlowRACS instrument was made possible through strong support from multiple Imperial departments. Through multiple cell-sorting experiments, eCyte engineers demonstrated the platform’s applications in synthetic biology, such as strain development, intercellular heterogeneity analysis, and real-time fermentation monitoring. Scientists at Imperial quickly mastered the instrument’s operation and were impressed by its elegant design, ease of use, and versatility across research and industrial settings.
Looking ahead, the eCyte and Imperial teams are excited to partner in building a demonstration platform for single-cell Raman spectroscopy technology. Together, they aim to expand its applications in synthetic biology and related fields, both within the Centre and across Europe. This collaboration aligns well with the Center’s core mission - enhancing sustainable food systems through nutritious, affordable, and delicious alternative protein solutions enabled by advanced science and engineering.
About eCyte, Inc.
eCyte, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of scientific instruments for phenotype-based single-cell profiling and sorting. Its single-cell Raman spectroscopy technology enables fast, non-disruptive, and label-free analysis and sorting of bacterial, yeast, fungal, and mammalian cells. This technology supports a broad range of applications in synthetic biology, microbiome research, microbial resource mining, and medicine. Additionally, eCyte’s microfluidic instruments accelerate research with advanced, high-throughput single-cell cultivation and phenotype screening.
About the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein
The Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein at Imperial College London is a global pioneer in sustainable protein research. It is committed to driving the alternative protein revolution through innovative solutions that support a sustainable, healthy, efficient, and resilient food system. The Centre spans seven academic departments at Imperial and conducts research in precision fermentation, cultured meat, bioprocessing and automation, nutrition, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.