Benfang Helen Ruan

Title : Detection of “Hidden” drug resistance by the EZMTT assay

Abstract:

The EZMTT-based cell viability assay is a true continuous assay that may be used to generate cell growth curves easily and precisely under various conditions.  Its sensitivity is 10-30 times better than that of the bacterial turbidity assay, so that minor drug resistance can be detected reliably.  Researchers (Scientists, doctors, students) can use the EZMTT method to investigate the growth condition-induced changes in cell proliferation, and applications in biomedicine, including cancer, aging, drug resistance, drug discovery, environment contamination, material biocompatibility, fermentation, immunology, etc.
The EZMTT method is simple, reliable and precise. With one step addition of the reagent, scientists can follow cell growth from a single well for hours, days, or weeks. The method is high throughput and makes the measurement of doubling time and drug induced proliferation rate very easy.   The EZMTT method is a great tool to help “visualize” the effect of growth conditions and to obtain data for cutting-edge research or teaching. The high sensitivity reveals “hidden” drug resistance and facilitates drug discovery and clinical diagnosis.

Biography:

Dr.  Benfang (Bennie) H. Ruan holds a doctorate in Biochemistry and Bioanalytical Chemistry from Rice University and completed post-doctoral research in Molecular Biology and Biophysics at Yale University.  From 2005 to 2013, she actively worked as a scientist/project leader in therapeutic area of drug discovery at Wyeth/Pfizer and then at Forma Therapeutics.  In 2013, she won the Distinguish Global Expert Award from Zhejiang Province and accepted a full professor position at Zhejiang University of Technology. Now she has published 50 research articles and leads a 20-member research team working on tumor metabolism and drug discovery.