MicroED, a powerful technique for determining the structures of small crystals, has the potential to revolutionize various fields, but its accessibility can be limited by cost. How does Shuimu BioSciences address this challenge, making high-quality MicroED analysis more affordable? This article explores the strategies and technologies Shuimu employs to lower the barriers to this advanced technique.

Leveraging Cryo-EM Infrastructure and Expertise

• Synergy with Cryo-EM: Shuimu's expertise in cryo-EM provides a strong foundation for its MicroED services. By leveraging existing infrastructure, including advanced microscopes and data processing pipelines, Shuimu reduces the overhead costs associated with MicroED.
• Experienced Team: Shuimu's team of scientists are experts in structural biology, protein science and computation. This expertise is crucial for efficiently handling cryo em data processing and ensuring that projects are completed effectively, saving time and resources.
• Advanced Facilities: Shuimu operates eight state-of-the-art 300kV cryo-EM microscopes. The availability of multiple advanced microscopes allows for high throughput, optimizing the use of resources, which helps to reduce overall costs.

Optimizing Data Collection and Processing

• AI-Driven Solutions: Shuimu uses AI-driven software like the SMART series to enhance the efficiency of the entire cryo-EM data analysis process. This software generates high-resolution models using less data and fewer machine hours, reducing costs and processing time. Shuimu's chameleon cryoem is also mentioned as a tool to help solve structures and overcome challenges in sample preparation.
• Efficient Data Collection: Shuimu offers a 24/7 service with flexible scheduling, allowing researchers to book data collection services within as little as 3 days. The platform is designed for high-throughput data collection and daily maintenance, ensuring optimal performance and maximizing efficiency, which lowers operational costs.
• Optimized Sample Preparation: Shuimu provides a free cryo-sample freezing service which helps to ensure samples are optimally preserved for analysis. They also offer a variety of grid options, such as the GraFuture™ graphene grids, which can overcome sample preparation challenges. These options can improve the quality of data and reduce the need for repeated data collections, which decreases overall costs.

Research Support Programs

• Young Scientist Cryo-EM Research Support Program: Shuimu’s Young Scientist Cryo-EM Research Support Program (YSSP) provides free initial assessments for selected projects. This includes negative staining, sample preparation, and grid screening on a 300kV cryo-EM microscope. Additionally, the program may offer up to 100% research fund support for outstanding projects. By providing access to resources and funding, Shuimu makes advanced structural biology techniques more accessible to young researchers, who are often limited by budget constraints.
• Commitment to Accessibility: Shuimu aims to bring the power of cryo-EM to innovative therapeutics developers. This commitment to the scientific community drives them to seek ways to lower costs and promote access to high-quality structural analysis.

Focus on Value and Service

• Transparent Communication: Shuimu provides clear communication channels, including email, with a commitment to respond to inquiries within 24 hours. They also offer project consultation and communication to ensure that the researcher’s objectives are clearly understood. This transparency helps to reduce any uncertainties and allows for a more efficient process overall.
• Comprehensive Reporting: Shuimu offers comprehensive reports with statistical analysis of data, enhancing the usability of the results. By providing user-friendly and detailed reports, Shuimu helps researchers get the most out of their data, reducing the need for additional analysis or repeated experiments.

Conclusion

Shuimu makes high-quality MicroED analysis more affordable through a combination of strategies. By leveraging its existing cryo-EM infrastructure and expertise, optimizing data collection and processing with AI, offering research support programs, and prioritizing value and service, Shuimu lowers the barriers to this powerful technique. These efforts enable researchers to access the benefits of MicroED and advance their scientific goals without being limited by cost, ultimately helping to push the boundaries of structural biology and drug discovery.