Latest news with #Binns
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lightcast Appoints Industry Veteran Philip Binns as Chairman of the Board
Former Agilent executive to help guide commercial growth strategies for groundbreaking benchtop single-cell functional analysis platform CAMBRIDGE, England & CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 02, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lightcast, a pioneering life science tools company, today announced the appointment of Philip Binns as chairman of its board of directors, effective May 1, 2025. With this appointment, the Lightcast board includes one investor director each from Arch Ventures, Illumina Ventures, M-Ventures, and Longwall Ventures; two independent directors, Kevin Knopp, CEO of 908 Devices, and Kevin Hrusovsky, chairman and former CEO of Quanterix; and observers from OMX Ventures, +ND Capital, and Terra Magnum. "We are thrilled to add Phil to our highly experienced board," said Paul Loeffen, PhD, CEO of Lightcast. "His extensive industry expertise and proven leadership will be invaluable as we evolve from a product development-focused company into a fully commercial organization, expanding our global reach and maximizing our impact in the life sciences market." Mr. Binns brings decades of experience in scientific instrumentation and leadership, recently serving as president of the life sciences and applied markets group at Agilent Technologies. He joined Agilent in 2010 through its acquisition of Varian, Inc., where he played a pivotal role in expanding the company's atomic and molecular spectroscopy portfolio into a market-leading business. In addition to his new role at Lightcast, Mr. Binns serves as chair and non-executive director of Epiminder, a company developing implantable brain-monitoring devices; as a director of the Bionics Institute, a globally recognized medical device research organization; and as a National Council Advisor to the Australian Industry AI Group. He holds a degree in business management from the University of Melbourne and an MBA from Melbourne Business School. "The Lightcast Envisia™ platform has the potential to transform single-cell analysis by unlocking functional insights that were previously out of reach," said Binns. "The company is at an exciting inflection point, and I'm eager to collaborate with this talented team to support the platform's global adoption and help drive the next generation of biologics and therapies." While traditional single-cell analysis techniques often rely on genomic data to infer function, the benchtop Envisia platform uses droplet microfluidics to perform highly controlled, sequential single-cell functional assays that capture rich functional data sets to improve decision making. Built around Lightcast's proprietary light-controlled droplet manipulation technology, the platform enables parallel interrogation of tens of thousands of picoliter-scale droplets, offering unmatched precision and flexibility. By integrating functional screening early in the antibody discovery process, the Envisia platform allows researchers to select and advance the most promising candidates. It also opens new possibilities in cell-cell interaction studies and broader applications in immunology and oncology. Lightcast recently announced the limited commercial release of its Envisia benchtop platform. The company is actively collaborating with leading pharmaceutical and academic institutions to validate performance, optimize protocols, and expand application areas. These efforts will support the full commercial launch of a comprehensive suite of validated protocols later in 2025. The complete Envisia workflow will include advanced instrumentation, intelligent software, a purpose-built cartridge system, and assay kits optimized for a broad range of cell types, assay formats, and research applications. To learn more about the Envisia platform, visit About Lightcast Lightcast aims to unleash new capabilities within the single-cell analysis field by developing a more accessible, scalable, and flexible platform for scientists in basic, translational, and applied research. These capabilities will empower new biological discoveries and accelerate the development of novel drugs, therapies, and biologics. Founded in 2019 and based in Cambridge, UK, Lightcast has invented a technology that uses rays of light to control picoliter-scale droplets for functional analysis of individual cells. For more information, visit Lightcast, the Lightcast logo, and Envisia are trademarks of Lightcast Discovery Ltd. View source version on Contacts For further information Andrew Noble for Lightcastandrew@ +1 (415) 722-2129 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Wire
02-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Lightcast Appoints Industry Veteran Philip Binns as Chairman of the Board
CAMBRIDGE, England & CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Lightcast, a pioneering life science tools company, today announced the appointment of Philip Binns as chairman of its board of directors, effective May 1, 2025. With this appointment, the Lightcast board includes one investor director each from Arch Ventures, Illumina Ventures, M-Ventures, and Longwall Ventures; two independent directors, Kevin Knopp, CEO of 908 Devices, and Kevin Hrusovsky, chairman and former CEO of Quanterix; and observers from OMX Ventures, +ND Capital, and Terra Magnum. "We are thrilled to add Phil to our highly experienced board," said Paul Loeffen, PhD, CEO of Lightcast. "His extensive industry expertise and proven leadership will be invaluable as we evolve from a product development-focused company into a fully commercial organization, expanding our global reach and maximizing our impact in the life sciences market." Mr. Binns brings decades of experience in scientific instrumentation and leadership, recently serving as president of the life sciences and applied markets group at Agilent Technologies. He joined Agilent in 2010 through its acquisition of Varian, Inc., where he played a pivotal role in expanding the company's atomic and molecular spectroscopy portfolio into a market-leading business. In addition to his new role at Lightcast, Mr. Binns serves as chair and non-executive director of Epiminder, a company developing implantable brain-monitoring devices; as a director of the Bionics Institute, a globally recognized medical device research organization; and as a National Council Advisor to the Australian Industry AI Group. He holds a degree in business management from the University of Melbourne and an MBA from Melbourne Business School. "The Lightcast Envisia™ platform has the potential to transform single-cell analysis by unlocking functional insights that were previously out of reach," said Binns. "The company is at an exciting inflection point, and I'm eager to collaborate with this talented team to support the platform's global adoption and help drive the next generation of biologics and therapies." While traditional single-cell analysis techniques often rely on genomic data to infer function, the benchtop Envisia platform uses droplet microfluidics to perform highly controlled, sequential single-cell functional assays that capture rich functional data sets to improve decision making. Built around Lightcast's proprietary light-controlled droplet manipulation technology, the platform enables parallel interrogation of tens of thousands of picoliter-scale droplets, offering unmatched precision and flexibility. By integrating functional screening early in the antibody discovery process, the Envisia platform allows researchers to select and advance the most promising candidates. It also opens new possibilities in cell-cell interaction studies and broader applications in immunology and oncology. Lightcast recently announced the limited commercial release of its Envisia benchtop platform. The company is actively collaborating with leading pharmaceutical and academic institutions to validate performance, optimize protocols, and expand application areas. These efforts will support the full commercial launch of a comprehensive suite of validated protocols later in 2025. The complete Envisia workflow will include advanced instrumentation, intelligent software, a purpose-built cartridge system, and assay kits optimized for a broad range of cell types, assay formats, and research applications. To learn more about the Envisia platform, visit About Lightcast Lightcast aims to unleash new capabilities within the single-cell analysis field by developing a more accessible, scalable, and flexible platform for scientists in basic, translational, and applied research. These capabilities will empower new biological discoveries and accelerate the development of novel drugs, therapies, and biologics. Founded in 2019 and based in Cambridge, UK, Lightcast has invented a technology that uses rays of light to control picoliter-scale droplets for functional analysis of individual cells. For more information, visit Lightcast, the Lightcast logo, and Envisia are trademarks of Lightcast Discovery Ltd.
Hamilton Spectator
29-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Oro-Medonte receives Barrie's ‘high-level' proposal, counters with terms
When it comes to the City of Barrie's boundary expansion proposal, it seems every time Springwater zigs, Oro-Medonte zags. Last week, Springwater Township council rejected receiving Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall's presentation , 'Proposed Principles for Boundary Adjustment Agreement, City of Barrie and Township of Springwater,' by a vote of 5-2. During its meeting on Wednesday, Oro-Medonte Township council voted unanimously to accept a similar proposal letter from Nuttall, dated May 13, and respond to it with their own set of guiding principles. 'The communication from the City of Barrie does speak for itself in terms of what is before council today,' said Shawn Binns, chief administrative officer for Oro-Medonte. 'This comes from a meeting that was held with the mayor and the deputy (mayor) and myself to understand the facts of the proposal that was put forward by the City of Barrie. I think there's a lot of misconceptions in terms of an agreement and tabling an agreement for council's consideration.' According to Binns, the letter the township received was 'a high-level proposal' with general terms and principles that have been outlined by Barrie for Oro-Medonte council's consideration. 'In no way, shape or form, at this point, is council looking to accept it,' Binns stressed. 'We're still going through the process and we have the ability, I think, to influence that process.' The township drafted a motion that would receive Nuttall's proposal and would articulate the principles that would go back to the City of Barrie and the provincial land development facilitation process to guide future discussions. 'They've come forward to us with a set of terms and principles on behalf of Barrie,' Oro-Medonte Mayor Randy Greenlaw said. 'What we need to do is reply, outlining the terms and principles which we think are an acceptable path forward, which will be merged into the facilitation process moving forward.' Those principles are: Coun. David Clark supported the decision to keep the conversation going. 'What this motion is doing is establishing our continued belief in how this process should go,' he said. 'The City of Barrie has made an offer and we say, 'Thank you for the offer, we're not interested,' but we want to continue to have these discussions with the most pertinent and important information at hand. 'I think it's important to stay engaged,' Clark added. Talk of annexation started about 18 months ago, when, on Nov. 6, 2023, Nuttall presented to the standing committee on heritage, infrastructure and cultural policy during a meeting in Barrie . At that time, he provided the committee with an update on Barrie's housing targets and highlighted why the city requires additional employment land so more residents can have jobs closer to home.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man offered gran £300 to let him abuse baby girl
A paedophile who offered a woman £300 to let him sexually abuse her baby granddaughter has been jailed for four years and one month. Craig Binns, 31, also "bragged" to the woman he had previously paid other people to let him rape their children, including £1,000 to violate a two-year-old girl, Newcastle Crown Court heard. The horrified woman, who had met him less than three weeks earlier on a dating website, took screenshots of his messages and gave them immediately to police. Binns, of Cross Avenue in Wallsend, admitted three offences including attempting to pay for the sexual services of a child and arranging the commission of a child sex offence. Binns and the woman met on a dating app and chatted for a few weeks before finally meeting in November, with him taking her for a drive in his car, prosecutor Claire Anderson said. Days later Binns, who told the woman his surname was Dudgeon, talked about staying at her house and suggested the couple have a threesome with a child, the court heard. He also asked the woman if she had ever thought about having "sex with people aged from one onwards", Ms Anderson said. When he found out she had a 10-week-old granddaughter, he requested naked pictures of the child which he offered to pay for, the court heard. Binns, a father of two, asked the woman if she had sexually touched the baby and if he could be left alone with the girl, the court heard. The woman took screenshots of the Snapchat conversations which she sent to police but, fearing the risk he posed to children, continued messaging him to get more information about him, Ms Anderson said. He repeatedly offered her money to let him sexually abuse the baby, including £300 in cash for a graphic sex act, the court heard. Ms Anderson said Binns "bragged" about abusing other youths and said he had paid parents to let him "rape" their children, including a seven-year-old girl he raped and a two-year-old girl he claimed he gave £1,000 for. The court heard there was no evidence he had actually carried out the abuse he boasted about. A search of his devices found he had registered his internet account under a fake name and had made searches relating to families having sex. Binns initially denied any wrongdoing and told police the Snapchat messages had been fabricated before going on to admit everything, the court heard. Judge Edward Bindloss said Binns was attempting to groom the woman and make her an "accomplice" in his abuse of children. But the woman "did the right thing" and went immediately to police, who also acted quickly to arrest Binns, the judge said, adding he commended both her and the officers for "their prompt actions". Judge Bindloss said had the woman not done that, he was "entirely convinced" Binns would have abused the child. He said Binns posed a "high risk" to children and would have to abide by a sexual harm prevention order and sign the sex offenders register for life. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas here. HM Courts and Tribunals Service
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
Ex-detective's sex assault trial postponed to 2026
The trial of a former West Yorkshire Police detective inspector accused of sexual assault has been postponed for almost a year due to an administrative error. Claudine Binns, 51, had been due to stand trial at Bradford Crown Court charged with an offence of assault by penetration, said to have been committed in while she was off duty. However, the case had to be adjourned after it emerged the court did not have the capacity to hear the trial beyond Thursday, despite the fact it had been forecast to last between four and five days. Ms Binns, who denies the offence, pleaded not guilty to a separate charge of attempted assault by penetration during the hearing, with her trial now fixed to take place on 13 April 2026. Both offences are alleged to have been committed against the same complainant in March 2022. Ms Binns, of Holmfirth, worked in the Bradford area before retiring from the force. She has been granted bail ahead of her next appearance. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Related internet links
