David Nolte: Animated Dynamics to Study Cell Sample Behavior Under NSF Grant

Animated Dynamics has received $150,000 in grant funds from the National Science Foundation to build a microscope attachment scientists will use to study intercellular motion and dynamics.

David Nolte, president of Animated Dynamics, and John Turek, executive vice president and CFO, jointly developed the technology to examine how cells interact with their environment, Purdue University said Thursday.

“Studying the phenotype means scientists can see how cell samples behave, mechanically and functionally, in the 3-D environment of living tissue,” Nolte said.

“Cells are mechanical machines, and if you study their motion you can tell what the machine is doing. If it breaks down, you can see how the motions are changing,” he added.

Nolte said the company will work to develop a biodynamic microscope prototype from the standard microscope for laboratory trials under the six-month SBIR Phase I grant.

“Indianapolis-based Elevate Ventures also will contribute another $50,000 to further support this endeavor,” he said.

Animated Dynamics is based in the Purdue Research Park of West Lafayette.