Western Blot Services for Drug Development (LI-COR)

Q: What makes a western blot quantitative rather than qualitative?

Detection and discipline. Two-color near-infrared detection has a wide linear range, so band intensity tracks protein amount instead of saturating the way film does. Around that sit the requirements: antibody qualified in your lysate, loading normalized on the second channel, linear range established before samples run, and acceptance criteria written down. A band you can defend in a figure is the deliverable, not a band you argue about.

Q: Why run total and phosphorylated protein in the same lane?

Because splitting them across blots doubles the variability you are trying to measure. With two-color detection, the phospho signal and the total protein read from one lane in one sample, no stripping and reprobing, so the phospho-to-total ratio your PD story rests on comes from a single measurement rather than an alignment of two.

Q: What is an In-Cell Western and when is it the right format?

Proteins detected in cells fixed to microplates, so there is no lysate preparation, no gel and no transfer. It is the right format when you need plate-scale throughput with a protein-level readout: potency and mechanism screens, signaling dose-responses, and any question where dozens of conditions matter more than molecular-weight confirmation. Where identity or mobility shifts matter, the membrane format stays the tool.

Q: Can western blot data support a regulated study?

As a fit-for-purpose protein readout, yes: pharmacodynamic biomarkers in tissue and cell lysates carried from discovery into clinical support, with the method qualified against stated acceptance criteria, controls on every gel, and documentation an auditor can follow. Where the endpoint needs a validated quantitative immunoassay tier, we say so and route it to ELISA or MSD.

Q: What do you need from us to start?

The target, species and matrix, whatever antibody history exists, and lysates or tissues shipped frozen with their handling story. If no antibody is proven, we source and qualify candidates against your lysate before any study sample is spent. A written scope and timeline come back within two business days.

Q: What comes back at the end?

Quantitation tables with normalization shown, annotated images, and the raw image files transferred to you, not archived out of reach. Repeats and orthogonal confirmation are flagged before you have to ask, and where a result deserves confirmation by ELISA, MSD or mass spec, the recommendation says so plainly.

Q: Do you handle knockdown and transgene confirmation for gene programs?

Yes, protein-level proof is exactly where a blot earns its keep in CGT work: siRNA, ASO and CRISPR knockdown confirmed at the protein after qPCR shows the transcript, and transgene expression confirmed after vector copy number shows delivery. Copies delivered is not protein made; the blot closes that gap.

Q: Western blot or ELISA for my protein question?

If the question is how much, across many samples, a plate immunoassay wins on throughput and precision. If the question is which protein, what size, modified how, or whether the immunoassay can be trusted, the blot answers what the plate cannot: identity by molecular weight, mobility shifts from modification, and orthogonal confirmation when an ELISA number looks questionable.

De-Risk Your Quantitative Western Blot, Research to GLP.

Brief PhDs on your protein, lysate and study.

Accelerated Western Blot assay development and pre-validation test runs on LI-COR Odyssey, in 2 to 3 weeks
Total and phosphorylated protein quantitated from one lane, two-color near-infrared, no stripping and reprobing
In-Cell Western and Protein Gel Imaging services for plate-based screening, and for proteins that will not transfer
FDA-audited CRO for screening and pathological biomarkers, using commercial antibodies that cover most targets

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LI-COR Odyssey Western Blot Services For Target Engagement, Cell Signaling And PD Biomarkers

Blots lose reviewers on saturation and normalization, not on the biology. Ours are built to stay linear where your samples fall.

Method Development And Pre-Validation Runs

Antibody qualified, lysate conditions and loading optimized, linear range established on your matrix.
Pre-validation test runs before you commit study samples, with development typically 2 to 3 weeks.

Target Engagement And Mechanism Of Action

Confirm your molecule reaches the target and moves the pathway, before you build a validated immunoassay.
Early proof of concept your program can act on, with a route into regulated work at the same lab.

Total And Phosphorylated Protein From One Lane

Two-color near-infrared detection quantitates both in the same sample, with no stripping and reprobing.
You get a real ratio rather than two blots you have to reconcile, and the phospho signal stays intact.

Pharmacodynamic Biomarkers, Preclinical To Clinic

PD protein readouts in tissue and cell lysates, carried from discovery into clinical sample analysis.
FDA-audited lab throughout, so a discovery readout graduates into regulated work without a vendor change.

In-Cell Western For Plate-Based Screening

Proteins detected in cells fixed to microplates, so lysate prep, electrophoresis and transfer drop out.
Throughput for compound series and dose response, where a gel per sample would not be practical.

Cell Signaling, Proliferation And Apoptosis

Signaling cascades, GPCR function, receptor internalization and recycling, in neurology and oncology.
Pathway questions answered on plate or membrane, whichever gives you the cleaner quantitation.

In-Gel Western And Protein Gel Imaging

For targets that are too large, too small, or that simply will not transfer cleanly to a membrane.
Quantitation without the transfer step, so a difficult protein is not a reason to drop the readout.

Protein Identity, Expression, Modification

Expression level, identity confirmation, and mobility shifts from post-translational modification.
Wide linear range means a strong band and a weak band are both quantifiable in a single exposure.

Where Western Blot And In-Cell Western Fit Alongside Your Other Assays

A quantitative blot rarely travels alone, so every item links to the assay it stands beside.

Ready To Start? Scope Your Western Blot Assay.

Tailored Western blot quote in 2 days.

De-Risk Your Western Blot Data For Target Engagement And PD, On Budget And On Time

Blots fail review on antibodies never validated for quantitation. We qualify each antibody in assay setup.

Talk Science First? Book a Call With Our Blot Experts.

Discuss antibodies, normalization and linearity.

Protect your protein data from costly delays. Our PhDs qualify your antibody and set the linear range up front, so a saturated band never becomes a figure you have to walk back.
Stretch your discovery budget. Commercial antibody coverage of most targets means your readout does not wait on custom antibody development, or pays the premium that comes with it.
Hit your timeline. A focused Western study runs two to four weeks from signature to results, and the scientist running your blots is reachable directly rather than through an account team.

20+Years Of Quantitative Protein Analysis, Since 2003

500+Custom Methods, Including Quantitative Western Blots

Control Cost, Hit Timeline

Any scope change goes through a pre-approved SOW addendum, so your cost cannot move without an SOW addendum you have already approved. You get a transparent, itemized quote up front, scoped to your target count, matrix and sample number rather than priced off a flat rate. Western Blot and In-Cell Western development runs two to three weeks, including pre-validation test runs, and your audited report follows a few weeks after that. You can opt for rolling data and act on results before the report lands. Images and data files transfer to you for long-term archiving, and your samples stay under documented chain of custody from the moment they arrive.

Fast Quote, Quality Work

Three things get you a quote: your target and whether a commercial antibody exists, your matrix and sample count, from tissue or tumor lysate to PBMC, cell lines, primary cells or subcellular fractions, and whether you need a defensible number or a clear yes or no. If you already have a protocol, an antibody, or prior blots, send what you have and we will scope against it. Just starting out, lean on us, because our protein analysis experience fills in the blanks. We will tell you whether membrane, in-gel or in-cell is the right format, and why, because the wrong format is where most Western Blot programs lose a month.

Sponsors On Our Protein Analysis Team, Quote By Quote

Quoted with permission, names withheld. Yours would be too.

VP, Clinical Stage Biotech

The ability to work with our timelines to meet deadlines is very much appreciated.
CRO Partner

Really appreciate the Co-Presidents’ hands-on approach.
Sr. Associate Dir., Clinical Trials

We have worked with NorthEast BioLab for over ten years given their commitment to highest quality bioanalytical data.
Head, PK

This study, same as all other bioanalytical studies, was completed with top quality and reporting standard with incredible responsiveness.
Director, Clinical Stage Biotech

The expertise, competence and responsiveness demonstrated in setting up our clinical trial and preparing and shipping sample kits to the clinical site have been excellent.
Executive, Clinical Stage Biotech

There was an issue with half-life extrapolation, and NorthEast BioLab brought in the right experts to find the solution.

Need Quantitative Western? LI-COR or In-Cell.

Share the protein and lysate type. We'll design it.

Why Do Biotechs Bring Us The Western Blot They Actually Have To Quantify?

We normalize to housekeeping protein on the second infrared channel, ratiometrically, and pick membrane, in-gel or in-cell format for the target.

Expert Western Blot And In-Cell Western Analysis

Antibody qualified and linear range established before your samples run, so the number holds up in review.
Housekeeping normalization on the second infrared channel, giving you ratiometric rather than relative data.
Senior scientists here carry 18+ years in the industry, and they stay, which is why the same people are on your study next year.

Responsive Protein Analysis CRO, Flexible Lab

Membrane, in-gel or in-cell format chosen for your target, not for whatever the lab happens to run most.
Direct access to the senior scientist on your study, on lysate prep and on every quantitation call made.
Images and raw data files transferred to you, for your own long-term archiving and reanalysis.

Basics Of Bioanalysis | NorthEast BioLab

The Basics of Bioanalysis

Bioanalysis is an essential tool in drug discovery and development for determining the concentration of drugs and their metabolites as well as various pharmacodynamics biomarkers in biological fluids. In these analyses, scientists use developed an….

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From Antibody Validation to a Number a Reviewer Can Check

Pre-validation runs, about 2 to 3 weeks including development, are complete before any figure is drawn.

1. Feasibility

We confirm a commercial antibody exists for your target and that it performs in your matrix.
2. Quote And SOW

Itemized scope, format chosen and justified, timeline agreed before any work starts.
3. Method Development

Antibody titration, lysate and loading conditions optimized, linear range established.
4. Pre-Validation Runs

Test runs on representative samples, two to three weeks including development.
5. Sample Analysis

Blots run with loading controls on every gel, and replicate lanes where you quantify.
6. Report And Data Transfer

Audited report, plus images and raw data files transferred for your archive.

Why Do Sponsors Choose Our Western Blot Lab For Quantitative Protein Data?

Because the readout is linear, normalized and documented, quantitation a reviewer can verify rather than take on trust.

Get Your Western Blot Plan Reviewed By PhD Scientists.

Send your plan. We'll flag pitfalls before they cost you.

The scientist who runs your blots is the one who explains a band that looks wrong.
Total and phospho protein come off one lane, so you get a ratio instead of two blots to reconcile.
We qualify the antibody and set the linear range before your samples run, not after a bad exposure.
No study or pilot is too small. A single antibody feasibility gets the same scientists.

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