McMaster spin-off company lands North American distribution deal

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Lias-Crossley-photo.jpg” caption=”Lisa Crossley, founder of Natrix Separations, is a former McMaster University professor.”]The scientific product distributor VWR's giant catalogue usually overflows with lab equipment and supplies but the 2009 edition contains something extra special: a piece of McMaster.

Natrix Separations, a company based on discoveries made at McMaster University, recently signed a distribution agreement with VWR, putting its lab-scale products in front of many potential customers.

Founded four years ago by Lisa Crossley, then a chemical engineering professor, Natrix is one of the most successful start-up companies to emerge from McMaster. The company grew out of conversations Crossley had with Professor Ronald Childs about a macroporous gel membrane technology developed by Childs and Alicja Mika in the Department of Chemistry.

“I thought there was a real opportunity,” recalls Crossley. “There was a low technical risk and a significant potential market.”

The company recently built a commercial-scale manufacturing facility in Burlington and has expanded its sales force, employing 32 people in Canada and another five globally. It targets researchers as well as the biomanufacturing, nutraceutical and water treatment sectors.

“We are extremely proud of what Natrix has done with Childs' and Mika's original discovery,” says Mo Elbestawi, McMaster's vice-president research and international affairs. “Natrix is a perfect example of how discoveries made at McMaster can create jobs in our community.”

Natrix Separations was featured at last year's McMaster Innovation Showcase. This year's showcase runs June 18 to 19. For more information go to milo.mcmaster.ca/showcase.

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[img_inline align="right" src="http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Lias-Crossley-photo.jpg" caption="Lisa Crossley, founder of Natrix Separations, is a former McMaster University professor."]The scientific product distributor VWR&#039;s giant catalogue usually overflows with lab equipment and supplies but the 2009 edition contains something extra special: a piece of McMaster.<br />
<br />
<p>Natrix Separations, a company based on discoveries made at McMaster University, recently signed a distribution agreement with VWR, putting its lab-scale products in front of many potential customers.<br />
<br />
<p>Founded four years ago by Lisa Crossley, then a chemical engineering professor, Natrix is one of the most successful start-up companies to emerge from McMaster. The company grew out of conversations Crossley had with Professor Ronald Childs about a macroporous gel membrane technology developed by Childs and Alicja Mika in the Department of Chemistry.<br />
<br />
<p>"I thought there was a real opportunity," recalls Crossley. "There was a low technical risk and a significant potential market."<br />
<br />
<p>The company recently built a commercial-scale manufacturing facility in Burlington and has expanded its sales force, employing 32 people in Canada and another five globally. It targets researchers as well as the biomanufacturing, nutraceutical and water treatment sectors.<br />
<br />
<p>"We are extremely proud of what Natrix has done with Childs&#039; and Mika&#039;s original discovery," says Mo Elbestawi, McMaster&#039;s vice-president research and international affairs. "Natrix is a perfect example of how discoveries made at McMaster can create jobs in our community."<br />
<br />
<p>Natrix Separations was featured at last year&#039;s McMaster Innovation Showcase. This year&#039;s showcase runs June 18 to 19. For more information go to <a href="http://milo.mcmaster.ca/showcase">milo.mcmaster.ca/showcase</a>.<br />

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