NanoImaging Services (NIS) and Proteos have launched a new integrated US-based CRO, TrueCourse Biosciences, combining protein production, structural biology and biophysical analysis to support drug discovery programmes increasingly driven by AI.
The companies said in a statement that the new organisation aims to address growing demand for experimental, or “wet-lab,” validation as computational approaches accelerate the design and prioritisation of drug candidates.
A broader toolkit for drug discovery
TrueCourse will bring together NIS’ expertise in cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) with Proteos’ protein production capabilities, alongside complementary analytical techniques including X-ray crystallography, biolayer interferometry (BLI) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR).
The newly formed CRO will provide recombinant protein production for applications including structural biology, biophysics and assay development, with capabilities spanning challenging targets such as membrane proteins.
Its structural biology offering will use cryo-EM and X-ray crystallography to determine the structures of biological targets and drug-target interactions.
TrueCourse will also offer cryo-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) for nanoparticle characterisation, including lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) and viral vectors.
Building towards an integrated offering
The launch follows NIS’ acquisition of Proteos in January 2025, which brought the Michigan-based protein production CRO into NIS’ portfolio and expanded its ability to provide integrated gene-to-structure workflows.
The combined business has subsequently expanded its capabilities.
In June of this year, NIS and Proteos announced SPR and BLI binding assay services and NIS also highlighted the role of cryo-EM in AI-driven drug discovery.
The launch of the CRO reflects a broader need to experimentally test computationally generated molecules and structures.
A 2025 review of generative AI for drug discovery described experimental validation as the “ultimate proving ground” for AI-designed molecules, highlighting the importance of integrating wet-lab testing with computational design.
Dr Lindsey Gottler has been appointed CEO of TrueCourse Biosciences. She previously held scientific and leadership roles at Proteos, including director of the Protein Purification Group and Chief Scientific Officer.
Gottler said of the news: “Bringing NanoImaging Services and Proteos together under TrueCourse allows us to offer a more connected approach to structural biology, while building on the deep scientific expertise that has defined both organisations."
By expanding our capabilities and connecting them more closely, we can help researchers cut through complexity, reduce uncertainty and identify the clearest path forward for their programmes.
TrueCourse will operate across California, Massachusetts and Michigan, supporting pharma companies, biotech firms and emerging drug discovery organisations.
