Market Challenges And Opportunities

However, factors such as high cost of high-content screening systems & shortage of skilled professionals are expected to restrain growth of the live cell imaging market.

Global Live Cell Imaging Market Drivers:

Increasing prevalence of chronic diseases such as cancer, neurodegeneration, & cardiac disease across the globe is expected to boost the growth of the global live cell imaging market over the forecast period. The demand for live cell imaging is increasing due to the high incidence of chronic diseases and the corresponding need for rapid diagnostic techniques. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), six in ten Americans live with at least one chronic disease, and these diseases are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States, and they are also a leading driver of health care costs.

Increase in development and adoption of live cell imaging system is expected to augment the growth of the global live cell imaging market during the forecast period. For instance, in May 2020, CytoSMART Technologies announced the launch of the new live-cell imaging system. The CytoSMART Lux2 Duo Kit offers straightforward, cost-effective solution for researchers carrying out immediate side-by-side comparisons between cell cultures.

Global Live Cell Imaging Market Opportunities:

Increasing adoption of live cell imaging in personalized medicines is expected to offer lucrative growth opportunities for players in the live cell imaging market. For instance, in September 2021, PHC Corporation of North America and Screen Holdings Co., Ltd. partnered to market the Screen Cell imager series of live cell imaging systems in North America. These innovative imaging instruments enable organoid and spheroid imaging with excellent accuracy using high-throughput, high-speed, and non-invasive technology for cellular research, drug discovery, and cosmetic and biopharmaceutical applications.

Increasing usage of live cell imaging is expected to provide lucrative growth opportunities for players in the global live cell imaging market. For instance, according to the study published in November 2021 in Trends in Biotechnology (Journal), microscopy imaging of living cells is being used in metabolic engineering to examine molecular dynamics in industrial microbes. This will lead open opportunities for live cell imaging in future.

Global Live Cell Imaging Market Trends:

Increasing geriatric population across the globe is expected to propel growth of the global live cell imaging market. For instance, growing aging population demands for intensive research in chronic diseases such as cancer, neurodegeneration, and cardiac diseases. According to the UN (United Nations), worldwide, the share of the population aged 65 years or over is expected to increase from 9.3 per cent in 2020 to around 16.0 per cent in 2050.

Increasing development of innovative standalone systems is expected to aid in the growth of the live cell imaging market. For instance, in April 2022, CytoSMART Technologies launched the CytoSMART Omni FL, a next-generation live-cell imaging analysis system incorporating red and green fluorescence channels into its signature CytoSMART Omni product line.

Global Live Cell Imaging Market Restraints:

Dearth of skilled professionals is expected to hamper the growth of the global live cell imaging market. Live cell imaging technology requires highly skilled professionals to understand and study the functions of cells. Thus, the shortage of skilled professionals is likely to hinder growth of the global live cell imaging market.

High cost of high-content screening systems is expected to hinder growth of the global live cell imaging market. For instance, high-content screening systems (HCS) instruments are equipped with advanced cell imaging and analysis features and functionalities, and thus are priced at a premium. A confocal microscope can cost more than US$ 200,000. The In-Cell 2000 Analyzer system (from GE Healthcare) used in HCS costs around US$ 240,000.

Figure 2. Global Live Cell Imaging Market Share (%), by Product, 2021