The SBS meeting marked the U.S. launch of Reinnervate's alvetex® cell culture scaffold for 3-D in vitro cell growth. Initially marketed in Europe in a 12-well plate format, alvetex is now available as 6-well and 12-well inserts. It is supplied as a gamma-irradiated, ready-to-use polystyrene membrane and can be optimized for specific cell types and applications. Users can control the degree of penetration within the 3-D structure and optimize the culture format and parameters to support long-term cell culture. The new well inserts allow cells to be fed simultaneously from above and below. They fit into multiwell plates or into insert holders designed to fit into a Petri dish.