FOSTER CITY, Calif. & SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 27, 2002-- Applied Biosystems (NYSE:ABI - News), an Applera Corporation business, and the Institute for Systems Biology (ISB), a non-profit research institute dedicated to predicting and preventing diseases, today announced a collaboration to develop new technologies and applications in proteomics. ISB intends to use the Applied Biosystems 4700 Proteomics Analyzer with TOF/TOF(TM) Optics and the ICAT(TM) reagent technology as major platforms in its efforts to study the dynamics of complex biological systems to better understand human immunity and identify strategies for preventing disease. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The collaboration will focus on the development of more effective ways to analyze proteins in the pathways that comprise complex biological systems by using mass spectrometry, chemical tagging strategies and bioinformatics, including improved LC MALDI workflows for high throughput quantitative proteomics studies. The effort will combine Applied Biosystems expertise in the development and application of mass spectrometry, chemistry and software to advanced proteomics workflows with ISB expertise in systems biology.
Scientists from Applied Biosystems Proteomics Research (PRC) Center in Framingham, MA and the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle are expected to collaborate on the project. The PRC is leveraging Applied Biosystems existing proteomics expertise and internal research capabilities while facilitating collaboration with complementary technology partners. The goal is to achieve advances in the production of high quality information by means of significant improvements in throughput automation, sensitivity and cost efficiency.
"Advancements in technology are providing new opportunities to understand complex systems and networks responsible for important biological functions," said Michael W. Hunkapiller, Ph.D., President of Applied Biosystems. "Our collaboration with ISB will enable our two organizations to mutually explore potential new approaches to disease, continuing Applied Biosystems focus on accelerating the pace of discovery."
"Applied Biosystems has been a pioneer and world leader in developing biological instrumentation," said Leroy Hood, M.D., PhD., President of the Institute for Systems Biology. "Proteomics is one of the keys to exploring biological complexity and we are excited about this collaborative venture with Applied Biosystems to push the frontiers of proteomics chemistry and instrumentation."
Ruedi Aebersold, Ph.D. of the Institute for Systems Biology, and Michael Gelb, Ph.D. of the University of Washington developed the proprietary isotope coded affinity tag (ICAT) technology while Dr. Aebersold was a professor at the University of Washington. In November 2000, Applied Biosystems obtained a worldwide license from the University of Washington to manufacture and commercialize ICAT(TM) reagents. |
