Bio Screening Industry News

Society for Biomolecular Sciences

Presents its 13th Annual Conference & Exhibition

Advancing the Science of Drug Discovery: Bridging Research & Development

April 15-19, 2007

Palais Des Congres de Montréal

Montréal, Canada

After the Society’s most successful annual event in Seattle this year, professionals from around the globe will want to participate in the next SBS Annual Conference & Exhibition in April 2007. This will be the first spring annual the Society has scheduled.

The SBS event, the premier scientific and showcase event in molecular discovery, brings together more than 2,900 professionals, offering a unique opportunity to learn more about the latest innovations, technologies, and research in the drug discovery sciences from all over the world. Session topics include:

· Advances in Screening Technologies
· Biomarkers: From Bench to Clinic
· Compound Management: Challenges & Automation Solutions
· Enzyme Targets: Black Box or Whole Cell Assays?
· From Gene to Target: Functional Target Validation Strategies
· High-Content Cellular Screening
· Immunotherapeutics, mAbs & Translational Medicine
· Structural Biology: Underpinning Drug Discovery
· Systems Biology & High-Throughput Approaches to Screening Native Cells
· Target Biology & Screening: GPCRs
· Target Biology & Screening: Ion Channels
· Toxicity Profiling Using High-Throughput & High-Content Technologies

Contact:

Marietta Manoni, CMP

Conference Manager

mmanoni@sbsonline.org

Society for Biomolecular Sciences

36 Tamarack Avenue, #348, Danbury, CT 06811, USA

Phone: +1 (203) 743-1336

Fax: +1 (203) 748-7557

www.sbsonline.org

Genetic Study to Understand Linkage Between Lead Exposure and Children’s Intellectual Development in India; Possible Model for Broader Gene/Environment/Health Research

Laurel, MD, January 24, 2007 — BioServe, a leading provider of rapid, economical processing and analyses of genomic content from biological samples, has been selected to work with scientists from the Harvard and University of Michigan Schools of Public Health on a landmark study aimed at understanding how genetics and environmental lead pollution interact to affect children’s intellectual and behavioral functioning. Under terms of the agreement, BioServe will perform DNA purification and genotyping on tissue samples collected from 750 school children in Chennai (formerly Madras), India who have been exposed to lead pollutants. The goal is to help the investigators determine whether genetic factors predispose children to–or protect them from–certain toxic effects.

Although it is well-known that high lead levels in the body can negatively affect intelligence, this is the first study in India to measure that effect. The study is unusual in that (1) it will also measure how lead exposure affects both visual-spatial-motor skills and aggressive behavior and (2) it is one of the first studies to research how individual genetic makeup may modify the neurobehavioral impact of lead exposure.

BioServe was chosen to perform the genetic work because of the company’s reputation for highly advanced genomic analysis, industry experience, and its state-of-the-art facilities in India.

“This study represents a cutting edge research collaboration that will gain insights into a global environmental health problem,” said Howard Hu M.D., M.P.H., Sc.D, the principle investigator.  Hu is Chair and Professor in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at the University of Michigan School of Public Health and Adjunct Professor of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at the Harvard School of Public Health.

“India and other countries are undergoing rapid urbanization, population shifts to cities, industrialization and a steep increase in the use of fossil fuels for energy and transportation –-but population exposures to newer pollution hazards remain understudied,” Hu explained. “Understanding the interrelationship of environmental hazards, genetics, and health will provide the information that is needed to formulate regulatory policies, prioritize public health controls, and educate the medical community and the public on how best to mitigate particular environmental exposures. Progress on these fronts would be slow or impossible without public/private partnerships like the one involving Harvard, the University of Michigan, and Bioserve.”

The current study could serve as a model for future investigation into the relationship of genetics to other environmental hazards and diseases.  Dr. Hu’s lab is also studying the relationship of lead exposure to such diseases as Alzheimers and diabetes, and the health impacts of other metallic pollutants.

According to Rama Modali, Chief Executive Officer of BioServe, “We are excited to play an important role in this landmark health study. Our genotyping studies will contribute to the Indian and international biomedical communities’ further understanding of the dynamics between lead exposure and chronic diseases, as well as genetic polymorphisms that increase the risk of environmentally induced disease.”

The overall study, now in the third of three years, is funded with a grant from The John E. Fogarty International Center– the international component of the National Institutes of Health– which addresses global health challenges through innovative and collaborative research and training programs.  Results are expected in about a year.

About BioServe

BioServe delivers a complete ‘biomaterial to validated data’ genomics solution. BioServe’s rapid, economical processing and analyses of genomic content from biological samples helps researchers worldwide to gain the pre-clinical genomic results required to achieve breakthroughs in research, drug discovery and molecular diagnostics.  BioServe’s technology, products and services form the foundation for optimal pre-clinical workflows spanning innovative methodologies for processing nucleic acids, DNA synthesis, high throughput sequencing and genotyping, genome wide-scans and gene expression analyses.  BioServe’s customers include leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and government and academic research institutions. BioServe has headquarters in Laurel, MD and Hyderabad, India. For more information please visit www.bioserve.com or call 301-470-3362.

Aarhus, Denmark — January 25, 2007 — CLC bio today announced that it has joined the BioIT Alliance, a cross-industry group which unites the pharmaceutical, biotech, hardware and software industries, to explore new ways to share complex biomedical data and collaborate among multi-disciplinary teams to speed up the pace of discovery in the life sciences.

CLC bio CEO Thomas Knudsen is excited about the collaboration: “It is an honour for our company to join a network of such highly estimated companies as Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, Sun Microsystems and others. We think this agreement will prove beneficial for all involved parties, and we’re looking forward to working together within this scientific community, developing innovative solutions and solving current issues in the post-genomic age.”

Microsoft Platform Strategy Advisor Don Rule adds: “We are thrilled to welcome CLC bio to the BioIT Alliance. They bring deep experience in bioinformations software, hardware and consulting solutions to our rapidly expanding community.”

About the BioIT Alliance

Formed in 2006, the BioIT Alliance is a cross-industry group working together to improve biomedical information technology on the Microsoft platform. Founding members include Affymetrix, Inc., Accelrys Software Inc., Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Applied Biosystems, The BioTeam Inc., Digipede Technologies LLC, Discovery Biosciences Corporation., Geospiza Inc., Hewlett-Packard Development Company, InterKnowlogy, Microsoft Corporation, Sun Microsystems Inc., VizX Labs LLC and other key companies in the pharmaceutical, biotech, hardware and software industries. Additional information about the BioIT Alliance can be found on the BioIT Alliance Web site at http://www.bioitalliance.org

About CLC bio

CLC bio is the world’s leading full-service bioinformatics solution provider, solely focusing on the development of bioinformatics: software, hardware, data analysis, and custom-designed bioinformatics algorithms.

CLC bio’s mission is to be among the most innovative bioinformatics companies in the 21st century. This is realized through:

• Development of bioinformatics software and hardware based on the latest scientific findings
• User-friendly, integrated and intuitive software solutions
• Continuous focus on customer needs and superior customer service
• Frequent product updates including the latest IT technologies and bioinformatics algorithms
• A flexible IT architecture, enabling customers to buy or develop individualized solutions at a reasonable price.

A four-day International Symposium organised in honour of Prof. Léon Ghosez

April 10 - 13, 2007 Louvain-la-Neuve (Belgium)

DON’T MISS THE DEADLINE for ABSTRACT SUBMISSION and EARLY REGISTRATION!

Deadline for abstract submission and early registration: FEBRUARY 1, 2007

All information is available under www.ghosezsymposium.org.

SYMPOSIUM PROGRAMME

The Symposium will start on Monday April 9, 2007 for registration. The scientific program will begin on Tuesday April 10, 2007 and finish on Friday April 13, 2007. Along with the 24 invited lectures, the four-day international symposium programme will provide, during lunch time, a forum for presentation and discussion through poster sessions, which will be organised together with a commercial exhibition.

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS

Catalytic and Asymmetric Vinylogous Mukaiyama Reactions: Methodology and Synthetic Applications
Dr. Jean-Marc CAMPAGNE, (ENSCM, Montpellier, France)

Novel Ligands and Reactions in Asymmetric Catalysis
Dr. Juan Carlos CARRETERO, (UNIVERSIDAD AUTONOMA de MADRID, Madrid, Spain)

Selective Reactions and their Use in the Synthesis of Biologically Active Natural Products
Prof. Janine COSSY, (ESPCI, Paris, France)

Fluorous Mixture Synthesis Approaches to Natural Product Stereoisomer Libraries
Prof. Dennis P. CURRAN, (UNIVERSITY of PITTSBURGH, Pittsburgh, United States)

Organic Nanochemistry
Prof. François DIEDERICH, (ETH-ZURICH, Zürich, Switzerland)

Studies in Natural Products Synthesis
Prof. David A. EVANS, (HARVARD UNIVERSITY, CAMBRIDGE, United States)

New Chemistry from an Old-timer!
Prof. Léon GHOSEZ, (UCL, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium)

Radical Chemistry with Amino Acids and Peptides
Prof. Bernd GIESE, (UNIVERSITAT BASEL, Basel, Switzerland)

Discovery, Understanding and Applications of New Fluorination Processes
Dr. Véronique GOUVERNEUR, (UNIVERSITY of OXFORD, Oxford, United Kingdom)

Novel Modified Nucleobases, Nucleosides and Nucleotides: Synthesis, Biological Activity and Applications
Dr. Michal HOCEK, (IOCB, ACADEMY of SCIENCES, Prague, Czech Republic)

Protein-sized Synthetic Folded Architectures
Dr. Ivan HUC, (IECB, Pessac, France)

>From Supramolecular Chemistry to Constitutional Dynamic Chemistry
Prof. Jean-Marie LEHN, (ISIS/ULP, Strasbourg, France)

Natural Product Synthesis: a Stimulus for Discovery
Prof. Steven V. LEY, (UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE, Cambridge, United Kingdom)

Reactivity and Conformational Flexibility: a Study of Bridged Azetidinones
Prof. Jacqueline MARCHAND-BRYNAERT, (UCL, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium)

New Methods for the Preparation of Enantiomerically Pure Quaternary Carbon Centers
Prof. Ilan MAREK, (TECHNION-ISRAEL INSTITUTE of TECHNOLOGY, Haifa, Israel)

Efficient and Connective Synthesis of Natural Products
Prof. Istvan MARKO, (UCL, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium)

Total Synthesis of Bioactive Natural Products: Complex Targets-Simple Solutions
Prof. Goverdhan MEHTA, (INDIAN INSTITUTE of SCIENCE, Bangalore, India)

Fine Approach to Polymer Synthesis
Prof. Kyoko NOZAKI, (The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan)

Dearomatization of Phenols – Why, How and What for?
Prof. Stéphane QUIDEAU, (UNIVERSITE de BORDEAUX 1, Talence, France)

Chiral Metal Hydrides for Asymmetric Catalysis
Prof. Olivier RIANT, (UCL, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium)

Rapid Formation of Molecular Complexity in Natural Product Synthesis
Prof. Erik SORENSEN, (PRINCETON UNIVERSITY, Princeton, United States)

Adventures in Peptide Synthesis and Molecular Recognition
Dr. Laurent TREMBLEAU, (UNIVERSITY of ABERDEEN, Aberdeen, United Kingdom)

Post-Translational Glycosylation: Problems and Opportunities
Prof. Chi-Huey WONG, (The SCRIPPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, La Jolla, United States)

Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis
Dr. Hisashi YAMAMOTO, (UNIVERSITY of CHICAGO, Chicago, United States)

A Quest for New Reactions: Some Interesting Perspectives for Organic Synthesis
Prof. Samir ZARD, (ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE, Palaiseau, France)

Symposium Secretariat

LD ORGANISATION

+32 10 45 47 77
+32 10 45 97 19
E-mail : secretariat@LDOrganisation.com
Url : http://www.LDOrganisation.com

POWAY, CALIF., January 11 /CNW/ - NEXUS Biosystems announced that
Vanderbilt University's High-Throughput Screening (HTS) Facility has selected
the Universal Store to manage its ever-growing collection of synthetic small
molecules and natural products. The Universal Store will serve as the main
repository for maintaining and managing Vanderbilt's collection as a part of
its basic research and translational drug discovery activities. Multiple local
and extramural medicinal, synthetic, and natural products-based chemistry
efforts contribute to the population of this collection.

This collection is utilized in large part by the Vanderbilt Institute of
Chemical Biology's (VICB) High-Throughput Screening (HTS) Facility. This
facility utilizes state-of-the-art instrumentation and data management tools
to interrogate chemical libraries, enabling identification of compounds and
reagents for use in basic research, therapeutics, and diagnostics. The
facility serves the Vanderbilt research community in developing and running
HTS on a wide variety of targets using Vanderbilt's local chemical compound
collection. In addition the facility exists as a national resource for
screening G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), ion channels, and transporters
as one of the ten-member, NIH-funded, Molecular Libraries Screening Center
Network (MLSCN): http://mli.nih.gov/mlscn/index.php

“We are very excited about the selection of our instruments as a major
component of the VICB’s on-going research initiative,” stated Tommy Bui, VP of
Business Development for NEXUS. “The VICB requires a sample management system
that can achieve demanding requirements for performance, reliability, and most
importantly, sample integrity. Vanderbilt’s decision to implement the
Universal Store further validates NEXUS’ technology as a premier solution for
the storage, retrieval, and management of diverse chemical libraries.”

Dave Weaver, Director of the Vanderbilt HTS Facility, said, “We are
thrilled to be working with NEXUS to deploy its compound storage and
management system. We extensively evaluated numerous compound management
systems and we particularly prized the Universal Store’s flexibility,
scalability, and functionality. For us, getting a system that was able to
serve our present needs while being built on a design philosophy that ensures
its ability to accommodate future advancements in compound storage was
extremely appealing.”

About NEXUS Biosystems, Inc.

NEXUS Biosystems, a privately held company based in Poway, California,
USA, has since 1996 been a developer and provider of enabling technologies and
automation systems for pharmaceutical, biotech, agrochemical, and academic
research institutions worldwide. Current products include the Universal
Store(R) family of next-generation sample storage and retrieval systems, the
Crystal Farm(R) line of protein crystallization systems, the IRORI(R) line of
chemical synthesis technologies and services, and in No. America and Asia
NEXUS is a distributor of the Covaris(TM) line of ultrasonic products for
sample dissolution, resolubulization, and high density microplate mixing.

About the Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology

The Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology is a trans-institutional
initiative between the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of
Medicine. The Institute’s mission is to provide research and training in the
application of chemical approaches to the solution of important biomedical
problems. The proximity of the Chemistry Department and the School of Medicine
facilitates this process. Our members represent a range of research interests
and technologies with particular strengths in analytical methodology and
molecular imaging, cellular responses to chemical stress, drug discovery,
enzyme and receptor chemistry, proteomics, structural biology, and chemical
synthesis.

For further information: NEXUS Biosystems Tommy Bui, VP, Business
Development (858) 679-0770