Current protein and peptide separation strategies have limitations in throughput and integration capability with new advanced analytical techniques. In addition, there is a need to improve the ability to separate and resolve all classes of proteins. This new collaboration will focus on enhancing the throughput, sensitivity of detection, and automation of the protein separation process including the use of new separations technology.
The collaboration builds upon an existing exclusive licensing agreement announced by Applied Biosystems and Northeastern University in April 2001. Applied Biosystems obtained an exclusive licensing agreement to Northeastern University’s vacuum deposition interface developed by Dr. Karger and his colleagues. This new technology is expected to help address key challenges facing proteomics today, including the need for rapid identification and quantitation of low concentrations of proteins contained in complex samples such as human tissue and serum. The vacuum deposition technology is expected to enable a higher degree of integration between advanced high performance separations systems such as liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis with MALDI mass spectrometry.
"The integration of advanced separation technology with our protein analysis systems should move us toward our goal of providing complete proteomic research systems to further enable protein analysis," said Stephen A. Martin, Ph.D., Director of the Proteomics Research Center at Applied Biosystems. "Dr. Karger and his colleagues at Northeastern University have one of the leading research programs in the area of biomolecular separation and we are excited to be collaborating with them on this important project.
Professor Karger commented, "I am very pleased to collaborate with Applied Biosystems, a leader in biomolecular instrumentation. This collaboration will provide a facile means for a wide dissemination of our technologies."
About the Barnett Institute and Northeastern University
The Barnett Institute, an internationally recognized research center in biological analysis has patented more than 50 inventions, enabling Northeastern University to license a number of technologies to instrumentation, biotechnology, and start-up companies. Professor Karger and his colleagues in particular have made major contributions to genomics, proteomics, and drug discovery.
Northeastern University, a private research institution, has a history of strong technological research programs in the life sciences, the physical sciences, and engineering. In addition to the activities of the Barnett Institute, there is significant ongoing research in subsurface imaging and sensing technology, drug discovery and delivery, neurotechnology, nanotechnology, renewable energy, power electronics, plasma processing, microfabrication technology, computer architecture, and materials development and processing. Several hundred faculty, staff, and students participate in this dynamic research environment in the heart of Boston.
About the Applied Biosystems Group
Applera Corporation comprises two operating groups. The Applied Biosystems Group develops and markets instrument-based systems, reagents, software and contract services to the life science industry and research community. Customers use these tools to analyze nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) and proteins to make scientific discoveries, leading to the development of new pharmaceuticals, and to conduct standardized testing. Applied Biosystems is headquartered in Foster City, CA. The Celera Genomics Group, an integrated source of genomic and related medical information headquartered in Rockville, MD, is evolving to become a next generation therapeutic discovery business. Celera intends to leverage its industrialized approach to biology to develop platforms for enabling these new discoveries both for its own internal product development and for its customers, including collaboration partners and subscribers. Celera Diagnostics has been established as a joint venture between Applied Biosystems and Celera Genomics. This new venture is focused on discovery, development and commercialization of novel diagnostic tests. Information about the Applera Corporation, including reports and other information filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, is available on the worldwide web at www.applera.com or by phoning 1-800-762-6923.
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties. These may be identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases such as "believe," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," "should," and "potential," among others. These forward-looking statements are based on Applera Corporation’s current expectations. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for such forward-looking statements. In order to comply with the terms of the safe harbor, Applera Corporation notes that a variety of factors could cause actual results and experience to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties that may affect the operations, performance, development, and results of Applied Biosystems businesses include but are not limited to (1) rapidly changing technology and dependence on new products; (2) integrating acquired technologies may be costly and may not result in technological advances; (3) claims for patent infringement; and (4) other factors that might be described from time to time in Applera Corporation’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Applera, Celera, Celera Diagnostics, and Celera Genomics are trademarks and Applied Biosystems is a registered trademark of Applera Corporation or its subsidiaries in the US and certain other countries.