French Researchers Accelerate Biomarker Research With QTRAP®5500 Mass Spectrometry Systems

Applied Biosystems, a division of Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ:LIFE), today announced that scientists at bioMérieux, a world leader in the field of in vitro diagnostics, and the Institute of Analytical Sciences of the University of Lyon in France are collaborating on research to advance the discovery of biomarkers that can be used to diagnose or monitor disease.

Applied Biosystems, a division of Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ:LIFE), today announced that scientists at bioMérieux, a world leader in the field of in vitro diagnostics, and the Institute of Analytical Sciences of the University of Lyon in France are collaborating on research to advance the discovery of biomarkers that can be used to diagnose or monitor disease. They are using next-generation, mass spectrometry technology with integrated triple quadrupole and linear accelerator trap to validate newly identified candidate biomarkers.

To accomplish their goals, they are deploying SCIEX QTRAP^® 5500 Systems that rapidly quantify dozens of protein and peptide biomarkers in a single analysis. The SCIEX QTRAP 5500 System, which was developed by the Applied Biosystems/MDS Analytical Technologies joint venture, offers greater reproducibility and precision than other mass spectrometry platforms and provides faster and more specific results than the current clinical standard of antibody-based testing, making this new technology ideal for protein biomarker validation. SCIEX QTRAP 5500 Systems are being used to develop simple, robust assays for detecting biomarkers that could then be transferred into standard testing procedures in diagnostic laboratories.

Biomarkers are indicators of the presence or progression of a disease that offer a quick and easy method for diagnosing or monitoring patients for a range of conditions, including cancers as well as infectious and degenerative diseases. Extensive research is required to clarify the exact role and significance of each newly discovered candidate biomarker, which is a process that can take several years to complete. The scientists from bioMérieux and the University of Lyon are combining their respective expertise in biomarker discovery and protein mass spectrometry to accelerate this biomarker validation process.

Jean-Philippe Charrier, Immunoproteomics Senior Staff Scientist at bioMérieux

"bioMérieux is boosting its capabilities for targeted, fast, and efficient biomarker research and validation. The SCIEX QTRAP 5500 System gives us testing capabilities above and beyond what currently exists and we expect them to help us advance our projects."

Laura Lauman, President of Life Technologies' Mass Spectrometry Systems Division

"This project is helping researchers make significant advances in biomarker research more rapidly than was previously possible. This demonstrates how our next generation of mass spectrometry systems is setting new standards of performance that respond to the dynamic needs of scientists looking to advance their understanding of diseases."

Additional Resources

Technical details: More information about the SCIEX 5500 System
Ask the Scientist: Additional information about proteomics workflows & applications
bioMérieux: Additional information about bioMérieux
University of Lyon: Additional information about University of Lyon

About Applied Biosystems Products

Applied Biosystems is a global leader in providing innovative instrument systems to accelerate academic and clinical research, drug discovery and development, pathogen detection and forensic DNA analysis. Applied Biosystems, along with Invitrogen - a leading provider of platform independent, essential life science technologies for disease and drug research, bioproduction and diagnostics - is part of Life Technologies. Applied Biosystems and Invitrogen products are used in nearly every major laboratory in the world.

About Life Technologies

Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ:LIFE) is a global biotechnology tools company dedicated to improving the human condition. Our systems, consumables and services enable researchers to accelerate scientific exploration, driving to discoveries and developments that make life even better. Life Technologies customers do their work across the biological spectrum, working to advance personalized medicine, regenerative science, molecular diagnostics, agricultural and environmental research, and 21st century forensics. Life Technologies had sales of more than $3 billion in 2008, employs approximately 9,500 people, has a presence in more than 100 countries, and possesses a rapidly growing intellectual property estate of approximately 3,600 patents and exclusive licenses. Life Technologies was created by the combination of Invitrogen Corporation and Applied Biosystems Inc.

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