LabBook Partnering with the National Foundation for Cancer Research in Genomics Research

National Foundation for Cancer Research
Thursday, 1 March 2001

LabBook, Inc. an XML-based life science informatics and information-service provider for biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and academic researchers, has partnered with the National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR), a premier cancer-related charity fully dedicated to advancing basic cancer research in the laboratory. NFCR has established a global network of National Foundation for Cancer Research Centers and laboratories for which it provides support to foster synergistic interactions between scientists at major research universities around the world and to pursue "blue sky" exploration in cancer research which hopefully will lead to finding a cure for cancer. The partnership with LabBook will enable the NFCR Centers to further the goal of active collaboration and the sharing of ideas among scientists by making available the LabBook Genomic XML viewerTM to its scientific community. The XML viewer represents the first in a series of XML aware enabling tools that LabBook will provide to enhance the drug discovery process.

The XML Genomic ViewerTM enhances the utility of genetic sequence data by automatically and securely converting sequence data into dynamic visual displays, allowing the user to fully understand annotated sequence features through an intuitive graphic interface. The Genomic ViewerTM facilitates the use of open-XML standard that will eventually allow life sciences researchers, suppliers and content and service providers, to interact and exchange information through a universal data language. This open XML standard will enable the creation, delivery, integration and storage of documents containing complex sequence information, features and annotations, plus the ability to describe how to visualize these elements.

The exponential growth of genetic sequence database, has provided scientists with an important information resource. The Genomic Viewer(tm) enables them to realize the value of this data by transforming the raw sequence into descriptive images that instantly convey structural organization. The user can then use the display to manipulate sequence features or create graphic presentations to communicate with other scientists. In order to fully exploit genomic information to facilitate the development of new therapeutics the information can be made available to all scientists in a meaningful way.

The interactive nature of the LabBook technology will eventually allow for linkage via Internet of the NFCR Centers and other laboratories, with the intent of uniquely connecting a stellar set of scientists in complementary disciplines to synergistically amass research results to make real inroads into the overwhelmingly important problems of cancer prevention, cancer diagnosis and cancer treatment. "The ability for scientists around the globe to interface and share ideas and research in an interactive manner opens a whole new facet to scientific research, expanding the domain of discovery exponentially," stated Lorie Karnath, director scientific advisory board, LabBook. "It is the NFCR's goal to to foster scientific collaboration and to create a global laboratory without walls. The partnership with LabBook provides the tools to our researcher so that they can pursue their research more efficiently." said Franklin Salisbury Jr., president of the NFCR.

The National Foundation for Cancer Research is a cancer related charity fully dedicated to advancing basic science cancer research in the laboratory. Formed in 1973 to support research related to the prevention, treatment and cure of cancer, NFCR encourages and facilitates collaboration and the sharing of ideas and results among scientists. By supporting the best ideas of the best minds, and by facilitating collaboration among scientists, advances in one field contribute to discoveries in others. This is what NFCR's "Laboratory Without Walls" makes possible. Since 1973 NFCR has provided more than $170 million to fund discovery-oriented research that has played a key role in many current breakthroughs in the prevention, diagnosis and new treatments of all types of cancer.

LabBook, Inc. is an XML powered life science informatics and information provider for the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and academic life science researcher. LabBook's enabling software, such as the LabBook Genomic XML Browser(tm) queries, manages and visualizes heterogeneous genomic data types while retaining their underlying associations, and then intelligently communicates targeted information to the researcher. Labbook's open XML format and unique browser capabilities deliver genomic data as "live" reusable documents that integrate underlying bioinformatic content. LabBook's mission is to solve the life science industry's need for rapid access to targeted information and new discoveries. LabBook, Inc. offices are located in McLean, Virginia and Columbus, Ohio. To learn more about LabBook contact the company at www.labbook.com

Certain statements contained in this release may be "forward looking statements" and are thus prospective. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward looking statements.

For more information, or to contact National Foundation for Cancer Research, see their website at: www.researchforacure.com