Monday July 20 2009
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., the world leader in serving science, today announced a collaboration with the integrative network biology initiative at The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), UK. The ICR’s new, state-of-the-art proteomics laboratory is equipped with a complete Thermo Scientific proteomics workflow, including the Kingfisher Flex automated sample preparation system, the TSQ Vantage™ triple quadrupole and the UK’s first two LTQ Orbitrap Velos™ mass spectrometers. This workflow provides powerful capabilities to meet the needs of the ICR’s demanding research goals.
“Typically, cancer research focuses on the function and behavior of individual genes or proteins,” explains Dr Rune Linding, head of the cellular and molecular logic team at the ICR. “The ICR’s effort aims to assess how networks of cancer cells interact with each other and surrounding tissues to metastasize, or spread, throughout the body. By modeling and simulating how cancer cells interact within the larger biological network, ICR researchers hope to achieve breakthroughs leading to new drugs or treatments that prevent metastasis – the process that claims the lives of about 90 percent of cancer patients.”
Dr Linding added: "Studying the dynamics of cellular networks requires state-of-the-art mass spectrometry. The LTQ Orbitrap Velos and TSQ Vantage systems enable us to push the boundaries and analyze completely new aspects of cellular signaling networks and perform massive scale studies of the dynamics in these networks. This is crucial as we believe the progression of cancer is due to changes in these molecular networks."
The chairman of the ICR’s section of cell and molecular biology Professor Chris Marshall, FRS, added, “Furthermore, we think that the integration of data from mass spectrometry analysis with other data, such as genetic RNAi screens, will allow us to generate detailed models of processes such as invasion and metastasis. Such a detailed understanding is important to start treating the signaling network as a whole rather than individual nodes, an approach known as network medicine.”
The collaboration involves a number of Thermo Fisher Scientific solutions, including laboratory equipment, silencing RNA, protein reagents, mass spectrometry and related services. Anthony Sullivan, proteomics team leader for Thermo Fisher Scientific, said, “We are immensely proud of our unique ability to serve this essential research and pleased with the opportunity to work so closely with such a talented and motivated team of scientists.”
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For more information please contact: Jane Bunce or phone 0207 153 5106
The Institute of Cancer Research
The Institute of Cancer Research is Europe’s leading cancer research centre with expert scientists working on cutting-edge research. In 2009, The ICR marks its 100 years of groundbreaking research into cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment. In December 2008, The ICR was ranked as the UK’s leading academic research centre by the Times Higher Education’s Table of Excellence, based on the results of the Higher Education Funding Council’s Research Assessment Exercise. The ICR is a charity that relies on voluntary income. It is one of the world’s most cost-effective major cancer research organisations with more than 95p in every £ directly supporting research. For more information visit www.icr.ac.uk.
About Thermo Fisher Scientific
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO) is the world leader in serving science, enabling our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. With 2008 revenues of $10.5 billion, we have approximately 34,000 employees and serve over 350,000 customers within pharmaceutical and biotech companies, hospitals and clinical diagnostic labs, universities, research institutions and government agencies, as well as environmental and industrial process control settings. Serving customers through two premier brands, Thermo Scientific and Fisher Scientific, we help solve analytical challenges from routine testing to complex research and discovery. Thermo Scientific offers customers a complete range of high-end analytical instruments as well as laboratory equipment, software, services, consumables and reagents to enable integrated laboratory workflow solutions. Fisher Scientific provides a complete portfolio of laboratory equipment, chemicals, supplies and services used in healthcare, scientific research, safety and education. Together, we offer the most convenient purchasing options to customers and continuously advance our technologies to accelerate the pace of scientific discovery, enhance value for customers and fuel growth for shareholders and employees alike. For more information visit www.thermofisher.com.