omation mbers - Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening

The premier international conference on laboratory automation 

Final Program & Abstracts 

Your resource guide to: 

• Emerging and Enabling Technologies 

• World-Renowned Speakers and Experts 

• Groundbreaking Sessions on Clinical Advances 

• Largest Laboratory Automation Exhibition 

February 1 – 5, 2004 • San Jose McEnery Convention Center • San Jose, California 

Short Courses: Sunday and Monday, February 1 and 2, 2004 

Exhibition Opening: Monday evening, February 2, 2004 

Sessions: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, February 3, 4 and 5, 2004 

ALA_office@labautomation.org 

labautomation.org 

program final program final program final program final program final program final program final program final program

The premier international conference on laboratory automation 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Sponsors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 

Welcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 

Conference Chairs & Scientific Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 

Board of Directors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 

ALA Committees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 

ALA Membership Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 

General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 

Tribute to Dave Herold & Tony Beugelsdijk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 

Plenary Program Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 

Conference Floor Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 

Conference-at-a-Glance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 

Poster Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 

Podium Abstracts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 

Poster Abstracts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145 

Industry Sponsored Workshop Luncheons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237 

Exhibit Hall Floorplan and Exhibitor listing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246 

Short Courses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297 

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305 

ALA_office@labautomation.org 

labautomation.org

UNRESTRICTED SPONSORS 

Unrestricted sponsors allow ALA to attract leading scientists to reveal and discuss emerging 

technologies from the podium. These funds are also used to assist with the travel and 

registration of students. ALA thanks the following companies for their support: 

FRIENDS OF ALA 

ALA encourages special interest groups, associations, 

and other organizations focused on education and 

improving the practice of laboratory automation to 

gather during LabAutomation2004. With the Friends 

program, organizations, special interest groups 

and “Birds of a Feather” consortia have the unique 

opportunity to come together to meet, share common 

experiences, and further enhance their educational 

experiences. ALA welcomes the following Friends to 

LabAutomation2004: 

SPONSORSHIPS 

2 

EXCHANGE PARTNERS 

ALA thanks the following companies for their support 

in creating awareness of LabAutomation2004 through 

mutually beneficial sponsorship exchange agreements: 

MicroTAS

February 1-5, 2004 

San Jose McEnery 

Convention Center 

San Jose, California 

WELCOME TO LABAUTOMATION2004! 

The Association for Laboratory Automation (ALA) 

welcomes you to San Jose and LabAutomation2004, the 

premier conference and exhibition on emerging laboratory 

technologies! For eight years, LabAutomation has driven 

ground-breaking advances in the pharmaceutical, clinical, 

and biotechnology fields through cutting-edge laboratory 

technology, education, and collaboration. We’re thrilled 

that you’re a part of this pivotal event! 

Over the next few days, you will gain valuable knowledge 

and resources for leveraging new discoveries and 

tools. You’ll meet international colleagues, cultivate new 

relationships, and find innovative ways to collaborate 

in the laboratory environment. You’ll also enjoy an 

educational program with engaging sessions, intriguing 

speakers, and upbeat networking events – thanks to 

LabAutomation2004 Scientific Committee members, who 

worked nonstop to bring it all together! 

This year’s program is the best yet! In addition to 

dynamic short courses and provocative educational 

sessions, LabAutomation2004 features an expansive 

exhibition floor with more than 300 booths. So be 

sure to visit the exhibit hall throughout the week! You’ll 

see firsthand the latest in automation technologies for 

pharmaceutical, biotechnology, clinical, and chemical 

laboratories – from companies around the world. 

Short Courses: Sunday and Monday, February 1 and 2, 2004 

Exhibition Opening: Monday evening, February 2, 2004 

Sessions: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, February 3, 4 and 5, 2004 

Highlights of LabAutomation2004 include: 

• 21 One-Day and Two-Day Short Courses 

• Plenary Session Speakers: Dr. Jurgen Drews, 

Mr. John D. Rhodes, Dr. Chris Lowe, and 

Dr. Richard Mathies 

• Seven Educational Tracks: High Throughput 

Chemistry, High Throughput Screening, Micro- 

Technologies, Proteomics, Genomics, Clinical, and 

Emerging Technologies 

• 192 Podium Presentations 

• Hundreds of Poster Presentations 

• ALA’s Annual GALA Dinner 

• Jouan Robotics Award 

ALA continues to be the only member-driven, nonprofit 

organization dedicated to advancing the science 

and interests of laboratory automation professionals 

everywhere – so that you can make great things 

happen every day. 

We’re confident that LabAutomation2004 will give you 

fresh perspectives, knowledge, and enthusiasm for 

the future of laboratory automation. Please use this 

program as a resource guide in the days ahead to help 

you make the most of this great opportunity. Enjoy your 

visit to San Jose! 

3 

Sincerely, 

The LabAutomation2004 Scientific Committee 

ALA_offi ce@labautomation.org 


SPONSORSHIPS | WELCOME

CONFERENCE CHAIRS 

David Herold, M.D., Ph.D. 

Program Chairman 

VA San Diego Healthcare System/ 

University of California, San Diego 

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE (BY TRACK) 

Analytical 

Michael Greig, Chair 

Pfizer Global R&D – La Jolla 

Steven A. Hofstadler, Ph.D., Associate Chair 

Ibis Therapeutics, Inc. 

Clinical 

Charles Hawker, Ph.D., Chair 

ARUP Laboratories 

William Neeley, M.D., Associate Chair 

Detroit Medical Center 

Emerging Technologies 

W. Steve Fillers, Ph.D., Chair 

TekCel, Inc. 

Stewart Chipman, Ph.D., Associate Chair 

SDC Associates, Inc. 

Genomics 

Jose Olivares, Ph.D., Chair 

Los Alamos National Laboratory 

Scott Hunicke-Smith, Ph.D., Associate Chair 

Ambion, Inc. 

High Throughput Chemistry 

Nicholas Hird, Ph.D., Chair 

Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd. 

Michal Lebl, Ph.D., Associate Chair 

Illumina, Inc. 

High Throughput Screening 

Richard Nelson, Ph.D., Chair 

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 

Tina Garyantes, Ph.D., Associate Chair 

Aventis, Inc. 

4 

Andrew Zaayenga 

Associate Program Chairman 

TekCel, Inc. 

Informatics 

Jay Gill, Ph.D., Chair 

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. 

Carl Murray, Ph.D., Associate Chair 

Beckman Coulter, Inc. 

Micro-Technologies 

Anne Kopf-Sill, Ph.D., Chair 

Caliper Technologies Corporation 

Laurie Locascio, Ph.D., Associate Chair 

National Institute of Standards and Technology 

Posters 

Gary W. Kramer, Ph.D., Chair 


William Sonnefeld, Ph.D., Associate Chair 

Eastman Kodak Company 

Proteomics 

Robert Fitzgerald, Ph.D., Chair 

VA San Diego Healthcare System/ 


Eric Peters, Ph.D., Associate Chair 

Novartis Research Foundation 

Short Courses 

Steven D. Hamilton, Ph.D., Coordinator of Software 

Short Courses 

Sanitas Consulting 

Mark F. Russo, Ph.D., Coordinator of Software Short Courses 

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

ALA BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

Peter Grandsard, Ph.D. 

Amgen, Inc. 

Steven D. Hamilton, Ph.D. 


E. Kevin Hrusovsky, M.B.A. 

Caliper Technologies 

Mark F. Russo, Ph.D. 


Torsten A. Staab, MS, 

Dipl. Inform. (FH) 


Andy Zaayenga 

TekCel, Inc. 

5 

ALA Welcomes New 

Elected Board Members 

The results from ALA’s member election 

are finally tallied. This year’s election 

once again proved ALA is truly a 

member-driven, volunteer organization 

with 14 candidates vying for three Board 

openings. The ALA welcomes Anne 

Kopf-Sill, James Myslik, and Stephen 

Jacobson (re-elected) to their new roles 

on the Board of Directors. Their terms 

commence immediately and carry for 

the next three years. Please be sure to 

congratulate Anne, James and Stephen. 

We are proud they are involved with the 

ALA leadership team. 

Anne Kopf-Sill, Ph.D. 


James Myslik, Ph.D. 


Stephen C. Jacobson, Ph.D. 

Indiana University (re-elected) 

ALA’s Professional Team …be sure to visit the ALA Team at Booth 1607 

Greg Dummer, CAE 

Chief Administrative Offi cer 

Joann Bellos 

Account Reconciliation 

Leona Caffey 

Production, Copy Coordination 

Brian Casey, CEM 

Director, Event Management 

Brenda Dreier 

Abstract & Speaker 

Management 

Jeanne Farrell 

Marketing Specialist 

Peter Gaido, Esq. 

Gaido & Fintzen 

Legal Counsel 

Daphne Glover 

Exhibit Sales & Sponsorships 

Nan Hallock 

Managing Editor 

Journal of the Association for 

Laboratory Automation (JALA) 

Keri Hinton 

Housing & Registration 

David Laurenzo 

Director, Marketing & 

Communications 

Jim Laurenzo 

Marketing Operations Specialist 

Kathy Maher 

Accounts Payable 

Karen Miller 

Accounts Receivable 

Koranne Ostic 

Web Designer 

Michael Randow 

Web Manager 

Sarah Rhees 

Conference Manager 

Dave Wasielewski, CPA 

Director, Financial Management 

Francine Ziev 

Designer 

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE & BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ALA COMMITTEES 

Audit Committee 

E. Kevin Hrusovsky, M.B.A., 

Chairman 


Corporation 

Jim Bruner 

GlaxoSmithKline 

Sheila DeWitt, Ph.D. 

Arqule 

Jay Gill, Ph.D. 


Ann Janssen 

Pfizer 

Bylaws Committee 

Torsten A. Staab, MS, Dipl. 

Inform. (FH), Chairman 


John Elling, Ph.D., M.B.A. 

Datect, Inc. 

Doug Gurevitch, M.S., P.E. 

University of California, San 

Diego 

Paul Rodziewicz 

ReTiSoft, Inc. 

Reinhold Schäfer, Ph.D. 

Fachhochschule Wiesbaden 

Education Committee 

Jim Sterling, Ph.D., Chairman 

Keck Institute 


Amgen, Inc. 

Steven Hamilton, Ph.D. 


Mark Russo, Ph.D. 


Sabeth Verpoorte, Ph.D., 

University of Groningen 

Andy Zaayenga 

TekCel, Inc. 

Finance Committee 

Steven Hamilton, Ph.D., 

Chairman 


Richard Nelson, Ph.D. 

Boehringer-Ingelheim 

William Sonnefeld, Ph.D. 

Eastman Kodak 

Jouan Committee 

David A. Herold, M.D., Ph.D., 

Chairman 

VASDHS/UCSD 

Tina Garyantes, Ph.D. 

Aventis 



Scott Hunicke-Smith, Ph.D. 

Ambion, Inc. 

Michal Lebl, Ph.D. 


Laurie Locascio, Ph.D. 

National Institute of Standards 

and Technology 

Elaine Mardis, Ph.D. 

Washington University School 

of Medicine 

Eric Peters, Ph.D. 

Novartis Research Foundation 

Alain Truchaud, Ph.D. 

Institut de Biologie 

Juergen Zimmerman, Ph.D. 

EMBL 

Membership Committee 

Andy Zaayenga, Chairman 

TekCel, Inc. 

Nicholas Hird, Ph.D. 

Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd. 

Karen Kearns, M.B.A., B.S. 

Amgen, Inc. 

Brian Lightbody 


Corporation 

Erik Rubin, Ph.D. 


Reinhold Schäfer, Ph.D. 



Inform. (FH) 


Kailash Swarna, 

Novartis Institutes for 

BioMedical Research, Inc. 

6 

Nominating Committee 

Tony J. Beugelsdijk, Ph.D., 

M.B.A., Chairman 




David A. Herold, M.D., Ph.D. 

VASDHS/UCSD 

Michal Lebl, Ph.D. 


Kerstin Thurow, Ph.D. 

University of Rostock 

JALA Editorial Board 

Mark Russo, Ph.D., Chairman 


Thomas W. Astle, P.E. 

Mark Beggs, Ph.D. 

Tony J. Beugeldijk. Ph.D., 

M.B.A. 

Raymond Dessy, Ph.D., D.Sc. 



C. John Harris, Ph.D., 

Cchem, FRSC 

David A. Herold, M.D., Ph.D. 

Sue Holland, B.Sc., Ph.D. 

Leroy Hood, M.D., Ph.D. 

Paul S. Kayne, Ph.D. 

Anne R. Kopf-Sill, Ph.D. 

Gary W. Kramer, Ph.D. 

Rodney Markin, M.D., Ph.D. 

Ben Moshiri, Ph.D. 

Carl Murray, Ph.D. 

Giles Sanders, Ph.D. 

Reinhold Schaefer, Ph.D. 

John H.M. Souverijn, Ph.D. 


Inform. (FH) 

Tetsuro Sugiura, M.D., Ph.D. 

Pieter Telleman, Ph.D. 

Kerstin Thurow, Ph.D. 

Alain Truchaud, Ph.D. 

Sabeth Verpoorte, Ph.D. 

Hilmar Weinmann, Ph.D. 

Mike Wheeler, Ph.D. 

Ad-Hoc Exhibitor Advisory 

Committee 

Jay Smith, Chairman 

deCODE genetics 

Tom Astle, P.E. 

TomTec 

Anna Barcelos 

TekCel, Inc. 

Marc Boillat 

Seyonic 

Dennis Claspell 

Gilson 

Carol Huggins 

Beckman-Coulter, Inc. 

Elizabeth Savelle 

Velocity 11 

Peter Siesel 

Tecan 

Lynda Thomas 

Thermo Electron 

ALA LabFusion 2004 

Scientific Committee 

Tony J. Beugelsdijk, Ph.D., 

M.B.A., Chairman 


Peter Gransard, Ph.D., 

Associate Chairman 

Amgen, Inc. 

Carmen Baldino, Ph.D. 

Arqule 

Andrea Chow, Ph.D. 

Caliper Corporation 

Rod Cole, Ph.D. 

Millenium Pharmaceuticals 

Carol Homon, Ph.D. 

Boehringer Ingelheim 

Brian Lightbody 


Corporation 

Tom Olah, Ph.D. 


Robert Pacifici, Ph.D. 

Eli Lilly 

Scott Patterson, Ph.D. 

Amgen, Inc. 

John Stults, Ph.D. 

BioSpect 

Sabeth Verpoorte, Ph.D. 


Harold Weller, Ph.D. 

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

Great Things Happen Every Day When You Discover ALA 

The Association for Laboratory Automation (ALA) is making an exciting difference in the field of laboratory 

automation. We are the only member-driven, non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the interests of 

laboratory automation professionals everywhere. By joining ALA or renewing your membership today, you’re taking 

a quantum leap forward for your career and the fast-evolving field of laboratory automation. 

Enjoy the Rewards of ALA Membership 

ALA membership offers an array of rich benefits, including: 

• Discounts on our premier educational conferences: 

LabAutomation2005 – Focuses on discovery, tools, and emerging technologies. 

ALA LabFusion 2004 – Focuses on development and applications, 

with an emphasis on biological and pharmaceutical interests. 

• Subscription to the Journal of the Association for Laboratory Automation (JALA), a multi-disciplinary 

international forum devoted to the advancement of technology in the laboratory. 

• Opportunities to network with world-renowned experts and cutting-edge organizations in the field of laboratory 

science through ALA events and forums. 

• Access to a collaborative, synergistic community, where professionals come together to share common 

concerns, ideas, and interests. 

• Professional development through volunteer leadership opportunities. 

• Annual membership directory with online access. 

Please visit labautomation.org/membership to join ALA or renew your membership today! 

Make A Difference Today With ALA 

We are committed to accelerating progress in the global scientific 

community, propelling the field of laboratory automation and your 

career to new frontiers. Part of what makes this possible is our 

diverse team of committed ALA volunteers, who bring their unique 

perspectives and expertise to the organization and the field of 

laboratory automation. 

Expand your education as a valued ALA volunteer – collaborate 

on ALA program content, shape ALA’s strategy and vision for 

the future, create sound policies and procedures, and even lead 

special committees. By getting involved, you will have unparalleled 

opportunities to grow personally and professionally – and make a real 

difference in the field of laboratory automation. 

We hope you will join our growing list of volunteers by calling (866) 263-4928 today! 

JALA 

As a member of ALA, you will receive the Journal of the Association for Laboratory Automation (JALA), a reviewed 

scientific journal providing constructive articles on commercially available and new technology shaping the future. 

If you are interested in submitting a manuscript, contact JALA Managing Editor, Nan Hallock, at (920) 652-0427; 

nanhallock@labautomation.org. 

Become an ALA member! 

7 

“At the core of our organization 

is our volunteer base – individuals 

whose vision and dedication is 

our greatest asset.” 

Join ALA now for a chance to win a palmOne Zire Handheld. 

Visit us in Booth 1607 by February 3 to enter. 

– Tony Beugelsdijk, Ph.D., M.B.A. 


Los Alamos New Mexico 

ALA COMMITTEES | ALA MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

GENERAL INFORMATION 

CONFERENCE LOCATION 

The exhibition, podium sessions, posters, 

registration, and internet access are located in 

the San Jose McEnery Convention Center. 

CONFERENCE BADGES 

Those entering the Exhibition must be wearing 

an official conference name badge or an 

exhibit-only name badge. 

ACCOMMODATIONS 

Most attendees are housed in the hotels listed 

below. 

Fairmont Hotel (408) 998-1900 

Crowne Plaza (408) 998-0400 

Marriott Hotel (408) 280-1300 

Hilton Hotel (408) 287-2100 

PODIUM SESSIONS 

Speakers are asked to appear 30 minutes prior to the 

start of their sessions. If using the LCD data projector, 

speakers must provide a laptop. There is also an 

overhead projector. 

SPEAKER READY 

Speakers may preview their presentations on the 

LCD projectors located in Room D of the Convention 

Center. This room is open to Short Course instructors 

on Sunday from 7:30 am – 5:00 pm and Monday from 

7:30 am – 7:00 pm. It will be open to all other 

instructors on Monday from 5:00 – 7:00 pm and 

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 7:30 am – 

5:00 pm. 

POSTERS 

There are two poster sessions, one on Tuesday and 

the second on Wednesday. Posters should be set up 

10:00 – 10:30 am on the designated day and removed 

by 6:30 pm on the designated day. 

• Tuesday Posters. Presenters should attend 

their posters 1:30 – 3:00 pm on Tuesday. 

Tuesday posters are annotated TP. 

• Wednesday Posters. Presenters should attend 

their posters 2:00 – 3:30 pm on Wednesday. 

Wednesday posters are annotated WP. 

8 

PRINTED PROGRAM AND ABSTRACTS 

The titles and abstracts printed in this program were 

entered on-line by the authors. It is not possible to fully 

edit this material. Information is subject to change. 

CHILD CARE 

Childcare service has been contracted with KiddieCorp, 

an independent company. Advance reservations are 

required. Childcare is located in Room K of the lower 

level. 

EXHIBITS 

Exhibits are open 4:00 – 8:00 pm on Monday, and 

10:00 am – 6:30 pm on Tuesday and Wednesday. The 

Association for Laboratory Automation extends sincere 

appreciation for the support of exhibitors. 

INTERNET ACCESS 

A limited number of workstations and laptop 

connections are available in Exhibit Hall 3. Your use will 

be limited to 20 minutes if others are waiting.

WORKSHOP LUNCHEONS/HOSPITALITY SUITES/PRESS CONFERENCES 

Guests for workshop luncheons should have pre-registered through the company web sites. If you have not 

registered, please visit the company’s exhibit booth to inquire. Evening hospitality suites are open to all. 

Day Time Location Event 

Tuesday 7:30 – 10:30 am Room J4 Nanostream Press Breakfast 

Tuesday 12:00 – 1:30 pm Marriott Hotel, Willow Glen Dahlgren Communications Press Lunch 

Tuesday 12:00 – 1:30 pm Rooms F Genetix Workshop Lunch 

Tuesday 12:00 – 1:30 pm Room A8 Greiner Bio-One Workshop Lunch 

Tuesday 12:00 – 1:30 pm Room C3 IDBS Workshop Lunch 

Tuesday 12:00 – 1:30 pm Room J4 Millipore Corporation Workshop Lunch 

Tuesday 12:00 – 1:30 pm Room N Tecan Workshop Lunch 1 

Tuesday 12:00 – 1:30 pm Room C2 Tecan Workshop Lunch 2 

Tuesday 12:00 – 1:30 pm Room J2 TekCel Workshop Lunch 1 

Tuesday 12:00 – 1:30 pm Room J1 The Automation Partnership Workshop Lunch 

Tuesday 12:00 – 1:30 pm Room J3 Thermo Electron Workshop Lunch 

Tuesday 2:00 – 4:00 pm Room J1 TekCel Press Conference 

Tuesday 8:00 – 9:00 pm Room J3 Bio-Tek Hospitality Suite 

Tuesday 8:00 – 9:00 pm Room J1 Nanostream Hospitality Suite 

Tuesday 8:00 – 9:00 pm Room J2 PerkinElmer Life Hospitality Suite 

Wednesday 12:30 – 2:00 pm Room J4 Beckman Coulter Workshop Lunch 

Wednesday 12:30 – 2:00 pm Room F Caliper/Zymark Workshop Lunch 

Wednesday 12:30 – 2:00 pm Room A8 JALA Prospective Authors Workshop 

Wednesday 12:30 – 2:00 pm Room J1 MDL Information Services Workshop Lunch 

Wednesday 12:30 – 2:00 pm Room C2 Tecan Workshop Lunch 3 

Wednesday 12:30 – 2:00 pm Room J2 TekCel Workshop Lunch 2 

Wednesday 12:30 – 2:00 pm Room J3 Thermo Electron Workshop Lunch 

REFRESHMENTS 

Breakfast 

A light continental breakfast will be served outside 

the Exhibit Hall Concourse, 7:30 – 8:00 am, Tuesday, 

Wednesday, and Thursday for full-registration 

attendees. 

Lunch 

Box lunches for full-registration and exhibits-only 

attendees will be served in the Exhibit Hall on Tuesday 

and Wednesday. A buffet lunch will be served in the 

Ballroom Concourse on Thursday. 

9 

Receptions 

There will be informal receptions in the exhibit hall as 

follows: 

Monday 4:00 – 8:00 pm 

Tuesday 5:00 – 6:30 pm 

Wednesday 5:30 – 6:30 pm 

GALA Dinner 

The GALA Dinner for full-registration attendees is 

Tuesday, February 3 at 7:00 pm in the Fairmont 

Hotel. Please present the ticket provided with your 

registration materials. 

SMOKING 

California law prohibits smoking in all public places, 

including the Convention Center and hotel lobbies. 

GENERAL INFORMATION

Association for Laboratory Automation 

Thanks Founding Board Members 

Tony J. Beugelsdijk 

Ph.D., M.B.A. 

Los Alamos 

National Laboratory 

David A. Herold 

M.D., Ph.D. 

VA Healthcare System 

UC-San Diego 

ALA Co-Founders 

Board Members 

Committee Chairs and Volunteers: 1995-2004 

Enthusiastic and Informed Sources for 

Guidance and Advice: Forever

Tony Beugelsdijk and Dave Herold have taken a lot of things about ALA personally over 

the years…and we are thankful that they did. It was their personal commitment, faith, and 

sweat equity that made our association the practical and productive reality that it is today. 

As laboratory technology and automation began to take shape as a professional specialty in 

the 1980s, Tony and Dave were among a core group of mavericks that immediately recognized 

the need for a neutral organization to deliver information, education, and networking 

opportunities for like-minded experts. Early collaborations with Switzerland’s International 

Conference on Automation and Robotics eventually led to the U.S.-based Association for 

Laboratory Automation. 

Neither Tony nor Dave ever doubted that the ALA would be a success -- their personal 

determination and can-do attitudes guaranteed it, and the first ALA LabAutomation 

Conference launched in San Diego in January 1997. As planned and predicted, the event 

and the organization achieved an important balance among a diversity of academic and 

commercial interests. ALA paired theory with practice, making it a popular and valuable 

resource for scientists and technologists from throughout the U.S. and around the world. 

In the process, Tony and Dave’s responsibilities were many: from sorting, packaging, and 

mailing 4,000 pounds of printed materials on the floor of Dave’s office; taste testing and 

selecting which California wines would be served; clearing their throats and making sales 

calls to hundreds of carefully researched and targeted exhibitor prospects; managing the 

schedules and requirements of hundreds of speakers and volunteers; to personally 

guaranteeing hundreds of thousands of dollars in hotel and convention center contract 

commitments. They worked nonstop, often through holidays, and often with help from 

their families, friends, and a growing network of interested and enthusiastic volunteers. 

As the organization and its events grew, Tony and Dave continued to keep a forward focus. 

By 2001, they recognized their original management model did not scale with ALA’s 

growth; it had become obsolete. By 2002, they had rectified the situation – an association 

management professional was hired to provide experienced leadership; bylaws, policies, 

and operating procedures were reconsidered and appropriately rewritten; and the organization 

moved from a self-appointed to a member-elected board of directors. It is this change 

in the board leadership structure that brings their tenure to an end. 

After nearly a decade of faith, hope, and dreams, Tony and Dave will retire from the ALA 

Board of Directors in February 2004. They take with them the countless memories, 

experiences, and new friends they earned over the years, and they leave behind a legacy 

of greater good. They look forward to being lifelong members of ALA, participating in 

annual conferences, continuing to serve as members of committees, and hoping that 

you’ll join them. 

On behalf of all members of the Association for Laboratory Automation, we sincerely 

thank Dave and Tony for their leadership. As members of the 2003 ALA Board of Directors, 

we look forward to continuing to build on their foundation of excellence… 


Amgen, Inc. 

Torsten A. Staab, M.S., 

Dipl. Inform. (FH) 

Los Alamos 




E. Kevin Hrusovsky 

Caliper Technologies Corp. 

Andrew Zaayenga 

TekCel, Inc. 

www.labautomation.org 

Mark F. Russo, Ph.D. 


Stephen C. Jacobson, Ph.D. 

Indiana University

PLENARY PROGRAM OVERVIEW 

Keynote Plenary Speaker 

Changing Patterns in the Discovery of New Drugs 

Tuesday, February 3, 2004 8:30 – 9:15 am 

Dr. Jürgen Drews 

Managing Partner 

Nigeons GmbH 

Financial Plenary Speaker 

Financial Forces Shaping the Future of the 

Pharmaceuticals and Biotech Industry 


Mr. John D. Rhodes 

National Managing Partner, Life Sciences 

Deloitte & Touche 

Plenary Speaker 

Microfluidics in Your Future 


Dr. Richard A. Mathies 

Professor of Biophysical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 

University of California, Berkeley 

Plenary Speaker 

The Nanophysiometer: Holographic Sensors for 

Drug Discovery 

Tuesday, February 3, 2004 11:15 am – 12:00 pm 

Dr. Christopher R. Lowe 

Professor of Biotechnology 

University of Cambridge 

12

CONFERENCE FLOOR PLAN 

San Jose McEnery Convention Center 

Exhibit Level 

E 

D 

Sessions 

C3 

Sessions 

C4 

C2 C1 

B3 

K 

(street level) 

B4 

B2 B1 

Registration Industry 

Workshops 

Escalators 

down to entrance 

A4 

N 

(street level) 

A5 

A3 A6 

A2 A7 

A1 A8 

Exhibit Hall 

and Posters 

13 

F 

J3 

J2 

J1 J4 

PLENARY PROGRAM OVERVIEW | CONFERENCE FLOOR PLAN

CONFERENCE AT A GLANCE 

8:30 am – 4:30 pm 

Please Note: The exhibit opening is on Monday evening and sessions commence on Tuesday. 

8:00 am – 5:00 pm Exhibitor Set Up 

8:30 am – 4:30 pm 

8:00 am – 2:00 pm Exhibitor Set Up 

Sunday, February 1, 2004 

Short Courses 

Barcode Technology • Economic Justification of Laboratory Automation • Emerging IT for the Laboratory 

Introduction to High Throughput Screening • Introduction to Laboratory Automation • Introduction to LabView 

Introduction to Molecular Biology • Mass Spectrometry Instrumentation & High Throughput Analysis 

Microarrays & Applications • Migrating from VB6 to VB.Net 

Sunday and Monday (two day courses) 

Getting Started With Excel and VBA in the Laboratory • Microfluidics I & II 

Monday, February 2, 2004 

Short Courses 

Biostatistics • Introduction to Databases in the Laboratory • Introduction to Laboratory Automation 

LIMS in the Organization • Mass Spectrometry in Proteomics & Drug Discovery • Mathematica 

Molecular Diagnostic Automation • Patent Law • Pharmacogenomic Automation 

Trajectory of Clinical Laboratory Automation 

Sunday and Monday (two day courses) 

Getting Started With Excel and VBA in the Laboratory • Microfluidics I & II 

4:00 – 8:00 pm Opening Reception in the Exhibit Hall 

8:15 am – 12:00 pm Plenary Session, Ballroom A2 

10:00 am – 6:30 pm Exhibits Open 

12:00 – 1:30 pm Lunch for Attendees in the Exhibit Hall 

1:30 – 3:00 pm Poster Session in the Exhibit Hall 

3:00 – 5:00 pm 

HT Chemistry 

Room B3 

HTS Ion 

Channels 

Room A2 

Tuesday, February 3, 2004 

Microfluidics 

Room A4 

5:00 – 6:30 pm Reception in the Exhibit Hall, Celebrating JALA Authors 

7:00 – 9:00 pm GALA Dinner at the Fairmont Hotel 

9:00 – 10:30 pm JALA Authors Reception (Invitation Only) 

14 

Proteomics 

Arrays 

Room B1 

Genomics 

Analytical 

Room A1 

Clinical 

Proteomics 

Room C1 

Engineering 

Applications 

Room A3

8:00 – 10:00 am 

10:30 am – 12:30 pm 

HT Chemistry 

Room B3 

HT Chemistry 

Microscale 

Room B3 

10:00 am – 6:30 pm Exhibits Open 

HTS 


Room A2 

HTS Analytical 

Room A2 

12:30 – 2:00 pm Lunch for Attendees in the Exhibit Hall 

Wednesday, February 4, 2004 

Microfluidic 

Separations 

Room A4 

Microfluidics 

Room A4 

Proteomics 

Structural 

Room B1 

Proteomics 


Room B1 

Genomics 

Instrumentation 

Room A1 

Genomics 

SNPs 

Room A1 

12:30 – 2:00 pm JALA Prospective Authors Workshop, Room A8 (Open to all Conference Attendees.) 

2:00 – 3:30 pm Poster Session in the Exhibit Hall 

3:30 – 5:30 pm 

HT Chemistry 

New Strategies 

Room B3 

HTS Data 

Analysis & QC 

Room A2 

5:30 – 6:30 pm Reception in the Exhibit Hall 

7:00 – 10:00 pm Exhibitor Move Out 

8:00 am – 5:00 pm Exhibitor Move Out 

8:00 – 10:00 am 

10:30 am – 12:00 pm 

HT Chemistry 


Room B3 

ADME – Tox 

Room A2 

12:00 – 1:30 pm Lunch for Attendees 

1:30 – 3:30 pm 

HTS 

Automated 

Design 

Room A2 

Drug Discovery Case Studies 

Room B1 

Microfluidics 

Detection 

Room A4 

Proteomics 

Technology 1 

Room B1 

Thursday, February 5, 2004 

Microchips 

Separations 

Room A4 

Microfluidics 

Bioanalytical 

Room A4 

Microfluidics 

Small Volume 

Dispensing 

Room A4 

4:00 – 5:00 pm Jouan Award Winner Presentation, Room B1 

5:00 – 6:00 pm Farewell 

15 

Proteomics 

Technology 2 

Room B1 

Proteomics 

Technology 3 

Room B1 

Automation 

Applications in 

Process R&D 

Room A2 

Genomics 


Room A1 

Genomics 

Arrays 

Room A1 

Genomics 

Advanced 

Topics 

Room A1 

Clinical POC 

Room C1 

Clinical 

Molecular 

Diagnostics 

Room C1 

Clinical 

Informatics 1 

Room C1 

Clinical 

Informatics 2 

Room C1 

Clinical Arrays 

Room C1 

Clinical Pharmacogenomics 

Room C1 

Emerging 

Technology 

Room A3 

Emerging 

Technology 

Room A3 

Emerging 

Technology 

Room A3 

National Lab 

Technology 

Transfer 

Room A3 

Emerging IT 


Room A3 

Performance 

Metrics 

Room A1 

CONFERENCE AT A GLANCE

PROGRAM 


8:30 am – 4:30 pm Short Courses – Pages 298 – 300 

Room B1 Barcode Technology 

Room C1 Economic Justification of Laboratory Automation 

Room B3 Emerging IT for the Laboratory 

Room J3 Introduction to High Throughput Screening 

Room J2 Introduction to Laboratory Automation 

Room C4 Introduction to LabView 

Room F Introduction to Molecular Biology 

Room B2 Mass Spectrometry Instrumentation & High Throughput Analysis 

Room J4 Microarrays & Applications 

Room B4 Migrating From VB6 to VB.Net 

Two-Day Courses – Page 300 

Room C2 Getting Started With Excel and VBA in the Laboratory 

Room J1 Microfluidics I & II 


8:30 am – 4:30 pm Short Courses – Pages 301 – 303 

Room C1 Biostatistics 

Room B1 Introduction to Databases in the Laboratory 

Room J2 Introduction to Laboratory Automation 

Room B4 LIMS in the Organization 

Room B2 Mass Spectrometry in Proteomics & Drug Discovery 

Room C4 Mathematica 

Room J4 Molecular Diagnostic Automation 

Room F Patent Law 

Room J3 Pharmacogenomic Automation 

Room B3 Trajectory of Clinical Laboratory Automation 

Two-Day Courses – Page 300 

Room C2 Getting Started With Excel and VBA in the Laboratory 

Room J1 Microfluidics I & II 

4:00 – 8:00 pm Opening Reception in the San Jose McEnery Convention Center Exhibit Hall 


8:15 – 8:30 am Room A2 Welcome and Opening Remarks 

8:30 am – 12:00 pm Room A2 Plenary Session Chair Tony J. Beugelsdijk 

8:30 am Changing Patterns in the Discovery of New Drugs; Jürgen Drews, Nigeons GmbH 

9:15 am Financial Forces Shaping the Future of the Pharmaceuticals and Biotech Industry; 

John D. Rhodes, Deloitte & Touche 

10:00 – 10:30 am Break 

10:30 am Plenary Session Chair Peter Grandsard 

A Look to the Future 

Microfluidics in Your Future; Richard A. Mathies, University of California, Berkeley 

11:15 am The Nanophysiometer: Holographic Sensors for Drug Discovery; Christopher R. Lowe, 


12:00 – 1:30 pm Lunch Break in the San Jose McEnery Convention Center Exhibit Hall 

1:30 – 3:00 pm Poster Session – List begins on page 25. San Jose McEnery Convention Center Exhibit Hall 

3:00 – 5:00 pm Room B3 High Throughput Chemistry 

Chair: Michal Lebl, Illumina, Inc. 

3:00 pm Natural Products Inspired Studies in Asymmetric Synthesis; 

Erick Carreira, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology – ETH Zürich 

3:30 pm Solid and Solution-phase Syntheses of Peptidomimetics That Mimic or Disrupt Proteinprotein 

Interactions; Kevin Burgess, Texas A & M University 

4:00 pm Tailoring Molecular Diversity Through Carbohydrate-based Scaffolds; 

Wim Meutermans, Alchemia Pty Ltd 

4:30 pm From “One-Bead One-Compound” to Chemical Microarrays; 

Jan Marik, University of California, Davis – Cancer Center 

16

3:00 – 5:00 pm Room A2 High Throughput Screening Ion Channels 

Chair: Tina Garyantes, Aventis, Inc. 

3:00 pm Higher Throughput Electrophysiology and Ion Channel Assays Technologies; 

Matching Targets, Throughput and Target Prosecution Objectives; 

Jennings Worley, Amphora Discovery Corporation 

3:30 pm PatchXpress: Automated Patch Clamp for High-quality, High Throughput Recordings of 

Both Voltage and Ligand-Gated Ion Channels; Chris Mathes, Axon Instruments, Inc. 

4:00 pm Improving Recording Quality for High Throughput Patch Clamp; 

Jia Xu, AVIVA Biosciences Corporation 

4:30 pm CytoPatch– Automated Patch Clamping; Christa Nutzhorn, CYTOCENTRICS GmbH 

3:00 – 5:00 pm Room A4 Microfluidics 

Chair: Juan Santiago, Stanford University 

3:00 pm Low-voltage, Spatially-localized Electrokinetic Control; 

Katherine Dunphy, University of California, Berkeley 

3:30 pm Analysis of Microscale Transport for BioMEMS; 

Carl Meinhart, University of California, Santa Barbara 

4:00 pm Single Molecule Amplification in a Continuous Flow LabChip Device; 

Jill Baker, Caliper Technologies Corp. 

4:30 pm A Generalized Dispersion Theory Model for Field Amplified Sample Stacking; 

Rajiv Bharadwaj, Stanford University 

3:00 – 5:00 pm Room B1 Proteomics Arrays 

Chair: Bernard Geierstanger, Novartis Research Foundation 

3:00 pm High Sensitivity Multiplexed Serum Protein Analysis Using Antibody Microarrays and 

Rolling Circle Amplification; Brian Haab, Van Andel Research Institute 

3:30 pm Application of Functional Protein Microarrays to Kinase Drug R&D; Paul Predki, Protometrix, Inc. 

4:00 pm Protein Array Preparation by Ion Soft-Landing; Zheng Ouyang, Purdue University 

4:30 pm New Detection Principles for Protein Biochips; Peter Wagner, Zyomyx, Inc. 

3:00 – 5:00 pm Room A1 Genomics Analytical 

Chair: Michael Becker, Gen-Probe, Inc. 

3:00 pm Miniaturizing the Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer While Maintaining High Performance; 

Robert Cotter, Johns Hopkins University 

3:30 pm Detection and Characterization of Biothreats and Emerging Infectious Diseases – The TIGER 

Concept; Steven Hofstadler, Ibis Therapeutics 

4:00 pm The TIGRIS System for Total Automation of Nucleic Acid Testing; 

James Godsey, Gen-Probe, Inc. 

4:30 pm Multiplex Preamplification of Assays-on-Demand Product Targets Prior to Quantitative 

PCR Analysis of Gene Expression in Blood; Mark Shannon, Applied Biosystems 

3:00 – 5:00 pm Room C1 Clinical Proteomics 

Chair: Daniel W. Chan, Johns Hopkins University 

3:00 pm Clinical Proteomics 2004; Daniel W. Chan, Johns Hopkins University 

3:30 pm Combining LC and MALDI Mass Spectrometry: A Way to a Simpler Workflow? 

Keith Ashman, MDS Sciex 

4:00 pm Protein Arrays: Movement Toward Clinical Value; Larry Gold, SomaLogic, Inc. 

4:30 pm Current Status of Microdevices in the Clinical Laboratory; 

Larry Kricka, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center 

3:00 – 5:00 pm Room A3 Engineering Applicatons 

Chair: Carl Murray, Beckman Coulter, Inc. 

3:00 pm Dynamic Scheduling in the Laboratory – Problems and Solutions; 

Reinhold Schäfer, Fachhochschule Wiesbaden 

3:30 pm The Data Pipelining Approach to Informatics Automation and Integration; 

Mathew Hahn, Scitegic 

4:00 pm Comprehensive Materials Informatics in Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research; 

David Dorsett, Symyx Technologies, Inc. 

4:30 pm Rapid Evaluation, Normalization and Global Search Program for 2D Electrophoresis; 

Robert L. Stevenson, IO Informatics, Inc. 

17 

PROGRAM

5:00 – 6:30 pm Reception in the San Jose McEnery Convention Center Exhibit Hall, Celebrating JALA Authors 

7:00 – 9:00 pm GALA Dinner at the Fairmont Hotel 

9:00 – 10:30 pm JALA Authors Reception (Invitation Only) 


8:00 – 10:00 am Room B3 High Throughput Chemistry 

Chair: Andrew Organ, GlaxoSmithKline 

8:00 am Automation and Miniaturization in NMR; Götz Schlotterbeck, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. 

8:30 am Automation and Mass Spectrometry: A Love – Hate Relationship? 

Russell Scammell, Argenta Discovery Ltd. 

9:00 am Rapid, High Resolution Multiplexed HPLC System; Dave Rakestraw, Eksigent Technologies 

9:30 am Mission Insoluble – Physchem Property Profiling With Rapidity; Chris Bevan, GlaxoSmithKline 

8:00 – 10:00 am Room A2 High Throughput Screening Informatics 

Chair: John Kochins, GlaxoSmithKline 

8:00 am Interpretation of Metabolomic Data Using Explanatory Machine Learning; Roy Goodacre, UMIST 

8:30 am Bayesian Approaches to the Analysis of High Throughput Experimental Data: Using What We 

Know to Discover What We Don’t; Nick Haan, BlueGnome, Ltd. 

9:00 am Getting the Most From Your HTS: Quality Control and Data Mining; 

Ramesh Padmanabha, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. 

9:30 am Information Technology for High Content Screening of Miniaturized Cellular Assays; 

Martin Daffertshofer, Evotec Technologies GmbH 

8:00 – 10:00 am Room A4 Microfluidics Separations 

Chair: Jörg P. Kutter, Technical University of Denmark 

8:00 am On the Use of Nano-Channel Flows for the Enhancement of Micro-Analytical Separations; 

Johan Vanderhoeven, Free University of Brussels 

8:30 am Miniaturized Field Inversion Electrophoresis; H. John Crabtree, Micralyne, Inc. 

9:00 am Micro Parallel Liquid Chromatography System for High Throughput Analysis; 

Steve Hobbs, Nanostream 

9:30 am Polymer-based Microfluidic Systems for the High Resolution Separation of Nucleic Acids: 

Applications in DNA Diagnostics and Sequencing; Steven A. Soper, Louisiana State University 

8:00 – 10:00 am Room B1 Proteomics Structural 

Chair: Duncan Mcree, ActiveSight 

8:00 am Advanced Mixology: Liquid Handling Devices for High Speed Cocktail Preparation and 

Iterative Protein-ligand Co-crystallization Experiments; Lance Stewart, deCODE genetics, Inc. 

8:30 am High Throughput Technologies in Structural Biology and Applications Towards Genomes, 

Pathways, and Drug Design; Frank Von Delft, The Scripps Research Institute 

9:00 am Automated Protein Crystallization System; John A. Adams, RoboDesign International, Inc. 

9:30 am Automated Combinatorial Protein Crystallization Screening; 

Brent Segelke, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory 

8:00 – 10:00 am Room A1 Genomics Instrumentation 

Chair: Scott Hunike-Smith, Ambion, Inc. 

8:00 am Parallab Technology: Integrated Nanoliter Genomic Workstation; 

Steven Gordon, Brooks-PRI Automation 

8:30 am A Novel GenVault Multiwell Plate Format for Whatman FTA in Robotic, High Throughput DNA 

Archiving; Jim Davis, GenVault Corporation 

9:00 am Electrostatic Printing of Composite Features for Highly Uniform DNA Microarrays; 

Kurtis Guggenheimer, University of British Columbia 

9:30 am A New Dimension in Routine Genomic and Proteomic Analyses; Ram Vairavan, AutoGenomics 

8:00 – 10:00 am Room C1 Clinical POC 

Chair: James Nichols, Baystate Health System 

8:00 am Reducing Medical Errors at the Point-of-Care; James Nichols, Baystate Health System 

8:30 am Implementation of POC Web Connectivity; Randall Roy, Affiliated Laboratory, Inc. 

9:00 am Clinical Outcomes From Point of Care Connectivity; Louis Dunka, LifeScan 

9:30 am Compliance, Connectivity, and POCT; Frederick Kiechle, William Beaumont Hospital 

8:00 – 10:00 am Room A3 Emerging Technology Cell Based Screening Approaches 

Chair: Stewart Chipman, SDC Associates, Inc. 

8:00 am Novel Cellular Analysis Platform for Drug Discovery; Evan Cromwell, Blueshift Biotechnologies, Inc. 

8:15 am Screening for Ion Channel Modulators Using the IonWorks HT System; 

James Costantin, Molecular Devices Corp. 

18

8:30 am Dynamic Data Mining and High Throughput Microscopy Improve Productivity of Assay 

Design and Screening; Jeffrey Price, University of California, San Diego 

8:45 am Development of a Mammalian Cell Colony Imaging and Picking Robot: ClonePix; 

Steve Richmond, Genetix Ltd. 

9:00 am 96-well Protein-Binding Studies in Drug Discovery; 

Rowan Stringer, Novartis Horsham Research Centre 

9:15 am A Drug Discovery Screen and Chemical-Genetic Approach for Novel Apoptosis Inducers; 

Ben Tseng, Maxim Pharmaceuticals 

9:30 am Detection of BD Living Colors Novel Flourescent Proteins Using the Acumen Explorer; 

Matthew Cook, TTP Lab-Tech 

9:45 am Automated Molecular Haplotyping Through Physical Separation of DNA; 

Johannes Dapprich, Generation Biotech, LLC 

10:00 – 10:30 am Break 

10:30 am – 12:30 pm Room B3 High Throughput Chemistry Microscale 

Chair: Mark Bradley, University of Southampton 

10:30 am Microfluidic Platforms for Drug Discovery; Miryam Fernandez Suarez, GlaxoSmithKline 

11:00 am Real-world Microchemistry: Milligram Scale Organic Synthesis in Microreactors; 

Mike Pollard, Syrris 

11:30 am Microscale Synthesis – Integration of Reactions and Separations; 

Klavs Jensen, Massachussetts Institute of Technology 

12:00 pm CYTOS Continuous Chemistry – A Coherent Chemical Synthesis Technology to 

Lever Drug Innovation Process Value Generation; 

Thomas Schwalbe, CPC – Cellular Process Chemistry Systems GmbH 

10:30 am – 12:30 pm Room A2 High Throughput Screening Analytical 

Chair: Steven A. Hofstadler, Ibis Therapeutics, Inc. 

10:30 am HTAPlate: Unique 96-Well Plate for DNA- and Protein Arrays; Jörg Stappert, Greiner Bio-One 

11:00 am Accelerating Discovery Analytical Chemistry Through Micro Parallel Liquid Chromatography; 

Paren Patel, Nanostream 

11:30 am DMSO Hydration Monitoring by Ultrasound in Compound Library Microplates and 

Implications for Tracking Compound Dilution; Richard Ellson, Picoliter Inc. 

12:00 pm Integration of Hydrogel Based Bioassays Into Microfluidic Channels; 

Rebecca Zangmeister, National Institute of Standards and Technology 

10:30 am – 12:30 pm Room A4 Microfluidics 

Chair: Michael Spaid, Caliper Technologies Corp. 

10:30 am Electrokinetic Flow Instabilities; Juan Santiago, Stanford University 

11:00 am A Microfluidics Approach to Protease Substrate Identification; 

Christopher Tsu, Millennium Pharmaceuticals 

11:30 am Microfluidic Chips for Time-Resolved High Throughput Electrophysiology; 

Daniel Chiu, Cellectricon 

12:00 pm BIOMEMS Solutions at Silex Microsystems; Helene Andersson, Silex Microsystems 

10:30 am – 12:30 pm Room B1 Proteomics Informatics 

Chair: Chris Herold, Prediction Sciences and Omniomix 

10:30 am The Automated Biomarker System: A High Throughput Proteomics Biomarker Discovery 

Platform; Eric Fung, Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc. 

11:00 am High Throughput Protein Domain Elucidation by Limited Proteolysis-Mass Spectrometry; 

Xia Gao, Structural GenomiX, Inc. 

11:30 am Protein Variation SAR Using ActivityBase; Jost Vielmetter, Xencor 

12:00 pm Strategic Opportunities in the High-Content Screening and Computational Proteomics; 

Enal Razvi, DiscoveRx Corporation 

10:30 am – 12:30 pm Room A1 Genomics SNPs 

Chair: Tom Willis, ParAllele BioScience, Inc. 

10:30 am Automation of Amplification and Primer Extension Chemistries for Beckman Coulter’s 

SNPstream ® Genotyping System; Keith Roby, Beckman Coulter, Inc. 

11:00 am Sensitive Detection and Identification of Threat Agents by Microarray-based Genotyping 

Using MLST Derived Signatures; Robert B. Cary, Los Alamos National Laboratory 

11:30 am Improvements on the TDI-FP SNP Genotyping Assay; Ming Xiao; University of California, 

San Francisco Cardiovascular Research Institute 

12:00 pm Comprehensive Genetic Analysis Using Highly Multiplexed SNP Discovery and Genotyping; 

Tom Willis, ParAllele BioScience, Inc. 

19 

PROGRAM

Wednesday, February 4, 2004 (continued) 

10:30 am – 12:30 pm Room C1 Clinical Molecular Diagnostic 

Chair: Patrick Merel, CHU Pellegrin 

10:30 am NAT Automation – Enabling Transformation of Molecular Technology From Research to IVD; 

Guido Baechler; Roche Molecular Systems 

11:00 am High Throughput Molecular Infectious Diseases Tests in the Routine Clinical Laboratory 

Environment; Hasnah Hamdan, Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute 

11:30 am Process Control With Automated NAAT Systems; Jeffrey Allen, Gen-Probe, Inc. 

12:00 pm Primary DNA-based Newborn Screening of Sickle Cell Disease and Hemoglobinopathy; 

Zhili Lin, Pediatrix Screening, Inc. 

10:30 am – 12:30 pm Room A3 Emerging Technology Hardware 

Chair: Steve Fillers, TekCel, Inc. 

10:30 am Optimizing Surfaces for Assays in Plates, on Luminex Beads and Microarrays Using 

Combinatorial Chemistry Customized Surface Coatings; Jason Armstrong, Polymerat 

10:45 am Development of Reduction-Oxidation Magnetohydrodynamic Devices With Integrated 

Permanent Magnets; Prabhu U. Arumugam, University of Arkansas 

11:00 am Label-Free Assays Using the BIND System; Brian Cunningham, SRU Biosystems 

11:15 am A Flexible Substrate for DNA Microarray Hybridization and Detection Using a Business Card 

Scanner; Martin Dufva, Mikroelektronik Centret 

11:30 am Merging Highest Resolution and High Speed: Instrumentation for HTS Cell Assays and Image 

Activated Cell Sorting; Gabriele Gradl, Evotec Technologies 

11:45 am TipCharger ® Cleaning Technology: Status and Laboratory Performance of the Technology; 

Paul Hensley, Microplate Automation 

12:00 pm SmartPlate Implementation and Return on Investment Examples for Compound 

Management; Jeff Karg, Boston Innovation 

12:15 pm Using Data Collected in Real Time From Liquid Transfer Operations to Audit and Enhance 

Performance; Hakki Unver, Zymark Corporation 

12:30 – 2:00 pm Room A8 JALA Prospective Authors Workshop (Open to all Conference Attendees.) 

12:30 – 2:00 pm Lunch Break in the San Jose McEnery Convention Center Exhibit Hall 

2:00 – 3:30 pm Poster Session – List begins on page 25. San Jose McEnery Convention Center Exhibit Hall 

3:30 – 5:30 pm Room B3 High Throughput Chemistry New Strategies 

Chair: Nicholas Hird, Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd. 

3:30 pm Real Time Combinatorial Arrays and Assays for Proteases, Kinases, and Transfection Agents; 

Mark Bradley; University of Southampton 

4:00 pm High Throughput Drug Discovery; Thomas Smith, GlaxoSmithKline 

4:30 pm New Approaches for High Throughput Heterocycle Synthesis; 

Jonathan Ellman, University of California, Berkeley 

5:00 pm Automation of Bioanalytical Processes Using the Lab-on-Valve Approach. Applications 

to Protein Binding and Diagnosis of Inborn Errors of Metabolism; 

Frantisek Turecek, University of Washington 

3:30 – 5:30 pm Room A2 High Throughput Screening Data Analysis and QC 

Chair: Ji-Hu Zhang, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research 

3:30 pm Evotec uHTS Data Analysis – Making the Most of the Multiparametric Readout; 

Anthony Carlo, Pfizer 

4:00 pm HTS Data Analysis in the Real World: Practical Experience With HTS Data Quality 

Assurance Systems and Recent Integration of the GeneData Screener Software; 

Hanspeter Gubler, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research 

4:30 pm On-Line QC for High Throughput Screening; Maneessha Altekar, GlaxoSmithKline 

5:00 pm Finding and Correcting Systematic Bias in Array Experiments; John Elling, Datect, LLC 

3:30 – 5:30 pm Room A4 Microfluidics Detection 

Chair: Daryl Bornhop, Vanderbilt University 

3:30 pm Automating a Multichamber, Multianalyte Microphysiometer for Metabolic Responses Using 

Labview; David Cliffel, Vanderbilt University 

4:00 pm Heterostructures of Nanomaterials and Organic-Inorganic Nanoassemblies; 

Cengiz S. Ozkan, University of California, Riverside 

4:30 pm Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy for Real World Samples; 

Wayne Weimer, US Detection Technologies 

5:00 pm Advances in Electrochemical Detection of Neurotransmitters in Microchannels; 

R. Scott Martin, Saint Louis University 

20

3:30 – 5:30 pm Room B1 Proteomics Technology I 

Chair: Sheri Wilcox, SomaLogic, Inc. 

3:30 pm Use of Beckman Coulter’s Biomek FX to Automate Epitope Discovery for Specific Antigens 

and Determine Optimal Peptides for Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) Class I Binding; 

Judith Finlay, Beckman Coulter, Inc. 

4:00 pm Active Arrays – Time Resolved Analysis in Microarrays for Binding Kinetics and Enzymatic 

Activities; Nenad Gajovic-Eichelmann, Fraunhofer Institute Biomedical Engineering 

4:30 pm Probing Multicomponent Protein Assemblies Using Site-Directed Attachment of Fluorophores 

and Crosslinking Agents; Philip E. Dawson, The Scripps Research Institute 

5:00 pm A Systems Biology Approach to Tracking Protein/Gene Expression and Interactions in Oncology 

and Toxicology Using the eTagAssay System; Travis Boone, ACLARA BioSciences, Inc. 

3:30 – 5:30 pm Room A1 Genomics Informatics 

Chair: Paul Kayne, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. 

3:30 pm The Benefits of a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) in Genomics; 

Terrence Smallmon, LabVantage Solutions 

4:00 pm Feeding a Multiplatform Genome Center; Andrei Verner, McGill University and Genome 

Quebec Innovation Centre 

4:30 pm Open Interfacing for Lab Automation; Roger McIntosh, Silicon Valley Scientific 

5:00 pm The Changing Face of Lab Automation; Dave Riling, DataCentric Automation 

3:30 – 5:30 pm Room C1 Clinical Informatics I 

Chair: William Neeley, Detroit Medical Center 

3:30 pm Autoverification: Paving the Path to Efficiency and Quality; John Saulenas, MEDITECH 

4:00 pm Autoverification of Laboratory Results – A Real Life Perspective; 

Leo Serrano, West Tennessee Healthcare 

4:30 pm Autoverification and Regulatory Issues: The Rules and Regulations According to CLIA, CAP, and 

the California Department of Health Services; David Velasquez, Mills-Peninsula Health Services 

5:00 pm Post-Analytic Intelligent Systems vs. Autoverification: The Future; 

William Neeley, Detroit Medical Center 

3:30 – 5:30 pm Room A3 Emerging Technology Automation Systems 

Chair: Jeff Karg, Boston Innovation, Inc. 

3:30 pm The ArrayPlate: A Novel, High Throughput, Multiplexed, mRNA Assay for Toxicological 

Research and Development; Bruce Seligmann, High Throughput Genomics, Inc. 

3:45 pm Temperature Gradient Focusing, Modeling, and Experiments; David Huber, Stanford University 

4:00 pm An Automated Flow Cytometry Quality Protocol and Workflow System for Managing 

Instruments, Samples, and Data; Sanjaya Joshi, Userspace Corporation 

4:15 pm Vertical Integration Platform; Emir Osmanagic, Scinomix 

4:30 pm Automated Accurate Mass Analysis Using FTICR Mass Spectrometry; 

Bradley Mikesell, Pfizer Global R&D 

4:45 pm Sequential Organic Synthesis as a New Approach in Drug Discovery; 

Donald Mossman, CPC-Cellular Process Chemistry, Inc. 

5:00 pm Managing Automated RFLP Analysis in Phage Display Antibody Screening; 

Jaymie Sawyer, Dyax Corporation 

5:15 pm The Next Generation of a Compound Management System in Drug Discovery; 

David Semin, Amgen, Inc. 

5:30 – 6:30 pm Reception in the San Jose McEnery Convention Center Exhibit Hall 

Thursday, February 5, 2004 

8:00 – 10:00 am Room B3 High Throughput Chemistry Informatics 

Chair: David Nirschl, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. 

8:00 am High Throughput Quality Control LC-MS Analysis: Data Acquisition and Interpretation; 

Bernard Choi, Merck Research Laboratories 

8:30 am Navigating Large Chemical Spaces; Tudor Oprea, University of New Mexico 

9:00 am An Informatics System for Peptide Drug Discovery; Ping Du, Du Consulting, LLC 

9:30 am Process Definition and Evaluation Utilizing Automated Metrics Gathering; 

Neil Benn, Cambridge Antibody Technology Limited 

8:00 – 10:00 am Room A2 High Throughput Screening Automated Design 

Chair: Paul Taylor, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 

8:00 am Efficient Protein Crystallization; Larry DeLucas, University of Alabama at Birmingham 

8:30 am The Implementation of Statistical Design of Experiments (DOE) in the Construction of Assays 

and High Throughput Screens; Normand Cloutier, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. 

21 

PROGRAM

Thursday, February 5, 2004 (continued) 

9:00 am The Application of Design of Experiment in Developing Processes for Drug Discovery; 

W. Adam Hill, Millennium Pharmaceuticals 

9:30 am Automated Cell-based Assay Optimization by Design of Experiment; Amy Siu, GlaxoSmithKline 

8:00 – 10:00 am Room A4 Microchip Separations 

Chair: Steve Soper, Louisiana State University 

8:00 am Capillary Electrochromatography Chip Featuring Sub-micron “Channels” and Integrated 

Waveguides; Jörg P. Kutter, Technical University of Denmark 

8:30 am 2D PAGE on a Chip: Multidimensional Protein Separations via High Throughput Microfluidics; 

Don L. DeVoe, Calibrant BioSystems, Inc. 

9:00 am High Throughput Preparation of Nanoscale Samples for Capillary Array Electrophoresis and 

a Microchip-based Analysis System; Stevan Jovanovich, Silicon Valley Scientific 

9:30 am A Comparison of Pressure Cycling Technology (PCT) to Standard Laboratory Techniques for 

the Release of Nucleic Acids and Proteins From a Variety of Difficult-to-lyse Sample Types; 

Nathan Lawrence, Boston Biomedica, Inc. 

8:00 – 10:00 am Room B1 Proteomics Technology 2 

Chair: Paul A. Haynes, University of Arizona 

8:00 am The Finnigan LTQ-FT and Shotgun Proteomics; David Goodlett, ISB 

8:30 am Rapid and Reproducible Fractionation and Identification of Proteins Using 

Membrane Chromatography and Orthogonal MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry; 

Mary F. Lopez, PerkinElmer Life and Analytical Sciences 

9:00 am Polyclonal Gene-Specific IgY Antibodies for Proteomics and Abundant Plasma Protein 

Depletion; Wei-Wei Zhang, GenWay Biotech, Inc. 

9:30 am Protease Substrate Profiling Using Microarrays; Dhaval N. Gosalia, University of Pennsylvania 

8:00 – 10:00 am Room A1 Genomics Arrays 

Chair: Robert Cary, Los Alamos National Laboratory 

8:00 am Automated Aptamer Selection: Applications in RNA: Protein Sequence Specificity, and 

Aptamer-Chip Microarrays; J. Colin Cox, University of Texas 

8:30 am Microtape and Associated Instrumentation for Continuous Array High Throughput Genotyping; 

Jon Chudyk, Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation 

9:00 am Immunoassays and Sequence-Specific DNA Detection on a Microchip Using Enzyme 

Amplified Electrochemical Detection; Andrey Ghindilis, CombiMatrix Corporation 

9:30 am Nanoarrays – A Bottom-Up Method to Create Nanometer Addressable Lateral Surface 

Structures by use of Nucleic Acids; Frank F. Bier, Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering 

8:00 – 10:00 am Room C1 Clinical Informatics 2 

Chair: Jay Jones, Geisinger Health System 

8:00 am The Role of Information Systems in Automation in a Large Reference Laboratory; 

Charles Hawker, ARUP Laboratories, Inc. 

8:30 am Clinical Informatics – “Middleware”; Marcy Anderson, Medical Automation Systems 

9:00 am Middleware Solutions – Optimizing People, Processes, and Platforms; 

Hunter Bagwell, Roche Diagnostics 

9:30 am Data Mining From the LIS With Simple PC Tools; Jay Burton Jones, Geisinger Health System 

8:00 – 10:00 am Room A3 Emerging Technology National Lab Tech Transfer 

Chair: Erica Briggs, Los Alamos National Laboratory 

8:00 am Introduction 

8:15 am Technology Transfer at Argonne National Laboratory; Steve Lake, Argonne National Laboratory 

8:30 am Technology Transfer at Los Alamos National Laboratory; 

Erica Briggs, Los Alamos National Laboratory 

8:45 am Technology Transfer at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; 

Cheryl Fragiadakis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 

9:00 am Technology Transfer at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; 

Bruce Harrer, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory 

9:15 am Technology Transfer at Sandia National Laboratories; 

Paul Dressendorfer, Sandia National Laboratories 

9:30 am Panel Discussion and Questions 

10:00 – 10:30 am Break 

22

10:30 am – 12:00 pm Room A2 ADME – Tox 

Chair: Elizabeth Everitt, Abbott Laboratories 

10:30 am Role of Automated High Throughout Nephelometric Aqueous Solubility System in 

Early Drug Discovery; Arun Mandagere, Pfizer Global R&D 

11:00 am Higher Throughput Strategies for Support of Early ADME In-vitro Screening; 

Ken Matuszak, Abbott Laboratories 

11:30 am The Role of Genomics in Toxicology; Alexandra Heinloth, NIEHS 

10:30 am – 12:00 pm Room A4 Microfluidics Bioanalytical 

Chair: Laurie Locascio, National Institute of Standards and Technology 

10:30 am An Autonomous PCR-based Air Monitoring System to Detect and Identify Infectious Agents; 

Phillip Belgrader, Microfluidic Systems, Inc. 

11:00 am Protein Sizing and Relative Quantitation Determination Using a Microfluidic LabChip ® Device; 

Adrian Winoto, Caliper Technologies Corp. 

11:30 am Using Liposomes for High-Efficiency Mixing in Microfluidic Systems; 

Laurie Locascio, National Institute of Standards and Technology 

10:30 am – 12:00 pm Room B1 Proteomics Technology 3 

Chair: Joseph Loo, University of California, Los Angeles 

10:30 am Sample Preparation Tips for Sample Enrichment and Direct Elution Nanoelectrospray 

Mass Spectrometry Analysis for Enhanced Sensitivity for Protein Characterization; 

Gary Schultz, Advion BioSciences, Inc. 

11:00 am Progress in Automating Top Down Proteomics; Neil Kelleher, University of Illinois 

11:30 am A View of the Proteome Provided by New Mass Spectrometry Technologies; 

Joseph Loo, University of California, Los Angeles 

10:30 am – 12:00 pm Room A1 Genomics Advanced Topics 

Chair: Gary Nunn, Applied Biosystem 

10:30 am Increasing Instrumentation Availability by Using Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) 

Principles and Applying Them to Production Line Instrumentation at the DOE Joint Genome 

Institute; Simon Roberts, DOE Joint Genome Institute 

11:00 am Evaluation of High Throughput SNP Genotyping Lab Data Using FOCUS Statistical Software; 

Sheri Olson, Applied Biosystem 

11:30 am Future Clinical Analysis: Component Based Framework for Modular Hardware and Software 

Integration of Different Clinical Equipment; Ralf Muckenhirn, Fraunhofer IPA 

10:30 am – 12:00 pm Room C1 Clinical Arrays 

Chair: William Wachsman, University of California, San Diego 

10:30 am Using Reference Gene Expression Datasets to Make Sense of Your Array Data; 

John Walker, GNF 

11:00 am Molecular Tools Designed for the Clinic; John Palma, Affymetrix, Inc. 

11:30 am Clinical Validation of the Affymetrix Microarray and the Challenges Faced; 

Richard Hockett, Eli Lilly and Company 

10:30 am – 12:00 pm Room A3 Emerging IT Informatics 

Chair: Jay Gill, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. 

10:30 am Design Tools: New Approach to Computing in Life Sciences; Larry Arnstein, Teranode Corporation 

11:00 am Python for Scientific Computing – An Open Source Solution; Eric Jones, Enthought, Inc. 

11:30 am Universal and Mobile Messaging Framework M2A “Message to Anywhere” for Laboratory 

Automation; Gerald Knoll, Fraunhofer Institute Manufacturing Engineering and Automation (IPA) 

12:00 – 1:30 pm Lunch Break 

1:30 – 3:30 pm Room B1 Drug Discovery Case Studies 

Chair: Jürgen Drews, Nigeons GmbH 

1:30 pm Hit and Lead Generation Beyond High Throughput Screening; 

Alexander Alanine, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd 

2:00 pm Alliances in Technology; Esteban Pombo-Villar, Novartis Pharma Ltd. 

2:30 pm Understanding Risk and Value: Decision Gates in Drug Development; 

Fred Pritchard, MDS Pharma Services 

3:00 pm Drug Prototypes – What We Learn From History; 

Walter Sneader, Strathclyde Institute for Biomedical Science 

23 

PROGRAM

Thursday, February 5, 2004 (continued) 

1:30 – 3:30 pm Room A4 Microfluidics Small Volume Dispensing 

Chair: Anne Kopf-Sill, Caliper Technologies Corp. 

1:30 pm Proteomic Sample Preparation Using Piezo Dispensing and Capillary Force Driven Flow; 

Johan Nilsson, Lund University 

2:00 pm Differential Nano-Pipettor (NanoBlast): A Non-contact Pipettor That Handles Nanoliters for 

Plate Replication, Sample Transfers, Spotting, and Arrays; Donald Schwartz, DRD Diluter Corp. 

2:30 pm An Electrochemical Pumping System for On-Chip Gradient Generation; 

Terry D. Lee, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope 

3:00 pm Fully Automated Nanoelectrospray With a BioMEMS Device; 

Thomas Corso, Advion BioSciences, Inc. 

1:30 – 3:30 pm Room A2 Automation Applicatons in Process R & D 

Chair: Erik Rubin, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. 

1:30 pm Microreactor Systems for Life Science Application; Norbert Stoll, University of Rostock 

2:00 pm Accelerating Polymorph and Salt Form Selection; Kara Rubin, Merck Research Laboratories 

2:30 pm MeDuSA, An Automated HPLC Screening Tool for PR&D; Brent Karcher, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. 

3:00 pm Parallel Screening and Optimization of Catalytic High-Pressure Reactions; 

Rick Sidler, Merck Research Laboratories 

1:30 – 3:30 pm Room C1 Clinical Pharmacogenomics 

Chair: Charles Hawker, ARUP Laboratories 

1:30 pm Potential Role of Pharmacogenomics in Reducing Risk of Adverse Reactions and Optimizing 

Therapy; Audrey Papp, Ohio State University 

2:00 pm Population Studies Using Enhanced Version of the CodeLink P450 SNP Bioarrays Yield New 

and Novel Genotype and Haplotype Frequency Data; Carl Yamashiro, Amersham Biosciences 

2:30 pm In-depth Genetic Variation Screening Using DHPLC: A Valuable Component of the Drug 

Development Process; Stan Lilleberg, Transgenomic, Inc. 

3:00 pm Utilization of Pharmacogenomics in Patient Care for Pain Management Clinics and Poison 

Control Centers; Elvan Laleli-Sahin, Medical College of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 

1:30 – 3:30 pm Room A1 Performance Metrics 

Chair: Henry Schultz, Amgen, Inc. 

1:30 pm A Multichannel Volumetric Verification (MVV) System for Ensuring the Accuracy and 

Precision of Liquid Delivery; John Bradshaw, Artel, Inc. 

2:00 pm Improving Sample Analysis Throughput and Quality With a C#.NET-based, Real-Time QC 

Decision Support System; Toshiyuki Shiina, Los Alamos National Laboratory 

2:30 pm Application of Integrated Statistical Design and Analysis to Automated Assay Optimization 

(AAO); Paul Taylor, Boehringer Ingelheim 

3:00 pm Building Confidence in Automation; Peter Grandsard, Amgen, Inc. 

3:30 – 4:00 pm Break 

4:00 – 5:00 pm Room B1 Jouan Award Winner Presentation 

Chair E. Kevin Hrusovsky 

4:00 pm Chip Based High Throughput Analysis; Andreas Manz, ISAS, Germany 

5:00 – 6:00 pm Farewell 

24

POSTER PROGRAM 

TP – TUESDAY POSTERS should be set up on Tuesday 10:00 – 10:30 am and removed 

by 6:30 pm on Tuesday. The presenting author must be present 1:30 – 3:00 pm on Tuesday. Page 27 

WP – WEDNESDAY POSTERS should be set up on Wednesday 10:00 – 10:30 am and removed 

by 6:30 pm on Wednesday. The presenting author must be present 2:00 – 3:30 pm on Wednesday. Page 34 

25 

PROGRAM | POSTER PROGRAM LISTING

NOTES 

26

These posters should be put up on Tuesday by 10:30 am and removed by 6:30 pm on 

Tuesday. Authors must be present 1:30 – 3:00 pm on Tuesday. 

TP001 Sintalyzer – A Fully Automated Analytical System for Fluoride Analysis 

Thor Anders Aarhaug, SINTEF 

Co-Author: Kalman Nagy 

TP002 The Automation of TempliPhi and GenomiPhi on the Tecan Genesis Freedom 

Monica Adams, Amersham Biosciences 

TP003 Automation of Apoptosis and Reporter-Gene Assays Using Division-Arrested 

NFkB HEK293 Cells 

Edward Alderman, Zymark Corporation 

Co-Authors: Geoffrey N. Grove, Zymark Corporation; Mei Cong and Zhong Zhong, Cell & 

Molecular Technologies; Chris Cowan, Promega; Casey Laris, Q3DM 

TP004 Automating Aqueous Compound Solubility Screening 

Chris Barbagallo, Millipore Corporation 

Co-Authors: Greg Kazan, Libby Kellard, Jason Blodgett, and Alan Weiss 

TP005 Denaturing Solid-Phase Extraction for Reduced Protein Interference in 

Bioanalytical SPE-LC-MS 

Alex Berhitu, Spark Holland, Inc. 

Co-Authors: Emile Koster, Peter Ringeling, and Bert Ooms 

TP006 Meeting the Increasing Challenges of Speed, Performance, and Quality While 

Reducing Costs in Whole Genome Sequencing 

Emily Berlin, Pall Life Sciences 

Co-Authors: Michael L. Metzker, Luke Mast, Geoffrey Okwuonu and Toni Garner, Pall Life 

Sciences; Kamran Usmani and Richard A. Gibbs, Baylor College of Medicine 

TP007 A Microtube Rack Decapper/Sorter for use in the Automated Preparation of 

Compounds for High Throughput Screening 

Christopher Bernard, Bristol-Meyers Squibb Co. 

Co-Authors: Moneesh Chatterjee, Andrew Bullen, James Myslik, William Monahan, Jeffrey 

Guss, Christian Strom, Jay Stevenson, and Alastair Binnie 

TP009 Production & Storage of High Density Chemical Microarrays 

Stefan Betz, Kendro Laboratory Products GmbH 

Co-Author: Michael Frank, Graffinity Pharmaceuticals AG 

TP010 PNA-encoded Peptide Libraries - A New Tool in High Throughput Screening 

Laurent Bialy, University of Southampton 

Co-Author: Mark Bradley 

TP011 Adaptation of a High Sensitivity 384-Well Solid Phase Assay Platform to 1536-Well: 

CatchPoint for Cyclic Nucleotides and Tyrosine Kinase Activity 

Annegret Boge, Molecular Devices 

Co-Authors: Jonathan Petersen, Jeannie Nguyen, Gayle Teixeira, and Richard Sportsman 

TP012 A Homogeneous Assay for P-glycoprotein Inhibition Using the Acumen Explorer 

Wayne Bowen, TTP LabTech 

Co-Authors: Tristan Cope and Matthew Cook 

TP013 SOS – A Sample Ordering System to Deliver “Assay-Ready” Compound Plates 

for Screening 

Christine Brideau, Merck Frosst Centre for Therapeutic Research 

Co-Authors: Louis Jacques Fortin, Shiraz Adam and Jerry Ferentinos, Merck Frosst Centre 

for Therapeutic Research; Joel Hunter, RTS Enabling Technology; and Julio Maher, RTS Life 

Science International 

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POSTER PROGRAM LISTING

TP014 A Novel System for Automated RNA Isolation “Increasing Throughput Without 

Increasing Footprint” 

Jimmy Bruner, GlaxoSmithKline 

Co-Authors: Bryan Laffite, David Murray, Ginger Smith, Jim Liacos, Amy Siu, 

and Cathy Finlay 

TP015 Development of a Data-driven, Integrated Automation Platform for High Throughput 

Expression and Screening of Protein Engineering Libraries 

Jesse Campbell, Applied Molecular Evolution 

Co-Authors: Michael J. Cohen, Andrew Korytko, Barbara Swanson, and Alain P. Vasserot 

TP016 An Inventory Management Solution From Registration to Assays 

Julie Chang, MDL Information Systems 

TP017 Rapid Fabrication of Poly(methylmethacrylate) Microfluidic Chips by 

Atmospheric Molding 

Madhu Prakash Chatrathi, New Mexico State University 

Co-Authors: Joseph Wang, Alexander Muck, Scott Spillman, Gautham Sridharan and 

Michael Jacobs, New Mexico State University; Michael Schonning, Institute of Thin Films 

and Interfaces, Jülich, Germany 

TP018 Validation of the Packard Multiprobe HT for Dilution of Biological Matrix Samples 

Melissa Cheu, Genentech, Inc. 

Co-Authors: Brent T. Nakagiri, Riddhi Patel, and Patricia Y. Siguenza 

TP019 Protein Maker: An Automated System for Protein Purification 

Robin Clark, deCODE genetics 

Co-Authors: Alexandrina Muntianu, Hans-Thomas Richter, Denise Conner, Lawrence Chun, 

and Lance Stewart 

TP020 BD Biosciences Clontech ZsProSensor-1, a Fluorescent Protein-based Proteasome 

Sensor Assay: Evaluation Using the Acumen Explorer 

Matthew Cook, TTP LabTech 

Co-Authors: Olivier Dery, Gwyneth Olson, Annick Le Gall, Francine Fang, TTP LabTech; and 

Pierre Turpin, BD Bioscience Clontech 

TP021 Automated Isolation of Nucleic Acids on the Zymark SciClone ALH 3000 Using 

Promega’s SV 96 Nucleic Acid Isolation Chemistries 

Cristopher Cowan, Promega Corporation 

Co-Author: James Batchelor, Zymark Corporation 

TP022 Demonstration of Mitochondrial Aequorin Luminescent Signal Measurement 

by FLIPR3 

Carole Crittenden, Molecular Devices Corporation 

Co-Authors: Jennifer McKie and Yan Zhang 

TP023 Information and Data Management Software for Tracking Patient, Research, and 

Analysis Data in Small to Medium Clinical and Research Labs 

Katherine Dains, Adeline Scientific 

Co-Author: Wensheng Chen 

TP024 Novel PNA-Peptoid Conjugates as Antisense Drugs 

Juan Jose Diaz-Mochon, University of Southampton 

Co-Authors: Laurent Bialy, Boon-ek Yingyongnarongkul, Adam Belson, and Mark Bradley 

TP025 Developing a Versatile Program and Database for use in Laboratory Science 

(PhotochemCAD) 

James Dixon, North Carolina State University 

Co-Author: Jonathan S. Lindsey 

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TP026 In Silico Drug Profiling: QSAR Models as Frontline Weapons in the Fight to Find 

New Drug Candidates 

Doug Drake, IDBS 

Co-Authors: Andrew Lemon and Evgueni Kolossov 

TP027 Capability Management Framework for Clinical Equipment in Laboratory 

Philipp Dreiss, Fraunhofer IPA 

Co-Authors: R. Muckenhirn, J. Dorner, and A. P. Kumar 

TP028 SHOW – Sample Handling Operation Wizard 

Ping Du, Black Mountain Scientific 

TP029 Tools for Improving Purification Throughput for New Drug Candidates 

Wayne Duncan, Agilent Technologies 

Co-Author: Douglas McIntyre 

TP030 Automated Real Time Hit Picking, Retesting, and Reflux Testing 

Todd Edwards, Protedyne 

Co-Authors: Jason Quarles, Dave Wilson, Ralph K. Ito, and Gregory A. Endress 

TP031 XLC-MS: Sample Extraction and LC Separation Merged Into a Single Automated 

Front-end System 

Alex Berhitu, Spark Holland, Inc. 

Co-Authors: Steven Eendhuizen, Emile Koster, Martijn Hilhorst, and Bert Ooms 

TP032 Magnetic Bead Based Automated Isolation of Polyhistidine-Tagged Proteins for 

Purification and Target Screening 

Morten Egeberg, Dynal Biotech ASA 

Co-Authors: Ingrid Manger, Tommy Rivrud, Tine Borgen, Stine Bergholtz, and Dag Lillehaug 

TP033 High Throughput RNA Isolation - Methods Comparison 

Xingwang Fang, Ambion, Inc. 

Co-Authors: Roy C. Willis, Quoc Hoang, and Michael Siano 

TP034 ENCOMPASS: A New Expandable Approach for Large-Scale, Multi-Format 

Sample Management 

W. Steven Fillers, TekCel, Inc. 

TP035 Microfluidics Impact on Lab Automation and HTS 

Thomas Friedlander, Foster-Miller, Inc. 

TP036 Applications of a Highly Uniform UV Transillumination Imaging System for Quantitative 

DNA and Protein Analysis 

Sean Gallagher, UVP, Inc. 

Co-Authors: Alex Waluszko, Hui Zhang, John Wallace, and Kate Cole, UVP, Inc.; Molli 

Osburn, Scripps College 

TP037 Caco-2 Transport Assay Using New HTS Transwell ® 96-Well Permeable Supports 

Alice Gao, Corning Incorporated 

Co-Author: Debra Hoover 

TP038 Automated Aptamer Selection Against hnRNP A1 and its Proteolytic Derivative UP1 

Carlos Garcia, University of Texas at Austin 

Co-Authors: Andrew D. Ellington, J. Colin Cox, and Chi-Tai Chu 

TP039 Automated Selection of Aminoglycoside Antibiotic Aptamers 

Patrick Goertz, University of Texas at Austin 

Co-Authors: J. Colin Cox and Andrew D. Ellington 

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TP040 Mass Production of Plastic Chips for Microfluidic Applications 

Norbert Gottschlich, Greiner Bio-One, Inc. 

Co-Authors: A. Gerlach, G. Knebel, W. Hoffmann, A. E. Guber, and Forschungszentrum 

Karlsruhe, Institut für Mikrostrukturtechnik, Germany 

TP041 Anaylsis of Nucleic Acid and Protein Arrays on NUNC ArrayCote 16-Well Slides 

and 96-Well Plates 

Joseph Granchelli, NalgeNunc International 

Co-Authors: Dan Schroen and Tom Cummins 

TP042 Combining Lyophilisation and Centrifugal Evaporation to Make a Fast Drying Process 

That Results in Rapidly Resuspendable Dry Solid Compound 

David Griffin, Genevac, Inc. 

TP043 MagneSil ® Total RNA High Throughput Isolation 

Terri Grunst, Promega Corporation 

Co-Author: Dan Kephart 

TP044 Smart Nanodispensing – The Path to More Reliable Liquid Handling 

Carsten Haber, Seyonic SA 

Co-Author: Marc Boillat, Bart van der Schoot 

TP045 Plasmid DNA Purification Using the Eppendorf Perfectprep ® Plasmid 96 Vac Direct 

Bind Kit on the Eppendorf epMotion 5075 Workstation 

Jennifer Halcome, Eppendorf-5 Prime, Inc. 

Co-Authors: George Halley and Gerry Huitt 

TP046 The ELx405 HT 384-Well Microplate Washer: Designed to Meet the Rigors of 

Biomolecular Screening 

Paul Held, Bio-Tek Instruments 

Co-Author: Lenore Buehrer 

TP047 The Data Explosion: “Print-to-Database” Technology for the HTS Laboratory 

John Helfrich, NuGenesis Technologies 

TP048 Meeting the Needs of High Throughput Genetics-based Research 

Terry Hermann, LabVantage Solutions, Inc. 

Co-Authors: Terry Smallmon and J. Kelly Ganjei 

TP049 High Throughput Measurement of 41 Ca by Accelerator Mass Spectrometry to 

Quantitate Small Changes in Individual Human Bone Turnover Rates 

Darren Hillegonds, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory 

Co-Authors: John S. Vogel, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; David Herold and Robert 

Fitzgerald, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System/University of California, San Diego 

TP050 Software Validation for Automation Projects 

Lynn Hilt, The Ashvins Group, Inc. 

Co-Author: Terry Weeks 

TP051 Ion Channel Assay Development Using Voltage Sensor Probes on the GENios Pro 

Multifunctional Reader From Tecan 

Randall Hoffman, Invitrogen Corporation 

Co-Author: Gerald Habenbacher, Tecan Austria 

TP052 Elevated Serum Total Protein as an Indicator of Chronic Viral Hepatitis 

and/or HIV Infection 

Dawn Marie Jacobson, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System 

Co-Author: David Herold 

TP053 Nano Crystal Hydride Stable DNA Probe 

Joong Hyun Kim, University of California, Riverside 

Co-Authors: Jared Stephens, Dimitrios Morikis, Mihrimah Ozkan 

30 

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TP054 Multi-Channel Dispenser for Micro-Array Printing 

Andreas Kuoni, University of Neuchatel 

Co-Authors: Marc Boillat, University of Neuchatel; Bart van der Schoot, Seyonic SA 

TP055 Data Mining and Visualization in Sports Medicine Automation by WebServer Oriented 

Software and WebBrowser Oriented User Interfaces 

Fred Lange, University of Rostock 

Co-Authors: Regina Stoll and Reinhard Vilbrandt 

TP056 Luminescence Assays and FDA CFR 21 Part 11 Compliance With the New 

LMax II384 Microplate Luminometer 

Joseph Machamer, Molecular Devices 

TP057 Monolithic Modules in Micro Total Analytical Systems Rapidly Fabricated From Plastics 

Dieudonne Mair, University of California, Berkeley 

Co-Authors: Timothy Stachowiak, Jean Frechet, and Emily Hilder, University of California, 

Berkeley; Frantisek Svec, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 

TP058 The Design and Synthesis of High Affinity Ligands for Human Cyclophilin A 

Kirk Malone, The University of Edinburgh 

Co-Authors: Nicholas J. Turner and Malocolm Walkinshaw 

TP059 Rapid and Cost-Effective Prototyping of Plastic Microfabricated Devices for 

Mass Spectrometry 

Justin Mecomber, University of Cincinnati 

Co-Authors: Douglas Hurd and Patrick A. Limbach 

TP060 Automated Optimization of Aptamer Selection Buffer Conditions 

Gwendolyn M. Motz, The University of Texas 

Co-Authors: J. Colin Cox and Andrew D. Ellington 

TP061 Axiomatic Conceptual Design and Investigation of a New and Generic Laboratory 

Automation Robotic Workcell With Application to Proteomics 

Peyman Najmabadi, University of Toronto 

Co-Authors: Andrew A. Goldenberg and Andrew Emili 

TP062 Automated Proteomic Applications on Beckman Coulter’s Biomek ® NX Laboratory 

Automation Workstation 

Laura Pajak, Beckman Coulter, Inc. 

Co-Authors: Chad Pittman and Scott Boyer 

TP063 Automation of Immunotech’s IL-8 ELISA Using Beckman Coulter’s 

Assay WorkStation Version 1.5 

Chad Pittman, Beckman Coulter, Inc. 

Co-Authors: Laura Pajak and Scott Boyer 

TP064 Using the Analytical Information Markup Language (AnIML) to Represent 

LC-Diode-Array Data 

Dominik Poetz, National Institute of Standards and Technology 

TP065 Poly-Ethylene-Glycol Grafted Non-fouling Nanoporous Alumina Membranes 

Ketul C. Popat, Boston University 

Co-Authors: Tejal A. Desai and Gopal Mor, Boston University; Craig Grimes, Pennsylvania 

State University 

TP066 Automation of In Situ Hybridization on Tecan HS Series Hybridization Stations 

Johannes Posch, Tecan Austria GmbH 

Co-Authors: G. Probst, K. Kratochwil, H. Bauer, R. Fuchs and G. Kreil, Tecan Austria GmbH; 

M. Köprunner, Austrian Academy of Science, Institute of Molecular Biology 

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TP067 Neurons as Sensors: Mixed Chemical Agent Sensing 

Shalini Prasad, University of California, Riverside 

Co-Authors: Xuan Zhang, Mo Yang, Cengiz Ozkan, and Mihri Ozkan 

TP068 Evaluating and Determining Precision and Accuracy for Automated Liquid Handlers 

Dispensing Nanoliter Volumes of Viscous Solutions 

Kirby Reed, Gilson, Inc. 

TP069 NanoLC-MS Analysis of TNFα in Microdialysates 

Laurent Rieux, University of Groningen 

Co-Authors: Patty Mulder, Harm Niederlaender, Elisabeth Verpoorte, and Rainer Bischoff 

TP070 The Enhancement of Selectivity of a Pd-catalysed Three-component Cascade 

Reaction Using Automated Parallel Synthesis and Multivariate Data Analysis 

Kate Ross, University of Leeds 

Co-Author: Ronald Grigg 

TP071 Robustness and Flexibility for Scheduling 

Stephan Rudlof, Fachhochschule Wiesbaden - University of Applied Sciences 

TP072 Creating the Analytical Information Markup Language (AnIML) 

Burkhard Schaefer, National Institute of Standards and Technology 

Co-Author: Gary Kramer 

TP073 Rapid and Sensitive Determination of Cardiovascular Drugs in Mouse Plasma Using 

Solid-phase Extraction and RP-HPLC 

Sadhana Sharma, The Ohio State University 

Co-Authors: John Shapiro, Stephen C. Lee, and Mauro Ferrari 

TP074 Automated Double-stranded DNA Aptamer Selections 

Letha Sooter, The University of Texas at Austin 

Co-Author: Andrew Ellington 

TP075 Fabrication of a Polymer Based Bio-sensing Optical Component 

Henrik Schiøtt Sørensen, Risø National Laboratorium 

Co-Authors: Niels B. Larsen and Peter E. Andersen, Risø National Laboratorium; Darryl J. 

Bornhop, Vanderbilt University 

TP076 A Generic Model for Timely Refreshing of Very Large Semi-Dynamic Web Sites 

Duraisamy Sridharan, Anna University 

Co-Authors: P. Sakthivel and S. K. Srivatsa 

TP077 Automated Process of Q-PCR/Gene Expression 

Claudia Stewart, NCI-FCRDC 

Co-Authors: James M. Cherry, Kelly T. Martin, Naryan K. Bhat, and David Munroe 

TP078 Fuzzy Based Medical Expert System for Automated Data Interpretation in 

Occupational Medicine 

Regina Stoll, University of Rostock 

Co-Authors: Mohit Kumar and Norbert Stoll 

TP079 An Automated, High Throughput Cell-Based Assay System Using the Biomek 3000 

Laboratory Automation Workstation and CellProbe HT Caspase 3/7 Whole Cell Assay 

Yu Suen, Beckman Coulter, Inc. 

Co-Authors: Keith Roby, Javorka Gunic, Michael H. Simonian, and Graham Threadgill 

TP080 Polymeric Microdevices for Applications in Targeted Drug Delivery 

Sarah Tao, Boston University 

Co-Authors: Ka Wah Lee and Tejal Desai, Boston University; Mike Lubeley, University of 

Illinois, Chicago 

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TP081 A High Throughput Replacement for Western Blots: Protein Expression Analysis 

Using the MSD Multi-Array Platform 

Robert Umek, Meso Scale Discovery 

Co-Authors: Lisa Gazzillo, Anu Mathew, Malcolm Smith, Timothy Schaefer, and 

Jacob N. Wohlstadter 

TP082 Micro Parallel Liquid Chromatography for High Throughput ADMET Profiling 

Surekha Vajjhala, Nanostream, Inc. 

Co-Authors: Li Zhang, Paren Patel, Jeffrey Koehler, Steve Hobbs, and Chris Phillips 

TP083 Cell Based Assays in 384- and 1536-Well Formats using MosQuito and the 

Acumen Explorer 

Ian Whitehall, TTP LabTech Ltd 

Co-Authors: Paul Wylie, Rob Lewis, and Wayne Bowen 

TP084 A High Throughput Microfluidic Protease Substrate Identification Assay 

Hayley Wu, Caliper Technologies Corp. 

Co-Authors: Javier Farinas, Charles Park, Cheryl Cathey, Christopher Tsu, and Michael 

Pantoliano, Caliper Technologies Corp.; Lawrence Dick, Millennium Pharmaceuticals 

TP085 On Chip Chemical Assay by Forming Droplets in Fluidic Systems 

Hongkai Wu, Stanford University 

Co-Author: Richard N. Zare 

TP086 Application of Holliday Junction Based Allele-Specific (HAS) Genotyping Platform for 

Detecting Two Common Thrombophilia Genetic Mutations 

Wendy Yang, FreshGene, Inc. 

Co-Authors: Qinghong Yang, Sandra Hatcher, and Henrietta Seet, FreshGene, Inc.; 

Jeffrey Gregg, University of California, Davis – Medical Center 

TP087 Automated Strategies For Protein Precipitation Filtration And Solid Phase Extraction 

(SPE) Optimization On the TECAN Robotic Sample Processor – Applications In 

Quantitative LC-MS/MS Bioanalysis 

Lilly Zhang, Amgen, Inc. 

Co-Authors: John D. Laycock, Jill Hayos, Julie Flynn, Gary Yesionek, and Krys J. Miller 

TP088 The OroTherm Model HC1080, Orochem Heating and Cooling Plate – A Unique 

Instrument Using the Latest Technology in Thermoelectric Cooling (TEC) 

Jaskiran Kaur, Orochem Technologies, Inc. 

Co-Author: Asha Oroskar 

TP089 Automation in Monsanto Biotechnology 

Steve Dulle, Monsanto 

Co-Authors: Renee Matlick, Gina Balch, Thomas Le, Mary M. Blanchard, Mark Vaudin 

TP090 Development of an Automated Workcell Around a Multicapillary Zone Electrophoresis 

Instument for Human Serum Protein Analysis 

Alain Truchard, Center of Research in Biomedical Technology 

Co-Authors: D. Morin, F. X. Chobletf, S. Belsoeur, T. Le Neel, Center of Research in 

Biomedical Technology, P. Chauvin, Sebia 

TP091 Automation Systems for Bioscreening – Development and Services 

Kerstin Thurow, University of Rostock 

Co-Author: Kristin Entzian 

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These posters should be put up on Wednesday by 10:30 am and removed by 6:30 pm on 

Wednesday. Authors must be present 1:30 – 3:00 pm on Wednesday. 

WP001 Automating Large DNA Insert Preparation for Sequencing 

Chris Barbagallo, Millipore Corporation 

Co-Authors: Masaharu Mabuchi, Janet Smith, Peter Rapiejko, and Joseph Hitti 

WP002 XLC-MS for Therapeutic Drug Monitoring 

Steven Eendhuizen, Spark Holland, Inc. 

Co-Authors: Alex Berhitu, Emile Koster, Peter Ringeling, Bert Ooms 

WP003 Use of the AcroPrep 96 Filter Plate for the Parallel Preparation of Recombinant Proteins 

Emily Berlin, Pall Life Sciences 

Co-Authors: Tao Hu and Kevin Seeley 

WP004 Neutrophil Adhesion: A HTS Compatible Assay Using the Acumen Explorer 

Wayne Bowen, TTP LabTech 

Co-Author: John Budd 

WP005 Oxidative Burst: Amplex ® Red Detection of Hydrogen Peroxide Release From 

Differentiated HL-60 Cells Using FlexStation II384 Microplate Reader and the 

HTS Format of FLIPR3 

Carole Crittenden, Molecular Devices Corporation 

Co-Authors: Jennifer McKie and Yan Zhang 

WP006 Making Sense of it All: Data Management for the New Challenges in Drug Discovery 

Doug Drake, IDBS 

Co-Authors: Michael Collingsworth and Jack Elands 

WP007 Magnetic Bead Based High Throughput PCR- and Sequence Cleanup 

Morten Egeberg, Dynal Biotech ASA 

Co-Authors: Tommy Rivrud, Erling Finne, Dag Lillehaug 

WP008 Guidlines for Selecting XYZ Machines for High Precision High Throughput 

Lab Automation 

Boaz Eidelberg, Bayside Motion Group 

Co-Author: Joe Timpone 

WP009 Streamlining Automation of In-Gel Digestion and MALDI Target Spotting 

Marcy Engelstein, Millipore Corporation 

Co-Authors: Libby Kellard and Anja Dedeo, Millipore Corporation; Mikkel Nissum, Tecan 

WP010 High Throughput Sample Preparation for RNAi Studies and Expression Profiling 

Xingwang Fang, Ambion, Inc. 

Co-Authors: Roy C. Willis, Quoc Hoang, Michael Siano, Weiwei Xu 

WP011 Performance of 384 Low Volume Microplates in FP-based GPCR Binding Assays 

Alice Gao, Corning Incorporated 

Co-Author: Debra Hoover 

WP012 Information and Image Management for Proteomics-based Research 

Terry Hermann, LabVantage Solutions, Inc. 

Co-Authors: J. Kelly Ganjei, Shariq Alavi 

WP013 Low Birefringence Plates for Crystal Scoring Under Polarized Light 

Günther Knebel, Greiner Bio-One, Inc. 

Co-Author: Ulrike Honisch 

34 

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WP014 New High Performance Magnetic Separation Technology for Laboratory and 

Industrial Applications 

David Humphries, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 

Co-Authors: Martin Pollard and Chris Elkin, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory 

WP015 Pfizer Global Research and Development Material Management Global Center of 

Emphasis: Global Liquid Operations at the Groton Kings Heights Technology Center 

Diane Johnson, Pfizer Global Development and Research 

Co-Authors: Steve Brinkman, William Heineman, Craig Hines, Michele Kelly, Kim Matus 

WP016 Automated DNA Sequencing: Quality Not Quantity 

Mike Jones, Cambridge Antibody Technology 

Co-Authors: Richard Stevens, Kate Goode 

WP017 Automation of BAC 96 DNA Purification 

Lynn Jordan, Zymark Corporation 

Co-Authors: Jim Batchelor, Kelly M. Clark, and Joseph A. Hensley, Brinkmann – An 

Eppendorf Company; Jennifer L. Halcome and George R. Halley, Eppendorf – 5 Prime, Inc. 

WP018 Improving the Performance of Mass Spectrometry Analysis With Automated 

Peak-Parking Using Off-the-shelf Components 

Sanjaya Joshi, Userspace Corporation 

Co-Authors: David R. Goodlett and Hookeun Lee, Institute for Systems Biology 

WP019 High Throughput Protein Recovery From Organic Solvents Using AcroPrep 96 

Multi-well Plates Containing Mustang Ion Exchange Membranes 

Jeff Kane, Pall Life Sciences 

Co-Authors: Kevin Seeley, Emily Berlin 

WP020 Automation of Receptor-Ligand Binding Assays Using the MultiScreen ® HTS Filter Plate 

Libby Kellard, Millipore Corporation 

Co-Authors, Sonia Gil, Steven D. Sheridan 

WP021 Automated Genomic DNA Purification From Large Volumes of Whole Blood 

Dan Kephart, Promega Corporation 

Co-Authors: Cris Cowan, Terri Grunst 

WP022 Multiplex Measurements of Cytokines in High Density Formats Using 

Multi-Array Technology 

Alan Kishbaugh, Meso Scale Discovery 

Co-Authors: Gisbert Spieles, Erin Grossi, Kent Johnson, Rob Calamunci, George Sigal, 

Svetlana Leytner, Jacob N. Wohlstadter 

WP023 An Automated, Portable Immunochemical Flow Injection System for On-Site Analysis 

of Environmentally Hazardous Chemicals 

Gunther Kolb, Institut für Mikrotechnik Mainz GmbH 

Co-Authors: Ines Frese, Volker Hessel, Holger Löwe, David Tiemann, and Ioan M. 

Ciumasu, Institut für Mikrotechnik Mainz GmbH; Petra M. Krämer, TU München, 

Wissenschaftszentrum Weihenstephan 

WP024 Multiple Parallel Purification of Fab Fragments Discovered Using Dyax Corp’s Phage 

Display Antibody Libraries 

Kristopher Kopacz, Dyax Corporation 

Co-Authors: Qi-Long Wu, Janja Cosic, David Buckler 

WP025 Identifying and Reducing Crossover Contamination at the Sub-Microliter Level for 

Pipetting Tips in a High Throughput DNA Sequencing Environment 

Duane Kubischta, DOE Joint Genome Institute 

35 

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WP026 Fully-Automated, High Throughput Peptide Mass Fingerprinting by MALDI 

Orthogonal-TOF Mass Spectrometry 

Scott Kuzdzal, PerkinElmerSCIEX 

Co-Authors: Joe DiCesare, Mary Lopez, Lisa Sapp, Tillmann Ziegert 

WP027 KingFisher 96 – A Novel High Throughput Platform for Protein Applications 

Arja Lamberg, Thermo Electron 

Co-Authors: Merja Mehto and Arja Lamberg, Thermo Electron; Stine Bergholtz; 

Tine Borgen, David Gillooly, and Diem Tran, Dynal Biotech; Virpi Kymäläinen and 

Maija Partanen, Thermo Labsystems 

WP028 High Resolution Mobile Measurement of Oxygen Concentration in Main Breath Stream 

by Optical Oxygen Sensing – An Application in Occupational and Sports Medicine 

Fred Lange, University of Rostock 

Co-Authors: Regina Stoll, Thomas Renger 

WP030 The HTS Compound-Thawing Bottle Neck (and How to Avoid it With a New Processor) 

Kurt Lund, ACESystems, Inc. 

WP031 Recent Developments in High Throughput, Turn-Key Solubility, and Permeability 

Compound Ranking Assays 

Joseph Machamer, Molecular Devices 

Co-Authors: Greg Kazan, Molecular Devices; Tom Onofrey, Millipore Corp. 

WP032 High Throughput Process Optimization for the Fine Chemical and 

Pharmaceutical Industries 

Colin Masui, Symyx Technologies 

WP033 IQ ® Technology: An Automated HTS Assay for Screening Kinase, Phosphatase, and 

Protease Targets 

Timothy McCauley, Pierce Biotechnology, Inc. 

Co-Authors: Mahesh Mathrubutham, Sherri Z. Millis, Aric G. Morgan, Michael L. Stanaitis 

WP034 Solving the Dispensing Challenges of Assay Miniaturization in High-Density Microplates 

Ruth H Myers, Aurora Instruments, LLC 

Co-Authors: Jason Johnson, Chris Biagioli 

WP035 Ultra-High Throughput Screening Using Multi-Array 1536-Well Plates 

Pankaj Oberoi, Meso Scale Discovery 

Co-Authors: David Stewart, Kevin Khovananth, Stephen Tessier, Alan Kishbaugh, Kent 

Johnson, Jacob Wohlstadter 

WP036 Membrane-Bound Protein Crystallization Workstation 

Jeff Olson, Abbott Laboratories 

Co-Authors: Mark Chiu, Mike McCoy, Jeff Pan 

WP037 Cell Based Biosensors 

Cengiz S. Ozkan, University of California, Riverside 

WP038 Using Beckman Coulter’s Biomek ® NX Laboratory Automation Workstation for the 

Purification of High Quality Plasmid DNA 

Laura Pajak, Beckman Coulter, Inc. 

Co-Authors: Chad Pittman, Scott Boyer 

WP039 Right Time, Right Place – Right Information? 

Geoff Parker, Scimcom 

WP040 Automation Platform for Salt Prescreening and Polymorph Screening Studies 

Fiona Payne, Zinsser Analytic GmbH 

Co-Author: Werner Zinsser 

36 

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WP041 AquaMax DW4: A Flexible Tool for Heterogeneous 1536 Assays 

Jonathan Petersen, Molecular Devices Corp. 

Co-Authors: Jeannie Nguyen, Annegret Boge, Gayle Teixeira 

WP042 Automation of Immunotech’s IL-8 ELISA Using Beckman Coulter’s Biomek 3000 

Laboratory Automation Workstation 

Chad Pittman, Beckman Coulter, Inc. 

Co-Authors: Laura Pajak, Scott Boyer 

WP043 STEM ReactArray Improved Productivity Using Manual and Automated Parallel 

Reactors Equipped With Liquid Handling and On-line HPLC Analysis 

Ileana Place, STEM/ReactArray 

WP044 Characterization of Human Alpha-Thrombin Aptamer System by Automated 

Fluorescence Lifetime Analysis 

Dieter Popp, Tecan Austria GmbH 

Co-Authors: Mateja Niederreiter, Manfred Lansing, David Yost, Klaus Döring, Melissa 

Foshee 

WP045 Tecan’s LSx00: Automated Processing and Analysis of Microarrays Implemented Prior 

Content Quality Control 

Johannes Posch, Tecan Austria GmbH 

Co-Authors: Ralph Beneke, Gerald Probst 

WP046 High Throughput Peptide Synthesis on a Biomek FX Liquidhandler 

Lynn Rasmussen, SAIC: NCI Frederick 

Co-Authors: Carl Saxinger, Casey Frankenberger, David Munroe, SAIC: NCI Frederick; 

Marc Goldstein, Beckman-Coulter 

WP047 Novel Approach for Screening of Drug Absorption Via an Automated System 

Kirby Reed, Gilson, Inc. 

Co-Author: Alan Hamstra 

WP048 Tools for Sample Management that are Efficient, Versatile, Proven and Evolving – 

REMP Tube Technologies 

Scott Reeves, REMP USA 

Co-Authors: Michael Girardi, REMP USA; Carol Homon, Boehringer Ingelheim 

Pharmaceuticals, Inc; Thorsten Poetter, Bayer Crop Science AG; Berta Strulovici, Merck & 

Company, Inc.; Gerhard Mihm, Boehringer-Ingelheim Pharma KG 

WP049 Multichannel HTS/ µHTS Liquid Handling Systems – Check Using 

Two-Indicator Systems 

Heidrun Rhode; Friedrich-Schiller-University, Medical Faculty 

Co-Authors: M. Schulze, G. A. Cumme, A. Horn, Simon Renard, and Thomas Moore, 

Friedrich-Schiller-University, Medical Faculty; Peter Zimmermann, CyBio AG 

WP050 AliQuot – High Throughput Liquid Dispensing Into Microplates 

Steve Richmond, Genetix Ltd 

Co-Authors: Sky Jiang, Paul Raine, Sarah Stephens, Chris Mann, Julian F. Burke 

WP051 A Totally Automated Solution for Normal and RP Preparative HPLC With Analytical 

Purification Determination: cLC 

Luke Roenneburg, Gilson, Inc. 

Co-Author: Alan Hamstra 

WP052 A Homogenous Assay for Inhibition of Basal Proliferation in 96- and 384-Well Formats 

Using the Acumen Explorer 

Jas Sanghera, TTP LabTech 

Co-Authors: David Pole, Wayne Bowen 

37 

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WP054 Innovations in Photonics for Biotech Applications 

Eric Schmidt, Ahura Corporation 

Co-Author: Daryoosh Vakhshoori 

WP055 First Dual Resolution Syringe (DRS), Using Differential Displacement, for 

Practical Contact-Free Nanoliter Transfer of Discrete Samples or Within-tip Mixtures, 

and Extreme Dilutions 

Donald Schwartz, DRD 

Co-Author: Donald S. Martin 

WP056 Scaling From 96- to 384-Well Assay Platforms: Characterization of Receptor-Ligand 

Binding Using 384-Well Filter Plates Optimized For Maximum Radiation Detection 

Steven Sheridan, Millipore 

Co-Authors: Sonia Gil, Libbey Kellard 

WP057 SpectraMax M2 Multi-detection System Allows Validated Microplate-based 

Fluorescence and Absorbance Assays in a GLP/GMP Environment 

Christopher Silva, Molecular Devices Corporation 

WP058 Using the Biomek ® 3000 Laboratory Automation Workstation to Interface 2D Liquid 

Chromatography With Mass Spectrometry for Multidimensional Proteome Profiling 

Michael Simonian, Beckman Coulter, Inc. 

Co-Authors: Matthew Cu, Edna Betgovargez, Graham Threadgill 

WP059 Automated DELFIA ® Filtration Assays in 96- and 384-well Format for GPCR Studies 

Katja Sippola, PerkinElmer Life and Analytical Sciences, Wallac Oy 

Co-Authors: Joni Helenius, Sanna Rönnmark, Maija-Liisa Mäkinen, Jari Suontausta, Christel 

Gripenberg-Lerche, Satu Kovanen 

WP060 FIZICS: A Novel Macro Imaging System 

Stephen Skwish, Merck & Company, Inc. 

Co-Authors: Francisco Asensio, Greg King, Glenn Clarke, Gary Kath, Michael J. Salvatore, 

Claude Dufresne 

WP061 Automation Systems Run in Parallel 

Ginger Smith, GlaxoSmithKline 

Co-Authors: Amy Siu, Renae Crosby, Jim Liacos, Cathy Finlay, Jimmy Bruner 

WP062 Automated Sampling System for Parallel Autoclaves in High Throughput Chemistry 

Norbert Stoll, University of Rostock 

Co-Authors: Wof-Dieter Heinitz, Hans-Joachim Stiller, KerstinThurow 

WP063 Real-time Physical Fitness Validation by Automated Respiratory Analysis 

Regina Stoll, University of Rostock 

Co-Author: Norbert Stoll 

WP064 96-Well Caco-2 transport Model for Drug Permeability Studies 

Rowan Stringer, Novartis Horsham Research Centre 

Co-Authors: Elizabeth Willmott, Rachael Profit, Sarah Beech, Paul Nicklin 

WP065 Dual-Glo Luciferase Assay Measurements in the LMax II 384 Microplate 

Luminometer and the Analyst ® GT Multimode Reader 

Michael Su, Molecular Devices Corporation 

Co-Authors: Jinfang Liao, Evelyn McGown 

WP066 Automation of Caco-2 Cell Preparation, Drug Permeation and Transport Assay on the 

Biomek 3000 Laboratory Automation Workstation 

Yu Suen, Beckman Coulter, Inc. 

Co-Authors: Keith Roby, Javorka Gunic, Michael H. Simonian 

38 

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WP067 Application of Automation for Clinical Newborn Screening: Detection of Hearing Loss 

Associated Cytomegalovirus 

Joseph Suzow, Pediatrix Screening 

Co-Authors: Zhili Lin, Michelle Lage, Edwin W. Naylor 

WP068 Application of High Throughput Screening for Pre-formulations Using the Symyx 

Technologies Workflow 

Anny Tangkilisan, Symyx Technologies 

WP069 Automated Screening of Cytotoxic Compounds 

Kerstin Thurow, University of Rostock 

Co-Author: Kristin Entzian 

WP070 Integrating Software Validation Throughout Software Development 

Melissa Trout, Code Refinery 

Co-Authors: Samir Dandekar, Mike Brown 

WP071 High Throughput Multiplexed Assays for Biomarkers and Phosphoproteins 

Robert Umek, Meso Scale Discovery 

Co-Authors: Paula Denney Eason, Jenny Ly, Jacob N. Wohlstadter 

WP072 Rapid Compound Purity Screening using the Nanostream Veloce System 

Surekha Vajjhala, Nanostream, Inc. 

Co-Authors: Li Zhang, Paren Patel, Sergey Osechinskiy 

WP073 SearchLight Proteome Arrays: Multiplexed Assays for High Content Screening 

Scott Van Arsdell, Pierce Biotechnology, Inc. 

Co-Authors: Rajiv Pande, Christine Burns 

WP074 A Cell-Based Multi-label DELFIA Assay for Measuring Phosphorylation of Proteins 

Sofia Vikstrom, PerkinElmer Life and Analytical Sciences 

Co-Authors: Christel Gripenberg-Lerche, Pertti Hurskainen, Ilkka Hemmilä 

WP075 SynCar: A New Automated Solution Phase Synthesis Platform for Medicinal Chemistry 

Erich von Roedern, Aventis Pharma 

Co-Authors: Angelika Weber, Hans-Ulrich Stilz 

WP076 Automation Tools To Aide Information Management in a Pharmaceutical 

Discovery Environment 

Wei Wang, Pfizer 

Co-Authors: Brian Boyd, Neelesh Nundkumar, Mark Proefke 

WP078 Introduction of Automation Into Clinical Laboratories in the UK 

Mike Wheeler, Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital Trust 

Co-Authors: Carolyn Piggott, Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospital Trust; Stephen Halloran, 

University of Surrey 

WP079 Primary HTS Neurite Outgrowth Assay Using the Acumen Explorer 

Ian Whitehall, TTP LabTech Ltd 

Co-Authors: John Budd, Paul Wylie, Wayne Bowen 

WP080 High Throughput Viral RNA Isolation from Swab, Serum and Plasma 

Chris Willis, Ambion, Inc. 

Co-Authors: Xingwang Fang, Michael A Siano 

WP081 Integrating Microsoft’s .NET Platform Into the DOE’s Production Genomics Facility 

Steven Wilson, JGI 

WP082 Microfluidic Kinase Selectivity Screening Assays in Off-Chip Assay Format 

Hayley Wu, Caliper Technologies Corp. 

Co-Authors: Holly Reardon, Thi Ngoc Vy-Trinh, Ella Li, Javier Farinas, Jude Dunne 

39 

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WP083 Development of an Automated High Throughput Screening Enzyme Linked 

Immunosorbent Assay for Chronic Wasting Disease Prions in Elk and Deer 

John T. Y. Wu, Government of Alberta 

Co-Authors: Eva Y. W. Chow, Lester S. Y. Wong, Evelyn E. Bowlby 

WP084 Fast Spin Centrifuge, Analytical Module and Automated Laboratory System 

Michael Yavilevich, Inventor 

WP085 Quantitative Biological Sample Analysis Using NanoESI (Nanomate 100 ® ) –MS/MS 

Lilly Zhang, Amgen, Inc. 

Co-Authors: John D. Laycock, Krys J. Miller 

WP086 Plasmid Purification Using Promega’s Wizard* SV96 Reagents and Beckman Coulter’s 

Biomek ® 3000 Laboratory Automation Workstation 

Ruth Zhang, Beckman Coulter, Inc. 

Co-Authors: Chad Pittman, Scott Boyer, Laura Pajak 

WP087 Return of the Centrifuge: Automated DNA Extraction by Small Production Islands 

Juergen Zimmermann, EMBL 

Co-Authors: Vladimir Benes, Christian Boulin, and Ralf Griebel, EMBL; Paul Lomax, Perkin 

Elmer Life Sciences; Thomas Zinn, Ullrich Schübel, Macherey Nagel, and Klaus Günther 

Eberle, Hettich GmbH & Co KG 

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PODIUM ABSTRACTS 

Plenary Sessions – Page 43 

High Throughput Chemistry – Page 45 

ADME Toxicology – Page 55 

Drug Discovery Case Studies – Page 56 

High Throughput Screening – Page 58 

Microfluidics – Page 68 

Proteomics – Page 82 

Automation Applications in Process R&D – Page 93 

Genomics – Page 95 

Clinical – Page 108 

Engineering Applications – Page 122 

Emerging Technologies – Page 124 

National Laboratory Technology Transfer – Page 136 

Emerging Informatics – Page 139 

Performance Metrics – Page 141 

41 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS

NOTES 

42

8:30 am Tuesday, February 3 Opening Plenary Session Room A2 

Jürgen Drews 

Nigeons GmbH 

Firnhaberstrasse 14 

Feldafing, D-82340 Germany 

drews@nigeons.com 

Changing Patterns in the Discovery of New Drugs 

The promise of genomics in drug discovery, which was so eagerly embraced in the mid-1990s, has not yet been 

fulfilled. There are two main reasons for this initial failure: The first one has to do with the fact that the structures 

and functions of gene products, which were included in screening programs, were poorly understood. Secondly, 

the combinatorial libraries, to which these “targets” were exposed were lacking in quality. As a result of these 

shortcomings, the overall productivity of the drug industry has declined further. However, this statement needs 

differentiation because the weights within the drug industry have shifted. The first tier biotech companies have 

now become the most productive segment of the drug industry. They often combine a high degree of innovative 

spirit with solid pharmaceutical professionalism. Some smaller biotech firms have succeeded in addressing 

unmet medical needs in technologically appealing ways. Many well positioned larger biotech companies with rich 

development portfolios suffer from development times that are longer than expected, costs that are higher than 

expected and from failures in clinical trials that were not expected at all. The classical pharmaceutical industry 

continues on its path to further consolidation with a clear emphasis on marketing and sales. By and large, the 

big pharmaceutical companies take a cautious attitude towards novel science and technology. A convincing 

balance between the need for good-looking bottom lines and a compelling long-term vision has not emerged. In 

their totality these changes have deeply altered the nature and the appearance of the drug industry. In the mid- 

to long-term, however, science and technology offer great opportunities to overcome this stagnation. Biology, 

especially biological approaches that are directed at the functioning of systems rather than on single molecular 

entities will eventually solve the problem of identification and validation of suitable drug targets. The continued 

study of drug protein interactions at the molecular level is built on biological premises but is chemical in nature. 

We begin to understand that the majority of pharmaceutically relevant drug targets cluster into densely populated 

target families, thus offering a novel chemical approach. This new strategy uses a privileged structure concept 

whereby molecular master keys are developed that take into account target family wide structural and functional 

commonalities. Lead compounds can be generated that address a variety of targets from a particular gene family 

that may reach across the boundaries of therapeutic areas. Optimizing a master key for a distinct target family, 

therefore, is about to become a new chemical strategy, which will replace strategies of the recent past which 

were built on large numbers of compounds that were not chosen on the basis of a postulated or demonstrated 

relationship of target and ligand. In concert, these new approaches may well improve the productivity of drug 

research and again alter the landscape of the respective industry. 

9:15 am Tuesday, February 3 Opening Plenary Session Room A2 

John D. Rhodes 

Deloitte & Touche 

Two Hilton Court 

P.O. Box 319 

Parsippany, New Jersey 07054-0319 

jorhodes@deloitte.com 

Financial Forces Shaping the Future of the Pharmaceuticals and Biotech Industry 

Deloitte’s National Managing Partner, Life Sciences, will provide a view of the current life sciences landscape and 

discuss key trends and issues impacting the industry. Key industry metrics will be reviewed including global sales 

trends, FDA approval rates, level of R&D expenditures and investment trends in forming alliances and partnerships. 

The discussion will also highlight challenges impacting future growth rates including the state of regulatory 

challenges, innovation and development efforts as well as protection of intellectual property. 

43 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS

10:30 am Tuesday, February 3 Plenary Session: A Look to the Future Room A2 

Richard A. Mathies 


307 Lewis Hall 

Berkeley, California 94720 

rich@zinc.cchem.berkeley.edu 

Microfluidics in Your Future 

Microfabricated microfluidic chemical and biochemical analysis systems have advanced tremendously since their 

introduction in the early 1990’s. High-density and high throughput analyses are now routinely performed with 

arrays of microreactors, microarrays and microfabricated capillary electrophoresis channels. The full exploitation 

of these analysis capabilities awaits the development of nanoliter microfluidic sample preparation and handling 

capabilities that are integrated with the high throughput analyzer. For example, one recent publication explored 

the feasibility of integrating the entire shot-gun sequencing process on a wafer. If analogous microdevice systems 

could be developed that fully integrate the sample preparation and analysis processes in, for example, sequencing, 

genotyping, infectious disease detection, forensic identification, pathogen detection, and environmental monitoring, 

they would drive a paradigm shift in high throughput clinical and research labs. The development and application 

of such fully integrated chemical and biochemical “microprocessor” will also significantly impact point-of-care and 

point-of-analysis. 

11:15 am Tuesday, February 3 Plenary Session Room A2 

Christopher R. Lowe 


Institute of Biotechnology 

Tennis Court Road 

Cambridge, CB2 1QT United Kingdom 

c.lowe@biotech.cam.ac.uk 

The Nanophysiometer: Holographic Sensors for Drug Discovery 

44 

Co-Author(s) 

Jeff Blyth, Alex Marshall, Anthony James, 

Satyamoorthy Kabilan, Felicity Sartain, 

Mei-Ching Lee, Blanca Madrigal-Gonzalez, 

Xiao-Ping Yang, Colin Davidson 

This session will address many of the current needs in pharmaceutical discovery and promises timely and 

economical solutions. There is a desire to move “high content” screening into a “high throughput” mode to 

accelerate the drug discovery pipeline. In effect, this would collapse the hit-discovery and hit-to-lead steps 

into one, with a potentially significant timesaving. The lecture will describe the concept and development of a 

disposable “plastic” that is capable of measuring a number of metabolic parameters simultaneously in nanowells 

in real-time using optical sensor technology with multiple fluidic inputs/outputs and all associated instrumentation 

and software. A key aspect of the approach is the introduction of novel planar optical sensors based on using a 

reflection hologram as an inexpensive, disposable, mass-producible indicator of metabolic activity. This approach 

is unique in the field of chemical sensors since the hologram per se provides both the analyte-responsive polymer 

and the optical interrogation and reporting transducer. 

Holographic matrices have been developed which can be modified rationally in order to construct specific 

response mechanisms to the target analyte. Defined polymeric matrices such as poly-vinylalcohol, poly-hydroxyeth 

ylmethacrylate, poly-acrylamide and starch have been used to fabricate the holograms. Examples of the detection 

of a number of analytes, including pH, ions, enzymes and metabolites will be given. These sensors have been 

incorporated into a fully instrumented nanophysiometer in order to measure the growth kinetics and metabolic 

activity of a number of microbial systems in real-time. This technology has the potential to revolutionize the way 

modern microbial, plant and animal cell biology is conducted.

3:00 pm Tuesday, February 3 HT Chemistry Room B3 

Erick Carreira 

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology – ETH Zürich 

ETH Hönggerberg – HCI H207 

Zürich, CH-8093 Switzerland 

carreira@org.chem.ethz.ch 

Natural Products Inspired Studies in Asymmetric Synthesis 

Three research programs in target-oriented natural products synthesis will be discussed. Particular emphasis 

will be placed on methods discovery and development. Their application to the selected targets as well as their 

relevance in addressing broader issues in asymmetric synthesis will be presented. The methods include: the use 

of nitrile oxide cycloadditions reaction to furnish a general, modular synthesis of polyketides, and the annulation 

reaction of spirocyclopropyl oxindoles and imines as an approach to spiropyrrolidino oxindoles. 


Kevin Burgess 

Texas A & M University 

P.O. Box 30012 

College Station, Texas 77842-3012 

burgess@tamu.edu 

Solid and Solution-phase Syntheses of Peptidomimetics That Mimic or Disrupt Proteinprotein 

Interactions 

Solid phase macrocyclization reactions enabled us to identify peptidomimetics that mimic the nerve growth factor 

(NGF) and bind to its TrkA receptor giving a functional response. Solution phase method will be described that has 

enabled us to construct libraries of fluorescently labeled bivalent molecules, each containing two of these units. 

Current efforts are focused on preparation of libraries of much simpler bivalent mimics via similar methodology. 

45 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS


Wim Meutermans 

Alchemia Pty Ltd 

P.O. Box 6242 

Upper Mt. Gravatt 

Queensland, 4122 Australia 

wmeutermans@alchemia.com.au 

Tailoring Molecular Diversity Through Carbohydrate-based Scaffolds 

VAST drug discovery technology makes use of 3D scaffolds which resemble monosaccharides in structure and 

where pharmacophoric substituents are readily attached at up to five positions in a regio- and stereo-controlled 

manner. Conformationally rigid products, each with a unique 3D presentation, are produced in parallel using 

automated techniques, thereby generating libraries of tailored structural and functional diversity. The nature of 

the scaffold and substituents are modeled and designed to selectively target receptors, but also to optimize 

ADME properties. Research that resulted in the identification of novel VAST drug leads for selected targets will 

be presented, including diversity and modeling considerations, along with ‘in vitro’ and ‘in vivo’ data on activity, 

toxicity and pharmacokinetics. 


Jan Marik 

University of California, Davis – Cancer Center 

4501 X Street 

Sacramento, California 95817 

jmarik@ucdavis.edu 

From “One-Bead One-Compound” to Chemical Microarrays 

46 

Co-Author(s) 

Aimin Song, Ruiwu Liu, 

Xiaobing Wang, Alan Lehman, 

Kit S. Lam 

The era of combinatorial chemistry libraries began with spatially addressable low density arrays like the multipin 

system described by Geysen and the spot synthesis of method published by Frank. At the same time, Fodor 

et al. reported the light directed synthesis of the first spatially addressable high density chemical microarrays. In 

1991, Lam et al. invented the “one-bead one-compound” (OBOC) method for highly efficient synthesis of random 

peptide libraries containing millions of peptide beads, such that each bead displays only one peptide entity. 

This OBOC library could be also viewed as an ultra high density peptide microarray that is spatially separable 

but not addressable. In the last 10 years the OBOC method has been used to prepare encoded small molecule 

libraries. Although huge number of compounds can be prepared with the OBOC method, only limited amounts of 

compound can be retrieved from one single bead. To increase the capacity of each bead, Schreiber et al. reported 

the use of macrobeads that can provide up to 0.5 mmol/bead of compound. In our lab we have recently developed 

the one-aggregate one-compound method which has the capacity of generating 1 – 10 mmol of compound 

from each aggregate. By applying the “split mix synthesis” approach, a large number of encoded compoundaggregates 

can be generated efficiently. The bead aggregates consist of two populations of beads. The majority 

of the beads have cleavable linkers and are used for preparation of the testing compound, whereas the minority 

population of beads is colored and is used for the preparation of the encoding tag. After synthesis, the testing 

compound is released to the solution from the aggregate and can be fed into the standard solution phase high 

throughput screen, or selectively ligated to a biopolymer and printed to solid support to form a microarray. Positive 

spots or wells can be traced back to the aggregate where the encoding beads can be retrieved for decoding.

8:00 am Wednesday, February 4 HT Chemistry – Analytical Room B3 

Götz Schlotterbeck 

F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd 

Grenzacherstrasse 124, Basel 

CH-4070 Switzerland 

goetz.schlotterbeck@roche.com 

Automation and Miniaturization in NMR 

47 

Co-Author(s) 

Alfred Ross, 

Hans Senn 

Currently NMR measurements are performed in tubes of 5mm diameter and a detection volume of about 

500µL. Miniaturizing the NMR measurement has many advantages the most important are: (i) the intrinsic higher 

sensitivity of the miniaturized detection coil leads to a decrease of the experiment time and thus potentially to a 

higher sample throughput of mass-limited samples and (ii) the use of costly deuterated solvents can significantly 

be reduced, and concomitantly the spectral artifacts from solvent impurities. NMR measurements using a new 

1mm TXI Microprobe (Bruker) with an active sample volume of 2.5 µL are reported. This is the first microliter 

NMR probe with optimized coil geometry for use with individual capillaries of outer diameter of 1 mm. The probe 

offers significant advantages over previous and other analytical-chemical NMR technologies: an increased mass 

sensitivity by a factor of 4 compared to the conventional setup and spectra with very low-solvent background. We 

demonstrate the potential of the probe for structure elucidation of mass- and volume-limited samples and microbore 

HPLC-NMR coupling on selected examples from pharmaceutical research. In addition applications with high 

sample throughput (HT-NMR) for quality control of large sample arrays are shown. This also includes the automatic 

sample preparation of 1mm capillaries. 


Russell Scammell 

Argenta Discovery Ltd 

8/9 Spire Green Centre 

Flex Meadow 

Harlow, Essex CM19 5TR United Kingdom 

russell.scammell@argentadiscovery.com 

Automation and Mass Spectrometry: A Love – Hate Relationship? 

Today’s mass spectrometer interface systems operate on principles that have remained fundamentally unchanged 

for over 10 years although the method of automated sample introduction has probably experienced the most 

significant changes over this time period. This presentation will initially provide a brief history of the interfaces and 

sample introduction techniques that have emerged over the past decade. The discussion will move into areas 

that are now key to the successful operation of an analytics laboratory supporting both the needs of Discovery 

Chemistry and Bioananlysis. The paradigm shift to non MS-centric systems embracing the automation, integration 

and miniaturisation (AIM) concept has greatly impacted on sample introduction. The factors of ever increasing 

time pressures and sample numbers in today’s industry will be shown to have been the single driving force in the 

areas of automated sample preparation/purification/analysis, HPLC column technologies, auto-sampler/fraction 

collection technologies and interface hardware. The presentation will conclude with a look to the future, including 

the area of chip based technologies and how the emergence of multiplexed interfaces are having an impact on 

future autosampler designs. 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS


Dave Rakestraw 

Eksigent Technologies 

2021 Las Positas Court, Suite 161 

Livermore, California 94550 

djrakestraw@eksigent.com 

Rapid, High Resolution Multiplexed HPLC System 

48 

Co-Author(s) 

Doug Cyr, Roger Farrow, 

Karen Hahnenberger, Don Arnold, 

David Neyer, Jason Rehm, 

Ken Hencken, Philip Paul 

The use of HPLC for high throughput analysis has been limited by the time required for chromatographic 

separations and the number of individual instruments that can be dedicated to the application. We will present 

data from a new high performance liquid chromatography platform capable of performing ~10,000 separations 

per day. This high throughput has been made possible by extremely rapid gradient delivery that dramatically 

reduces traditional separation times and the development of a single instrument capable of performing 8 parallel 

separations. Low delay volumes enable the use of rapid gradients with durations as low as 10 seconds. The 

rapid gradients are achieved using Eksigent’s Microfluidic Flow Control (MFC) system, and result in retention time 

repeatability of

10:30 am Wednesday, February 4 HT Chemistry – Microscale Room B3 

Miryam Fernandez Suarez 

GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals 

GSK, CTC, University Chemical Labs 

Lensfield Road 

Cambridge, CB2 1EW United Kingdom 

miryam_2_fernandez-suarez@gsk.com 

Microfluidic Platforms for Drug Discovery 

49 

Co-Author(s) 

Stephanie Y. F. Wong 

Brian H. Warrington 

The competitive world of drug market, under cost reduction pressures and imminent expiration of patents, forces 

pharmaceutical companies to an expensive search for suitable novel leads. Combinatorial chemistry and high 

throughput screening have proved to be useful for discovering potential drug candidates. However, these costly 

techniques did not satisfy the high expectations in terms of number of drug candidates entering development 

stages, as they hardly scratch the enormous and diverse universe of the possible compounds and even can lead 

to logistic problems of reagent consumption, sample storage and waste production. In response to the competing 

pressures for increasing output and reducing time scales and costs, the pharmaceutical industry is in the midst of 

a technology-driven revolution. In this contest, microfluidic based technologies show a great potential owing to its 

high degree of integration with modern miniaturised analysis and screening techniques. It also offers advantages 

in terms of shorter response times, reduction of reagent consumption and waste volume. Our aim is to perform 

multiple functions such as synthesis, detection, separation, and screening all integrated in a microfabricated 

device, exploiting the advantages of combining microfluidics and electronic components and provided with 

software tools for optimization. In this presentation, we will review the approach of GSK and partners to exploit 

the advantages of microfluidics in the development of miniaturized chemistry platforms, from our initial well-based 

approaches, to our continuous flow automated micro reactor systems. In addition, we will present our latest 

developments towards multi-step synthesis protocols and coupling with screening assays. 


Mike Pollard 

Syrris 

27 Jarman Way 

Royston, Herts, SG8 5HW United Kingdom 

mike.pollard@syrris.com 

Real-world Microchemistry: Milligram Scale Organic Synthesis in Microreactors 

Microreactors are an emerging technology, offering great promise for productivity gains in drug discovery and 

development. Some early presentations made promises of “magic” gains in yield and reaction speed, claimed as 

achievable as a direct result of the channel geometry and fluidic design of these devices. However, these gains 

have not been consistently demonstrated. Medicinal chemists have rightly remained sceptical that a chip-based 

reactor system can offer ease of use coupled with delivering a realistic quantity of the desired compound. Syrris 

has now been working for two years to develop the technologies needed to make Microreactors a real world 

proposition. From the start of its development program, Syrris has focused on the medicinal chemist’s need for 

a robust, practical, low cost tool, capable of reliably synthesising milligram quantities of compound. We have 

recently carried out an extensive test program to validate the performance of Syrris Microreactor chips over a wide 

range of organic synthesis tasks. The tests addressed issues such as: the range of synthesis protocols that could 

be undertaken, reaction rate, yield, and automatically handling real world problems such as precipitation. This 

paper presents details of the synthesis work carried out, including a realistic assessment of the best application 

area for Microreactors. We will present a preview of the forthcoming Syrris AutoR medicinal chemistry tool, 

being developed as part of our strategy to understand and meet the needs of the R&D scientist though research, 

collaboration, and product development. 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS


Klavs Jensen 

Massachussetts Institute of Technology 

77 Massachusetts Avenue, MIT 66-566 

Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 

kfjensen@mit.edu 

Microscale Synthesis – Integration of Reactions and Separations 

The microscale revolution in chemistry and biology promises to transform classical batch wise laboratory 

procedures into integrated systems capable of proving new understanding of fundamental chemical and biological 

processes as well as rapid, continuous discovery and development of new products with less use of resources 

and waste generation. Potential applications and advantages of microchemical systems are demonstrated with 

cases studies drawn from liquid phase organic chemistry, including glycosylation and reactions usually performed 

at cryogenic conditions. Other reaction examples are gas-liquid reactions, such as direct fluorination and 

ozonolysis, as well as synthesis and modification of colloidal nanoparticles. Microscale separation of gas-liquid, 

immiscible liquids, and solid liquid mixtures are demonstrated with examples relevant to solvent extraction, solvent 

switch, gas removal, and nucleation. Finally, micro reaction, separation, and analytical schemes are combined 

into integrated microsystems for multistep synthesis with applications for discovery as well as development. 

Optimization of reaction conditions serves to exemplify the latter application. We discuss challenges remaining to 

the routine implementation of microscale synthesis in automated laboratory procedures. 

12:00 pm Wednesday, February 4 HT Chemistry – Microscale Room B3 

Thomas Schwalbe 

CPC – Cellular Process Chemistry Systems GmbH 

Hanauer Landstrasse 526/G58 

Frankfurt, 60343 Germany 

schwalbe@cpc-net.com 

CYTOS Continuous Chemistry – A Coherent Chemical Synthesis Technology to Lever Drug 

Innovation Process Value Generation 

The drug innovation process employed by companies today suffers from economical inadequacies. Emphasis 

has lately been attributed to balancing the flow of projects through the various stages required in the progression 

of projects to the market. Chemistry is a key area of concern, from discovery and up to proof of concept, for 

a new drug application. Several chemical disciplines require scarce specialized human resources while project 

progression requires increasing capital expenditure, particularly when a process is transferred to the pilot plant. 

Target structures increasingly aim at novel molecular topography and often require high energy synthetic methods 

to construct constrained moieties. Scaling such high energy synthesis routes presents selectivity challenges, 

particularly when these are addressed by thermal control. In many cases, constraints at the process level means 

that scaling requires time-consuming development of new synthetic procedures, which can be a significant 

bottleneck to producing complex targets in sufficient quantities for proof of concept studies. An alternative 

approach is to carry out synthesis by continuous flow reactions using processing systems of minimal internal 

volume. By avoiding the issues of increasing batch sizes, continuous flow chemistry enables direct scaling to be 

carried out using the exact same process. The Cytos ® system has been designed to perform continuous flow 

reactions in research, and can be used for the production of a compound in any quantity by the research synthetic 

process. The specific design of Cytos ® reactors ensures both improved mixing and heat exchange as compared to 

batch equipment, hence allowing the trouble-free conduct of otherwise hard to scale chemistries. 

50

3:30 pm Wednesday, February 4 HT Chemistry – New Strategies Room B3 

Mark Bradley 

University of Southampton 

Highfield, Southampton 

Hants, SO17 1BJ United Kingdom 

mb14@soton.ac.uk 

Real Time Combinatorial Arrays and Assays for Proteases, Kinases, and Transfection Agents 

This presentation will cover the interactions between biology, chemistry and chemical technology and will 

include: (a). New, highly sensitive method for protease (or kinase) analysis and screening, with the potential to 

screen 100,000 substrates in a single pass. (b). Chip based library screening and cellular binding assays. (c). The 

development of highly efficient molecular transporters for both single cells and slice cultures and array based 

screening of libraries of molecular transporters to enable the development of “transfection chips”. 


Thomas Smith 


New Frontiers Science Park (North) 

Third Avenue 

Harlow, Essex, CM19 5AW United Kingdom 

thomas_j_smith@gsk.com 

High Throughput Drug Discovery 

The pharmaceutical industry is coming under increasing pressure to deliver new medicines and speed up the drug 

discovery process. Hence, chemists are looking for ways to improve their methods of compound production. The 

traditional one product at a time approaches are now giving way to faster and more cost effective, high throughput 

chemistry methodologies. Routinely, robotic chemical synthesisers are used to carry out parallel reactions on 

multiple substrates. Hundreds to thousands of compounds can now be prepared, analyzed and purified in 

the time taken to prepare just a few by conventional methods. The presentation will focus on the automation 

and technology used at GSK to achieve high throughput compound production and purification as well as the 

importance of integrating the many components of this complex process. 

51 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS


Jonathan Ellman 


826 Latimer Hall 

Berkeley, California 94720-1460 

jellman@uclink.berkeley.edu 

New Approaches for High Throughput Heterocycle Synthesis 

The first approach is based upon enantiomerically pure tert-butanesulfinamide, which has been developed in my 

laboratories. This chiral amine reagent is now employed extensively in the pharmaceutical industry. Methods will 

be presented for the parallel synthesis of a wide range of pharmaceutically relevant compounds from chiral amine 

building blocks to complex alkaloids using either solid-phase or solution-phase methods. In the second approach, 

C-H functionalization of organic compounds has been applied to the preparation of pharmaceutically relevant 

structures, including substituted indanes, tetralanes, indoles, dihydrobenzofurans, dihydroindoles, and azoles. The 

application of microwave chemistry to both of these approaches will also be described. 


Frantisek Turecek 

University of Washington 

Bagley Hall 

Box 351700 

Seattle, Washington 98195-1700 

turecek@chem.washington.edu 

52 

Co-Author(s) 

Yuko Ogata 

Erkang Fan 

Automation of Bioanalytical Processes Using the Lab-on-Valve Approach. Applications to 

Protein Binding and Diagnosis of Inborn Errors of Metabolism 

A method is introduced that achieves quantitative screening of ligands for binding with immobilized proteins. 

The method uses the Lab-on-Valve apparatus that is interfaced to an electrospray ionization mass spectrometer 

(ESI-MS), such as a quadrupole ion trap or a tandem triple quadrupole instrument. Proteins are immobilized on 

a solid support by covalent attachment to CNBr activated sepharose, or by non-covalent binding via biotin or 

His-tag conjugates to streptavidin-agarose or IMAC beads. The support with the immobilized protein is infused in 

the Lab-on-Valve apparatus and exposed to a mixture of potentially binding ligands, which are eluted in a zone 

frontal mode. Mass spectrometric analysis is used to monitor the concentrations of the eluted components and 

measure their breakthrough volumes. The latter are used for the calculation of binding constants for the mixture 

components. Examples will be given for ligand binding to cholera toxin B subunit and human peroxin PEX5.

8:00 am Thursday, February 5 HT Chemistry – Informatics Room B3 

Bernard Choi 

Merck Research Laboratories 

P.O. Box 2000 

Rahway, New Jersey 07065 

bernard_choi@merck.com 

53 

Co-Author(s) 

Athanasios Tsipouras 

High Throughput Quality Control LC-MS Analysis: Data Acquisition and Interpretation 

A high throughput analytical characterization system was developed for quality control support of a central 

sample collection resource. This system utilizes liquid chromatography mass spectrometry, UV absorption, and 

evaporative light scattering detection. Continuous operation of analytical instrumentation is accomplished by fully 

automating sample submission and report processing functions with in-house developed software. Comprehensive 

analytical information characteristic of quality, chemical, and physical properties (e.g., relative purity, detection 

sensitivity, retention properties) are extracted from the report data and transferred to an online Oracle database. 

Sample quality is assessed by utilizing multiple result criteria: intensity, signal-to noise, percent base peak intensity 

and structural similarity. Application of the comprehensive analytical data for discovery applications will be also 

discussed. 


Tudor Oprea 

University of New Mexico 

School of Medicine 

MSC 08 4560 

Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131-0001 

toprea@salud.unm.edu 

Navigating Large Chemical Spaces 

Co-Author(s) 

Marius Olah, John Tallarico, 

Erik Brauner, Tharun Kumar, 

Cristian Bologa 

As (virtual) chemical space becomes infinite, methods to navigate in chemical property and chemical structure 

space are gaining relevance. Two methods, ChemGPS (chemical global positioning system) and SimNav (similarity 

navigator) will be introduced as means to investigate the chemistry space that is relevant to drug discovery. 

ChemGPS compares molecules in property spaces, whereas SimNav uses the similarity principle to prioritize 

compounds for biological screening. 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS


Ping Du 

Du Consulting, LLC 

4 Fullerton Place 

Livingston, New Jersey 07039 

ping_du_2003@yahoo.com 

An Informatics System for Peptide Drug Discovery 

An integrated informatics system has been developed at Adaptive Therapeutics to support the discovery of cyclic 

peptides as antibacterial agents. The workflow supported includes combinatorial library synthesis, sequencing, 

screening, cherry-picking for hit confirmation, scale up synthesis, and dose response microbiology assays. Built on 

Oracle and Microsoft.Net technologies, the system consists of three tiers, database, business logic components, 

and client application modules. It is integrated with multiple laboratory instruments, such as Tecan liquid handler, 

Hitachi LCMS, plate readers, and barcode label printers. 


Neil Benn 

Cambridge Antibody Technology Limited 

Milstein Building 

Granta Park 

Cambridge, Cambs SG1 6GH United Kingdom 

neil.benn@cambridgeantibody.com 

Process Definition and Evaluation Utilizing Automated Metrics Gathering 

The Laboratory Automation industry is starting to come of age. Equipment released by manufacturers is of ever 

increasing quality, both in functionality and reliability. In addition users of automation are seeing real and tangible 

benefits from the implementation of automation within their laboratory. However the wide range of equipment 

and varying standards in both hardware and software often means that it is difficult for the laboratory manager 

to choose which equipment to purchase and also to measure how well that equipment is working within the 

established process. It is difficult to answer questions such as: Is the equipment being used? How can I modify 

the process to maximize return on the automation investment? Traditionaly this would have been acheived by 

talking to people who work the process in question. However this is time-consuming both for the user and the 

team collating the information and such ‘soft’ data can also be difficult to interpret and analyse. This presentation 

will describe the implementation of a system to automatically gather ‘hard’ metrics data of equipment usage that 

will not be biased by user opinions. The system is designed to be flexible enough to work with existing control 

software and not require major effort to incorporate in new equipment. Finally methods of analysis and conclusions 

from analysis will be presented. 

54

10:30 am Thursday, February 5 High Throughput Screening — ADME – Tox Room A2 

Arun Mandagere 

Pfizer Global Research and Development 

006/460, 2800 Plymouth Road 

Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105 

arun.mandagere@pfizer.com 

Role of Automated High Throughout Nephelometric Aqueous Solubility System in 

Early Drug Discovery 

We describe an automated high throughput Nephelometric aqueous solubility system that has played a critical 

role in the successful selection of quality lead candidates in early Drug Discovery programs. Aqueous solubility is 

used to gauge dissolution, adsorption and bioavailability of lead compounds. The advantage of a Nephelometric 

solubility screen is its ability to measure solubility at a comparable rate to secondary HTS pharmacological screens 

with minimal sample requirement. This process enables in the rapid identification of poorly soluble compounds 

with good activity, which are very likely to fail due to poor adsorption or low bioavailability. More importantly, this 

process provides timely feedback to medicinal chemist to pursue synthetic strategies in the producing compounds 

with good activity and solubility. Unlike the classical thermodynamic solubility measurements, the Nephelometric 

HTS solubility system is uniquely suited for early drug discovery because its speed, high capacity and small 

sample requirement. We will highlight the system components, assay parameters, and automated data analysis 

software used in building this automated solubility screening system. The Nephelometric HTS Solubility System 

increased sample throughput from 100 to 1800 compounds per week, and a 75% reduction in compound usage 

when compared to the HPLC- based flow-injection analysis (FIA) solubility method. The results generated by the 

HTS Nephelometric solubility method show a good agreement with those of HPLC-FIA solubility method. 


Ken Matuszak 

Abbott Laboratories 

100 Abbott Park Road 

Abbott Park, Illinois 60064-6122 

ken.matuszak@abbott.com 

Higher Throughput Strategies for Support of Early ADME In-vitro Screening 

What is “high throughput”? In many ways, for an analytical chemist, this is equivalent to the question of what is 

“zero.” For some applications (such as the structural elucidation of a completely unknown chemical entity), high 

throughput could mean just one complete analysis per day. For others (such as an assay for a specific drug in 

plasma samples from clinical studies) it might mean thousands of samples analyzed, quantitated, and reported 

in a 24-hour period. This presentation will focus on practical techniques for increasing throughput (“higher 

throughput”) for the analytical support of in vitro ADME screens (plasma protein binding, metabolic stability, and 

permeability) that are used in the support of Discovery research. While a few corporations have fully automated 

this type of work, and have already optimized their sample analysis throughput, many companies continue to use 

more traditional tried and true methods. These methods, while robust and reproducible, are far from optimized 

for maximum throughput. Methods discussed will include high throughput universal gradients coupled with mass 

spectrometric (MS) analysis, parallel solid phase extraction (SPE) and sequential elution to an MS, and quadrupoletime 

of flight MS vs. triple quadrupole MS. 

55 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS


Alexandra Heinloth 

NIEHS, 111 Alexander Drive 

Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709 

heinloth@niehs.nih.gov 

The Role of Genomics in Toxicology 

56 

Co-Author(s) 

Richard D. Irwin, Gary A. Boorman 

Paul Nettesheim, Leping Li, Raymond W. Tennant 

Michael L. Cunningham, Richard S. Paules 

Traditional toxicology deals with measuring endpoints of toxicity, evaluating one compound at a time in a very 

time consuming manner. The classic parameters of toxicity evaluated in such efforts are dose and time dependent 

and rarely allow for predictions of toxicity. One of the main challenges for toxicologists in the 21st century is the 

identification of highly sensitive and accurate predictive biomarkers for exposure, pharmacological effect and 

toxicity of environmental hazards. An extremely promising tool to aid in this effort is the genome-wide analysis 

of gene expression, from which scientists may extrapolate predictive signatures of exposure and effects. This 

would allow scientists to rapidly classify unknown compounds as being similar to groups of known compounds, 

thus potentially predicting their beneficial and adverse effects. In order to accomplish this goal we are creating 

a knowledge base of gene expression patterns. One model substance examined within this enterprise is 

acetaminophen as a representative compound inducing acute hepatotoxicity. We exposed rats to a wide doserange 

of acetaminophen (from non-toxic to severely toxic) and examined gene expression responses. We were 

able to extrapolate gene signatures identified following exposures to non-toxic doses which indicated the potential 

toxicity of this substance and which were observed to increase in magnitude in progression with increasingly 

toxic doses. The goal is to develop signatures that can serve as predictive biomarkers in the screening process of 

unknown compounds for hepatotoxicity. 

1:30 pm Thursday, February 5 Drug Discovery Case Studies Room B1 

Alexander Alanine 

F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd 

Grenzacherstrasse 124 

Basel, CH-4070 Switzerland 

alexander.alanine@roche.com 

Hit and Lead Generation Beyond High Throughput Screening 

The identification of small molecule modulators of protein function and the process of transforming these into 

high content lead series are critical activities in modern drug discovery. The key decisions made during this 

process have far reaching effects down-stream for success in lead optimization and even more critically in clinical 

development. Recent focus on these activities has been driven by the increasing costs resulting from the high 

clinical failure rates as well as untapped opportunities emerging from the efforts in functional genomics.


Esteban Pombo-Villar 

Novartis Pharma Ltd. 

WSJ-386.07.15 


esteban.pombo@pharma.novartis.com 

Alliances in Technology 

Developments in technology are often the result of formal or informal alliances. Formal alliances to develop a 

specific technology, such as collaborations, licensing agreements, joint ventures and consortia, can be successful 

in providing a useful product and some competitive advantage to the parties. These alliances are common in the 

pharmaceutical industry, for example, where the exclusivity of the product is one of the main drivers of competitive 

advantage. Another type of process however can be successful in delivering a generally useful technology – this 

is the case of informal partnerships between potential users and developers. The model used by the software 

industry, of having a user group to test the beta version of an eventual commercial package. In this case, the 

needs of a specific market are incorporated into the product design, and together with the commercial motivation 

of the developer, the final product may be more practical, and in the end deliver more value to the customers. 


Fred Pritchard 

MDS Pharma Services 

3504 Proprietor Way 

Raleigh, North Carolina 27612 

fred.pritchard@mdsps.com 

Understanding Risk and Value: Decision Gates in Drug Development 

Automation has changed the process of drug discovery from managed serendipidy to engineered selection. 

Nevertheless, the promise of more drugs with high specificity and selectivity, low toxicity and optimal delivery 

achieving clinical success has not yet met the expections of the pharmaceutical, medical and investment 

communities. Predicting how a drug will behave in humans prior to clinical testing requires a battery of 

sophisticated in vitro tests that complement traditional in vivo animal safety assessments. This presentation will 

describe how to strategically identify which non-clinical studies should be performed to provide the required 

guidance and comfort to stakeholders involved in clinical drug testing. In addition, key factors that can influence 

risk and value in the decision process will be addressed. 

57 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS

3:00 pm Thursday, February 5 Discovery Case Studies Room B1 

Walter Sneader 

University of Strathclyde – Institute for Biomedical Sciences 

27 Taylor Street 

Glasgow, Scotland, G4 0NR United Kingdom 

w.e.sneader@strath.ac.uk 

Drug Prototypes – What We Learn From History 

Pharmaceutical historian Walter Sneader looks at the limited variety of ways in which novel drugs were discovered 

during the 19th and 20th centuries and how these have been largely exhausted. The consequence is that it has 

now become exceedingly difficult to develop new drugs that are innovative. Current approaches to confronting this 

issue are discussed. 

3:00 pm Tuesday, February 3 High Throughput Screening – Ion Channels Room A2 

Jennings Worley 

Amphora Discovery Corporation 

800-4 Capitola Drive 

Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709 

jennings.worley@amphoracorp.com 

Higher Throughput Electrophysiology and Ion Channel Assays Technologies; Matching 

Targets, Throughput and Target Prosecution Objectives 

Despite the recognized importance of ion channels as therapeutic targets, significant challenges exist in 

developing facile and robust methods for detecting cellular ion transport to support rapid functional analysis 

in drug discovery. Technologies were first developed that transitioned single cell fluorescent measurements of 

permeate ions or membrane potential that can result from ion channel function to plate-based formats. Application 

of these and other ion detection technologies underpin the industry’s ability to apply HTS formats to measures 

of ion channel function. This increase in capacity of library screening has now placed significant pressures 

on traditional electrophysiology which, despite the power of these direct measurements, is mired by very low 

throughput. Over the last few years, various technologies have been introduced which represent an evolution 

of traditional electrophysiology by addressing throughput restrictions. For the most part, these technology 

platforms vary from automated electrophysiology to plate-based formats and are preparing to significantly 

impact chemistry progression by increasing the capacity of voltage clamp measurements of cells up to >50 

fold. The overall maturation of ion channel screening technologies and methods has, for the first time, provided 

a broadening collection of assay tools. Because of the complexity and breath of the ion channel target class, 

matching technology to specific channel types as well the appropriate phase of drug discovery has now become 

an important determinant of project planning. The presentation will endeavor to address strategic use of these 

technologies, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses, as they are poised to redefine project progression 

pathways and objectives. 

58


Chris Mathes 

Axon Instruments, Inc. 

3280 Whipple Road 

Union City, California 94587 

chrism@axon.com 

PatchXpress: Automated Patch Clamp for High-quality, High Throughput Recordings of Both 

Voltage and Ligand-gated Ion Channels 

Because they play important roles in cell physiology, such as excitability and gene expression, ion channels 

are ideal drug discovery targets. Ion channels have been a relatively untapped resource in the world of drug 

discovery. No means have existed to directly measure ion channel activity in a high throughput patch-clamp assay, 

so researchers have used other, less direct techniques for screening. The PatchXpress 7000A changes all this, 

opening up a huge pool of highly “drugable” ion channel targets. The PatchXpress records currents through both 

voltage and ligand-gated channels. An important example of a voltage-gated channel is the human ether-a-gogorelated 

gene (hERG) channel. Accurate screening against hERG channels is an essential step in the drug discovery 

process. In general, lead compounds are tested against hERG channels for safety reasons. Safety pharmacology 

requires high quality and dependable data from hERG screens for decisions regarding the fate of lead compounds. 

The PatchXpress is an efficient tool for automatically recording reliable hERG currents from 16 cells simultaneously. 

The PatchXpress uses planar patch-clamp electrodes, called SealChips, made exclusively for Axon by Aviva 

Biosciences. These electrodes provide high resistance giga-ohm seals for high-quality patch-clamp recordings. 

With the PatchXpress, sophisticated protocols can be performed, complete with full dose-response experiments 

on individual cells. Alternatively, the PatchXpress can be used for rapidly screening hundreds of compounds per 

day. When it comes to safety testing, high-quality recordings are essential and the PatchXpress provides the speed 

and confidence required for effective hERG screening. Data from PatchXpress users will be presented. 


Jia Xu 

AVIVA Biosciences Corporation 

11180 Roselle Street, Suite 200 

San Diego, California 92121 

jxu@avivabio.com 

Improving Recording Quality for High Throughput Patch Clamp 

Recording quality is of central concern for high throughput patch clamp screening. It is determined by the both the 

quality of the biochip and the quality of the cell preparation. Our new generation of SealChip has stable Rm and 

low Ra performance while maintaining high gigaseal rate. Our cell preparation methods are designed to optimize 

seal rate, Rm, Ra and stability performance. AVIVA is improving its SealChip products continuously to meet our 

customers performance requirements. 

59 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS


Christa Nutzhorn 

CYTOCENTRICS GmbH 

Taeleswiesenstraße 3 

Reutlingen, 72770 Germany 

vanbergen@cytocentrics.com 

CytoPatch – Automated Patch Clamping 

60 

Co-Author(s) 

Thomas Knott 

Alfred Stett 

Timm Danker 

The gold standard of ion channel analysis is patch clamping. This manual technique is time and cost consuming. 

Even a good electrophysiologist might patch only ten cells per day. This is a bottleneck for the pharmaceutical 

industry who wants to screen thousands of compounds. Automation of patch clamping is a reliable approach 

for ion channel drug discovery. CYTOCENTRICS has methods ready to run for voltage-gated and ligand-gated 

ion channels. Its modular CytoPatch accelerates discovery, characterisation and screening of novel drug 

compounds. This technology is top edge in quality, flexibility and high throughput. It reduces time and costs 

significantly. 

8:00 am Wednesday, February 4 High Throughput Screening – Informatics Room A2 

Roy Goodacre 

UMIST 

P.O. Box 88 

Sackville Street 

Manchester, M60 1QD United Kingdom 

R.Goodacre@umist.ac.uk 

Interpretation of Metabolomic Data Using Explanatory Machine Learning 

Post-genomic science is producing bounteous data floods, and the extraction of the most meaningful parts of 

these data is key to the generation of useful new knowledge. A typical metabolic fingerprint or metabolomics 

experiment is expected to generate thousands of data points (samples times variables) of which only a handful 

might be needed to describe the problem adequately. Rule induction (RI) methods and evolutionary algorithms 

(EAs) are ideal strategies for mining such data to generate useful relationships, rules and predictions. This 

presentation will give an overview of some of the metabolomic studies that are currently in progress in UMIST 

that exploit these explanatory machine learning algorithms. Within this context we have been developing Fourier 

transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrospcopy as a high throughput (1 s is typical per sample) “holistic” metabolic 

fingerprinting screening approach and flow-injection electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (FI-ESI-MS) as a 

metabolic profiling technique. The following examples will be presented: (1) the detection of the adulteration of 

virgin olive oil, (2) the detection of a spore-specific chemical biomarker in bacterial spores; and (3) the quantitative 

detection of metabolic markers for food spoilage.


Nick Haan 

BlueGnome Ltd 

St John, Cambridge, CB4 0WS United Kingdom 

nick.haan@cambridgebluegnome.com 

Bayesian Approaches to the Analysis of High Throughput Experimental Data: 

Using What We Know to Discover What We Don’t 

Statistical approaches are routinely used to interpret the results of high throughput experimental processes. 

They have not however been widely applied to the problem of extracting those results from the raw assay data 

where process related variability presents severe challenges to traditional threshold based techniques. Bayesian 

approaches provide a rigorous means by which all grades of prior knowledge relating to the assay may be used 

in conjunction with the data itself in order to improve hit detection. An additional benefit of this approach is that 

the resulting statistical framework generates robust confidence estimates in all results based on direct observation 

of the experimental process. Confidence estimates may be used to pin-point those areas where process 

improvements will translate directly into improved results. In the longer term a confidence framework promises 

to provide a rigorous means of combining results from multiple experiments and experimental processes. This 

presentation will contrast traditional threshold based techniques with emerging statistical approaches. Examples 

will draw heavily on experimental data rather than mathematical formulae to ensure this interesting field of statistics 

remains accessible to the widest audience. 


Ramesh Padmanabha 


F436A, #5 Research Parkway 

Wallingford, Connecticut 06492 

Ramesh.Padmanabha@bms.com 

Getting the Most From Your HTS: Quality Control and Data Mining 

61 

Co-Author(s) 

James Gill 

False negatives and false positives are unavoidable issues in any HTS campaign. Various strategies have been 

devised to minimize their impact and to increase the quality of hits identified through HTS. Stringent quality control 

measures through all aspects of the screening process and appropriate secondary screens help minimize the false 

positive rate, while improving the quality of primary screening data. Increasing confidence in the quality of primary 

screening data allow for real-time data mining to help identify false negatives. The talk will discuss the approaches 

taken to address these aspects of HTS. These include process enhancements, on-line QC and data analysis. A 

discussion on using Bayesian categorization models to help identify false-negatives will also be presented. 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS


Martin Daffertshofer 

Evotec Technologies GmbH 

Schnackenburgallee 114 

Hamburg, 22525 Germany 

martin.daffertshofer@evotec.technologies.com 

Information Technology for High Content Screening of Miniaturized Cellular Assays 

62 

Co-Author(s) 

Paavo Helde 

Olavi Ollikainen 

The need for miniaturised cellular assays has grown in the pharmaceutical industry and so does the need for 

high throughput and high content screening platforms of living cells. In this talk we will present experiences in 

cellular µHTS using the EVOscreen Mark III platform including the high content confocal imaging system Opera. IT 

challenges for the analysis and data management of 200000 cell images in 2h hours will be discussed in detail. 

10:30 am Wednesday, February 4 High Throughput Screening – Analytical Room A2 

Jörg Stappert 

Greiner Bio-One 

Maybachstrasse 2 

Frickenhausen, 72636 Germany 

Joerg.stappert@gbo.com 

HTAPlate: Unique 96-Well Plate for DNA- and Protein Arrays 

Co-Author(s) 

Heinrich Jehle, Günther Knebel 

Greiner Bio-One 

Florian Winner 

Lambda GmbH 

DNA- and protein microarrays are a proven tool in academic research, but several obstacles have to overcome 

before entering the diagnostic market. Glass slides, the ‘classical’ platform for microarrays, are an inappropriate 

platform as sample numbers are very restricted, the dimensions are not robot friendly and the robustness for 

clinical laboratories is missing. In order to overcome these major drawbacks, GBO has developed the first versatile 

96-well microplate, designated HTAPlate (High Throughput Array), which has been exclusively designed for DNA- 

or protein arrays. This HTAPlate overcomes all restrictions associated with standard 96-well microplates, as special 

features have been incorporated, e.g., low rim wells for spotting on the fly, easy access to the wells for top and 

bottom reading, volume adjustment for washing and hybridization. We present data proving the robustness of this 

new platform using our commercial available Periodontitis test (ParoCheck).


Paren Patel 

Nanostream 

580 Sierra Madre Villa 

Pasadena, California 91107 

paren.patel@nanostream.com 

Accelerating Discovery Analytical Chemistry Through Micro Parallel Liquid Chromatography 

The Nanostream Veloce system – which includes an instrument, software, and replaceable microfluidic cartridges – 

incorporates pressure-driven flow to achieve chromatograms comparable to conventional HPLC instrumentation 

while offering a dramatic increase in sample analysis capacity. The system enables parallel chromatographic 

separations and simultaneous, real-time UV detection for rapid access to analytical results. Each Nanostream 

Brio cartridge, made of polymeric materials, incorporates twenty-four columns packed with various stationary 

phase materials to achieve reverse phase separations. Mixing and distribution of the mobile phase to each of the 

24 columns is precisely controlled in each cartridge. This presentation demonstrates specific benefits of the Veloce 

system for a range of applications, from compound library management to protein digests to physicochemical 

property testing in ADMET. Future directions will also be discussed. 


Richard Ellson 

Picoliter, Inc. 

1190 Borregas 

Sunnyvale, California 94089 

ellson@picoliterinc.com 

63 

Co-Author(s) 

Mitchell Mutz, Clifford Brown, 

Brent Browning, Richard Stearns, 

David Harris, Ma Phiengsai, 

Roeland Papen 

DMSO Hydration Monitoring by Ultrasound in Compound Library Microplates and 

Implications for Tracking Compound Dilution 

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), the most common solvent for storage of compound libraries in microplates, is highly 

hygroscopic. When exposed to the humidity of a normal laboratory atmosphere, the DMSO in each well absorbs 

water and thus dilutes the concentration of its compound. Ultrasonics provides a method for measuring the 

hydration level of DMSO in microplates with CV’s under 2% by detecting reflected ultrasonic waves from the 

bottom of microplate wells. No removal of test samples, addition of any chemical marker, or storage in clear or 

unsealed microplates is required. Results from a time-course study of hydration of a 384-well plate exposed to a 

humid laboratory atmosphere will be shown. By tracking hydration of DMSO in microplates, real-time predictions 

of library compound concentrations can be made. Implications for use of hydration-corrected compound 

concentration in better quantifying compound transfer and improving data quality in IC50 experiments will be 

discussed. 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS

12:00 pm Wednesday, February 4 High Throughput Screening – Analytical Room A2 

Rebecca Zangmeister 


100 Bureau Drive, MS 8362 

Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899 

razang@nist.gov 

Integration of Hydrogel Based Bioassays Into Microfluidic Channels 

64 

Co-Author(s) 

Michael J. Tarlov 

We previously reported a method for immobilizing single-stranded DNA (ss-DNA) probe molecules in 

polyacrylamide hydrogels within plastic microfluidic channels. Low concentrations of fluorescent-tagged ss-DNA 

targets hybridize with immobilized probes and are detected in the hydrogels. We aim to couple two novel bioassays 

with this basic technology. The first is a diagnostic DNA assay that does not require pre-labeling of the target strand 

prior to analysis. The assay is based on the displacement of a short sacrificial fluorescent-tagged indicator oligomer 

by a longer untagged target sequence as it is electrophoresed through a DNA-containing hydrogel plug immobilized 

in a microfluidic channel. The distinct advantage of this assay is the ability to detect non-labeled target DNA. The 

second is a lead sensitive assay, based on the response of catalytic DNA to Pb(II) ions. Our goal is to immobilize 

the enzyme strand sequence of the catalytic DNA duplex in a hydrogel plug immobilized in a microfluidic channel. 

Fluorescently tagged substrate strands are electrophoresed into the hydrogel plug where they hybridize with the 

immobilized enzyme strands, forming the catalytic DNA system. Electrophoretic migration of Pb(II) ions through the 

hydrogel plug results in catalytic cleavage of the substrate strand and release of the fluorescent-tagged sequence 

fragment that is detected in a second capture plug. Both assays feature enhanced sensitivity due to high loading of 

DNA probes in the hydrogel plugs, the spatially confined, directed mass transfer characteristics of the microfluidic 

channels, and the inherently low fluorescent background of the hydrogels. 

3:30 pm Wednesday, February 4 High Throughput Screening – Data Analysis and QC Room A2 

Anthony Carlo 

Pfizer 

Eastern Point Road 

Groton, Connecticut 06340 

Anthony_A_Carlo@groton.pfizer.com 

Evotec µHTS Data Analysis – Making the Most of the Multiparametric Readout 

This presentation will discuss our efforts towards improving hit detection in lead discovery by increasing the 

confidence of identifying true positives verses false positives/negatives in primary HTS data. Towards this goal, the 

talk will focus on the use of single molecule fluorescence detection provided by the Evotec OAI µHTS platform, 

which provides multi-parametric data readout from miniaturized assay formats and how this information is 

processed. These techniques will be applied across multiple HTS assays.


Hanspeter Gubler 

Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research 

WSJ-350.E15 


hanspeter.gubler@pharma.novartis.com 

65 

Co-Author(s) 

Michel Girod, Sigmar Dressler, 

Rochdi Bouhelal, Daniela Gabriel, 

Johannes Ottl, Kamal Azzaoui 

HTS Data Analysis in the Real World: Practical Experience With HTS Data Quality Assurance 

Systems and Recent Integration of the GeneData Screener Software 

The application of comprehensive quality control and sophisticated data correction algorithms to High Throughput 

Screening (HTS) data has a long standing history in the NIBR Lead Discovery Center (LDC). Fully automated inhouse 

systems are sifting through HTS raw data to check quality and to detect and correct many systematic 

errors. Some lacking aspects – most importantly interactive data visualization, comprehensive statistical analyses 

and possibilities for easy cross-assay investigations – have led NIBR to enter into a system development 

collaboration with GeneData in 2002. 

The GeneData “Screener” software is tightly integrated to the LDC HTS data processing systems. Standardized 

instrument raw data with necessary experimental context information are automatically entering the “Screener” 

system in a near “real time” fashion. Data are thus readily available to the scientists for analysis and – if 

necessary – correction of systematic patterns. Additional software modules are used for hit selection, including 

results from other assays, either historical or direct counter screens. The combination of advanced assay 

technology with the application of sophisticated quality control, error detection and data correction algorithms 

(quality assurance) lead to improvements in HTS efficiency. We demonstrate this with a few case studies from our 

HTS labs. In addition, we provide some further insight into the performance of the pattern correction algorithms by 

applying them to simulated data of known intrinsic activity – and error structure. 


Maneessha Altekar 


709 Swedeland Road, Mail Stop UW2110 

King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406-0939 

maneesha.2.altekar@gsk.com 

On-Line QC for High Throughput Screening 

Co-Author(s) 

Glenn Hofmann, Isabel Coma, 

Jesus Herranz, Liz Clark, 

Gavin Harper, Mark Lennon, 

Frances Stewart 

GlaxoSmithKline’s migration from the HTS laboratory to the HTS automation factory is expected to result in greater 

throughput for screening. Thus there is a need to put data analysis systems in place to monitor the quality of the 

screens in real time to ensure that any wastage of compounds, reagents and other materials is held to a minimum 

if things go wrong during a run. The on-line QC process has been developed to perform plate level calculations 

and determine the health of a plate or the screening run at any given time according to specified business rules. 

Initially, plate failures or run stoppages due to business rules will be rare as screeners gain experience with using 

the system and evaluate the sensitivity of the business rules being applied. The initial purpose of the system is 

diagnosis rather than remedy, with the screeners being informed of problems as they occur. The ultimate goal 

is to automate the system to provide feedback in to the screening process that will result in the robotic platform 

pausing or stopping the run as appropriate. 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS


John Elling 

Datect, LLC 

2935 Rodeo Park Drive East 

Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505 

elling@datect.com 

Finding and Correcting Systematic Bias in Array Experiments 

66 

Co-Author(s) 

Brian P. Kelley 

Whitehead Institute 

Before the results of array experiments can be analyzed, the measurements need to be validated, normalized, 

and possibly modified and corrected. The Whitehead Institute has shown that frequency analysis can be used to 

detect nonrandom spatial correlations in arrays of data that is expected to be random. This technology can be 

used to find systematic errors in data from microtiter plates and microarrays that may otherwise be overlooked 

when their patterns are obscured by the experimental signal or random noise. When a systematic error occurs 

in arrays that may also have legitimate correlated experimental responses, the spatial correlations are overlaid. 

Similarly, the effect of multiple systematic errors will be superimposed to create the observed spatial correlation. 

We have developed techniques to detect and discriminate multiple systematic biases that occur together in array 

data. With this capability, the software can be set up to ignore the acceptable correlations in the data while alerting 

the scientist to the appearance of unexpected and potentially problematic correlations. Identifying the source of 

a systematic spatial error can be used by scientists to both debug the experiment and to select an approach to 

normalizing the bias to correct the error. 

8:00 am Thursday, February 5 High Throughput Screening – Automated Design Room A2 

Larry DeLucas 

University of Alabama at Birmingham 

CBSE 206, 1530 3rd Avenue South 

Birmingham, Alabama 35294-4400 

delucas@cbse.uab.edu 

Efficient Protein Crystallization 

Co-Author(s) 

Terry Bray, Lisa Nagy, Debbie McCombs 

University of Alabama at Birmingham 

David Hamrick, Larry Cosenza, 

Diversified Scientific, Inc. 

Alexander Belgoviskiy, Brad Stoops, Arnon Chait 

ANALIZA, Inc. 

The high throughput production of diffraction-quality crystals remains a major obstacle in structural proteomics, 

with success rates rarely exceeding 15% for soluble proteins. The Center for Biophysical Sciences and 

Engineering, Diversified Scientific, Inc., and ANALIZA, Inc. present a unique and powerful approach for rapidly 

and efficiently determining optimum protein crystallization conditions. This involves the combination of three 

key technologies: (1) automated nano-crystallization, (2) incomplete factorial screening, and (3) a specifically 

designed neural net crystallization prediction program. This approach demonstrates promise for optimizing protein 

crystallization when combined with balanced sampling of crystallization space. This is accomplished using an 

incomplete factorial screen and a uniquely designed nano-crystallization system. Every crystallization trial outcome, 

including failures, is used to train the neural network. The self-organizing and predictive nature of the neural 

network allows for accurate prediction of previously untested crystallization conditions, even in the presence of 

noise. If properly trained, the neural network can be used to recognize important patterns of crystallization. This 

information allows the neural net to predict non-sampled complete factorial conditions used for optimization. Thus, 

it predicts the conditions that produce crystals from the entire “crystallization space” of possible experimental 

conditions, based upon results from a much smaller number of actual experiments performed. Therefore, a virtual 

screen can be performed using all possible combinations of components and variables. The top 50 scores for the 

predictive crystallization conditions are then experimentally prepared to determine/verify optimum crystallization 

conditions. Results from a statistically relevant protein sample number will be presented.


Normand Cloutier 


5 Research Parkway 


normand.cloutier@bms.com 

67 

Co-Author(s) 

James Gill 

Jonathan O’Connell 

David Stock 

The Implementation of Statistical Design of Experiments (DOE) in the Construction of Assays 

and High Throughput Screens 

Many of the problems confronting scientists in the high throughput screening laboratory require optimizing a single 

result which is dependent on many interacting factors. In many industries these multi-factorial problems have 

long been solved using Statistical Design of Experiments (DOE). However we find that existing statistical design 

software packages are not sufficient for assay design. We have found that the specific challenges in the HTS 

laboratory require additional tools and efforts to effectively implement DOE methodologies. The adoption of DOE 

requires somewhat of a paradigm shift for many scientists. The promise of understanding a whole system in a 

fraction of the usual number of experiments is often met with a great deal of skepticism. Mistakes in the execution 

of the work can lead to erroneous conclusions that DOE does not work. At Bristol-Myers Squibb, we have found 

that general DOE training of scientists along with the establishment of reliable automated DOE processes have 

been effective in creating a positive and production experience. We have developed an automated DOE system, 

based on the TECAN Genesis workstation. We use the SAS JMP statistics package to generate experimental 

designs and in-house software to drive the robotics. We have successfully applied DOE to a broad range of 

problems confronting high throughput screening as whole. This talk will cover the process of automated DOE for 

assay design at Bristol-Myers Squibb. DOE successes, challenges in transferring this technology to experimenters, 

and lessons learned will also be presented 


W. Adam Hill 

Millennium Pharmaceuticals 

270 Albany Street 


hill@mpi.com 

The Application of Design of Experiment in Developing Processes for Drug Discovery 

The statistical sampling which forms the basis for Design of Experiment has been used for almost a century, 

expanding from its early implementation in agriculture to more modern uses including aircraft and automobile 

design. Design of Experiment is now becoming accepted as a tool in drug discovery. Using DOE for developing 

crystallization conditions for proteins, developing biochemical assays as well as cell-based assays has led 

to the determination of robust procedures in much reduced timeframes. This presentation will focus on the 

implementation of DOE software and hardware across Millennium and its impact on specific projects. 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS


Amy Siu 

GlaxoSmithKline, Inc. 

5 Moore Drive 

Durham, North Carolina 27709 

amy.y.siu@gsk.com 

Automated Cell-based Assay Optimization by Design of Experiment 

68 

Co-Author(s) 

Jimmy Bruner, Deirdre Luttrell, 

Cathy Finlay, Mike Emptage, 

David Cooper 

The High Throughput Biology (HTB) department at GlaxoSmithKline implements statistical methods and 

procedures for developing and validating cell-based assays. Design of experiments (DOE) is a widely used 

and proven statistical method for optimizing experiments and processes. During phase I, the automation team 

in partnership with the statistics group did five DOEs to optimize the performance of a proprietary Erk MAPK 

Activation HitKit from Cellomics. In phase II, the team developed an in-house kit, using three DOEs. The 

GSK in-house kit was directly compared to the Cellomics Hitkits as optimized in phase I. The GSK kit had a 

larger window, lower background, and lower variability. Reagent costs for the two kits were also compared. This 

presentation describes experimental designs, automation programs, and statistical analysis of the data. 

3:00 pm Tuesday, February 3 Microfluidics Room A4 

Katherine Dunphy 


6186 Etcheverry Hall 


kadunphy@me.berkeley.edu 

Low-voltage, Spatially-localized Electrokinetic Control 

Co-Author(s) 

R. Karnik 

A. Majumdar 

Electrokinetic control is used in microfluidics as a method of choice due to ease of fabrication and lack of moving 

parts. Current work, however, relies on a single electric field generated by high voltages applied via electrodes at 

the channel ends. The high voltages necessary for current electrokinetic control require bulky and costly voltage 

sources, limiting microfluidics from becoming truly portable. In addition, spatially localized electric fields within the 

microchannel itself have not previously been accomplished due to the challenge of bubble formation (hydrolysis 

of water) at the electrodes. This work exploits electrochemical reactions at electrodes to create a device to have 

temporal and spatially localized electrokinetic control within a microchannel, accomplished with ±1V. This work 

introduces the use of silver-silver chloride electrodes within the microchannel to maintain an electric field. This 

work explains the use of Ag-AgCl electrodes to allow for temporal resolution and electric field programmability. 

By fabricating arrays of electrodes along the length of the microchannel, the electric field can be spatially 

controlled along the length of the channel. This work demonstrates electric fields comparable to those of gel 

electrophoresis, resulting in electrophoretic control of molecules in solution. These fields are controllable temporally 

as well as spatially, demonstrating new gains in electrokinetic control. The use of silver-silver chloride electrodes 

is an elegant, simple solution to a major challenge in microfluidic research. Development of such control allows 

microfluidics to move away from bulky, complex control to more compact, programmable, electrokinetic control.


Carl Meinhart 

University of California, Santa Barbara 

Santa Barbara, California 93106 

meinhart@engineering.ucsb.edu 

Analysis of Microscale Transport for BioMEMS 

During recent years there has been significant development in the field of microfluidics and its application to 

BioMEMS devices. The scalability and sensitivity of BioMEMS make them well suited for manipulating and 

analyzing macromolecules. Microfluidics plays a key role in the transport processes inside these devices, 

which include advection, Brownian motion, electrokinetic phenomena, and surface-dominated forces. Recent 

developments at UCSB of a fully-integrated tunable laser cavity sensor for optical immunoassays will be 

presented. This device incorporates a pair of Distributed Bragg Reflector (DBR) lasers to sense specific antigen/ 

antibody binding events that occur in the evanescent field of the laser cavity. The binding event modifies the 

modal index of the laser through coupling of the evanescent field. The modal index can be detected theoretically 

to within a resolution of n ~ 10 -7 . Dielectrophoresis (DEP) is proposed as a method for manipulating the antigen 

concentration fields, thereby enhancing the sensitivity of the device. The length scales of microfluidic devices 

typically range between 100 – 102 microns. In order to make full use of the physical phenomena at this scale and 

to understand how these devices function, accurate non-intrusive diagnostic techniques are required. To this end, 

a micron-resolution Particle Image Velocimetry (micro-PIV) system has been developed to measure velocity-vector 

fields with order one-micron spatial resolution. The resolution of the PIV system is demonstrated by measuring the 

flow field in a 30 x 300 micron channel. By overlapping the interrogation spots by 50%, a velocity-vector spacing 

of 450 nm is achieved. Surprisingly, the velocity measurements indicate that the well-accepted no-slip boundary 

condition may not be valid for hydrophobic/hydrophilic boundaries at the microscale. These results represent the 

first direct experimental measurement of this phenomenon. 


Jill Baker 


605 Fairchild Drive 

Mountain View, California 94043 

jill.baker@calipertech.com 

Single Molecule Amplification in a Continuous Flow LabChip Device 

69 

Co-Author(s) 

Michelle L. Strachan, Ken Swartz, 

Yevgeny Yurkovetsky, Aaron Rulison, 

Carlton Brooks, Anne R. Kopf-Sill 

New biological and diagnostic markers are rapidly emerging from genomic studies that can provide meaningful 

insights into a patient’s health. In many cases, these involve the analysis of nucleic acids. For complex genomes, 

the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is often used to prepare the sample for sequence-specific or allele-specific 

interrogation. The advantages of “lab-on-a-chip” devices, i.e., miniaturization, integration and automation, would 

be useful additions to the diagnostician’s arsenal as they produce better data quality, reduced cost, and improved 

ease-of-use features by comparison to conventional technology. An emerging need in nucleic acids diagnostics 

is detecting rare mutant molecules from conveniently obtained patient specimens that reflect the presence of 

neoplastic tissue. We have developed an automated, microfluidic system capable of analyzing single molecules 

by PCR amplification and TaqMan genotyping. The integrated features of this system make it a candidate format 

for high throughput, diagnostic laboratory settings. The system is unique in several respects. One, the system 

integrates reaction assembly, thermal cycling and fluorescence detection on one chip. This allows different 

samples to be tested one after another in an automated way, all at nanoliter scale. Two, the chip we have created 

uses our sip-and-split design and has eight channels in which eight different loci can be amplified at one time 

for each sample. In addition, we have recently configured the system to continuously amplify and detect single 

molecules of DNA. 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS


Rajiv Bharadwaj 

Stanford University 

Building 500, Chemical Engineering, 

Stanford, California 94305 

rajivb@stanford.edu 

A Generalized Dispersion Theory Model for Field Amplified Sample Stacking 

70 

Co-Author(s) 

Juan G. Santiago 

We will present an analytical model for concentration enhancement using field amplified sample stacking (FASS). 

This transient model is based on generalized dispersion theory and accounts for convective-diffusive transport 

of chemical species and electromigration. We model the FASS process as a one-dimensional electromigration 

and dispersion of two background electrolyte ions and one sample ion across an initial concentration gradient. 

Regular perturbation methods are used to solve for the concentration fields. The model has been validated 

using experiments performed in a microchannel system. We use an acidified poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) coating 

to minimize dispersion due to EOF. Also, we use CCD-based full-field, quantitative, epi-fluorescence imaging to 

experimentally measure the unsteady concentration fields and validate the model. 

8:00 am Wednesday, February 4 Microfluidics – Separations Room A4 

Johan Vanderhoeven 

Free University of Brussels 

Pleinlaan 2 

Brussels, 1050 Belgium 

Johan.Vanderhoeven@vub.ac.be 

Co-Author(s) 

David Clicq, Kris Pappaert, 

Sarah Vankrunkelsven, Gino Baron, 

Gert Desmet 

On the Use of Nano-Channel Flows for the Enhancemant of Micro-Analytical Separations 

We will report on the use of 1D nano-channel flows for the enhancement of a wide range of different microanalytical 

separation techniques (liquid chromatography, DNA hybridization, protein binding kinetics measurement 

and the size separation and classification of particles and cells). To exploit the advantages (increased mass 

transfer rates and reduced solvent consumption and sample dilution) of miniaturised separation systems at their 

most extreme limit, we replaced the traditionally employed pressure-gradient and voltage-gradient flow driving 

techniques by a so-called shear-force driven method, enabling to establish high velocity flows through channels 

as thin as 50 nanometer, by simply mechanically moving the bottom part of the channel wall past the (stationary) 

upper part of the channel wall. With this novel flow driving principle, a wide variety of different fluid substances, 

ranging from small molecules, and going over proteins and large DNA coils to micron-sized particles, could be 

transported through silicon and fused silica etched nano-channels at velocities up to 5 cm/s. Examples of nanochannel 

separation applications such as ultra-rapid liquid chromatography separations of a 4-component coumarin 

dye mixture, enhanced DNA micro-array analysis, as well as a new separation method for the size separation of 

cells and nano-particles will be shown and discussed.


H. John Crabtree 

Micralyne, Inc. 

1911-94th Street 

Edmonton, Alberta T6N 1E6 Canada 

john@micralyne.com 

Miniaturized Field Inversion Electrophoresis 

71 

Co-Author(s) 

L. M. Pilarski 

C. J. Backhouse 

Although significant strides have been made in achieving high resolution, microchip-based separations tend to 

involve separation distances of several centimetres and the application of several thousand volts. We have applied 

the field-inversion electrophoresis to enable the acquisition of high resolution data with very small separation 

distances (millimetres) and far lower voltages. 


Steve Hobbs 

Nanostream 

580 Sierra Madre Villa 


steve.hobbs@nanostream.com 

Micro Parallel Liquid Chromatography System for High Throughput Analysis 

Pharmaceutical scientists increasingly seek applications of microfluidic technologies to miniaturize, multiplex, and 

automate experiments involved in biochemical analysis and high throughput screening. Nanostream has employed 

microfluidics to develop a system that enables micro parallel liquid chromatography (µPLC). This system was 

designed to match the functionality and performance of traditional LC instruments while offering an increase in 

sample analysis capacity. This increased analysis capacity translates to a significant savings in time for many 

applications throughout drug discovery and development. The first generation device incorporates 24 parallel 

microfluidic LC columns enabling 24 simultaneous, reverse-phase separations. Independent injection ports allow 

users to perform 24 unique separations in the time required to run a single sample on a conventional instrument. 

By minimizing sample and reagent consumption, mixed waste is significantly decreased. Additionally, the 

miniaturized platform reduces instrument footprint. This talk will provide an overview of the Veloce µPLC system 

instrumentation, e.g., autosampler and detection systems, and Brio cartridges. System performance, study 

duration, and reagent consumption will be compared to conventional techniques for selected applications. 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS


Steven A. Soper 

Louisiana State University 

232 Choppin Hall 

Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803-1807 

chsope@lsu.edu 

72 

Co-Author(s) 

Li Zhu, Rondedrick Sinville 

Louisiana State University 

Shelby Sutton, Gloria Thomas 

Mississippi State University 

Polymer-based Microfluidic Systems for the High Resolution Separation of Nucleic Acids: 

Applications in DNA Diagnostics and Sequencing 

We are preparing microchips for high efficiency separations of oligonucleotides with applications in both DNA 

sequencing and molecular diagnostics. To provide sufficient plate numbers for demanding separations, extended 

channel lengths (>10 cm) were used with the chips prepared in poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA). The chips were 

fabricated using hot-embossing from a Ni master, which was fabricated by UV-LiGA. In this presentation, two 

examples using these chips will be presented; (1) separation of ligase detection products prepared from genomic 

DNA possessing point mutations of high diagnostic value for colorectal cancers and; (2) DNA sequencing of gene 

conversion/replacement events between filled Alu chromosomal locations. K-ras genes from cell lines containing a 

single base mutation were PCR amplified and subjected to an allele-specific ligase detection reaction (LDR), which 

generated a product that was >50 bps in length. Using our microelectrophoresis chip, we were able to efficiently 

separate unligated from ligated primers at a wild-type to mutant ratio of 20 to 1 using a linear polyacrylamide 

(LPA, 3%) gel. For DNA sequencing, several issues demanded attention to achieve signal base resolution. The 

sequencing products required purification prior to electrophoretic sorting to improve loading onto the column. 

In addition, the relatively large electroosmotic mobility (EOF) associated with native PMMA required an EOF 

suppressant coating, accomplished by UV-activating the PMMA surface to create surface carboxylate groups, 

which were then coupled to methacrylic acid using EDC and subsequently polymerized to form an LPA coating. 

Using these chips, we will demonstrate reads that are comparable to glass chips of similar channel lengths. 

10:30 am Wednesday, February 4 Microfluidics Room A4 

Juan Santiago 


Building 500 

Mechanical Engineering 

Stanford, California 94305 

juan.santiago@stanford.edu 

Electrokinetic Flow Instabilities 

Electrokinetics (EK) involves the interaction of solid surfaces, ionic solutions, and macroscopic electric fields. 

Applied electric fields can be used to generate bulk fluid motion (electroosmosis) and to drive the motion and 

separation of colloidal particles and molecules suspended in electrolyte solutions (electrophoresis). One important 

type of EK flows involves high conductivity gradients which may occur intentionally as in sample stacking 

processes, or unavoidably as in multi-dimensional assays or systems with poorly quantified samples. We have 

developed a physical model for this instability that captures the interactions between bulk liquid electric body 

forces, electromigration, viscous stresses, and convective diffusion. This work has impact on the general modeling 

of electrokinetic microfluidics and will provide important design guidelines for heterogeneous sample systems. 

Applications to sample stacking and rapid mixing will also be discussed.


Christopher Tsu 

Millennium Pharmaceuticals 



tsu@mpi.com 

A Microfluidics Approach to Protease Substrate Identification 

73 

Co-Author(s) 

Larry Dick, Suresh Jain, 

Christine Martel, Benjamin Knight, 

Thomas Parsons, Michael Kuranda, 

Michael Pantoliano 

We describe the development of a novel fluorogenic protease assay for a chip-based microfluidics platform. We 

have tested several serine and cysteine proteases in validating the assay. We find the assay quantitative and 

equivalent in sensitivity to standard macrofluidic methods. We describe the screening of a discreet tripeptide 

AMC substrate library containing 6,000 individual compounds or 70% of the complete tripeptide sequence 

space of 8,800 compounds. Our microfluidics robot completed the initial screen in less than 12 hours with only 

10 micrograms of MTSP-1, a membrane-bound serine protease recently described by Craik and co-workers 

(Takeuchi, et al., J Biol Chem (2000) 275, 26333-42). Substrates of high activity were readily identified for MTSP-1 

and were consistent with published data. In collaboration with Caliper Technologies, a novel chip and software 

were created especially for this application. Recent tests of this exciting new design will be presented. We will also 

discuss the integration of microfluidics into other aspects of drug discovery, such as assay optimization and the 

potential for in vitro transcription translation (IVTT) as a starting point for HTS. 


Daniel Chiu 

Cellectricon 

Fabriksgatan 7 

Gothenburg, SE 41250 Sweden 

daniel.chiu@cellectricon.se 

Microfluidic Chips for Time-Resolved High Throughput Electrophysiology 

Co-Author(s) 

Jon Sinclair, Johan Pihl, 

Jessica Olofsson, Mattias Karlsson, 

Cecilia Farre, Kent Jardemark, 

Owe Orwar 

We present a microfluidics-patch clamp platform for high throughput screening and rapid characterization of 

ion-channel-ligand interactions. An enabling microfluidics platform was developed that uses a plurality of parallel 

channels, having outlets ending in an open volume, in which the liquids in each channel couples viscously to the 

fluid stream exiting neighboring channels resulting in a collimation of flows. The solution environment around a 

stationary patch-clamped cell can be rapidly changed (exposure times down to ~1 ms) by scanning the outlets 

of the microfluidic channels across the cell at rates of 1-to-20 mm/s. Using this platform, kinetically resolved 

measurements and dose-response curves of hundreds of ligand solutions can be screened for in a single day. 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS

12:00 pm Wednesday, February 4 Microfluidics Room A4 

Helene Andersson 

Silex Microsystems 

Electrum 222 

Kista, 16440 Sweden 

helene.andersson@silex.se 

BIOMEMS Solutions at Silex Microsystems 

At Silex Microsystems we are applying micro-electro-mechanical-systems (MEMS) technology and manufacturing 

techniques to design and make components, such as sensors, actuators, and precision structures, for integration 

with customers’ end products. Miniaturization makes it possible to create life-saving applications that were 

impossible before. Lab-on-a-chip devices that conduct standard techniques such as electrophoresis, PCR and 

DNA sequencing have advanced significantly in the past few years. We’ve designed and manufactured a number 

of standard applications that can be used separately or together as a lab-on-a-chip. We have also created a 

number of devices for medical applications. For example, spiked electrodes for measuring bio-signals for Datex- 

Ohmeda. The individual spikes are designed to penetrate the human skin and are typically 40 µm wide and 150 µm 

high. The spike array is fabricated using deep reactive ion etching and is a promising alternative to standard 

electrodes in biomedical applications. For drug delivery applications we develop and manufacture a micropump 

for the company Debiotech in Switzerland. The pump chips are 6x10 mm and the pump demonstrates linear 

and accurate (±5%) pumping characteristics for flows up to 2 ml/h. We also develop chip-based solutions for 

high throughput ion-channel characterizations for Sophion Bioscience in Denmark. Silex is also manufacturing 

a pressure sensor that is used for measuring the blood pressure inside coronary arteries. The chip size is 

0.1x0.1x1.3 mm and is developed for a Swedish company called Radi Medical. In addition, we design and 

manufacture a variety of microfluidic devices for biotech applications. 

3:30 pm Wednesday, February 4 Microfluidics – Detection Room A4 

David Cliffel 

Vanderbilt University 

VU Station B Box 1822 

Nashville, Tennessee 37235-1822 

d.cliffel@vanderbilt.edu 

Automating a Multichamber, Multianalyte Microphysiometer for Metabolic Responses 

Using Labview 

74 

Co-Author(s) 

Sven Eklund 

Eduardo Lima 

John Wikswo 

Commercial microphysiometers have been limited to the analytical detection of acidification rate using a 

photoelectrochemical pH sensor. We have built a multianalyte microphysiometer by modification of a commercial 

Cytosensor instrument that detects multiple analytes involved in the metabolic physiology simultaneously. 

Monitoring the uptake of glucose and oxygen, and the production of lactate and acid gives a more complete 

picture of the metabolic processes within the cell than just acidification alone. Metabolic processes such as 

glycolysis, mitochondrial ATP generation, and glycogenesis are all directly related to the flux of these analytes. 

The metabolic response of sub-lethal concentrations of toxins has been measured. We have recently modified 2 

Cytosensor microphysiometers with independent multipotentiostat control for each chamber using Labview. This 

allows us to record 4 analytes simultaneously per chamber for all 4 or 8 chambers. Metabolic response analysis 

is performed in real-time as the raw electrochemical data is recorded. This talk will outline the modifications 

necessary, the calibration of the various sensors, biofouling problems of cells undergoing chemical stress, and 

the metabolic rate responses of Fibroblast and CHO cell lines to low concentrations of toxins and other agents 

including cyanide, fluoride, dinitrophenol, deoxyglucose, paraoxon, and antimycin. Temporal resolution of 

metabolic responses is much faster than conventional well-plate studies, leading to dynamic metabolic data. The 

generation of toxin dose response curves for multianalyte responses offers a big advantage to the detection and 

identification of toxins using cellular metabolic activity as the initial analytical sensing tool.


Cengiz S. Ozkan 

University of California, Riverside 

Bourns Hall, A305 

Riverside, California 92521 

cozkan@engr.ucr.edu 

Heterostructures of Nanomaterials and Organic-Inorganic Nanoassemblies 

Conventional nanofabrication strategies must be augmented by new techniques including self assembly methods 

in order to truly take advantage of the quantum nature of novel nanoscale devices and systems and permit 

the use of these properties for “real” applications in a larger system (> 10 nm and < 1 micron). In this talk, I will 

describe a novel technique for the fabrication of nano-assemblies of carbon nanotubes (CNT) and quantum dots 

(QD) – formation of CNT-QD conjugates. CNT’s are primarily functionalized with carboxylic end groups by oxidation 

in concentrated sulfuric acid. Thiol stabilized QD’s in aqueous solution with amino end groups were conjugated 

to carbon nanotubes using the ethylene carbodiimide coupling reaction. Next, I will discuss the possibilities of 

using carbon nanotubes for encapsulation and mass transport and present our first observations in this area. 

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy data for the chemical modification of carbon nanotubes and scanning 

and transmission electron microscopy images of the nanobuilding blocks and the nanotube filling process will be 

presented. Potential applications of our studies include the fabrication of novel electronic and biophotonic devices, 

crystal displays and biosensors. 


Wayne Weimer 

US Detection Technologies 

2611 Internet Boulevard, Suite 109 

Frisco, Texas 75034 

wweimer@usdetect.com 

Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy for Real World Samples 

Precise control of thermal evaporation deposition parameters allows the reproducible production of silver and gold 

island films on glass substrates with tunable surface plasmon resonance wavelengths. Specific combinations of 

substrate temperature, deposition rate, and film thickness produce films exhibiting surface plasmon resonance 

wavelengths that can be adjusted from throughout the visible and into the near infrared regions of the electromagnetic 

spectrum. The effects of deposition parameters on surface plasmon resonance wavelengths are quantified using a 

so-called “design of experiment” analysis. The analysis produces reliable predictive models for producing gold films 

with predetermined surface plasmon resonance wavelengths. Nonresonant enhancement factors in excess of eleven 

orders of magnitude for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy were recorded for rhodamine 6G dye on optimally 

tuned gold films. Spectra were obtained from submonolayer samples, corresponding to the detection of at most 

180 attograms of the dye. Techniques for the adaptation of these surface plasmon resonance tunable gold films for 

detection of biological and explosive compounds will be discussed. 

75 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS


R. Scott Martin 

Saint Louis University 

3501 Laclede 

St. Louis, Missouri 63103 

martinrs@slu.edu 

Advances in Electrochemical Detection of Neurotransmitters in Microchannels 

76 

Co-Author(s) 

Michelle W. Li, Dana M. Spence, 

Nathan A. Lacher, Susan M. Lunte 

University of Kansas 

It has been shown that electrochemical (EC) detection is an attractive way to analyze neurotransmitters in small 

volume biological samples. In recent years, EC detection of neurotransmitters has also been accomplished in 

microfabricated devices, usually after separation by capillary electrophoresis (CE). In terms of microchip CEEC, 

the separation and detection performance (number of plates, peak skew, and detection limits) has, in general, 

been inferior to the most popular detection scheme, laser-induced fluorescence (LIF). Previous studies have 

shown this is attributed to the manner in which the electrophoretic voltage is decoupled from the potentiostat. 

This presentation will describe the fabrication of a fully integrated palladium decoupler that enables the working 

electrode to be isolated from the electrophoretic voltage while remaining in the separation channel. The optimum 

decoupler size and decoupler/working electrode spacing was determined using various buffer systems and 

field strengths to determine the amount of noise and resolution obtained for the separation of dopamine and 

epinephrine. LIF was used to study the amount of band broadening that results from the pressure-induced flow 

that occurs past the decoupler. These optimized designs were used for the separation of neurotransmitters with 

emphasis on a fully integrated PC-12 cell reactor/microchip CEEC analysis system that enables the separation 

and detection of dopamine and norepinephrine released upon Ca 2+ stimulation. Other related work pertaining to 

the development of a new method of fabricating carbon electrodes for EC detection in microchannels will also be 

described. 

8:00 am Thursday, February 5 Microchip – Separations Room A4 

Jörg P. Kutter 

Technical University of Denmark 

DTU, Building, 345 East 

Lyngby, DK-2800 Denmark 

jku@mic.dtu.dk 

Co-Author(s) 

Klaus B. Mogensen 

Omar Gustafsson 

Rikke P. H. Nikolajsen 

Capillary Electrochromatography Chip Featuring Sub-micron “Channels” and Integrated 

Waveguides 

CEC combines the selectivity of liquid chromatography with the efficiency of capillary electrophoresis (CE), and 

when miniaturizing CEC, further advantages such as higher efficiency, shorter analysis time, accurate injection 

of small volumes, potential for on-chip pre- and post-separation treatment and parallel analyses are gained. We 

present a microfluidic separation device for capillary electrochromatography (CEC) featuring integrated waveguides 

for optical detection and microfabricated monolithic structures in the separation channel for attaching different 

stationary phases. We used an approach similar to the one previously investigated by the Regnier group at Purdue 

University, who call the support COMOSS (collocated monolithic support structures). Regnier et al. obtained a 

minimum channel width of 1.5 micrometer in quartz. We have developed a process where the channel width 

is subsequently reduced by conformal deposition of glass, which enables a channel width of 0.5 micrometer. 

Earlier, we have presented a capillary electrophoresis device with monolithically integrated waveguides for 

optical detection. The fabrication has been simplified by etching both the optical and fluidic elements in the 

same processing step. The chip design allows for both fluorescence and UV/VIS absorbance detection through 

integrated waveguides. Also, on-chip gradient elution and various different stationary phases can be realized to 

further tune the separation properties. The talk will discuss fabrication issues as well as the performance of the 

chip for separations of neutral analytes such as explosives and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PAH’s.


Don L. DeVoe 

Calibrant BioSystems, Inc. 

7507 Standish Place 

Rockville, Maryland 20855 

ddev@calibrant.com 

2D PAGE on a Chip: Multidimensional Protein Separations via High Throughput Microfluidics 

An automated system based on a microfluidic analog of traditional 2D PAGE has been developed for ultra-high 

throughput protein analysis. For the analysis of complex protein mixtures, two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel 

electrophoresis (2D PAGE) remains the method of choice for separating more than thousands of proteins prior 

to mass spectrometry (MS), with proteins separated by charge and size in a 2D gel. Despite the selectivity and 

sensitivity of 2D PAGE, this technique as practiced today is the collection of manually intensive procedures. 

Casting of gels, application of samples, running of gels, staining of gels, post-separation gel manipulation, and MS 

interfacing are all time-consuming tasks prone to irreproducibility, significant sample loss, and poor quantitative 

accuracy. Thus, automated, high resolution, rapid, reproducible, and ultrasensitive 2D separation techniques 

are needed for large-scale analysis of proteins as well as differential display of protein expression. To this end, a 

microfluidic 2D protein separation platform combining isoelectric focusing and SDS gel electrophoresis will be 

presented. By combining traditional 2D PAGE separations in an automated, massively-parallel microfluidic chip, 

analysis cycles of minutes are now feasible, compared with hours for 2D-PAGE. The system integrates sample 

handling and multidimensional separations with laser-induced fluorescence detection, enabling high sensitivity and 

dynamic range with negligible analyte loss. An overview of the technology and overall system will be provided, and 

applications in differential display of protein expression will be presented. Integration of an efficient chip-to-MS 

interface for high throughput large-scale protein analysis will also be discussed. 


Stevan Jovanovich 

Silicon Valley Scientific 

4059 Clipper Court 

Fremont, California 94538 

stevan@svsci.com 

77 

Co-Author(s) 

Iuliu Blaga, David Rank, 

Norman Burns, William Gurske, 

Roger McIntosh 

High Throughput Preparation of Nanoscale Samples for Capillary Array Electrophoresis and a 

Microchip-based Analysis System 

New sample preparation and analysis technologies are required to reduce sample volumes and increase analysis 

throughput for DNA sequencing, genotyping, proteomics, and drug screening. At Silicon Valley Scientific, we are 

developing a microfluidics system, the NanoPrep System, to perform biochemical processing of 500 nL volumes 

in arrays of capillaries in cassettes. The NanoPrep System is robust for dye-primer and dye-terminator cycle 

sequencing, PCR, single-base extension, and other reactions. For DNA preparations, a template normalization 

process results in readlengths and success rates that are equivalent to or better than full-volume reactions. 

We describe both manual and automated versions of the NanoPrep System and their use in high throughput 

sequencing using TempliPhi and advanced sample cleanup methods for capillary array electrophoresis on the 

MegaBACE family of instruments and on a microchip-based analysis system. 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS


Nathan Lawrence 

Boston Biomedica, Inc. 

217 Perry Parkway 


nlawrence@bbii.com 

78 

Co-Author(s) 

James Behnke, Feng Tao, 

Chunqin Li, Pinar Tuzmen, 

Bita Nakhai, Richard T. Schumacher 

A Comparison of Pressure Cycling Technology (PCT) to Standard Laboratory Techniques For 

The Release of Nucleic Acids and Proteins From A Variety of Difficult-to-lyse Sample Types 

Sample preparation is often a major bottleneck limiting rapid discoveries in such diverse fields as agriculture, 

environment, genetics, and drug development. To this end, a Pressure Cycling Technology-based sample 

preparation system (PCT SPS) was developed by Boston Biomedica, Inc. and introduced to the market in 

September 2002. This System uses an instrument (BarocyclerTM NEP2017) and single-use disposable processing 

tubes (PULSETM Tubes). The PCT SPS applies cyclic ambient to high hydrostatic pressure to disrupt tissues, 

cells and cellular structures, releasing their contents into buffers or other solutions contained in the PULSE Tube. 

The instrument is either manually or computer controlled, is capable of cycling pressure between ambient and 

40,000 PSI, and offers a working temperature range of 4 – 37˚C. Since its introduction, important new applications 

and discoveries have been made using the Barocycler NEP2017 in a number of fields, including genomics, 

proteomics and pharmacology. Data are shown for the release of nucleic acids and proteins from a wide variety 

of cells and tissues including microbes, plants, animals, and human tissue. A comparison of the efficiency, 

reproducibility, versatility, and ease-of-use of the PCT SPS to conventional sample preparation methods such as 

mortar and pestle, bead beating, homogenization, and sonication is presented. The released biomolecules were 

evaluated by a number of laboratory techniques, including gel electrophoresis, PCR amplification, and microarray 

analysis (nucleic acids), and 1D and 2D gels (proteins). Protein preparations were also assessed for the release of 

additional proteins and protein complexes compared to traditional protein preparation methods. 

10:30 am Thursday, February 5 Microfluidics – Bioanalytical Room A4 

Phillip Belgrader 

Microfluidic Systems, Inc. 

3918 B Valley Avenue 

Pleasanton, California 94566 

belgrader@mfsi.biz 

Co-Author(s) 

Nima Aflatooni, Kevin Brounstein, 

Bruce Johnson, M. Allen Northrup, 

Farzad Pourahmadi, Jennifer Velasco 

An Autonomous PCR-based Air Monitoring System to Detect and Identify Infectious Agents 

Continuous monitoring of the air for infectious agents has important and useful applications that include, protecting 

immunocompromised patients in hospitals, environmental surveillance of emerging and re-emerging outbreaks, 

monitoring for mold in sick buildings, homeland security, military force protection, and WMD arms control. We 

have assembled and tested a microfluidic-based system, called RAIDDS, that integrates air collection, sample 

processing, and PCR detection. Unlike other biological testing instruments that rely heavily on one-time use 

disposables, RAIDDS is modeled after chemical analyzers, which harbor reusable components. By reducing the 

operational cost of the instrument, widespread air monitoring for microbes will become feasible, practical, and 

beneficial. The core RAIDDS technologies include a sonicator for spore, cell, and virus lysis, silicon pillar chips for 

nucleic acid extraction, purification and concentration, and flow-through parallel PCR detectors. The complete 

system, including all peripheral hardware, is about the size of a water cooler and can run autonomously for days.


Adrian Winoto 




adrian.winoto@calipertech.com 

79 

Co-Author(s) 

Sherri Biondi, Andrea Chow, 

Bahram Fathollahi, Jim Mikkelsen, 

Michael Spaid, Ravi Vijayendren 

Protein Sizing and Relative Quantitation Determination Using a Microfluidic LabChip® Device 

SDS-Page has been the predominant protein sizing method for the past 30 years. This technique involves multiple 

manual operations including separation, staining, destaining and detection and typically requires several hours. 

We have developed a high throughput protein sizing assay which integrates each of these operations into a 

single microfluidic LabChip ® device. An assay is run by sipping unlabeled protein samples into the device using 

vacuum. The samples are then electrokinetically loaded and injected into the separation column which contains 

a low viscosity polymer sieving matrix. Both protein-SDS complexes and free SDS micelles are fluorescently 

stained during the separation process. Prior to detection, the sample is diluted to reduce the SDS concentration 

below its critical micelle concentration. This destaining step effectively reduces the background fluorescence 

from micelle-dye complexes so that protein-SDS-dye complexes can be detected. Using this technique we are 

able to size proteins between 14 and 200 kDa. The microfluidic device delivers a throughput of 75 seconds/ 

sample with unattended sample sipping from a 96-well plate. In this presentation, we will show the experimental 

data describing the fundamental work to understand the assay performance. We will also describe the assay 

reproducibility in terms of sizing and mass quantitation. Finally, we will demonstrate assay performance with a 

broad range of customer sample types. 


Laurie Locascio 


100 Bureau Drive 

Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8394 

laurie.locascio@nist.gov 

Using Liposomes for High-Efficiency Mixing in Microfluidic Systems 

Co-Author(s) 

Wyatt Vreeland 

Andreas Jahn 

Michael Gaitan 

Liposomes have been used for many years in a variety of clinical and pharmaceutical applications related to 

drug encapsulation, targeting, and delivery. Currently, we are exploring analytical uses of liposomes focusing on 

their application in microfluidic systems as selective reagents for the performance of automated and targeted 

microchemical reactions. In this work, reagents are encapsulated inside the aqueous interior of liposomes 

that are dispersed in solution in a microfluidic channel. Reagent release is triggered through the modulation of 

temperature using an external heat source to locally change the solution temperature in the channel. The reagent 

release temperature is tunable based on liposome formulation; therefore, liposomes with different reagents can 

be programmed to sequentially release their contents thus enabling exquisite control of reaction timing. Because 

liposomes are evenly dispersed in the microchannel, reagent mixing in the microfluidic environment is very 

rapid upon release. We have also recently been exploring methods for the automated formation of liposomes in 

microfluidic systems. In this presentation, we will discuss several aspects of our research related to liposomes in 

microfluidic systems including the formation of liposome vesicles in microfluidic systems under various conditions; 

encapsulation efficiencies of different reagents inside liposomes made in microfluidic systems; and their application 

as reagents for automated microfluidic chemical reaction. 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS

1:30 pm Thursday, February 5 Microfluidics – Small Volume Dispensing Room A4 

Johan Nilsson 

Lund University 

Ole Romersvag 3 

Lund, SE-221 00 Sweden 

johan.nilsson@elmat.lth.se 

80 

Co-Author(s) 

Lars Wallman, Simon Ekström, Thomas Laurell 


György Marko-Varga 

Astrazeneca, Lund 

Proteomic Sample Preparation Using Piezo Dispensing and Capillary Force Driven Flow 

Despite the high sensitivity and relatively high tolerance for contaminants of matrix assisted laser desorption/ 

ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) there is often a need to purify and concentrate the 

sample solution, especially after in-gel digestion of proteins separated by two dimensional gel electrophoresis. A 

capillary force filling microsystem with a silicon microextraction chip or array and a piezoelectric microdispenser 

for sample clean-up and trace enrichment of peptides was manufactured and investigated. The micro extraction 

array was used to trap reversed phase chromatography media (Poros R2 beads) that facilitates the sample 

purification/enrichment of contaminated and dilute samples. The outlet of the extraction array was docked to the 

inlet of the capillary force filling microdispenser. 2 microliter of a matrix/elution solution that releases the peptides 

from the beads was applied at the inlet of the extraction array and fills both the extraction array and the dispenser 

by capillary force. The sample plug in the dispenser was deposited into a small spot on (< 400 micrometer) on the 

MALDI target increasing the sensitivity of the analysis. Using capillary forces only to fill the extraction array and the 

dispenser simplifies the operation of the system since there is no need for a tight connection between the matrix/ 

elution solution supply and the inlet. The potential problem of trapping air bubbles in the dispenser during filling is 

also minimized. 


Donald Schwartz 

DRD 

83 Pine Street 

West Peabody, Massachusetts 01960 

donschwartz@drddiluter.com 

Co-Author(s) 

Donald S. Martin 

Differential Nano-Pipettor (NanoBlast): A Non-contact Pipettor That Handles Nanoliters for 

Plate Replication, Sample Transfers, Spotting, and Arrays 

Solid pistons, motor-driven smoothly and swiftly through seals, have been the mainstay of automated pipetting 

systems. However, the escalating demands to pipette low microliter or nanoliter volumes, contact free, are too 

severe for this classic design to meet because its single resolution mechanism cannot give both the fine aspiration 

resolution and high flow for sample blowoff that is needed. Hanging drops are common. An ever-morphing 

mélange of sensual robots cavorting with whackers, thwackers, pokers and zappers seeks to overcome this 

fundamental failing. The NanoBlast (unique and patent-pending) is a new miniaturized configuration of DRD’s 

Differential Displacement technology. Two pistons whose diameters differ by a few thousandths of an inch move 

together with respect to the same chamber (DRD Differential Mode). The very small cross sectional area difference 

gives extremely fine resolution, a robust 1.8 mm excursion/µL to call on to aspirate smoothly down to 50 – 100 nL 

even with disposable tips. Then only one piston moves (DRD Bulk Mode) and the abundant flow power (455 µL/ 

inch) blows the minute sample out through a comfortable-sized orifice without damaging it (BlastoffTM) – to its 

microplate, array, spotting or MALDI target. No valves or auxiliaries are needed and there are no small seals. With 

conventional disposable plastic tips with IDs 0.016" – 0.020", the NanoBlast handled samples from 2 uL down 

to 170 nL (typical SD 30 – 35 nL). A fixed steel probe with tip ID 0.019" gives a SD of 20 nL. Disposable and fixed 

steel probes with tip IDs of 0.012" transfer proportionate-appearing drops down to 25 nL; quantitative studies of 

this are underway. The NanoBlast debuts as a bank of 8 and as a microplate-spaced block of 96, embodying 

the simplicity and smooth control of the classic pipettor with enormous additional range and reliability from its new 

DRD Differential Displacement power.


Terry D. Lee 

Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope 

1500 E. Duarte Road 

Duarte, California 91010 

tdlee@coh.org 

An Electrochemical Pumping System for On-Chip Gradient Generation 

81 

Co-Author(s) 

Yunan Miao 

Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope 

Jun Xie, Jason Shih, Qing He, Yu-Chong Tai 

California Institute of Technology 

Electrochemical actuation is unique in its ability to generate large displacements at high pressure while operating 

at a very low voltages. It is a viable alternative to the electrokinetic based approaches that are used in most 

microfluidic applications. We have developed a microscale, chip-based pumping system that is capable of 

delivering fluids over a range of flow rates (20–1000 nL/min) and pressures (0–200 psi). The devices described 

in this work were fabricated on the surface of a silicon wafer using a batch process that lends itself to mass 

production. The electrochemical pumps were integrated with other micromachined components on the chip 

including a low volume mixing chamber, a packed reverse phase column, and an electrospray ionization source. 

The work that will be presented represents significant progress toward a complete HPLC system on a chip. 


Thomas Corso 

Advion BioSciences, Inc. 

15 Catherwood Road 

Ithaca, New York 14850 

boardmaa@advion.com 

Fully Automated Nanoelectrospray With a BioMEMS Device 

Co-Author(s) 

Sheng Zhang 

Colleen Van Pelt 

Analytical sciences are moving toward miniaturization of chemical analysis systems. BioMEMS or Lab-on-a-chip 

systems offer advantages such as increased sample throughput, improved reproducibility, higher sensitivity, and 

significantly lower cost per sample over conventional, higher flow rate analyses. Although numerous microfluidic 

devices have been reported, applications rely primarily on spectroscopic detection in part due to the lack of a 

viable interface between microchip-based technology and mass spectrometry. Mass spectrometry is a powerful 

research tool for protein identification and more recently noncovalent interactions, however, current methods are 

labor intensive and low throughput. This presentation describes the first automated nanoelectrospray system for 

mass spectrometry, the NanoMate 100, allowing for automated analysis with low sample consumption. The 

technology is based on a fully monolithic microchip device, ESI Chip, containing an array of 10 x 10 single-use 

nanoelectrospray emitters. The microchip is fabricated from silicon substrates using deep reactive ion etching 

and other semiconductor techniques. The system eliminates carryover as each sample has its own disposable 

delivery tip and nanoelectrospray nozzle. Applications including protein-ligand noncovalent interaction studies and 

applications using on-line separation technology will be discussed. 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS

3:00 pm Tuesday, February 3 Proteomics – Arrays Room B1 

Brian Haab 

Van Andel Research Institute 

333 Bostwick 

Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503 

brian.haab@vai.org 

82 

Co-Author(s) 

Heping Zhou, Mark Schotanus, Randall Brand 

Evanston Northwestern Hospital 

Jorge Marrero 

University of Michigan Medical School 

Deborah Dillon, Jose Costa, Paul Lizardi 

Yale School of Medicine 

High Sensitivity Multiplexed Serum Protein Analysis Using Antibody Microarrays and 

Rolling Circle Amplification 

Antibody microarrays enable highly multiplexed and rapid protein measurements in low sample volumes. The 

profiling of proteins in sera and other bodily fluids using this tool should offer new opportunities for biomarker 

discovery and insights into disease biology. Robotically spotted microarrays of antibodies and proteins were used 

to measure the relative abundances of multiple proteins in serum samples from prostate cancer and pancreatic 

cancer patients and controls. Serum proteins that had been coupled to either a fluorescent tag (e.g., Cy3) or a 

hapten (e.g., biotin) were incubated on the microarrays, and specific proteins bound to the immobilized molecules 

on the microarrays through specific interactions. After washing away unbound proteins, bound proteins were 

detected using the fluorescent tag or amplified signal (using rolling circle amplification, RCA) from the haptenlabeled 

proteins. RCA significantly enhanced detection sensitivity while maintaining the accuracy and precision 

of the measurements. Measurements of dozens of proteins in sera from cancer patients and controls revealed 

significant differences in protein abundances between the two sample groups. The biological significance and 

potential clinical usefulness of the observed protein alterations in the sera of cancer patients will be discussed. 


Paul Predki 

Protometrix, Inc. 

688 E. Main Street 

Branford, Connecticut 06405 

paul.predki@protometrix.com 

Application of Functional Protein Microarrays to Kinase Drug R&D 

The ability to use protein microarrays to analyze protein function and interactions with a wide variety of molecules, 

including proteins, lipids, DNA, substrates, antibodies and drugs, has only recently been realized. Protometrix has 

industrialized and validated the complete process required for the development of proteome and sub-proteome 

microarrays for these applications. A yeast proteome array (the yeast ProtoArray) has already been completed, 

and a variety of human sub-proteome arrays are under development. Among these are human kinase arrays, 

which we have now validated for both interaction and activity assays. These simple protocols will provide powerful 

new capabilities when applied to the drug R&D process. Examples of these applications include kinase substrate 

identification, interaction and pathway mapping, antibody validation, inhibitor activity profiling and proteome-scale 

determination of inhibitor binding specificity. Recent results in each of these areas will be discussed.


Zheng Ouyang 

Purdue University 

560 Oval Drive 

West Lafayette, Indiana 47906 

ouyang@purdue.edu 

Protein Array Preparation by Ion Soft-Landing 

83 

Co-Author(s) 

Z. Takats, T. M. Blake, 

B. Gologan, J. M. Wiseman, 

J. C. Oliver, V. J. Davisson, 

R. G. Cooks 

A new method has been developed for preparing microarrays of biomolecules via soft-landing of mass selected, 

multiply-changed ions. A modified single quadrupole mass filter and a custom-built linear ion trap mass 

spectrometer have been used to select the ions and deposit them onto surfaces including: polycrystalline gold, 

functionalized self-assembled monolayers, and liquid thin films, at landing energies of 10-20 eV. The effectiveness 

of this method has been demonstrated via the preparation of a four-component array of proteins from a mixture 

of cytochrome C, apomyoglobin, lysozyme and insulin. The landed materials were recovered and analyzed by 

electrospray and MALDI mass spectrometry as well as being characterized in situ by laser desorption. Biological 

activity of the landed species was confirmed in the case of lysozyme, and in other experiments in the cases of 

trypsin, hexokinase and protein kinase A. The landing efficiencies were estimated to be a few tens of % and 

the spot sizes are ca. 1 mm in radius. The conditions for the soft-landing of proteins and peptides have been 

optimized. Neutralization of the ions on the surfaces was studied and both complete and incomplete neutralization 

were found, depending on the properties of the surfaces. The applications of this method to biology study and 

drug discovery as well as the modification of commercial mass spectrometers for soft-landing are discussed. 


Peter Wagner 

Zyomyx, Inc. 

26101 Research Road 

Hayward, California 94545 

pwagner@zyomyx.com 

New Detection Principles for Protein Biochips 

Protein biochips are becoming increasingly important for extracting comprehensive biological information 

from smallest sample volumes. Applications include the quantification of gene expression at the protein level, 

the measurement of protein-protein interactions, as well as functional protein activity. The diversity in protein 

measurements and assay variations requires different types of chip architectures and detection modes. Zyomyx is 

uniquely positioned to address the problems associated with micro-scale protein detection and characterization. 

Using proprietary biochip-based tools, Zyomyx has developed several novel platforms for proteomic research. An 

overview of protein biochip technologies will be presented with an emphasis on label-independent detection. 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS

8:00 am Wednesday, February 4 Proteomics – Structural Room B1 

Lance Stewart 

deCODE genetics, Inc. 

7869 N.E. Day Road West 

Bainbridge Island, Washington 98110 

lstewart@decode.com 

84 

Co-Author(s) 

Hidong Kim, Alexandrina Muntianu, 

Geetha Sundaram, Mark Mixon, 

Sattu Desai, Craig Sterling 

Advanced Mixology: Liquid Handling Devices for High Speed Cocktail Preparation and 

Iterative Protein-ligand Co-crystallization Experiments 

Early stage drug discovery programs can be greatly accelerated by the availability of high-resolution X-ray crystal 

structures of protein-ligand complexes. Ideally, multiple crystal structures of protein-ligand complexes are obtained 

within three to nine months after the initiation of a drug development program. Unfortunately, there are numerous 

bottlenecks between the selection of a target gene and the successful structure determination of a protein-ligand 

co-crystal. To address several bottlenecks in the crystallization process, we have developed an integrated system 

of secure database software and liquid handling robotics to automate the production, from stock solutions, of 

the thousands of formulations that are required for iterative screening and optimization of protein crystal growth. 

Protein-ligand co-crystallization screening is among the most demanding liquid handling applications in life 

sciences. Protein samples and chemical libraries are expensive, sensitive to degradation, and are typically only 

available in microgram to milligram quantities. Supply chain management of these materials is a challenge in and 

of itself, not to mention the demands for small volume non-contact dispensing of complex formulations that have 

varying viscosities, ionic strengths, chemical and pH gradients, etc. A typical crystallization experiment can often 

require the properly sequenced random access microshot delivery of five or more solution components from 

different source plates or vials (crystallization cocktail, protein, ligand, additive, reducing agent, metal co-factor, 

allosteric modulator, a second protein, etc.). Our efforts to address these demanding liquid handling issues will be 

described together with specific crystallization examples from our drug discovery programs. 


Frank Von Delft 

The Scripps Research Institute 

10550 North Torrey Pines Road-SR101 

La Jolla, California 92037 

loretta@scripps.edu 

High Throughput Technologies in Structural Biology and Applications Towards Genomes, 

Pathways, and Drug Design 

Four years after the start of the development of high throughput structural proteomics, we are now observing 

almost a dozen vendors manufacturing crystallization and imaging technologies. Significant improvements 

in the other areas related to the structural biology processes are also being seen. Integration and efficiency 

improvements based on data analysis remain as significant challenges, but new systems and approaches are 

emerging. Given this history, we are starting to observe the first sets of results that have directly come from these 

technological innovations. Lastly, both biotech and almost all members of the pharmaceutical industry are now 

embracing high throughput structural proteomics technologies. A description of the current challenges and recent 

successes will be presented.


John A. Adams 

RoboDesign International, Inc. 

5120 Pasteur Court 

Carlsbad, California 92008 

jadams@robodesign.com 

Automated Protein Crystallization System 

85 

Co-Author(s) 

Janet M. Newman, David W. Jewell, 

John K. Hoffman, Mandel W. Mickley 

A complete, intermediate-sized (1100 plates), dual temperature, automated protein crystallization platform 

consisting of automated small-volume pipetting, automatic plate incubation, storage and retrieval, automatic drop 

imaging, database cataloging, analysis and classification, plus a closed-loop crystal trial experiment and trial 

optimization database that seamlessly connects all of the sub-system software and hardware. This system enables 

users to set up initial screens using standard screen blocks or to make custom initial screens, automatically make 

the experimental plates and have them transferred into incubation, imaged, analyzed, and classified based upon a 

user defined schedule. These results form the basis for an intelligent platform that can be used to more quickly and 

efficiently determine optimal protein crystal growth conditions. 


Brent Segelke 

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory 

7000 East Avenue 


segelke1@llnl.gov 

Automated Combinatorial Protein Crystallization Screening 

Co-Author(s) 

Dominique Toppani, Tim Lekin, Bernhard Rupp 


Mary Cornett, Joel McComb 

Innovadyne Technologies, Inc. 

By considering crystal screening as a sampling problem, we have previously demonstrated, by probability theory, 

the inherent efficiency of stochastic combinatorial screening (Segelke, J. Crystal Growth 2000). While efficient in 

principal, stochastic combinatorial screening is difficult to automate in practice. Robotic liquid handling instruments 

are generally designed for high throughput mother-daughter transfers or for lower throughput, though versatile, rearraying. 

A new 96-tip, non-contact, liquid handling instrument by Innovdyne makes high throughput automated 

crystallization screening, on the fly, possible. The instrument is equipped with 96, independently actuated, noncontact, 

nano-dispensing tips. The Independent actuation enables any source any destination liquid handling. 

With a software experimental design engine, CRYSTOOL, aspirate/dispense operations are generated on the 

fly and passed to the instrument at run-time. Stock reagents arrayed in 96-well deep well blocks are aspirated 

simultaneously and dispensed in the random order and volume prescribed by worklists generated by the design 

engine. The instrument also maintains high precision over a broad range of volumes and viscosities, delivering 

exceptional versatility for types, concentrations, and ratios of components used in custom combinatorial screens. 

The same instrument can be used for rapid setup of vapor diffusion or microbatch crystallization experiments from 

premade screens or for the setup of grid optimization screens. 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS

10:30 am Wednesday, February 4 Proteomics – Informatics Room B1 

Eric Fung 

Ciphergen Biosystems 

6611 Dumbarton Circle 


efung@ciphergen.com 

The Automated Biomarker System: A High Throughput Proteomics Biomarker 

Discovery Platform 

86 

Co-Author(s) 

Mark Garner 

The Automated Biomarker System is a proteomics platform that permits the rapid characterization of clinical 

samples and the generation of protein expression profiles for the discovery of biomarkers for disease. This 

platform consists of upfront automated liquid handling for sample preparation and ProteinChip Array binding. The 

bound ProteinChip Arrays are read in a ProteinChip Reader equipped with an autoloader, permitting arrays to be 

read unsupervised. This allows researchers to perform clinical proteomics programs in a more rapid manner than 

previously. 


Xia Gao 

Structural GenomiX, Inc. 

10505 Roselle Street. 


xia_gao@stromix.com 

Co-Author(s) 

Julie A. Reynes, Michelle Hartmann, 

Curtis Marsh, Ken Schwinn, 

Michael Sauder, Jeffrey B. Bonanno, Stephen K. Burley 

High Throughput Protein Domain Elucidation by Limited Proteolysis-Mass Spectrometry 

High-resolution structural information is crucial for understanding protein function in vivo and provides pivotal 

information for drug discovery. A typical approach to determining protein structure involves initial construct 

design, protein expression, purification, crystallization, and structure determination. This procedure is both time 

and labor intensive, and success is often dependent on making informed decisions at every stage, particularly the 

choice of protein domain boundary. Cohen et al. (1995) have demonstrated that protein functional domains can 

be accurately delimited by integration of proteolysis with mass spectrometry. Proteolytically defined domains are 

likely to produce diffraction quality crystals, as compact and well-folded domains often exhibit improved solubility 

and more highly ordered crystal lattice packing. We have conducted a critical evaluation of this method on a 

large number of structure determination target proteins produced for the New York Structural GenomiX Research 

Consortium (http://www.nysgxrc.org). The objectives of this study are to develop protocols for parallel proteolysis 

and automated data acquisition for multiple proteins, and to carry out a systematic study to correlate proteolysis 

defined domains with their success in crystallization. We designed an automated protocol to proteolyze eight 

proteins in parallel on a Tecan Genesis RSP100. The proteins were treated with four proteases (Trypsin, LysC, 

GluC, and ArgC) over a time course of six hours. Aliquots of each time points were prepared using the “thin-layer” 

technique for automated MALDI-MS data acquisition. After data interpretation, summary reports were generated 

in batch mode by Digests Reader developed at SGX, Inc. Protocols and interim results of these analyses will be 

presented.


Jost Vielmetter 

Xencor 

111 W. Lemon Avenue 

Monrovia, California 91016 

jvielmet@xencor.com 

Protein Variation SAR Using ActivityBase 

87 

Co-Author(s) 

Richard Bishop 

Jeff Tischler 

Peter Cheung 

Protein therapeutics is a growing focus of discovery research organizations, but few informatics solutions exist 

for correlating protein structure with biological activity. Here we describe the first-ever ActivityBase application 

to provide protein structure-activity relationship (SAR) data. Xencor’s patented Protein Design Automation ® 

technology platform is the basis for structure-based protein engineering of therapeutic candidates to produce 

protein variants with optimized physico-chemical characteristics. These variants are registered in ActivityBase 

and subjected to both traditional HTS measurements, and virtual test occasions that extract the sequence 

variation information. Amino acids that differ from the reference sequence are recorded as test results, and 

their corresponding sequence positions as conditions. By storing both sequence variation identity and assay 

measurements as ActivityBase results, queries can be constructed that reveal the relationship between primary 

protein sequence and biological activity for any positional “condition.” This novel approach could potentially be 

used for the analysis of any string-based data set. 

12:00 pm Wednesday, February 4 Proteomics – Informatics Room B1 

Enal Razvi 

DiscoveRx Corporation 

42501 Albrae Street 


erazvi@earthlink.net 

Strategic Opportunities in High-Content Screening and Computational Proteomics 

We present the industry landscape that is emerging in the computational proteomics space. This space is still in 

its infancy and for the most part undefined; therefore, we seek to present the market opportunity in informatics in 

the drug discovery space and then extend that to an examination of the industry trends in proteomics. In addition 

we will focus upon the qualitative and quantitative business opportunities in the high-content screening/secondary 

screening space; considered by many to be the next evolutionary step in computational proteomics. We will 

discuss strategic drivers and how these are translating into quantitative market opportunities for the vendors in this 

space. This presentation will include market models that are defining the evolution of this space. 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS

3:30 pm Wednesday, February 4 Proteomics – Technology 1 Room B1 

Judith Finlay 

Beckman Coulter 

7330 Carroll Road 


jafinlay@beckman.com 

88 

Co-Author(s) 

Carlton Gasior, Chad Pittman, Melissa Rouzer, 

Graham Threadgill, Felix Montero 

Use of Beckman Coulter’s Biomek FX to Automate Epitope Discovery for Specific Antigens 

and Determine Optimal Peptides for Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) Class I Binding 

Stimulation of T cell response to specific antigens is an emerging technique used in vaccine discovery. The 

iTopia Epitope Discovery System from Beckman Coulter allows vaccine developers working on T cell mediated 

vaccines to map and characterize binding of epitopes to MHC complexes. The iTopia System can identify antigenspecific 

peptides that bind to any of eight different Class I MHC alleles, which represent approximately 90% of 

the human population. iTopia System uses microtiter plates coated with MHC Class I monomers to which certain 

peptides will bind in the presence of beta 2 microglobulin. Correctly folded complexes will be identified by binding 

of a fluorescent antibody, which recognizes only the properly folded tertiary complexes. iTopia System analyzes 

the binding, affinity and off-rates for the possible peptide/allele combinations of a selected protein. This speeds 

vaccine development by allowing a systematic ranking of candidate epitopes for subsequent functional studies. 

Automation of the liquid handling using the Biomek FX and data reduction are crucial to simplifying the iTopia 

process. A manual method was devised to carry out the screening. However, for an antigen of 120 kilodaltons, 

assuming screening 9-mer peptides, 992 peptides would need to be evaluated. It is estimated that 92 plates 

for each allele would be required to complete the iTopia process. Automation of iTopia will make it easier for 

companies working in vaccine discovery and development to incorporate this process into their workflow and to 

increase the efficiency and accuracy of this technology. 


Nenad Gajovic-Eichelmann 

Fraunhofer Institute Biomedical Engineering 

Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114-116 

Bergholz-Rehbruecke, 14558 Germany 

nenad.gajovic@ibmt.fhg.de 

Co-Author(s) 

Eva Ehrentreich-Foerster 

Peter M. Schmidt 

Joerg Henkel 

Frank F. Bier 

Active Arrays – Time Resolved Analysis in Microarrays for Binding Kinetics and Enzymatic 

Activities 

The primary task of a microarray experiment is to detect a lot of binding events simultaneously. Most applications 

are transcription profiling and use fluorescence as label. Prior to the experiment, the sample has to be labeled by 

a suitable fluorochrome. The binding is done in a separate incubation step, the final result is taken after drying. 

Therefore usually microarray reader produce information on the fluorescence intensity at a given time of the 

binding process. Progress towards diagnostic applications is still slow, quantitation of the results is a problem 

and fabrication methods up to now are not reliable enough to allow for larg series production. The fluorescence 

intensity measured in microarray experiments represents the amount of bound analyte that depends on the 

concentration in the sample as well as on the affinity of the involved binding partners and time given for the 

binding. It is not possible to differentiate these influencing factors in the usual setup. To overcome the limitations in 

microarray technology developments are under way to facilitate measurement of binding kinetics in the microarray 

format. Homogeneous sample flow over the whole microarray is one of the technological problems that recently 

has been solved in our laboratory. Enzymatic reactions on immobilized substrates may also be observed using a 

flow through type of scanning device. Parallel detection and comparison of a variety of substrates or templates are 

now accessible in one single experiment and will be presented here. To demonstrate the power of the approach, 

we chose a restriction endonucleases.


Philip E. Dawson 


10550 N. Torrey Pines Road 

La Jolla, California 92037 

dawson@scripps.edu 

Probing Multicomponent Protein Assemblies Using Site-directed Attachment of 

Fluorophores and Crosslinking Agents 

89 

Co-Author(s) 

John H. Griffin 

Jose A. Fernandez 

Subramanian Yegneswaran 

Enzymes in the blood coagulation pathway are typically composed of a sequence specific peptide cleaving 

active site. However, much of the specificity and regulation of these enzymes is dictated by several protein 

binding surfaces (exosites) that mediate specific protein:protein interactions. For example, thrombin is specific 

for cleavage at Arg residues but gains specificity for cleavage of fibrinogen through interactions in exosite-1. 

Fibrinogen cleavage can be blocked by interaction with thrombomodulin that competes for binding to exosite-1. 

Similarly, the anitcoagulant leech peptide hirudin binds to the catalytic site and exosite-1 of thrombin. In order 

to better understand the relationship between active site and exosite binding between these serine proteases, 

we are developing methods to introduce a site specific, covalent label at either the active site or exosites in 

a manner that blocks binding and introduces a fluorophore and a chemical crosslinking agent. We have used 

this approach to unambiguously label the active site of the serine protease factor Xa with fluorescein and a 

benzophenone crosslinking agent. This enabled us to monitor the interaction of this protein with other components 

of the prothrombinase complex, an assembly of proteins that activates prothrombin to thrombin. Specifically, the 

binding of the substrate prothrombin to factor Xa was directly measured by both fluorescence anisotropy and by 

chemical crosslinking. In addition, this binding was increased 50-fold by the addition of the cofactor factor Va. We 

are applying this approach to the structural and functional characterization of the large multiprotein assemblies 

involved in blood coagulation. 


Travis Boone 

ACLARA BioSciences, Inc. 

1288 Pear Avenue 


tboone@aclara.com 

Co-Author(s) 

Tina Tian, Po-Ying Chan-Hui, Yuping Tan, 

Yining Shi, 

Hossein Salimi-Moosavi, Kathryn Stephens, 

Lilly Chen, Sharat Singh 

A Systems Biology Approach to Tracking Protein/Gene Expression and Interactions in 

Oncology and Toxicology Using the eTag Assay System 

The eTag Assay System enables the precise, simultaneous quantitation of tens of cellular pathway or clinical 

biomarkers across thousands of samples, providing high-value information about the expression and interaction 

of proteins and genes within cells. The eTag Assay System is a homogeneous method to analyze proteins and/ 

or mRNAs directly from tissue samples, whole cells, or cell lysates. The multiplexing aspect of the technology is 

derived from the use of eTag reporters, which are fluorescent, biologically compatible labels that have distinct 

electrophoretic mobilities and can be separated from one another using capillary electrophoresis. The eTag 

reporters can be conjugated to a wide variety of biological probes including oligonucleotides, antibodies, proteins 

and peptides and are released in reaction as a consequence of a target-specific binding event. Mixtures of 

released eTag reporters are efficiently separated and sensitively detected using commercial capillary array DNA 

sequencing systems and accurately identified and quantified using proprietary, user-friendly software. The eTag 

Assay System has been employed in a systems biology approach to study gene and protein expression, cell 

signaling and pathway activation, and protein-protein interactions in oncology and toxicology applications. Results 

will be presented tracking receptor dimerization and signaling pathway phosphoproteins in breast cancer cell 

lines, as well as identifying markers in tissue samples. Data demonstrating simultaneous protein/gene profiling for 

toxicology screens on rat hepatocytes, across a set of drug compounds, will also be shown. 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS

8:00 am Thursday, February 5 Proteomics – Technology 2 Room B1 

David Goodlett 

ISB 

1441 North 34th Street 

Seattle, Washington 98103 

goodlett@systemsbiology.org 

The Finnigan LTQ-FT and Shotgun Proteomics 

Shotgun proteomics uses traditional protein and peptide separation methods, like size-exclusion chromatography 

(SEC) and strong-cation exchange chromatography (SCX), rather than gel electrophoresis to fractionate proteomes 

prior to mass spectrometric analysis. Because proteins are not purified prior to MS analysis the subsequent 

peptide mixtures can be quite complex. A number of groups have shown the advantages of Fourier transform 

ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) MS for shotgun proteomic analysis. However, the instrumentation can be quite 

awkward for routine use making accurate mass measurements difficult to obtain during LC-ESI introduction. 

Recently, Finnigan introduced a new type of FTICRMS based, in part, on its successful and easy to use ion traps. 

This new FTICRMS, the LTQ-FT, offers high resolution and mass accuracy during LC-ESI introduction. In short 

the automatic gain control used to control ion population in the ion trap is used to control ion population in the 

ICR cell and allow good mass accuracy to 2 ppm during LC introduction. We will present an overview of shotgun 

proteomics, FTMS uses in the field and specifically review the advantages of this new type of instrument in the 

field of proteomics. 


Mary F. Lopez 

PerkinElmer Life and Analytical Sciences 


Boston, Massachusetts 02118 

mary.lopez@proteomesystems.com 

90 

Co-Author(s) 

Alvydas Mikulskis, Richard Ediger, 

Eric Denoyer, Joseph DiCesare 

Rapid and Reproducible Fractionation and Identification of Proteins Using Membrane 

Chromatography and Orthogonal MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry 

Reducing the complexity of protein mixtures (such as those from whole cells) can facilitate the detection of low 

abundance, extremely acidic or basic, or very low molecular weight proteins. We have developed protocols for 

fractionation of numerous complex protein mixtures from human samples, including brain tissue, blood and 

cultured mammalian cells. Samples were fractionated in microscale on mini-columns or 96 well plates using 

novel membrane chromatographic substrates (VIVASCIENCE, Carlsbad, CA, USA) with various activated surfaces 

including ion-exchange, Cibachron Blue and others. After fractionation, proteins were identified with the PrOTOF, a 

novel orthogonal MALDI-TOF (PerkinElmer/MDS Sciex) mass spectrometer.


Wei-Wei Zhang 

GenWay Biotech, Inc. 

10130 Sorrento Valley Road, Suite C 


wzhang@genwaybio.com 

Polyclonal Gene-Specific IgY Antibodies for Proteomics and Abundant Plasma 

Protein Depletion 

91 

Co-Author(s) 

Xiangming Fang 

Jerry Feitelson 

Lei Huang 

Kena Wang 

Polyclonal IgY antibodies are produced based upon gene information via immunizing chickens with gene 

expression vectors and/or purified protein antigens. Antibodies produced by this approach have high specificity 

and typically bind to a single gene product. Gene-specific IgY antibodies have several distinct advantages over 

conventional IgG antibodies due to their higher surface stability, lower cross-reactivity, stronger avidity, and 

higher binding capacity. Besides being useful in conventional immunoassays, IgY antibodies have demonstrated 

applicability for multiplex assays. In the Luminex-100 System and on Ciphergen’s ProteinChip, detection 

sensitivities reached 10 pg/ml and 40 fg/ml, respectively. To make detection of low-abundant proteins more 

effective and to facilitate human plasma proteomics studies, IgY antibodies are covalently conjugated to polymeric 

beads via Fc region for selectively removing abundant plasma proteins, such as albumin, IgG, transferrin, and 

fibrinogen. After short incubation of IgY beads with serum or plasma samples, target proteins are specifically 

bound to the IgY beads at an approximately 1:1 molar ratio. The flow-through samples can be used for proteomics 

analysis and for developing clinical diagnosis markers. This allows for highly sensitive analysis of rare proteins in 

blood samples using 2D gels and mass spectrometry. Also, polyclonal IgY against human serum albumin is shown 

to be capable of effectively removing the albumins from the serum samples of mouse, rat, pig, and goat. This 

cross-species binding of albumin cannot be accomplished by using IgG against the same antigen, indicating the 

unique and important feature of IgY in application for proteomics studies. 


Dhaval N. Gosalia 

University of Pennsylvania 

1150 Vagelos Labs 

3340 Smith Walk 

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104 

dhavalg@seas.upenn.edu 

Protease Substrate Profiling Using Microarrays 

Co-Author(s) 

Scott L. Diamond, 

Cleo M. Salisbury, 

Jonathan A. Ellman 


We developed a novel technique for microarray-based enzymatic assays for biological reactions at nanoliter 

volumes. The technique allows for rapid determination of protease substrate specificity with minimal sample 

usage. A peptidyl coumarin library of fluorogenic protease substrates, ACC-P1-P2-P3-P4-Ac was synthesized in 

parallel using standard Fmoc-based solid-phase synthesis techniques. The amino acids at P1 and P4 were held 

constant with P1=lysine and P4=alanine, and all combinations of proteinogenic amino acids (except cysteine) 

were used at the P2 and P3 positions, for a total of 361 compounds. Purity of the library was demonstrated 

by HPLC-MS, and the substrates were reconstituted in DMSO to a concentration of 10 mM. The library, along 

with appropriate controls, was further diluted to 1 mM concentration with 50% (v/v) glycerol and microarrayed 

on a standard microscope slide with a density of 400 spot/cm². The microarrayed library was treated with the 

serine protease human thrombin and then scanned. The chip demonstrated that thrombin had an extremely high 

specificity for proline at position P2. The remaining amino acids at the P2 position produced essentially no signal 

above background. Definite specificities were observed for amino acids at the P3 position with Q, V, W, Y, R 

resulting in the fastest cleavage and P3=D, P, A, H, E resulting in the slowest cleavage. The microarray specificities 

agreed with previously published results, demonstrating that the technique provides accurate substrate specificity 

information. This study indicates that protease substrate profiling can be done in this microarray format. 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS


Gary Schultz 


30 Brown Road 


gschultz@advion.com 

Sample Preparation Tips for Sample Enrichment and Direct Elution Nanoelectrospray 

Mass Spectrometry Analysis For Enhanced Sensitivity For Protein Characterization 

92 

Co-Author(s) 

Geoffrey Rule 

Sheng Zhang 

Colleen K. Van Pelt 

Amie Prince 

The sample diversity of proteomics requires analytical techniques that can provide rapid and sensitive 

characterization of complex biological systems. Nanoelectrospray mass spectrometry is one technique essential 

to every researcher working in this field due to its low sample consumption and sensitivity. NanoESI/MS provides 

long spray times useful for performing MS/MS including neutral loss and precursor ion scans. Combining 

NanoESI/MS with sample preparation can further improve sensitivity when sample enrichment or concentration 

is utilized. The NanoMate 100 with ESI Chip is an automated nanoelectrospray system developed to improve 

the efficiency and quality of NanoESI/MS. In operation, this system establishes an electric field localized at 

the exit of each microfabricated nozzle resulting in a stable, robust spray. That combined with the repeatable 

structure of the nozzles provides an automated platform for analysis of microliter sample volumes. Advantages 

of the system include low sample consumption, conservation of sample not consumed in the analysis, one-time 

spray optimization, enhanced spray stability, and no carryover. Sample preparation tips are routinely used for 

desalting and cleanup of proteins. The NanoMate functionality has been enhanced to enable the direct elution- 

NanoESI/MS of samples from sorbent-filled pipette tips. Low levels of peptides can be concentrated and enriched. 

Analytes are eluted in sub-microliter volumes at 100 nL/min delivering high analyte concentrations to the mass 

spectrometer. Applications of on-line elution will be demonstrated for protein digest analysis and identification of 

phosphopeptides and glycopeptides. 


Neil Kelleher 

University of Illinois 

600 S. Mathews Avenue 

Urbana, Illinois 61801 

kelleher@scs.uiuc.edu 

Progress in Automating Top Down Proteomics 

Co-Author(s) 

Steven Patrie, Dana Robinson, 

Yi Du, Lihua Jiang, 

Michael Roth 

An emergent “Top Down” approach to analysis of intact proteins will be described. Efforts in our laboratory 

combine informatics with a Quadrupole/Fourier-Transform hybrid mass spectrometer (Q-FTMS) to enable efficient 

characterization of biological events that change the mass of protein molecules from that predicted by an 

annotated genome sequence. A platform dedicated to Top Down is under development and uses a size-dependent 

proteome fractionation up front, followed by a Q-FTMS engine for data acquisition, and finally a custom database 

and software suite called “ProSight PTM” for streamlined protein identification and characterization (Anal. Chem., 

2003, 75, 4081-4086). Protein examples from yeast and human cells will be described, including characterization 

of histone modifications using a new database strategy termed “prescriptive annotation”.


Joseph Loo 

University of California, Los Angeles 

405 Hilgard Avenue, 402 MBI 

Los Angeles, California 90095 

jloo@chem.ucla.edu 

A View of the Proteome Provided by New Mass Spectrometry Technologies 

93 

Co-Author(s) 

Rachel R. Ogorzalek Loo 

New technologies based on mass spectrometry (MS) and proteomics are being developed to address a number of 

health-related applications. Parallel approaches that probe complex systems as a unit, rather than one component 

at a time best allow for the understanding of protein expression per an organism’s developmental state and its 

response to the environment. An MS-based surface scanning method has been developed in which proteins are 

desorbed directly from 1D isoelectric focusing gels to create a virtual 2D gel; data are presented as an image, 

similar to that obtained from a stained 2D gel. Beyond the improved mass accuracy and mass resolution provided 

by substituting MS for SDS-PAGE, the virtual 2D gel has several advantages over the traditional 2D gel, including 

high-speed analysis. Small differences between measured and predicted molecular weights can flag contributing 

post-translational processing and protein modification. ESI-MS for studying noncovalent complexes has utility 

in chemical biology and biomedical research. ESI has the ability to ionize macromolecules and maintain weak 

noncovalent interactions. The mass measurement provides a direct determination of the stoichiometry of the 

binding partners in the complex. In addition to identifying the components that are involved in protein interaction 

networks, MS studies can identify and elucidate the geometry and interactions of protein machines, such as the 

690 kDa proteasome, the protease responsible for protein degradation, and the 14 MDa vault, a ribonucleoprotein 

particle implicated in multidrug resistance. 

1:30 pm Thursday, February 5 Automation Applications in Process R&D Room A2 

Norbert Stoll 

University Rostock 

R.-Wagner-Str. 31 

Rostock, 18119 Germany 

norbert.stoll@uni-rostock.de 

Microreactor Systems for Life Science Application 

Co-Author(s) 

Arne Allwardt 

Kerstin Thurow 

The use of combinatorial methods in chemistry and life science has been developing rapidly within the last years. 

Since there has been numerous developments in the field of pharmaceutical research in microtiter plate format 

there is still a lack of suitable instruments for classical. combinatorial chemistry in the mL-range. Synthesis in drug 

discovery or catalyst screening requires quite often high temperatures and high pressures as reaction condition for 

hydration, carbonylation or oxidation. The often long reaction times requires parallelization of reactors in order to 

increase the throughput. Existing instruments are not flexible automated solutions and do not have flexible material 

and information interfaces. On the other hand they do not always meet the requirements from organic chemists. 

To fill this gap an integrated automated system for organic high pressure synthesis had to be developed. The 

presentation will give an overview about existing systems and will show current and future developments in the 

field of organic high pressure synthesis. Two systems will be demonstrated for reactions in the mL-range (multi 

parallel reactor array 8/16/24) and for reactions in the MTP-Format (96 / 384). The systems are high temperature/ 

high pressure designed. Both systems are integrated into an analytical environment to perform a coupling between 

synthesis and analysis. The 96/384 system can be operated stand alone or by a robot system. 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS


Kara Rubin 


RY800-C210 P.O. Box 2000 


Kara_Rubin@Merck.com 

Accelerating Polymorph and Salt Form Selection 

Crystallization of active pharmaceutical ingredients and their key intermediates has played an important role 

for pharmaceutical companies in getting a drug to market. Within Merck’s Process Research department 

crystallizations have been used in organic synthesis for various reasons, including the enhancement of chemical 

stability, resolution of enanitomers and purification. To accelerate this phase of the drug compound development 

process Merck entered into collaboration with Symyx Technologies to develop a High Throughput Polymorph 

and Salt Screening workflow. In this workflow, polymorph screens are performed to determine possible phase 

compositions, which are crystallized from various solvent combinations using a variety of procedures. Salt screens 

are performed on active drug molecules in the presence of various pharmaceutically acceptable bases or acids. 

The solids produced by the screens can be automatically analyzed by polarized light microscopy, X-ray powder 

diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and melting point determination. 


Brent Karcher 


One Squibb Drive 

P.O. Box 0191 

New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903 

brent.karcher@bms.com 

MeDuSA, An Automated HPLC Screening Tool For PR&D 

94 

Co-Author(s) 

Merrill L. Davies 

Jack Venit 

Edward Delaney 

An automated tool for HPLC has been designed which enables process scientists to critically challenge currently 

utilized and/or accepted HPLC methods of analysis. Samples are subjected to a rigorous HPLC gauntlet 

comprised of an array of analytical reversed-phase columns possessing different selectivities, gradient elution 

using different eluents of various pH and solvent blends, with dual wavelength absorption detection. The resulting 

absorption data are presented as stacked chromatograms to provide a comprehensive picture of a sample’s 

impurity profile and a quick assessment of the best conditions to achieve chromatographic resolution of all 

sample components. The HPLC conditions are also amenable to both evaporative light scattering (ELS) and mass 

spectrometric (MS) detection. The entire package is controlled by custom software which streamlines sample 

queuing and HPLC control to afford a user-friendly “walk-up” system. The multi-dimensional screening and 

analysis (MeDuSA) concept has also been successfully extended to both reversed-phase chiral and normal-phase 

chiral HPLC. In addition, a mini-MeDuSA, utilizing shorter (50 mm) columns and higher flow rates, was developed 

to provide the analytics needed to support parallel experiments and high throughput screening.


Rick Sidler 


R800-C260 

P.O. Box 2000 


rick_sidler@merck.com 

Parallel Screening and Optimization of Catalytic High-Pressure Reactions 

The application of selective catalytic reactions for the preparation of pharmaceutically interesting compounds is a 

bourgeoning field. The variety of accessible reaction types, coupled with recently developed catalyst and ligand 

systems, challenge the researcher’s ability to screen and optimize these reactions. In addition, many of these 

interesting reactions employ conditions of high pressure, coupled with air and/or moisture sensitive catalysts 

to effect chemo-, diastereo-, or enantio-selective transformations. We have applied customized hardware and 

software solutions to allow for efficient screening, optimization, and analysis of these reactions. 

3:00 pm Tuesday, February 3 Genomics – Analytical Room A1 

Robert Cotter 

Johns Hopkins University 

725 North Wolfe Street 

Baltimore, Maryland 21205 

rcotter@jhmi.edu 

95 

Co-Author(s) 

Ben D. Gardner 

Sara McGrath 

Miniaturizing the Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer While Maintaining High Performance 

The time-of-flight mass spectrometer is unique in its ability to maintain high mass range when its size is reduced. 

Since sensitivity is also high, the major limitation in performance is mass resolution. In an approach developed in 

our laboratory a pulsed extraction, high order energy-focusing source is used to focus ions at the end of a three 

inch flight tube with mass resolutions up to 1200. In addition, a novel TOF mass spectrometer in which source and 

analyzer are combined in a single non-linear and time-dependent field has been developed. This instrument does 

not require extraction lenses or grids, and the electric field is defined by an “endcap” geometry. These instruments 

are currently being used for bioagent detection and proteomics studies. 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS


Steven Hofstadler 

Ibis Therapeutics 

2292 Faraday Avenue 


shofstad@isisph.com 

Detection and Characterization of Biothreats and Emerging Infectious Diseases – 

The TIGER Concept 

A new strategy has been developed to allow real-time tracking of bacterial or viral epidemics. Called Triangulation 

Identification for the Genetic Evaluation of Risk, or TIGER, the process is a rapid, recursive analysis that enables 

simultaneous identification of all pathogens present in a sample. The strategy relies on PCR amplification and 

base-composition analysis using high performance electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The 

base compositions from multiple primer pairs are used to “triangulate” the identity of the organisms present in 

the sample. Use of species-specific primers allows strain-typing of the organism. The utility of TIGER has been 

validated for both air sample monitoring against biowarfare agents and analysis of samples from Marine Corps 

recruits sickened in a Group A streptococcal (GAS) pneumonia outbreak. TIGER can be used to detect and 

identify infectious agents directly from a throat swab and hundreds of samples can be analyzed within 12 hours. 

This method allows real-time evaluation of patient samples and will make possible more rapid and appropriate 

treatment of patients in ongoing epidemic. 


James Godsey 

Gen-Probe, Inc. 

10210 Genetic Center Drive 


jimg@gen-probe.com 

The TIGRIS System for Total Automation of Nucleic Acid Testing 

The TIGRIS system developed by Gen-Probe for total automation of nucleic acid testing will be presented. 

96


Mark Shannon 

Applied Biosystems 

850 Lincoln Centre Drive 

Foster City, California 94404 

shannome@appliedbiosystems.com 

Co-Author(s) 

Kathryn Hunkapiller, Julie Blake, Maria Roque-Biewer, David Ruff 


97 

Shashi Amur, Shirley Zhu, Vicky Seyfert-Margolis 

Immune Tolerance Network 

Multiplex Preamplification of Assays-on-Demand Product Targets Prior to Quantitative 

PCR Analysis of Gene Expression in Blood 

Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) is fast becoming an important alternative approach to microarrays for 

profiling the transcriptional states of cells and tissues. However, a requirement for several nanograms (ng) of 

cDNA per assay often limits the scale of such gene expression studies. To overcome this potential obstacle to 

large-scale expression studies, we have developed a method for preamplifying as many as 1000 Assays-on- 

Demand product targets in a single reaction prior to conventional quantitative PCR (qPCR). The method is 

highly reproducible, allows quantification of expression for hundreds of genes from as little as 0.01ng of cDNA per 

assay as starting material, and is close to 100% efficient for the vast majority of targets. We applied this method 

to expression profiling of 920 immune response related genes in T cells that were treated with phytohemagglutinin 

(PHA). For roughly 20% of the genes, expression was detected only with multiplex preamplification. Of these 

genes, approximately 60% were differentially expressed in response to treatment. This method is potentially 

applicable to other situations where starting material is limited such as laser-capture microdissected tissues, 

paraffin-embedded fixed tissues, and needle-biopsies. 

8:00 am Wednesday, February 4 Genomics – Instrumentation Room A1 

Steven Gordon 

Brooks-PRI Automation 

15 Elizabeth Drive 

Chelmsford, Massachusetts 01824 

Parallab Technology: Integrated Nanoliter Genomic Workstation 

The Life Sciences Group of Brooks Automation, Inc. has developed a fully automated, integrated platform to 

perform nanoliter volume reactions. As an example, our standard DNA cycle sequencing reaction is done in a 

total volume of 500 nanoliters. A key element in this innovation is the proprietary Nano-Pipetter that incorporates 

96 glass capillary tubes that process all samples in parallel. The bench top Parallab 350 exploits the ability to 

aspirate small and accurate reagent volumes and subsequently completes all of the reaction and purification steps 

within the 96 miniature glass syringes. Each reagent is aspirated into the glass vessels, mixed, thermal cycled 

and purified before finally being dispensed into an output plate for analysis. After each sample set is complete, 

the Nano-Pipetter is decontaminated and reused, greatly reducing the number and cost of consumables normally 

associated with completing a similar sample set. For a genomics lab, the Parallab 350 is ideally suited for a 

range of applications, including cycle sequencing, PCR, SNP analysis, genotyping and end point analysis and can 

complete 1,800 samples per 24-hour day. We believe that this unique combination of attributes (nanoliter reaction 

volume, reduced consumable use and complete automation) offers a revolutionary approach to help accelerate 

discoveries in modern molecular biological laboratories. 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS

8:30 am Wednesday, February 4 Genomics – Genomics Instrumentation Room A1 

Jim Davis 

GenVault Corporation 



jdavis@genvault.com 

98 

Co-Author(s) 

Syrus Jaffe 


A Novel GenVault Multiwell Plate Format for Whatman FTA in Robotic, High Throughput 

DNA Archiving 

Tracey Long 

Whatman, Inc. 

A process has been developed using a unique 384 well, half-height microplate containing Whatman FTA ® to store, 

harvest and analyze DNA. This process eliminates the need for labor intensive manual punching and manipulation. 

The novel plate design uses 6 mm disks of FTA inserted into each of the 384 hourglass-shaped wells. Up to 12 µL 

of DNA containing fluid may be placed on each cup shaped FTA element. When desired, the sample is retrieved 

and the base and top seal of each well is easily pierced by a disposable rod that pushes the element into a 

collection tube or plate. Each element contains GenVault’s GenCode, a biological tracking agent that follows the 

DNA through the process and provides absolute sample tracking and identification at any stage in the process. 

Scaleable plate storage robotics are available for stable long-term room temperature archiving of DNA made 

possible by the unique properties of FTA. Archives for one thousand to over a million plates are available for use 

with this plate and media format. Processes have been generated for room temperature storage of dsDNA on FTA 

elements. Coupled with the ease of automation of this high storage efficiency plate design, this system enables 

large scale DNA archiving for genomics studies. DNA quality and purity and applications data will be presented. 

Information on the robotics design and operation and the associated software for tracking and searching samples 

will also be provided. 


Kurtis Guggenheimer 

University of British Columbia 

Room 325 

6224 Agricultural Road 

Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z1 Canada 

kurtis@physics.ubc.ca 

Electrostatic Printing of Composite Features for Highly Uniform DNA Microarrays 

Co-Author(s) 

Philip Dextras 

Andre Marziali 

Although present resolution limits of DNA microarray scanners would allow mechanically printed arrays to employ 

features as small as a few microns, variation in fluorescence ratios within each feature requires the acquisition of 

hundreds of pixels per feature to allow averaging and noise reduction, limiting the minimum useful feature size 

to 50 – 100 mm. This fluorescence variation results in part from non-linearity in the concentration dependence 

of dye fluorescence, and from variation in the printed oligo concentration within each feature. Mass transfer 

during evaporation and the crudeness of standard printing methods result in both severe concentration variation 

within the features, and large variations in feature morphology. Averaging to correct these variations can also 

lead to decreased accuracy in the quantitation of hybridized molecules through non-linear effects. We have 

developed a novel method for printing microarrays to ensure reproducible feature morphology and uniform DNA 

distribution within each feature. Features are printed by overlapping many smaller spots into the desired feature 

shape – much like letter printing in a desktop printer. Each spot-pixel is printed electrostatically, allowing rapid 

generation of 3 – 5 mm pixels without contact. This technique is expected to reduce fluorescence fluctuation 

within each feature – increasing data quality and allowing some reduction in feature size– and to improve feature 

morphology. In preliminary work, rectangular 50 mm features consisting of ten by ten grids of fluorescently 

tagged oligonucleotide spots have been printed and imaged both on an array scanner and a scanning electron 

microscope. Preliminary performance data from this printing method will be presented.


Ram Vairavan 

AutoGenomics 

2270-K Camino Vida Roble 


rvairavan@autogenomics.com 

A New Dimension in Routine Genomic and Proteomic Analyses 

99 

Co-Author(s) 

Fareed Kureshy 

Vijay Mahant 

The INFINITI System is an automated multiplexing platform for genomic and proteomic analysis that delivers 

sample to results without manual intervention. Utilizing a novel thin film matrix as the microarray, disease 

specific probes are spotted on the surface and loaded into magazines. The INFINITI Analyzer integrates all 

the discrete processes of sample handling, reagent management, hybridization and detection for the analyses 

of DNA and proteins in a totally self-contained system. The “open architecture” design enables adaptation of 

multiple methodologies such as hybridization assay, primer extension assay, competitive and sandwich format 

immunoassays to perform Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs), Short Tandem Repeats (STRs), micro-satellite 

analysis, gene expression analysis and protein determinations. The entire process is managed by the proprietary, 

Qmatic operating software which integrates all the complex processes in DNA analyses from amplified sample 

to test result without any operator intervention. All supplementary reagents are contained in the Intellipac reagent 

module with an on-board microchip that efficiently manages the reagents, electronically recording all relevant 

reagent specific information, such as expiry date, tracking reagent usage and the assay protocol for the specific 

test. The microarray is read in the built-in confocal microscope with results analyzed and presented in a graphical 

format for easy interpretation. The used chips are discarded in the waste drawer. The system can process 24 

microarrays simultaneously. Designed to operate on a “Load and Go” concept current applications include Cystic 

Fibrosis, Bleeding disorder tests, Th1/Th2 immune response test. Future applications include comprehensive 

profiles of specific cancers with DNA, protein and methylation markers. 

10:30 am Wednesday, February 4 Genomics – SNPs Room A1 

Keith Roby 


4300 N. Harbor Boulevard 

Fullerton, California 92834 

kwroby@beckman.com 

Co-Author(s) 

Laura Pajak, Dana Campbell, 

Zhiming Jiang, Chad Pittman, 

Scott Boyer 

Automation of Amplification and Primer Extension Chemistries for Beckman Coulter’s 

SNPstream ® Genotyping System 

The information included in this presentation describes the utilization of the Biomek ® FX Laboratory Automation 

Workstation for the process of SNP scoring using the SNPstream Genotyping System and assay reagents. Pre- 

and post-PCR methods are executed on separate instruments to ensure that the overall hygiene of the system is 

maintained thereby minimizing the possibility of cross-contamination. Pre-PCR methods include Genomic DNA 

Redistribution, and Multiplex Reaction Setup. Post-PCR methods include Exo/-SAP Cleanup, Multiplex Single 

Base Primer Extension and Hybridization of the tagged extension products to the SNPstream assay plate. The 

multiplex PCR and Primer extension protocols currently can accommodate up to 12 targets per reaction (i.e., a 

12-plex reaction). Components required to generate amplicons in a multiplex reaction and to process these targets 

with SNPware ® Reagent Kits will be described; this includes: 

• Describing the Biomek FX configurations utilized for pre- and post-PCR methods 

• Describing the important features of the methods used to generate and process samples 

• Describing results obtained when using these methods. 

Using the methodology described here, processing of 8 plates (>36,000 SNPs) can be achieved in approximately 

6 hours. 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS


Robert B. Cary 


P.O. Box 1663 MS M888 

Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545 

rbcary@lanl.gov 

100 

Co-Author(s) 

Hong Cai 

Richard T. Okinaka 

Paige E. Pardington 

Sensitive Detection and Identification of Threat Agents by Microarray-based Genotyping 

Using MLST Derived Signatures 

The rapid, accurate and sensitive detection of biological warfare agents requires a broad-spectrum assays capable 

of discriminating closely related microbial and viral pathogens. Moreover, in those cases where a biological agent 

release has been identified, forensic analysis demands detailed genetic signature data for accurate subspecies 

identification and attribution. Identification as well as the determination of important phenotypes, such as antibiotic 

resistance, can be accomplished by the examination of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across multiple 

genetic loci. We have adapted a simple microarray-based genotyping assay to the detection of microbial pathogen 

signatures derived from multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) analyses. Using SNP signatures derived from MLST 

analysis of strains of Bacillus anthracis and its near neighbors we demonstrate that the assay can be used as a 

sensitive method for the detection and identification of Bacilli derived DNA while simultaneously providing accurate 

and detailed genotype information useful for subspecies identification. This work was funded by United States 

Department of Energy, CBNP funding to RBC. LA-UR-03-3343. 


Ming Xiao 

University of California, San Francisco 

Cardiovascular Research Institute 

505 Parnassus Avenue, Long 1329, Box 0130 

San Francisco, California 94143-0130 

mxiao@itsa.ucsf.edu 

Improvements on the TDI-FP SNP Genotyping Assay 

The TDI-FP (the template-directed dye-terminator incorporation assay with fluorescence polarization detection) is 

a homogeneous SNP genotyping assay. In the FP-TDI assay, the allele-specific dye terminators are incorporated 

onto an unlabeled SNP specific primer. The genotypes are inferred by the FP increase of dye terminators. FP 

detection works best when the reaction is driven into completion. The misincorporation of dye-terminators and 

the differential incorporation efficiency of two dye-terminators are the major reasons for the failure of the assay. 

We have optimized the assay by choosing two dye-terminators with equal incorporation efficiency and limiting the 

misincorporation.

12:00 pm Wednesday, February 4 Genomics – SNPs Room A1 

Tom Willis 

ParAllele BioScience, Inc. 

384 Oyster Point Boulevard Suite 8 

South San Francisco, California 94080 

tom@p-gene.com 

101 

Co-Author(s) 

Malek Faham, Paul Hardenbol, 

Maneesh Jain, Eugeni Namsaraev, 

George Karlin-Neumann, Hosssein Fakhrai Rad, 

Mostafa Ronaghi, Ronald W. Davis 

Comprehensive Genetic Analysis Using Highly Multiplexed SNP Discovery and Genotyping 

The elucidation of complex genetic traits increasingly necessitates comprehensive genetic analysis. 

Comprehensive coverage of the human genome is required in order to unlock the potential of association studies. 

At the same time allelic heterogeneity will necessitate comprehensive discovery of alleles within genes in order to 

capture the contribution of collections of rare alleles to the phenotype (e.g., BRCA mutations for breast cancer). 

New technologies are needed to address these fundamental challenges to human genetics. ParAllele BioScience 

has developed a set of technologies that enable such comprehensive coverage by providing a flexible platform 

that enables tens of thousands of interrogations to occur within a single tube reaction. The authors have used 

the concept of Molecular Inversion Probes (MIP) to build a SNP scoring technology that allows allele specific 

amplification of oligo probes through a process of self inversion. These molecular inversion probes can be 

multiplexed to the level of over 10,000 SNP calls per assay. Whole genome analysis is being enabled by this 

technology. In order to capture the important information from rare alleles and private mutation, a high throughput 

variation scanning technology has also been developed. This technology exploits the exquisite sensitivity of 

bacterial DNA repair to produce a multiplexed assay that allows thousands of DNA fragments to be sorted into 

those that contain mutations and those that do not. This technique, called Mismatch Repair Detection (MRD), 

allows comprehensive SNP discovery in patient populations. We have built a comprehensive genome analysis 

platform around these concepts by incorporating a molecular tagging strategy to allow robust detection of 

thousands of allele specific amplicons using a robust, generic chip platform. We believe that this technology will 

bring comprehensive association studies within reach by greatly reducing the cost and sample requirements of 

SNP discovery and genotyping. Multiplexed genotyping and SNP discovery results are discussed and performance 

metrics presented. 

3:30 pm Wednesday, February 4 Genomics – Informatics Room A1 

Terrence Smallmon 

LabVantage Solutions 

2355 Menard Street 


tsmallmon@labvantage.com 

The Benefits of a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) in Genomics 

A genomic LIMS must streamline the data flow beyond the four walls of the laboratory. By centralizing all 

information about a sample, and relating it to other scientific information, scientists can improve productivity as 

well as the quality of information. The key benefits of a Genomics LIMS are: 

• Provides complete traceability of every sample. 

• Can acquire, integrate and manage multiple sources of dynamic and static data across the enterprise. 

• Reduces the amount of clerical work done by highly trained professionals – allows scientists to do more science. 

• Provides seamless integration with public/private databases. 

• Integrates with the solutions of your choice for scientific data interpretation and analysis. 

• Supports 21 CFR Part 11 Compliance. 

• Increases communication throughout the organization. 

• Reduces the number of times data is transcribed, increasing the integrity of the data. 

• Eliminates the need for human interaction with automatic features to generate routine reports. 

We now know as scientists expand the world’s understanding of complex biological systems, the volume of 

analytical data will continue to rise. This talk will discuss how the Genomics LIMS allows the researcher to manage 

this data and optimize their discovery process. 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS


Andrei Verner 

McGill University and Genome Quebec Innovation Centre 

740, Doctor Penfield, #7506 

Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1A4 Canada 

andrei.verner@staff.mcgill.ca 

Feeding a Multiplatform Genome Center 

The McGill University and Genome Quebec Innovation Centre consists of 5 platforms that reflect the main 

directions in which genome research technology advanced in the last decade. These are: Genotyping, Sequencing, 

Chip, Proteomics, and Bioinformatics platforms. All the platforms function independently, but complement each 

other. The advantage of such architecture is that it allows for use of different approaches to tackle the same 

problem. The principle of mutually complementing approaches is also used within the Genotyping platform. 

Many novel methods of genotyping emerged recently, including those for Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) 

genotyping. In our Center SNP-genotyping may be done using 3 different methods. However, none of these SNPgenotyping 

techniques have become an obvious method-of-choice, mainly because of a big variety of incoming 

parameters. The best strategy depends on multiple factors, including the number of DNA samples, the number of 

SNPs to score, the turnaround time, etc. Thus, the old technological conflict between flexibility and speed became 

the problem of genomics. However, a combination of different techniques provides the recipe for success. 


Roger McIntosh 

Silicon Valley Scientific 

P.O. Box 66749 

Scotts Valley, California 95067 

roger@mcintosh.com 

Open Interfacing for Lab Automation 

This talk describes the design issues and development challenges during the three year development and 

deployment of a comprehensive lab automation software platform that uses XML and web services as its data 

interchange mechanism. Alternate data exchange formats, including SOAP, CORBA, and DCOM, will be discussed. 

Contrasts and comparisons of our approach with such alternate data interchange mechanisms, standardized 

data formats, and open interfaces will be discussed. This talk should provide significant insight to any group 

contemplating design and adoption of XML or web service based automation standards in the lab, particularly for 

robot and instrument automation. Scheduling and control issues will also be discussed. 

102


Dave Riling 

DataCentric Automation 

2525 Perimeter Place Drive, Suite 131 

Nashville, Tennessee 37214 

dave.riling@dcacorp.com 

The Changing Face of Lab Automation 

103 

Co-Author(s) 

Greg Nordstrom 

DataCentric Automation 

Onkar Singh 


As technology evolves, automation equipment becomes more and more capable and flexible. With this growing 

wealth of capability the demand by the scientist to conduct experiments faster, easier, and with higher reliability 

is also growing. This duality is creating a new paradigm in laboratory automation, “Solution Based Systems”. 

The traditional laboratory piece wise robotics with a non-coupled LIMS environment is rapidly being replaced 

with systems designed to incorporate various pieces of equipment to solve specific problems such as High 

Throughput Screen Systems or Automated Protein Crystallization Systems, but this merely marks the beginning 

of a broader shift in laboratory automation trends. Innovations in lab automation systems continue at a rapid 

rate thus today’s state of art is tomorrow’s closet junk. In order to break this cycle and provide workable cost 

effective solutions for the drug discovery arena a radical approach is emerging, Highly Adaptive Integrated Solution 

Environments which strongly couple the ease of experiment modification with comprehensive data collection and 

analysis methods to integrated lab automation solution based systems. This talk will focus on this emerging trend, 

discuss the advantages of this new environment for both scientist and engineer, and describe how to get your lab 

ready to push the envelope without large upfront costs or long-term paralysis in selecting new and replacement 

equipment. This talk will conclude with a discussion on how this new trend will benefit the scientist through 

automated optimization algorithms which are described in an actual implementation of a hybrid Automated Protein 

Crystallization System. 

8:00 am Thursday, February 5 Genomics – Arrays Room A1 

J. Colin Cox 

University of Texas 

1 University Station, A4800 

Austin, Texas 78712-0159 

j.colin.cox@mail.utexas.edu 

Co-Author(s) 

Travis S. Bayer 

Jim Collett 

Andrew D. Ellington 

Automated Aptamer Selection: Applications in RNA: Protein Sequence Specificity, and 

Aptamer-chip Microarrays 

In vitro selection and evolution is incredibly adept at producing nucleic acid binding species (aptamers). Like 

antibodies, these nucleic acid aptamers typically interact with their ligands with exceptionally high specificity and 

affinity. Their potential utility become even more evident when one considers the astonishingly large range of target 

ligands. Aptamers have been generated to bind ligands ranging from small ions to rat tails. Nucleic acid species 

can be manually evolved in significantly less time than required for antibody production. Regardless, typical 

selections can take upwards of weeks to a few months to finish. Our laboratory has pioneered the process of 

automating in vitro selection, facilitating the creation of aptamers in mere days. This ability bodes well for the rapid 

development of both large-scale aptamer-based evolutionary specificity studies as well as nucleic acid-based 

biosensor arrays. Presented herein are examples of these two branches of aptamer employment. Aptamers are 

uniquely suited for determining sequence recognition motifs of nucleic-acid binding proteins. We have explored the 

natural diversity of RNA binding peptides and proteins by investigating arginine-rich RNA binding motifs (ARMs) 

from eukaryotes, prokaryotes, and viruses that infect both. In addition, we have engineered several mutations 

of the human spliceosomal U1A protein and evolved aptamers to each mutant in order to elucidate nucleic-acid 

sequence:protein sequence binding “rules”. Finally, we have created novel aptamer-array chips that function 

similarly to traditional DNA-array chips. Aptamers on chips bind ligands as they would in solution, and these 

biosensing chips allow for the parallel measurement of multiple aptamer-ligand binding investigations. 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS


Jon Chudyk 

Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation 

1000 N. Oak Avenue ML7 

Marshfield, Wisconsin 54449 

chudykj@cmg.mfldclin.edu 

Co-Author(s) 

Terry L. Rusch, Kim Fieweger, William Dickinson, Jian Che 

Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation 

104 

Mitchel J. Doktycz, Adong Yu, James L. Weber 

Oak Ridge National Laboratory 

Microtape and Associated Instrumentation for Continuous Array High Throughput 

Genotyping 

Lower cost, higher throughput genotyping is a common goal among genetics labs. Automation has greatly 

increased over the years, but still requires the manipulation of numerous microtiter plates. Our laboratory is using 

a continuous reel of 384 well arrays on polypropylene tape (microtape) to genotype diallelic polymorphisms. 

Genotyping costs are lowered through more efficient automation of the microtape as compared with microtiter 

plate handling, as well as a reduction in reagent costs by decreasing reaction volumes. Our current version of 

microtape has wells with reaction volumes of 700 nanoliters or less. The diallelic polymorphisms are typed by 

tagging allele-specific PCR primers with FAM or JOE molecular beacon uniprimers. Both short insertion/deletion 

and base substitution (SNP) polymorphisms have been successfully typed in the microtape using this assay. 

Commercial equipment for the microtape is not presently available, therefore a series of instruments to handle the 

tape were developed in-house. A pipetting instrument was developed to deliver specific DNA samples or other 

reagents. A solenoid micro-valve aspirating and jetting unit was developed for dispensing a common reaction 

mix. The arrays are sealed with commercially available continuous roll seal material prior to polymerase chain 

reaction (PCR). PCR is performed in a waterbath-based thermal cycler. After PCR the arrays are read using 

an epi-fluorescence detection unit. The reader uses either an argon ion or solid state laser for excitation and 

photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) for detection. The results are analyzed using software written in-house. 


Andrey Ghindilis 

CombiMatrix Corporation 

6500 Harbour Heights Parkway Suite 301 

Mukilteo, Washington 98275 

aghindilis@combimatrix.com 

Immunoassays and Sequence-Specific DNA Detection on a Microchip Using Enzyme 

Amplified Electrochemical Detection 

Co-Author(s) 

Kilion Dill 

Kevin Schwarzkopf 

A CMOS fabricated silicon microchip was used as a platform for immunoassays and gene expression studies 

utilizing CombiMatrix’s unique DNA synthesis methodology. The chip is covered with a biofriendly matrix wherein 

the chemistries occur. The active silicon chip has over 1,000 active electrodes that can be individually addressed 

for both synthesis of DNA and protein attachment to a membrane on the chip surface. The active chip can be 

further used for the analysis of gene expression targets and detection of various analytes using antibody selfassembly 

immunoassay techniques.


Frank F. Bier 

Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering 

Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114-116 

Bergholz-Rehbruecke, 14558 Germany 

frank.bier@ibmt.fhg.de 

105 

Co-Author(s) 

Ralph Hölzel, Alexander Christmann, 

Nenad Gajovic-Eichelmann, Joerg Henkel, 

Markus von Nickisch-Rosenegk 

Nanoarrays – A Bottom-up Method to Create Nanometer Addressable Lateral Surface 

Structures by use of Nucleic Acids 

For many applications manufactured surfaces with engineered structures in the nano-meter range are desirable. 

The properties of nucleic acids makes them a perfect material for this purpose: Nucleic acids have a regular 

structure with a 0.34 nm period, through its sequence it is addressable in a nanometer range. This bottom-up 

technique will facilitate to construct nanometer scale “nanoarrays”. Technically, DNA-oligomers are immobilised 

on multiple points in an ordered way. It is important to retain its functionality, the ability to hybridise to a 

complementary nucleic acid or to get recognised by binding proteins. Longer DNA fragments are stretched and 

immobilised by hybridisation between a given structure of oligonucleotides in the µm range. Here we present 

and compare different approaches to realise this oligo-nucleotide structures. Employed techniques include 

micro painting, photochemistry, self-organised monolayers on metal surfaces and others. Of importance is the 

stretching of long DNA, that we facilitate by application of AC fields. Scanning probe microscopy (AFM and 

SNOM) and laser scanning microscopy (LSM) are used to analyse these structures. Beside possible applications 

of the DNA-modified surfaces as DNA arrays with in-gene resolution, it will provide a framework for building 

larger rational assemblies used e.g., in nanoarrays, coupled enzyme reactions or even DNA based computing and 

macromolecular machines. 

10:30 am Thursday, February 5 Genomics – Advanced Topics Room A1 

Simon Roberts 

DOE Joint Genome Institute 

2800 Mitchell Drive 

Walnut Creek, California 94583 

srroberts@lbl.gov 

Co-Author(s) 

Martin Pollard 

Increasing Instrumentation Availability by Using Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) 

Principles and Applying Them to Production Line Instrumentation at the DOE Joint 

Genome Institute 

Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) is a process used to determine systematically and scientifically what 

must be done to ensure that physical assets (Laboratory Instruments) continue to do what their users want them 

to do. Its key goals are to produce sustained and substantial improvements in instrument availability, reliability 

and product quality with the added benefits of improved safety and environmental integrity. The DNA sequencing 

production line at the Joint Genome Institute (JGI) is characterized by modular machine stations with stacks 

of microtiter plates moving between them. The DNA sequencer run-rate determines the throughput for the 

production line. JGI is currently producing up to 1.8 GB of sequence per month. The production instrumentation 

engineering goals focus on increasing the quality and reliability at each process step and allowing for maximum 

operator efficiency. This presentation will show how RCM principles have been implemented giving specific 

examples of instrument modifications made. It will also show what preventative maintenance actions we have 

instigated and the effects on instrument reliability & availability. This work was performed under the auspices of 

the US Department of Energy’s Office of Science, Biological and Environmental Research Program and the by the 

University of California, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract No. W-7405-Eng-48, Lawrence 

Berkeley National Laboratory under contract No. DE-AC03-76SF00098 and Los Alamos National Laboratory under 

contract No. W-7405-ENG-36. 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS


Sheri Olson 


850 Lincoln Center Drive 

Foster City, California 94404 

olsonsj@appliedbiosystems.com 

Co-Author(s) 

Lewis T. F. Wogan, Warren Tom, Charles Hsieh, Kyle Leinen 


106 

Gerri Shaw, Jim Shaw 

Bernard Shaw International 

Evaluation of High Throughput SNP Genotyping Lab Data Using FOCUS Statistical Software 

FOCUS statistical software (version 4.0) was used to evaluate daily processing efficiency and instrument 

functionality in a High Throughput Genotyping lab using the fluorogenic 5´ nuclease (TaqMan ® ) assay at Applied 

Biosystems. Laboratory processing data related to a specific customer project generated over thirty-five different 

processing days were recorded by an internally developed Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). 

The LIMS captured reagent, consumable, instrument and operator information. The LIMS data was merged with 

corresponding data from internally developed Genotyping analysis software to create Daily Query Results files 

(DQRs). The DQRs were uploaded into the FOCUS software and the FOCUS Pre-Processor tool was used to 

isolate specific factor sets to assess processing efficiency and instrument performance. In the High Throughput 

Genotyping lab at Applied Biosystems, automated liquid handling instrumentation is used to prepare the 

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) based TaqMan ® assay to evaluate Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in a 

384-well format. Consequently, the performance of the liquid handling automation has a significant impact on the 

genotyping results and on the efficiency of the overall genotyping process. Therefore, FOCUS statistical software 

was used to evaluate the liquid handling performance for each reaction plate processed as part of the customer 

project. Additionally, acceptance specifications incorporated in the Genotyping analysis software categorized the 

resulting genotype data with either a “passing” or “REDO” status. The FOCUS software also evaluated the results 

associated with a “REDO” status to calculate daily processing efficiencies.


Ralf Muckenhirn 

Fraunhofer IPA 

Nobel Strasse 12 

Stuttgart, 70569 Germany 

rhm@ipa.fhg.de 

107 

Co-Author(s) 

Philipp Dreiss 

Johann Dorner 

Akhauri P. Kumar 

Future Clinical Analysis: Component Based Framework for Modular Hardware and Software 

Integration of Different Clinical Equipment 

The Component Based Framework provides the mechanism to define the existing clinical equipment in form of 

hardware modules, which can be a combination of different analysis equipment performing specific operations 

or it can be, containers which carry the incoming and outgoing samples or it can be, manufacturing islands 

such as clinical equipments not integrated in the current Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS). 

Thus defined hardware modules can be clustered together with central handling system (cluster) responsible 

for transporting the samples to the individual modules (analysis equipments) These modules can be connected/ 

disconnected to/from the clusters dynamically, even in an ongoing analysis process. This allows the system 

wide scheduling to optimize and configure the analysis area based on the actual needs. In addition to this the 

Component Based Framework provides dedicated services such as: 

• centralized database to store sample information and its current position 

• centralized access rights management to establish equipment specific access rights configuration, 

• recipe management system to provide recipes on demand, 

• equipment management component to administrate the analysis equipment, 

• analysis planning unit providing connectivity to LIMS and translating incoming sample information to analysis 

area internal sample information, 

• scheduler component to interpret the internal information and to generate a schedule, 

• process management component to execute the analysis specific process recipes 

The presentation will show the hardware mapping of these modules by the software and the corresponding 

required software components as discussed above to show the easy and rapid deployment of such frameworks 

allowing a very high degree of flexibility in sense of adaptation to new analysis steps. 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS

3:00 pm Tuesday, February 3 Clinical – Proteomics Room C1 

Daniel W. Chan 

Johns Hopkins University 

600 N. Wolfe Street 

Baltimore, Maryland 21287 

dchan@jhmi.edu 

Clinical Proteomics 2004 

The future clinical diagnostics will be expected to provide more clinically useful information and cost less. Is 

Proteomics the answer? In United States, one in four deaths is caused by cancer. Since cancer is a proteomic 

disease, the study of cancer proteomics not only allow us to better understand the biology of cancer, but it 

also provide us the opportunities to identify the dysfunctional protein as potential target for therapy and protein 

biomarkers for cancer diagnostics. Since cancer is heterogeneous, it is unlikely that a single biomarker or protein 

could be used to achieve its full clinical potentials, such as screening, detection, prediction or monitoring of 

cancer therapy. Maximum clinical usefulness is likely to require a panel of biomarkers. New approaches to identify 

biomarkers that could be used individually or in combination for cost-effective screening of diseases are urgently 

needed. My presentation will focus on the use of surface-enhanced laser desorption-ionization (SELDI) protein 

chips coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF). Because large amounts of data are often 

generated, the effective and appropriate use of bioinformatics tools become critical to analyze the expression data 

and to avoid selecting biomarkers whose performances are influenced mostly by non-disease related artifacts in 

the data. 

In summary, the combination of proteomics and bioinformatics tools could facilitate the identification of proteins of 

clinical interest. I will present some of our work at the Johns Hopkins Biomarker Discovery Center and the HUPO 

plasma proteome initiative. 


Keith Ashman 

MDS Sciex 

71 Valley Drive 

Concord, Ontario, L4K 4V8 Canada 

keith.ashman@sciex.com 

Combining LC and MALDI Mass Spectrometry: A Way to a Simpler Workflow? 

108 

Co-Author(s) 

Chris Lock 

It will be shown that while the benefits of LC fractionation prior to MALDI analysis for even single protein digests 

are evident, the real gains are made in the analysis of highly complex samples such as serum, containing dozens 

of peptides from multiple proteins. Signal suppression and competition during the ionisation process will severely 

limit the coverage obtainable if such samples undergo a single spot MALDI analysis. The benefits of separation 

also extend to MS/MS analysis. Sample longevity is always a consideration when many MS/MS acquisitions 

are required, but by spreading the peptides across many sample spots the number of obtainable MS/MS 

spectra before all sample is consumed increases greatly.The decoupling of the MALDI ionisation process from 

the TOF analyser in the o-MALDI 2 QSTAR XL mass spectrometer enables the instrument to demonstrate and 

maintain superb mass accuracy and sensitivity in both MS and MS/MS modes of operation. Internal calibrants 

are unnecessary and the sample surface morphology has no impact on instrument performance (an important 

consideration in LC/ MALDI where the organic composition and hence morphology of each sample spot as it dries 

will vary). This also allows a variety of sample preparation devices to be used. These benefits will be of signifcant 

advantage as mass spectrometric techniques become more widely used in the search for and use of disease 

markers for clinical diagnostics. Especially if the sample preparation methods are both simple and automated.


Larry Gold 

SomaLogic, Inc. 

1745 38th Street 

Boulder, Colorado 80301 

lgold@somalogic.com 

Protein Arrays: Movement Toward Clinical Value 

Multiplexed photoaptamer-based arrays have been developed for candidate human proteins. Photoaptamers are 

comprised of single-stranded nucleic acids and function as though they were antibodies, except that they are able 

to bind covalently to an intended protein. Photoaptamer arrays allow for the simultaneous measurement of proteins 

of interest in serum samples or other biological matrices. Since photoaptamers are covalently bound to their target 

analytes before signal detection, the arrays can be vigorously washed to remove background proteins, yielding 

superior signal-to-noise ratios and thus very low limits of detection. Photoaptamers recognize conformational 

protein epitopes and thus may be used to distinguish closely related proteins, including different members of 

the same protein family; apo/holo forms of cofactor-dependent proteins may also be distinguished. Initial arrays 

target proteins involved in angiogenesis and inflammation, two biological processes that are involved in a large 

number of disease states. The multiplexed array measurements were used to assess differences between sera 

collected from normal and diseased patients. Three diseased states were examined: stomach cancer, lung cancer, 

and Crohn’s disease. The data revealed differential protein profiles between the various diseased and normal 

sample populations. Protein distribution profiles for the multiplexed array data will be presented. These results 

are the beginnings of disease signature work in which disease states may be diagnosed by measuring a suite of 

proteins in serum samples. SomaLogic photoaptamer arrays may be used for basic research, for critical protein 

measurements during drug development and clinical trials, or for true in vitro diagnostics. 


Larry Kricka 

University of Pennsylvania Medical Center 

3400 Spruce Street 


kricka@mail.med.upenn.edu 

Current Status of Microdevices in the Clinical Laboratory 

The different types of microchips (microfluidic chips, biochips, bioelectronic chips, protein and DNA microarrays) 

are the subject of intense research and development activity in the analytical sciences. Microchips are produced 

using manufacturing techniques originally developed in the microelectronics (e.g., photolithography) and in the 

printing industry (e.g., ink jetting). Capillary electrophoresis microchips chips, protein and DNA microarrays, and 

patch-clamp microchips provide examples of early successes in the commercialization of microchip devices. 

These chips have demonstrated the benefits of microminiaturization of analytical techniques – namely downsizing 

of sample, reagents and controls, more rapid and convenient assays, and integration of all of the steps in an 

analytical process on a single chip (the so-called “lab-on-a-chip”). But, despite this progress, many challenges 

remain before there can be widespread and routine implementation of micro-analytical devices. These include 

surface chemistry effects in the sub-microliter confines of a microchip chamber, the interface between the

8:00 am Wednesday, February 4 Clinical – POC Room C1 

James Nichols 

Baystate Health System 

759 Chestnut Street 

Springfield, Massachusetts 01199 

james.nichols@bhs.org 

Reducing Medical Errors at the Point-of-Care 

Recent news has popularized the rate of medical errors, citing as many as 44,000-98,000 deaths annually. While 

many of these errors are medication related, the laboratory is not excluded. The analytical nature of laboratory 

personnel situates our career as a prime consultant on hospital quality improvement teams. This presentation will 

define strategies to better identify potential errors and develop systems to minimize the effects of errors. Point-ofcare 

testing, or laboratory testing performed at or near the site of patient care, will be utilized to exemplify quality 

assurance issues that have wide applicability to effective selection of tests, and the interpretation and utilization of 

test results in general. A recent Office of the Inspector General report indicates that as many as 50% of physician 

office laboratories do not currently meet minimal federal CLIA guidelines for laboratory testing. What is the benefit 

to the patient of obtaining a faster POCT result if the quality of the result is questionable? The role of information 

management will be stressed as means of not only automating quality documentation and error reduction, but 

in result data-mining and formation of clinical knowledge bases which can assist in the development of practice 

guidelines, outlining the most effective pathways to measurable patient outcomes and the integration of laboratory 

testing in those pathways. 


Randall Roy 

Affiliated Laboratory, Inc. 

489 State Street 

Bangor, Maine 04401 

rroy@emh.org 

Implementation of POC Web Connectivity 

For how many years have you been preaching the virtues of connectivity for all Point of Care testing? How many 

articles have you read and how many seminars have you attended that have vehemently supported the goals of 

connectivity? How many times have you, as a POCT coordinator pushed your vendors of POCT instruments to 

provide a connectivity element with every instrument? Anyone who has been on the laboratory front for some time 

knows that this has been a goal for almost 15 years. We have experienced the glacial movement of the industry 

and have been frustrated by the lack of response. The pioneers and eternal optimist with a dominant technology 

gene in our ranks decided that the industry would not move forward until we provided specific information about 

what we wanted. So a committee was formed to accomplish this task. The task was completed quickly. The 

turnaround time was enough to impress any Emergency Department physician. The National Committee for Clinical 

Laboratory Standards published the standards. We are still waiting, but we are getting close.The most promising 

and least expensive technology is web-based connectivity. The State of Maine promotes itself with the saying, 

“Maine, the way life should be.” This is the message and experience I have had in connecting seven hospitals, two 

dialysis centers and one out reach center spread across 200 miles of Maine. “Web-based connectivity, the way 

POCT should be.” 

110


Louis Dunka 

LifeScan 

1000 Gibraltar Drive 

Milpitas, California 95035-6314 

ldunka@lfsus.jnj.com 

Clinical Outcomes From Point of Care Connectivity 

Several studies have been reported which demonstrate the benefits of Point of Care Connectivity in the areas of 

workflow, regulatory compliance and financail outcomes. Efforts over the past few years have resulted in standards 

for interfaces for Point of Care devices. At the same time, multi-analyte vendor nuetral data management systems 

have become available. The confluence of these events has resulted in a an opportunity to look at data at both 

the data manager level and the Lab Information Sytem level to understand how better patient outcomes can be 

achieved. Examples of these efforts to turn data into actionable information include examination of insulin dosing 

practices on patients with diabetes at two hospitals, using data from the LIS, resulting in a significant simplifaction 

of standard practices, resulting in better patient care. In another example, data was extracted from the LIS to 

compare lab glucose results to results obtained on patients home blood glucose monitors within a 10 minute 

period in an outpatient clinic. This allowed an assessment of the comparability of the results and a retraining of the 

patient or replacement of the blood glucose monitor, where necessary. A third study looked at when glucose tests 

had been performed by the lab and by fingerstick at the patient’s bedside within 15 minutes of each other. Analysis 

of the data allowed a change in standard practice which allowed the hospital to minimize the number of times a 

patient is tested. 


Frederick Kiechle 

William Beaumont Hospital 

3601 W. 13 Mile 

Royal Oak, Michigan 48073 

fkiechle@beaumont.edu 

Compliance, Connectivity, and POCT 

111 

Co-Author(s) 

Leana Salka 

Recently we implemented POCT connectivity using the Remote Automated Laboratory System (RALS Plus), 

which linked 61 glucose testing sites, 120 glucose meters, and 3,500 operators to a data management system. To 

determine the impact of connectivity on the glucose POCT program, software features such as operator lockout, 

quality control lockout, and the labor cost for the POCT coordinator were evaluated for a period of 3 months 

before and after its implementation. Operator and quality control lockout decreased nursing labor costs by $45.44 

every 3 months and POCT coordinator labor costs by $760.89 every 3 months. RALS Plus software reduced 

the labor cost of managing the Inform glucose meter database. The POCT coordinator’s labor cost to download 

updated data manually from the laptop to the Accu-Data GTS was reduced by $1,043.79. RALS Plus was 

interfaced bidirectionally with the hospital information system. When the Inform database is docked in the base 

unit, the results download automatically using an infrared sensor to the hospital information system, thus reducing 

clerical errors associated with manual result entry and labor costs to nursing by $32,627.90 every 3 months and 

to the POCT coordinator by $468.24 every 3 months. In conclusion, POC connectivity reduces error, increases 

program compliance, and decrease POCT coordinator and nursing costs. POC connectivity resulted in a total 

annual cost savings of $119,095.00 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS

10:30 am Wednesday, February 4 Clinical – Molecular Diagnostic Room C1 

Guido Baechler 

Roche Molecular Systems 

4300 Hacienda Drive 


guido.baechler@roche.com 

NAT Automation – Enabling Transformation of Molecular Technology From Research to IVD 

Today, nucleic acid testing (NAT) is mainly performed in highly technical labs. Less than 6.5% of the hospital based 

clinical diagnostic labs worldwide perform NAT. Some of the key factors that prevent a wider utilization of NAT 

technology include the highly technical skill level required, the need for additional, dedicated laboratory space and 

the need to acquire additional equipment. Appropriate automation will serve to overcome the technical hurdles 

while helping to solve the economic hurdles for wider utilization of NAT in the marketplace.“NAT Automation – 

Enabling transformation of molecular technology from Research to IVD” will introduce you to the current market 

trends in NAT testing, outline key economic drivers and the opportunity for automation. The presentation will focus 

on the laboratory requirements needed to perform NAT testing and how Roche Diagnostics has overcome the 

challenges of automation to enable a wider utilization of the NAT technology. 


Hasnah Hamdan 

Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute 

33608 Ortega Highway 

San Juan Capistrano, California 92690 

hamdanh@questdiagnostics.com 

High Throughput Molecular Infectious Diseases Tests in the Routine Clinical Laboratory 

Environment 

Molecular tests for infectious diseases require extraction and amplification of nucleic acid and detection of 

amplified products. Numerous factors must be considered when automating nucleic acid tests (NATs) for the 

clinical laboratory: types of infectious agents, types of specimens, handling and exposure to infectious material, 

contamination control, and use of different amplification methods. Currently, only a few NATs have been FDA 

cleared for infectious diseases. Moreover, these tests are either not automated or only semi-automated. Most 

existing automation systems for infectious disease NATs are for the amplification and detection processes; limited 

automation is available for nucleic acid extraction, which is the most labor-intensive and challenging of all the 

processes in NATs. Some solutions for automating NATs for the infectious disease laboratory will be presented. 

112


Jeffrey Allen 

Gen-Probe, Inc. 

10210 Genetic Center Drive 


jeffa@gen-probe.com 

Process Control With Automated NAAT Systems 

Molecular diagnostic assays entering the clinical laboratory are rapidly increasing in number. However clinical 

laboratories are experiencing an ever increasing shortage of highly skilled personnel necessary to run these 

molecular methods which require significant “hands-on” technique. Automation of nucleic acid amplification testing 

(NAAT) offers a solution that simultaneously addresses both increasing testing volume and acute labor shortage. 

Yet automation alone is insufficient to address the concerns facing the clinical lab or blood testing facility. For 

many laboratories, the quality of the results, i.e., “process control” particularly for NAAT assays, has taken on 

greater importance than overall sample through-put. New systems for molecular testing must not only save labor, 

but have design features incorporated which provide system performance “checks” throughout the process. While 

many clinical chemistry analyzers can determine if sufficient sample volume is present in the primary tube, next 

generation platforms must confirm sufficient sample was transferred to the reaction vessel. Molecular techniques 

compound the technical challenges in implementing process control, to help ensure quality results, due to the 

extreme sensitivities inherent with NAAT and the resulting potential for contamination. Gen-Probe, Incorporated 

is currently developing the TIGRIS DTS system which is the first system that not only automates NAAT 

procedures, but also provides extensive process control design features (such as: “Reagent Dispense Verification”), 

that confirm the assay result integrity. Both hardware and software design features will be reviewed to illustrate 

how process control can be implemented with systems capable of detecting less than 100 copies of nucleic acid 

target sequence in a clinical sample. 

12:00 pm Wednesday, February 4 Clinical – Molecular Diagnostic Room C1 

Zhili Lin 

Pediatrix Screening, Inc. 

90 Emerson Lane, Suite 1403 

Bridgeville, Pennsylvania 15017 

zlin@neogenscreening.com 

113 

Co-Author(s) 

Joseph G. Suzow 

Jamie M. Fontaine 

Edwin W. Naylor 

Primary DNA-based Newborn Screening of Sickle Cell Disease and Hemoglobinopathy 

For a population-based newborn screening program, challenges exist in using technological advances to improve 

the quality and efficiency of the existing screening program and to develop new diagnostic capabilities. A newly 

developed genotyping method for screening of common mutations within the beta-globin gene is described 

here. This genotyping system consists of three major components: an automation system for high throughput 

DNA extraction and PCR setup, a conventional thermal cycler, and a LightTyper instrument for post-PCR melting 

temperature analysis. Briefly, genomic DNA is extracted from dried blood on a filter paper using the common 

chemicals methanol and Tris buffer. Genetic fragments of interest are amplified by asymmetric PCR. Fluorescent 

labeled probes are added during PCR setup, which eliminates the need for any post-PCR sample handling 

process. Melting temperature analysis is achieved through fluorescent resonance energy transfer (FRET) reaction 

using the LightTyper instrument. The assay is designed to simultaneously detect three common beta-globin 

mutations, S(A173T), C(G172A), and E(G232A), and can identify any of the eight possible genotypes in a single 

reaction: AA, AE, EE, AS, SC, SS, AC, and CC (A represents wild type allele). The method was validated with a 

large number of samples in both a retrospective and parallel study. Results were compared to those obtained by 

isoelectric focusing electrophoresis. The accuracy of this genotyping method is greater than 99%. 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS

3:30 pm Wednesday, February 4 Clinical – Informatics I Room C1 

John Saulenas 

MEDITECH 

One MEDITECH Circle 

Westwood, Massachusetts 02090 

jsaulenas@meditech.com 

Autoverification: Paving the Path to Efficiency and Quality 

Clinical laboratories face an ever-increasing workload, a decreasing staff of skilled technologists, and the neverending 

requirement to “do more with less.” As a result, many laboratories are looking for ways to stream-line 

their processes. Automated solutions for the pre-analytical and analytical processes of the laboratory have been 

implemented ; Autoverification, also referred to as autorelease or autovalidation, is a post-analytical process that 

has been available for nearly a decade but has not been adopted in many laboratories. Autoverification uses 

computerized rules to review laboratory data, release results to the healthcare information system and determine 

which results need further review by a technologist. If implemented correctly, autoverification can significantly 

improve a laboratory’s quality and efficiency. Attendees will come away with a better understanding of how 

autoverification can be used to improve patient safety, enhance the working environment for laboratory staff and 

facilitate better patient care. 


Leo Serrano 

West Tennessee Healthcare 

708 West Forest Avenue 

Jackson, Tennessee 38301 

leo.serrano@wth.org 

Autoverification of Laboratory Results – A Real Life Perspective 

The presentation will discuss the processes, instrumentation issues, requirements and benefits of 

autoverification of lab results in a real clinical setting. Issues discussed will include processes and metrics 

before the implementation of autoverification, the stepwise implementation of autoverification, the selection of 

instrumentation, including the criteria for autoverification in the various disciplines of the lab. Metrics will be 

presented showing the improvement in performance and productivity 

114


David Velasquez 

Mills-Peninsula Health Services 

1783 El Camino Real 

Burlingame, California 94010 

velasqd@sutterhealth.org 

Autoverification and Regulatory Issues: The Rules and Regulations According to CLIA, CAP, 

and the California Department of Health Services 

Autoverification is rapidly becoming the industry standard for post-analytic processing and quality enhancements. 

In the highly regulated world of Clinical Laboratories it is important for medical and technical leadership to 

understand the various regulations and how they apply to autoverification. Because CLIA regulations for 

autoverification are not clearly delineated and fall loosely under the Medical Director’s discretion, caution must 

be exercised when implementing autoverification. The College of American Pathologists has developed very 

clear standards for the implementation and oversight of autoverification systems. The CAP has deemed authority 

for CLIA regulations and therefore a careful overlap in the two sets of rules can assist a lab in developing and 

implementing autoverification systems with regulatory assurance. Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations 

contains language that is prohibiting the implementation of autoverification in the State of California. We will review 

the history of these regulations and look into the future of a changing California Laboratory industry. 


William Neeley 

Detroit Medical Center 

4201 St. Antoine 3E-1, UHC 

Detroit, Michigan 48201 

wneeley@dmc.org 

Post-Analytic Intelligent Systems vs. Autoverification: The Future 

Over the last decade, autoverification has proven itself to enhance the timely delivery of results, save labor and 

improve overall laboratory efficiency. Although autoverification is now being used by large numbers of laboratories, 

its full potential has not been fully realized because it fails to meet with the expectations of the medical leadership 

of most laboratories. In most cases, the algorithms are pedestrian and relegated to simple testing for high and low 

limits per individual test. Similarly, delta testing is also limited to evaluation by individual test. The next generation 

of software will be post-analytic intelligent systems that are able to handle more complex algorithms allowing for 

evaluations of the relationships between multiple tests as well as taking into account the prior results of multiple 

tests. Delta testing will be included in the complex algorithms. As these algorithms develop, it is very important 

that they also have the ability to be customized to meet the needs of their laboratories based on their physician 

requirements and their patient mix. Future enhancements will include the ability to provide custom solutions – by 

physician – based on the physician’s particular needs and interests. Communication with physicians will be done 

automatically via email, pager, hand-held device or other means of choice. The notification criteria will be tailored 

to meet an individual physician’s needs, optimal times and desired frequency. The next generations of post-analytic 

intelligent software will provide significant improvements and benefits for our patients, physicians and laboratories 

over the current versions of autoverification. 

115 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS

8:00 am Thursday, February 5 Clinical – Informatics 2 Room C1 

Charles Hawker 

ARUP Laboratories, Inc. 

500 Chipeta Way 

Salt Lake City, Utah 84108 

hawkercd@aruplab.com 

The Role of Information Systems in Automation in a Large Reference Laboratory 

ARUP, a large national esoteric reference laboratory, averages 20,000 specimens per day for nearly 2500 different 

tests. Since 1998, we have employed a 2000 tube/hour MDS AutoLab automated transport/sorting system and 

an internally developed information system called Expert Specimen Processing (ESP). Since implementation 5 

years ago, and despite more than doubling in size, we have improved productivity by 23%, saving an estimated 62 

full time employee equivalents. We have reduced median turn-around time (TAT) by 15%, 95th percentile TAT by 

18%, and lost specimens by 68%. To meet further significant growth, we expanded the AutoLab system to 4000 

tubes/hour. We implemented a Motoman robotic sorter for transferring specimens from the AutoLab system to 

stainless steel trays for archival storage, an SK Daifuku automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) in a -20 C 

freezer that holds >5200 such trays, and a Motoman robotic archive picker that picks requested tubes from trays 

and delivers them in small plastic racks to users outside the freezer. The combined retrieval speed of the AS/RS 

and the robotic picker is 1.25 minutes for any single tube among potentially 2.35 million stored tubes. Customized 

information systems were provided by AutoLab, SK Daifuku, and Motoman for their automation systems. These 

are interfaced to ESP, which is the primary controlling system. ESP is also interfaced to our LIS which is Pathnet 

3.06 (Cerner). Many modifications were made to these software systems to improve their usefulness and to 

increase the productivity of our employees. 


Marcy Anderson 

Medical Automation Systems 

7880 Manor Drive 

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17112 

manderson@rals.com 

Clinical Informatics – “Middleware” 

116 

Co-Author(s) 

Charles Hawker, ARUP Laboratories, Inc. 

Jay B. Jones, Geisinger Health System 

Hunter Bagwell, Roche Diagnostics 

Point of Care Testing (POCT) Connectivity and Data Management is a growing field. Glucose and other POCT 

devices embrace this method of capturing data as one of the product’s standard features. Results obtained 

from these devices can be managed in several ways. Patient results need to ultimately be placed on the patient 

permanent medical record. Quality Control information needs to be effectively managed to ensure accuracy 

and regulatory compliance. To efficiently run a comprehensive program, it is important to know what features of 

a connectivity solution will meet the needs of your institution. In addition, the hurdles of implementing several 

POCT devices into one’s POCT program need to be defined. These can include (but are not limited to) regulatory 

compliance, managing the use of correct patient identification, and managing the use of correct operator ids. With 

a data management/connectivity solution these obstacles can be minimized. This discussion will provide insight on 

choosing a connectivity package, implementing it effectively, and growing with it to meet the challenges of running 

a successful POCT program.


Hunter Bagwell 

Roche Diagnostics 

9115 Hague Road 

P.O. Box 50457 

Indianapolis, Indiana 46250-0457 

hunter.bagwell@roche.com 

Middleware Solutions – Optimizing People, Processes, and Platforms 

Today’s laboratory faces more challenges and tighter financial scrutiny than ever before. While workloads are 

increasing and reimbursements are declining, labs are expected to find qualified personnel from a shrinking labor 

pool while trying to grow volumes with limited resources. As an answer to these issues, Roche Diagnostics has 

developed Middleware Solutions. Middleware Solutions powered by Data Innovations connects your existing LIS 

and instrumentation allowing you to automate information and fill the gaps in your current information system. By 

providing advanced features such as auto verification you can eliminate up to 80% of the labor associated with 

results review and allowing better utilization of your scarce resources. The advanced archiving package allows you 

to find samples in less than a minute, saving you over 60% of the labor associated with retrieving samples and 

removing mundane tasks. At the heart of the system is rules based decision processing. Rules are constructed 

through an easy-to-use graphical user interface that allows you to build compound IF / THEN statements to 

customize your information workflow. This allows you to incorporate your client’s testing criteria automatically 

providing tailored solutions for your customers. Bottom line, Middleware Solutions from Roche Diagnostics allows 

you to quickly optimize the performance of your people, processes and platforms without added complexity. 


Jay Burton Jones 

Geisinger Health System 

Geisinger Medical Center 01-31 

Danville, Pennsylvania 17821-0131 

JBuJones@geisinger.edu 

Data Mining From the LIS With Simple PC Tools 

A practical, accessible, and user friendly “data mining” toolset is described that extracts 15 designated data 

fields from the Laboratory Information System (LIS) via a Crystal ad hoc report writer and exports comma 

delimited (.csv) files to a network secure PC. These extracted clinical lab results are “data mined” with MS Access 

and MS Excel and subsequently graphed in standard MS Excel format. Histogrammed clinical lab data assists 

in verifying reference ranges (age/sex stratified), judging utilization statistics, performing moving average quality 

control studies, and comparing analytical methods on actual patient data. “Data mined” population data from 

a large rural HMO will be presented for thyroid, lipid, diabetes, and point-of-care testing (POCT). LIS results 

(typically N=100 – 300K) are put through the Crystal extraction process in 1 – 3 hours and “data mined” at the PC 

workstation in 4 – 8 hours. The Crystal extraction process is automated and placed under user control. Since the 

LIS is the “source of truth” data warehouse for archived POCT as well as central laboratory results, “data mining” 

may help verify their relative accuracy. POCT glucose tests (y; N= 410K) are compared to central lab glucose 

tests (x; N=1.1M), sorted for those tested on the same patient within 10 minutes (N= 14.3K), and correlated in 

MS Excel.(y = 0.99x + 5). These data suggest over-utilized glucose “double testing” and that real-time POCT 

may provide more useful real time information. These readily available “data mining” tools (essentially “back-end 

middleware”) may form the basis for peer comparison of LIS data in the future. 

117 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS

10:30 am Thursday, February 5 Clinical – Arrays Room C1 

John Walker 

GNF 

10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive 


walker@gnf.org 

Using Reference Gene Expression Datasets to Make Sense of Your Array Data 

118 

Co-Author(s) 

John Hogenesch, Andrew Su, 

Sergei Batalov, Michael Cooke, 

Jie Zhang 

Gene function is the major focus of Genomics research today. Where and under which conditions a gene is 

expressed can give information on its function. We have made a major effort in providing the public with gene 

expression data from normal human and rodent tissue. I will discuss how we and others have used this data to 

find genes responsible for human disease and mouse phenotypes. Construction and future potential uses of this 

data, as well as upcoming public data releases, will be discussed. 


John Palma 

Affymetrix, Inc. 

3380 Central Expressway 

Santa Clara, California 95051 

john_palma@affymetrix.com 

Molecular Tools Designed for the Clinic 

The completion of the draft sequence of the human genome, improvements in computing power and rapid 

advancements in microarray technology have accelerated the use of high density oligonucleotide microarrays. 

Researchers are maximizing the amount of information they can obtain from precious patient samples by carrying 

out genome wide analyses in a single experiment. In Affymetrix’ 12 years pioneering the field, it has driven the 

technology forward with marked improvements in reproducibility, sensitivity and information content per array. 

As a testament to the acceptance and versatility of the technology, over 1400 research articles have been 

published based on GeneChip ® array data, with over 600 in 2002. Consistent with the single platform concept, 

the platform can now be used for a more biologically comprehensive approach to dissecting complex disease. 

Arrays are available for RNA and DNA analysis, with DNA analysis applications for both SNP genotyping and 

custom re-sequencing efforts. In order to move arrays into the clinical arena, a number of challenges have been 

identified. These include, scalability for high throughput applications, establishment of standards and guidelines, 

recommendations from professional societies, use in large clinical studies and trials, support from advocacy 

groups, competitive pricing and reimbursement. Microarrays, in conjunction with patient clinical parameters 

and sophisticated algorithms, present the opportunity to achieve an integrated treatment approach, taking 

advantage of all of the clues DNA, RNA and clinical information can provide. Information regarding advances in our 

technology, automation for high throughput array handling and efforts towards the development of guidelines and 

standards will be presented.


Richard Hockett 

Eli Lilly and Company 

Lilly Corporate Center 

Indianapolis, Indiana 46285 

hockett@lilly.com 

Clinical Validation of the Affymetrix Microarray and the Challenges Faced 

119 

Co-Author(s) 

Carmen Dumaual, Crystal Dotson, 

Sandra Kirkwood, Mark Farmen 

The use of microarray technology has resulted in a huge number of expression studies on human tissue. 

Identification of genes which better classify tumors, or even predict the likely response to therapy has been touted 

as a means to improve clinical outcome. Before microarrays can become common clinical tools, this technology 

must undergo a thorough validation and ultimately FDA review. We have begun to validate microarrays for use in 

clinical drug development and will discuss the validation plan, review validation data, and describe the numerous 

challenges faced during this exercise. 

1:30 pm Thursday, February 5 Clinical – Pharmacogenomics Room C1 

Audrey Papp 

Ohio State University 

5160 Graves Hall 

333 W. 10th. Avenue 

Columbus, Ohio 43210 

papp.2@osu.edu 

Potential Role of Pharmacogenomics in Reducing Risk of Adverse Reactions and 

Optimizing Therapy 

Co-Author(s) 

Wolfgang Sadée 

Numerous genes play a role in determining drug response in individual patients. Genetic variants may either affect 

drug efficacy or adverse effects. Adverse affects are often associated with polymorphisms in genes encoding 

metabolizing enzymes and transporters, or less frequently with drug receptors. On the other hand, drug efficacy 

may depend upon genes that also function as susceptibility factors in disease. We focus on drug efficacy 

in complex disorders, including coronary artery disease, CNS disorders, and cancer, each involving multiple 

candidate genes. As a general approach we analyze genetic variations in multiple candidate genes in clinical 

association studies. Multiple polymorphisms (mostly single nucleotide polymorphisms) per gene are measured 

to determine the main haplotypes in a population, followed by functional analysis of mRNA processing, and 

protein analysis as feasible. Haplotypes are either inferred by statistical methods, or are measured experimentally. 

This approach requires high throughput genotyping of numerous polymorphisms in large patient and control 

populations. In addition, quantitative analysis of alleles in DNA and mRNA is necessary. We present methods 

capable of addressing these complex problems, and show select results on association of candidate gene 

haplotypes with clinical phenotypes. 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS


Carl Yamashiro 

Amersham Biosciences 

3200 W. Germann Road 

Chandler, Arizona 85248 

carl.yamashiro@amersham.com 

120 

Co-Author(s) 

Buena Chui, M. Roxane Bonner, Michael Gaskin, 

Penny Gwynne, Jeffrey Winick, Arkadiy Silbergleit 


Annalee Ledesma 


Population Studies Using Enhanced Version of the CodeLink P450 SNP Bioarrays Yield 

New and Novel Genotype and Haplotype Frequency Data 

A significant part of variation in drug efficacy and safety is of a hereditary nature, and for many instances can 

be traced down to polymorphisms in genes involved in drug metabolism. Establishing correlations between 

drug metabolizing phenotypes and P450 genotypes and haplotypes will facilitate the drug discovery process, 

make clinical trials safer, and provide the next step to personalized medicine. CodeLink SNP bioarrays from 

Amersham Biosciences are robust tools for broad-based single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping, which 

can be used in linkage mapping or candidate gene profiling. The assay is simple, straightforward, and highly 

efficient assay with high throughput capabilities. For SNP detection, CodeLink platform uses enzymatic allele 

specific extension (ASE) of oligonucleotide probes. Templates for ASE are generated by highly specific long-range 

multiplex PCR, despite high DNA homology within the P450 gene subfamilies, followed by amplicon purification 

and fragmentation. The genotyping assay has been streamlined and simplified for facile handling and more rapid 

time to results. CodeLink SNP P450 bioarrays allow for genotyping of 110 SNPs in nine genes: CYP1A1, CYP1A2, 

CYP1B1, CYP2C19, CYP2C9, CYP2D6, CYP2E, CYP3A4, and CYP3A5. We sequenced 46 samples from three 

major populations at all of these loci to calculate assay accuracy. From Coriell Human Diversity panels, 230 

samples were genotyped and population-specific allele and inferred haplotype frequencies have been determined. 

There are several interesting haplotypes within a few of the P450 genes for certain populations that have potential 

clinical ramifications with respect to pharmacogenetic outcomes.


Stan Lilleberg 

Transgenomic, Inc. 

11 Firstfield Road, Suite E 


slilleberg@transgenomic.com 

In-depth Genetic Variation Screening Using DHPLC: A Valuble Component of the Drug 

Development Process 

The genomics revolution has forever altered the landscape of pharmaceutical research and development. In 

addition to the discovery of new potential drug targets, the number of mutations and polymorphisms identified 

within individual genes is escalating. Since the biological impact of each individual genetic variation depends 

on its location and specific sequence alteration, there will be a constant requirement for sensitive and accurate 

methods to scan genes of interest for new, and often low-level, genetic variation. Denaturing high performance 

liquid chromatography (DHPLC) is a new technology used in the discovery of genetic variations in the form of 

mutations that include single base substitutions or single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), as well as small 

deletions or insertions. These genetic variations can be routinely detected by DHPLC gene scanning at the germline 

and somatic levels. Epigenetic alterations such as changes in DNA methylation status at defined loci can also 

be assessed using DHPLC-based methodology. The biological impact of these genetic variations depends on the 

location and identity of the DNA sequence alteration. The discovery of functionally relevant genetic variations can 

be exploited throughout the drug discovery and development process. Examples of the application of DHPLC for 

sequence variant detection will be presented and discussed, with an emphasis on target validation by candidate 

gene scanning, mutation detection in disease pathway genes, and the discovery of therapeutically significant 

genetic variants associated with drug metabolism and resistance. In-depth genetic variation screening using 

DHPLC technology has accelerated the discovery of novel variants in a multitude of genes, contributing to the 

understanding of disease pathogenesis and future directions of drug development. 


Elvan Laleli-Sahin 

Medical College of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 

Pathology Department 

8701 Watertown Plank Road 

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226 

elvan@mcw.edu 

121 

Co-Author(s) 

Paul Jannetto, 

Steven H. Wong 

Utilization of Pharmacogenomics in Patient Care for Pain Management Clinics and Poison 

Control Centers 

One direct application of the genetic information generated with in the last decade has been pharmacogenetics; 

science of explaining genetic based pharmacokinetic and pharmocodynamic variability among individuals. Use 

of pharmacogenetics for evaluating why certain therapies fail will be a direct and rapid clinical application. The 

enzyme family (cytochrome P450 – CYP) responsible for the first phase metabolism of a foreign compound, shows 

polymorphisms that correlate with an individual’s phenotype in response to a given drug. The phenotype can 

vary from no response to therapy to severe adverse drug reactions and even death due to over dose. CYP 2D6, 

is the enzyme responsible for metabolism of almost one quarter of prescription drugs, including analgesics. Pain 

management of chronic pain patients varies due to the subjective nature of pain along with the genetic variability of 

drug metabolizing enzymes, especially CYP 2D6. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP’s) and deletion mutations 

within this gene have been shown to correspond with poor metabolizer phenotype. Pharmacogenetics possesses 

the potential to aid in efficient therapy for chronic pain patients that are proven to be difficult to manage cases. Our 

ongoing studies have identified 25% prevalence for intermediate metabolizers. In addition there is good correlation 

of genotype and response to therapy. Extensive metabolizer individuals showed no adverse reactions while an 

intermediate metabolizer, with normal kidney and liver functions, showed adverse side-effects to tramadol therapy. 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS

3:00 pm Tuesday, February 3 Emerging Technologies – Engineering Applications Room A3 

Reinhold Schäfer 


Kurt-Schumacher-Ring 18 

Wiesbaden, D-65197 Germany 

schaefer@informatik.fh-wiesbaden.de 

Dynamic Scheduling in the Laboratory – Problems and Solutions 

Analytical laboratories perform manifold analyses in parallel. Different analytical procedures have to be optimized 

towards throughput or other parameters. Primarily workflows with well-defined functionality have to be formalized 

in order to be computable. They describe the testing including processing the sample on various instruments, 

sensor control, data acquisition, result calculations and storage etc. with all timing and conditional constraints. 

A working plan for different samples is calculated consisting of all activities performed on different resources. 

This presentation discusses the need for different workflow elements, their interaction and effects of dynamic 

execution. In addition hidden transport implications are discussed as well as a scenario of dynamic recovery and 

re-scheduling in case of errors. 


Mathew Hahn 

Scitegic 

9665 Chesapeake Drive, Suite 401 


mhahn@scitegic.com 

The Data Pipelining Approach to Informatics Automation and Integration 

The processing and interpretation of large volumes of automated laboratory data is burdened with numerous 

challenges. The Data Pipelining approach provides a software computing environment powerful enough to keep 

pace with data generation, yet flexible enough to adapt quickly and easily to changing processes. By streaming 

data between any of hundreds of available modular data processing steps, virtually unlimited functionality can 

be assembled. Further, with open standards for integrating 3rd party software as re-useable modular steps in the 

system, a Data Pipelining system can include existing resources as well as adapt to future needs as they arise. We 

will discuss the approach as well as the technologies employed to permit the easy integration of disparate data 

and external applications. 

122


David Dorsett 

Symyx Technologies, Inc. 



ddorsett@symyx.com 

Comprehensive Materials Informatics in Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research 

Complete integration of data collected across multiple synthetic steps and from large numbers of property 

screens is a critical aspect in enabling data-driven materials research. This presentation will outline software 

requirements for experimental design and instrument automation for high throughput systems, and provide a 

live demonstration of such software. Additionally, software requirements for capturing and integrating data from 

conventional bench and large-scale experimentation will be discussed and some current systems demonstrated. 

Finally, comprehensive querying and reporting systems that provide simultaneous access to high throughput and 

conventional research data will be presented. 


Robert L. Stevenson 

IO Informatics, Inc. 

2000 Powell St. #520 

Emeryville, California 94608 

rlsteven@comcast.net 

Rapid Evaluation, Normalization and Global Search Program for 2D Electrophoresis 

123 

Co-Author(s) 

Erich A. Gombocz 

Robert A. Stanley 

Traditional approaches to searching a library of large databases quickly encounter severe problems due to large 

size and different organization of the data, including the wraper. Brute force solutions often include clusters of 

more than 100 processors. IO informatics has developed a new paradigm in data searching that uses objects 

combined with vectorization to organize and search data files in 1% or less of the time required by traditional 

methods. Now it is possible to perform complex searches with a single PC. The first product is a system for 2D 

electropherograms that combines analysis, data mining, tracking and storage in a secure regulatory compliant 

manner. One can compare gels of different size and methods. Spot detection, land marking and 3D deconvolution 

are easy and reliable. The underlying platform provides any-to-any connectivity to facilitate searching for data from 

any accessible data source, including structural, functional and bioassay. The new paradigm is being expanded to 

other applications. 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS

8:00 am Wednesday, February 4 Emerging Technologies – Cell Based Screening Room A3 

Evan Cromwell 

Blueshift Biotechnologies, Inc. 

238 E. Caribbean Drive 


ecromwell@blueshiftbiotech.com 

Novel Cellular Analysis Platform for Drug Discovery 

124 

Co-Author(s) 

Chris Shumate, 

Paul B. Comita 

The drug discovery industry is in need of improved screening technologies that provide knowledge and foresight 

into success of new drug candidates. Currently most discovery efforts make use of fluorescence intensity for high 

throughput and high content screening (HTS/HCS). One of the more recent developments in optical imaging for 

complex biological systems is the use of fluorescence emission lifetime for imaging microscopy (FLIM). Fluorescent 

lifetime and polarization imaging of cells provide powerful tools for assays that use detection of the presence, 

quantity, and location of labeled molecules and their binding state. Incorporating these features into a fast and 

inexpensive commercial product is a significant technical challenge. Blueshift Biotechnologies is addressing 

this challenge by exploiting recent advances in laser sources, semiconductor inspection technology, fluorescent 

probes, and high content screening. Blueshift will present a novel cellular analysis platform to drive drug discovery 

research and HTS applications. 


James Costantin 

Molecular Devices Corp. 

1131 Orleans Drive 


Screening for Ion Channel Modulators Using the IonWorks HT System 

Co-Author(s) 

Shawn Handran, Andrew Wittel, 

Sven Brown, Nick Callamaras, 

Wilhelm Lachnit 

The IonWorks HT instrument is an automated high throughput voltage clamp platform that measures whole-cell 

currents from multiple cells in parallel using 384-well PatchPlates. This robust, turn-key platform performs highly 

consistent, single-point lead candidate screens for modulators of ion channel activity and has the fidelity required 

for IC50 determinations. Successful recordings have been obtained from a variety of cultured cell lines (e.g., CHO, 

CHL, HEK) expressing recombinant ion channels. For single-point screening, data was generated from compound 

plates prepared containing randomly distributed compounds as well as controls. Following the identification of 

active wells, an 8-point IC50 curve for each compound was obtained. Results are presented for compounds that 

affect hERG, Na+ and other voltage-gated ion channels. The IC50 curves generated from IonWorks HT are 

comparable to values obtained in parallel by conventional patch clamp electrophysiology. IonWorks HT provides 

an enormous opportunity to screen pharmaceutical compound libraries directly at the electrophysiological level for 

more cost-effective and accelerated identification of therapeutic ion channel targets.


Jeffrey Price 


9500 Gilman Drive 

La Jolla, California 92093-0412 

price@bioeng.ucsd.edu 

125 

Co-Author(s) 

Michael A. Mancini 

Baylor College of Medicine 

Susanne Heynen, Ivana Mikic, Tim Moran 

Q3DM, Inc. 

Dynamic Data Mining and High Throughtput Microscopy Improve Productivity of Assay 

Design and Screening 

Automated high throughput/high-resolution microscopy (0.5 to 0.95 NA lenses) creates a potentially overwhelming 

number of cellular and subcellular measurements. Cellular heterogeneity adds complexity, can hinder screen 

significance and complicate assay design. Dynamic data-driven mining creates defined subpopulations without 

physical sorting to facilitate rapid design and testing of new subcellular assays and decreasing preparation 

time. A large suite of cell-by-cell subcellular parameters enables rapid culling together the best fluorescence, 

morphometry, translocation and pattern measurements for a new assay. Here, the impact of dynamic data mining 

was established in development of a ligand-dependent androgen receptor (AR) trafficking assay. Transiently 

transfected GFP-AR and AR619 (an inactivating prostate cancer-associated point mutation) were introduced 

into HeLa cells and analyzed with the EIDAQ 100 high throughput microscopy (HTM) system. AR subcellular 

distribution was examined for nuclear translocation and subnuclear distribution patterns in response to an 

11-point dose response of agonist (R1881) or antagonists (estradiol, Casodex, OH-Flutamide), and demonstrates 

the advantage of data mining. AR subpopulations responded consistently to ligand concentration in nuclear 

translocation (agonist and antagonist for both AR and AR619). However, only R1881 induced appearance of large 

subnuclear foci in AR619. Rapid experimentation with various measurements also enabled assay development 

that was sensitive to subtle, ligand-dependent differences in subnuclear pattern of GFP-AR. Cell cycle phases and 

metabolic states are additional examples where subpopulation assays may enable more productive screening. 

Thus, while image-based subcellular imaging can at first appear to increase assay complexity, powerful dynamic 

data mining tools also enable rapid development of new subcellular assays. 


Steve Richmond 

Genetix Ltd 

Queensway, New Milton BH25 5NN United Kingdom 

steve.richmond@genetix.com 

Development of a Mammalian Cell Colony Imaging and Picking Robot: ClonePix 

Co-Author(s) 

Chris Mann, Sky Jiang, 

James Colehan, Sarah Stephen, 

Julian Burke 

Robotics for picking microbial colonies have been available for approximately 10 years and played a key role in 

the various genome sequencing projects. Up until now no equivalent systems have existed for handling colonies 

of mammalian cells in culture. The task is more challenging as they are more fragile, more prone to contamination 

and often grow adhered to a surface. We believe that ClonePix is the first robot to automate transfer of cultured 

mammalian cells. The system picks both adherent colonies and those grown in semi-solid media and transfers 

them to micro plates. Culture dishes to be processed are imaged using a high-resolution CCD camera. The image 

is analyzed and a user-defined clone pick list is generated. The selected clones are picked using a novel 8-channel 

head. Each of the channels fires independently, allowing for high throughput picking at rates of ~200 clones per 

hour. The location of each clone in the microplate is automatically logged for sample tracking. Sterility of the tips 

is achieved via an ethanol wash combined with a high-temperature dryer. External contamination is minimised by 

the HEPA filter with positive air pressure and a fully enclosed working area; which can be disinfected with a UV 

lamp prior to use. Applications of ClonePix include selection of hybridomas expressing monoclonal antibodies and 

selection of transformed cells. 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS


Rowan Stringer 

Novartis Horsham Research Centre 

Wimblehurst Road, Horsham 

West Sussex, Nr London, RH12 5AB United Kingdom 

rowan.stringer@pharma.novartis.com 

96-well Protein-binding Studies in Drug Discovery 

126 

Co-Author(s) 

Rachael Profit 

Sarah Beech 

Paul Nicklin 

The protein-binding properties of 95 commercially available drugs were assessed using a 96-well ultrafiltration 

device (Millipore Multiscreen Ultracel ® -PPB). This system has low non-specific binding, good intra- and interexperiment 

reproducibility and can be coupled with higher-throughput bioanalysis. Results generated using 

this new method had good agreement with literature values for these reference compounds (R2 – 0.89); e.g., 

bupivacaine 93% (95%), alprazolam 69% (71%), betaxolol 44% (55%), trimethoprim 43% (37%) and tocainide 

10% (10%), literature values in parentheses. This plasma protein-binding assay offers advantages over single 

ultrafiltration devices and equilibrium dialysis methods in terms of speed, convenience and automation potential. It 

will be used to provide initial protein-binding results to support early drug discovery programs. 


Ben Tseng 

Maxim Pharmaceuticals 

6650 Nancy Ridge Drive 


btseng@maxim.com 

Co-Author(s) 

Sui Xiong Cai, John Drewe, 

John Herich, Shailaja Kasibhatla 

A Drug Discovery Screen and Chemical-Genetic Approach for Novel Apoptosis Inducers 

We have developed and implemented a cell-based high throughput screen for anti-cancer drug discovery for 

the induction of apoptosis by measuring the downstream effector caspase 3. A proprietary pro-fluorescence 

substrate is used in the assay that is robust and suited for high throughput applications and has a Z´ factor of 0.8. 

A cell-based assay provides the advantages of identifying compounds that induce apoptosis through any one of 

multiple pathways as well as through new and novel targets. In addition, the compounds that are identified have 

bioactivity on cells. From the primary and confirmatory dose response screens, selected compounds are assayed 

and classified for their different effects on cell cycle progression or non-progression prior to activation of apoptosis. 

Additional molecular assays provide a refinement of these categories. These categorizations identify compounds 

that activate apoptosis through different and potentially novel mechanisms. Based on several selection criteria, 

the promising compounds are selected for analog synthesis to provide structure activity relationships as well as 

to improve compound properties. Analogs that meet these additional criteria are progressed to in vivo studies and 

to molecular target identification studies. We will present examples of two compounds discovered in our screens, 

their novel mechanisms of action, their in vivo activities, as well as target identification and validation strategies. 

Our chemical-genetic based program allows the discovery of novel pathways and targets for activating apoptosis 

and for the discovery of novel compounds that affect these pathways as potential anti-cancer agents.


Matthew Cook 

TTP LabTech 

Melbourn Science Park 

Melbourn, Herts, SG8 6EE United Kingdom 

matthew.cook@ttplabtech.com 

127 

Co-Author(s) 

Olivier Dery 

BD Biosciences Clontech 

Detection of BD Living Colors Novel Fluorescent Proteins Using the Acumen Explorer 

With the sequencing of many genomes now completed, biologists are faced with the challenge of deciphering the 

function and association of an immense number of resulting proteins. Understanding the specific processes and 

actions of proteins and chemicals that comprise the cells and tissues of an organism, will be a necessary next step 

to elucidating cellular function in healthy and disease states. Simultaneous and quantitative measurement of the 

level of expression, for tens of thousands of genes aids in the definition of a comprehensive molecular phenotype 

of cells and cellular processes. The Acumen Explorer exploits the power of fluorescence to monitor and 

elucidate subtle changes in inter and intracellular biochemical events. Proprietary Novel Fluorescent Proteins (NFP) 

from BD Biosciences Clontech include fluorescent proteins cloned from reef corals as well as from the jellyfish 

Aequorea coerulescens. From this portfolio, five distinct proteins, AcGFP1 (monomer), ZsGreen1, ZsYellow1, 

AsRed2 and DsRed2 are excited by a 488 nm Argon Ion laser. The resulting fluorescence emissions are directed to 

four photo multiplier tubes. Three colors/wavelengths regions can be scanned simultaneously thereby allowing true 

multiplexing with NFPs. The proprietary software algorithms permitted measurement in HEK293 cells of: 

• Single and mixed populations of cells expressing NFP genes. 

• Gene expression of two different colored NFP genes. 

• Detection of proteins linked to different colored NFP localized to cell compartments. 

The versatility of the Acumen Explorer in combination with BD Biosciences Clontech’s growing portfolio of NFPs 

provides an excellent tool for the investigation of functional genomic applications. 


Johannes Dapprich 

Generation Biotech, LLC 

32 Pin Oak Drive 

Lawrenceville, New Jersey 08648 

jdapprich@generationbiotech.com 

Co-Author(s) 

Cynthia Turino, Sarah Jones, Colleen Murphy, Nancy Murphy 

GenoVision, Inc. 

Automated Molecular Haplotyping Through Physical Separation of DNA 

Tine Thorbjornsen 

Qiagen AS 

Laurie Burdett, Marcello Fernandez-Vina 

C.W. Bill Young Marrow Donor Program 

We report the automation of a method, Haplotype-Specific Extraction (HSE), that allows the physical separation 

of diploid genomic DNA into its haploid components. Magnetic beads are selectively attached to polymorphic 

sites and used to isolate targeted, double-stranded DNA from a heterozygous mixture, thereby establishing 

individual patient’s haplotypes within hours without knowledge of familial information. Automated Haploseparations 

were carried out on several different liquid handling robots capable of handling 6, 48 and 96 samples 

in different formats. This enables efficient, parallel and reliable processing of multiple samples. Haplo-separated 

DNA is directly analyzed with kits and assays already in use for genotyping. The method was used on potential 

organ donor samples to separate parts of chromosome 6 containing the HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) 

locus. The highly polymorphic HLA-locus is routinely typed before transplantations can be carried out. Frequent 

recombination events throughout the evolution of the locus have led to numerous allele pair combinations that, in 

sum, lead to the same diploid genotype information as other allele pairs. HSE permits the unambiguous typing of 

such allele pair combinations that may otherwise fail to be resolved by conventional sequence-based typing (SBT) 

and sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes (SSOP). The purification of alleles allows the identification of known 

or new haplotypes directly from genomic DNA. 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS

10:30 am Wednesday, February 4 Emerging Technologies – Hardware Room A3 

Jason Armstrong 

Polymerat 

Unit 4 / 26 Brandl Street 

Eight Mile Plains, 4113 Australia 

jason@cmcapital.com 

Optimizing Surfaces for Assays in Plates, on Luminex Beads and Microarrays Using 

Combinatorial Chemistry Customized Surface Coatings 

Surfaces are a current limitation to the advancement of a number of life science applications. Polymerat has 

developed methods that enable the combinational assembly of molecular surface coatings that will allow structure 

property relationships for surface-proteins interactions and hence lead to interfaces that permit the biological 

components of assays to perform at their maximum efficiently. The polymer synthesis methods are based on a 

synthon intermediate, analogous to a key intermediate in small molecule synthesis. Polymerat’s technology has 

broad applications, however, three priority areas are being pursued: Assays, Biochips and Bioseparations. The 

technology is layered on top of non-reactive substrates, such as plastics and glass, in an array of formats ranging 

from microscope slides, encoded beads and microtitre plates. From a single intermediate, it is possible to generate 

a wide diversity of molecular coatings by chemical transformation of the reactive monomer in the thin grafted layer. 

For instance, employing commercially available building blocks of amines and carboxylic acids, one can readily 

generate thousands of molecular coatings that are evaluated through high throughput screening. When combined 

with further derivitization, where each surface can itself be propagated, extensive surface coating diversity is 

readily generated. In particular, Polymerat’s technology allows for the manipulation of proteins in their native 

state for presentation, isolation and screening. Such ability has direct application in proteomics discovery where 

strategies for a biomimetic approaches to selective capture and presentation of proteins is gaining popularity. 

Polymerat currently has a number of product development partners and is looking to integrate its technology into 

other platform technologies. 


Prabhu U. Arumugam 

University of Arkansas 

101 Chemistry Building 

Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701 

parumug@uark.edu 

Development of Reduction-Oxidation Magnetohydrodynamic Devices With Integrated 

Permanent Magnets 

128 

Co-Author(s) 

Ingrid Fritsch 

We will report investigations into the effects of parameters that will enable the development of an effectual design 

methodology for reduction-oxidation (redox) magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) pumps and stirrers. The interaction of 

an electrically conducting fluid with a magnetic field may be described by MHD theory. This theory describes a 

force on current-carrying species governed by the right-hand rule, perpendicular to both the electric and magnetic 

fields. Our approach is to use redox species in solution as current-carrying medium and apply either an external 

or internal magnetic field. The advantages of using MHD as a microfluidic system over other methods such as 

mechanical and electrokinetic pumping are no moving parts, low operating voltages (1 mV-2 V), continuous and 

reversible flow, and the flexibility of choosing from a wide variety of parameters to control. We will present the 

results of microelectrodes embedded in magnets, which show that sufficient MHD effects can be achieved even 

at low magnetic fields (0.13 T). Progress toward the use of simulations to define the optimal design parameters 

for fluidics, such as aspect ratio of channels, various geometries of electrodes and magnets, concentration of 

redox species, roughness of channel surfaces, magnetic flux density and its distribution, and heat gradients will be 

reported. In addition, the suitability of integrating permanent magnets onto microfluidic channels for portability will 

be discussed.


Brian Cunningham 

SRU Biosystems 

14A Gill Street 

Woburn, Massachusetts 01801 

bcunningham@srubiosystems.com 

Label-Free Assays Using the BIND System 

129 

Co-Author(s) 

Peter Li, Stephen Schulz, 

Bo Lin, Cheryl Baird 

Screening of biochemical interactions becomes simpler, less expensive, and more accurate when labels, such as 

fluorescent dyes, radioactive markers, and colorimetric reactions, are not required to quantify detected material. 

SRU Biosystems has developed a biosensor technology that is manufactured on continuous sheets of plastic 

film, and incorporated into standard microtiter plates and microarray slides to enable label-free assays to be 

performed with high throughput, high sensitivity, and low cost per assay. The biosensor incorporates a narrowband 

reflectance filter, in which the reflected color is modulated by the attachment/detachment of biochemical material 

to the surface. The technology offers 4-orders of linear dynamic range, and uniformity within a plate with a 

coefficient of variation of 2.5%. Two readout instruments are demonstrated: a plate reader capable of reading one 

data point per well in 96- or 384-well microplates, and a high performance imaging plate reader. Both instruments 

are capable of reading an entire biosensor plate in 15-30 seconds and integrating with robotic microplate 

handlers. Using conventional biochemical immobilization surface chemistries, a wide range of assay applications 

are enabled. Small molecule screening, cell proliferation/cytotoxicity, enzyme activity screening, protein-protein 

interaction, cell membrane receptor, and microarray imaging are among the applications demonstrated. 


Martin Dufva 

Mikroelektronik Centret 

Technical University of Denmark 

Building 345 East 

Kongens Lyngby, Denmark 

mdu@mic.dtu.dk 

Co-Author(s) 

Michael Stangegaard, Per Jensen Mikkelsen, 

Louise Dahl Christensen, Claus BV Christensen 

A Flexible Substrate for DNA Microarray Hybridization and Detection Using a 

Business Card Scanner 

DNA and protein microarrays are powerful tools for both protein and mRNA expression profiling, respectively, due 

to the immense parallelism of the analysis methods. Microarrays can furthermore be used for diagnosing bacteria 

and quantifying small molecule contaminations, like pesticides in water, with increased sensitivity compared 

to traditional methods. Traditional microarray technology, however, often relies on bulky equipment. Here we 

present a flexible (100 micrometer thin) microarray substrate that can be used for detecting microarray-analyte 

interactions using an ordinary business card scanner for signal generation. Hybridized DNA was stained by a 

color reaction mediated by alkaline phosphatase prior to scanning. The results were comparable with the results 

obtained using a desktop scanner and showed that hybridization of 50 pM target could be detected using this 

alternative detection system. Detection of immobilized biotinylated DNA on the microarray surface indicated that 

2–3 amol of biotinylated DNA could be detected. The business card scanner (weight approx. 200 gram) only needs 

an USB port on a portable computer and no AC power to function, making this detection system truly portable. 

Furthermore, the thin and flexible microarray substrate may be a more appropriate solid support than glass for 

integrating microarrays with microfluidics. 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS


Gabriele Gradl 

Evotec Technologies 

Invalidenstr. 42 

Berlin, 10115 Germany 

gabriele.gradl@evotec-technologies.com 

Merging Highest Resolution and High Speed: Instrumentation for HTS Cell Assays and 

Image Activated Cell Sorting 

In the post genomic era the growing needs of drug discovery assays must cover novel approaches to cellular 

data. Clever strategies for the whole process of target identification, target validation, development of cell lines 

for screening and follow-up testing are required. Images have to be acquired fast and from large numbers of 

cell samples. Powerful and intelligent algorithms are required for image processing for the different assay types. 

Solutions will be presented which remove the limitation terms of generating data from imaging spans and the 

laborious work of cloning mammalian cell lines for use in cell assays. They will serve for applications in functional 

proteomics, high throughput biology and drug discovery. Strictly confocal imaging allows to exploit cellular 

information at the subcellular level and at the same time it provides information on the status of the cell while 

incubated with the compound of interest (e. g., integrity, next-neighbour contacts, toxic effects, apoptopic effects). 

A highly flexible scripting language for image analysis is used which enables the user to customize the software 

towards the specific needs of the respective assay fast assay development. More than 100,000 data points 

per day are generated in HTS applications. Several applications are presented. Pure cell clones are generated 

with high efficiency using superior micro-fluidic and contact-free manipulation methods. The manual and timeconsuming 

steps of growing, identifying, isolating and analysing mammalian cell clones are automated and the 

whole procedure is shortened from weeks to days. 


Paul Hensley 

Microplate Automation 

560 Fellowship Road, Suite 211 

Mt. Laurel, New Jersey 08054 

paul_hensley@microplateautomation.com 

TipCharger ® Cleaning Technology: Status and Laboratory Performance of the Technology 

Microplate Automation’s cleaning technology uses safe, low temperature atmospheric plasma to break down 

organic compounds into atomic units and combines them with oxygen. Data will be presented to illustrate the 

effectiveness of the process for removing low molecular weight compounds, larger macromolecules, DNA/RNA 

and living organisms from fluid handling systems. The talk will include examples of typical integration issues an 

end user faces when retrofitting the TipCharger ® hardware into various automation platforms and engineering 

solutions that have been developed to facilitate rapid deployment. There will also be a discussion of uses for the 

hardware’s optical spectrophotometer and optional Ramen spectrophotometer. 

130

12:00 pm Wednesday, February 4 Emerging Technologies – Hardware Room A3 

Jeffrey Karg 

Boston Innovation, Inc. 

101 Rogers Street, #216 


jkarg@bostoninnovation.com 

SmartPlate Implementation and Return on Investment Examples for Compound Management 

Assay miniaturization has pushed the limits of compound dispensary logistics. 384 and 1536 well screening 

requires high quality compounds accurately, reliably, and cost-effectively dispensed into a wide range of assay 

formats. This time-consuming and wasteful step is eliminated with SmartPlate shipping, storing, and dispensing 

technology. This presentation will highlight how SmartPlate works, as well as providing details on integration with 

a variety of liquid handling equipment. In addition, SmartPlate’s return of investment for focused libraries (5–100K 

compounds) and full size libraries will be explored. 

12:15 pm Wednesday, February 4 Emerging Technologies – Hardware Room A3 

Hakki Unver 

Zymark Corporation 

68 Elm Street 

Hopkinton, Massachusetts 01748 

hounver@hotmail.com 

Using Data Collected in Real Time From Liquid Transfer Operations to Audit and 

Enhance Performance 

131 

Co-Author(s) 

Gregory Wendel, John Howland 


Mary Jo Wildey 

Johnson & Johnson PRD 

Channel-by-channel performance data collected from a liquid transfer device can be utilized to document transfers 

for regulatory agencies, eliminate false assay results due to transfer failures, provide baselines for continuous 

improvement, and allow for immediate corrective action in the transfer method. This presentation describes 

the results of experiments with a 96-channel liquid transfer device that measures in real time and reports data 

about the volume transferred and information about the quality of the transfer for each channel. The experiments 

characterized the internal operational data to evolve quality information for detecting and reporting common faults 

such as partially clogged tips and unexpected air in the channels. Development work explored ways to make the 

information available to the method developer for enabling real time feedback control of the transfer method. Also, 

the work explored ways that the device could export the information for bioinformatics data analysis as well as 

documentation for regulatory agencies. 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS

3:30 pm Wednesday, February 4 Emerging Technologies – Automation Systems Room A3 

Bruce Seligmann 

High Throughput Genomics, Inc. 

6296 E. Grant Road 

Tucson, Arizonia 85712 

bseligmann@htgenomics.com 

The ArrayPlate: A Novel, High Throughput, Multiplexed, mRNA Assay for Toxicological 

Research and Development 

High Throughput Genomics (HTG) has developed an easy-to-implement, industrial scale gene expression assay 

in a two-stage microplate multiplexed array format that eliminates the need for RNA extraction, purification, 

and amplification. The assay produces sensitive, reproducible, repeatable from day-to-day, and lab-to-lab, 

quantitative gene expression data with CV’s in the range of 10 percent or less. Utilizing transcriptomics technology, 

toxicologists can now overcome some of the problems with studying gene expression using chip or amplification 

technologies, particularly when analyzing in vivo animal studies. HTG’s ArrayPlate, when compared with 

current chip technologies, allows toxicologists to examine small gene expression changes and develop a highly 

reproducible pattern of gene expression that may indicate a toxic event and assemble highly accurate dose/ 

response curves. The technology’s multiplexed gene expression capability makes the assay a high throughput 

screening tool that can be deployed in early stage drug development and compound screening efforts. No RNA 

purification or sample amplification is necessary to obtain excellent data making the ArrayPlate a highly cost 

effective platform for compound testing. Thousands of samples can be analyzed in one week. HTG’s technology 

is currently in use by pharmaceutical companies (such as Johnson & Johnson, Celgene) in research and 

development, discovery, toxicology, metabolism, diagnostics, clinical trial monitoring, and many other life science 

applications. 


David Huber 


Building 500 

Stanford, California 94305-3030 

david.huber@stanford.edu 

Temperature Gradient Focusing, Modeling and Experiments 

132 

Co-Author(s) 

Juan G. Santiago 

A key challenge yet to be addressed by miniaturized bioanalytical devices is the detection of analytes with 

nanomolar or lower initial concentrations in volumes of order one microliter or less. Temperature gradient 

focusing (TGF) is an emerging analytical technology that simultaneously concentrates and separates charged 

species according to their electrophoretic mobilities. In TGF, an axial temperature gradient is applied along 

an electrophoretic channel. Within the channel, the local electric field is inversely proportional to conductivity, 

which in turn is a function of local viscosity and ion density. By selecting a buffer with a temperature dependent 

conductivity, we create an electric field gradient that causes a decrease in electrophoretic mass flux along one 

direction in the channel. We then impose a net bulk flow in the opposite direction. Species in the system focus at 

points where the local, area-averaged liquid velocity and electrophoretic velocity sum to zero. Dispersion in TGF 

results from a combination of molecular diffusion and advective dispersion. Advective dispersion, the dominant 

component, is caused by both externally-imposed and internally-generated pressure gradients. We leverage a 

dispersion model similar to classical Taylor dispersion analysis to produce a one-dimensional convective diffusion 

equation in terms of an axially-dependent dispersion coefficient. In this work, we compare the dispersion model 

with results from our temperature gradient flow system and characterize the focusing and dispersion behavior. The 

goal of the study is to determine optimal parameters for TGF focusing and separation.


Sanjaya Joshi 

Userspace Corporation 

11118 NE 141 Place 

Kirkland, Washington 98034 

sanjay@userspace.com 

An Automated Flow Cytometry Quality Protocol and Workflow System for Managing 

Instruments, Samples, and Data 

133 

Co-Author(s) 

Michael R. Loken 

Hematologics, Inc. 

Flow Cytometry is gaining significance outside the research laboratory as a high-resolution clinical tool for the 

detection, classification, staging, and recurrence of Hematologic neoplasms. Intensity relationships between 

antigens is proving to be an important discriminator of normal and aberrant hematopoietic cells. Userspace 

Corporation and HematoLogics, Inc. have been collaborating to create a web-service based real-time workflow 

system combined with a unique performance assessment for the instrument calibration based on invariant 

biological markers. A high resolution instrument validation protocol can be established using lymphocyte CD4 

fluorescence intensity. In a study of normal adult blood using these QC procedures, the intensity of CD4 on 

lymphocytes was found to be essentially invariant for 21 individuals assayed on the two instruments collected 

over a period of 8 months. These results demonstrate that in a data space with a dynamic range of 4 decades, the 

biological variation of the mean intensity from individual to individual for this one antigen is less than the variability 

of expression within the individual. The biological expression of this antigen becomes an independent biological 

standard. This QC procedure is a rapid means of assessing instrument performance. This quality program 

combined with the tracking and audit of samples and patient records securely in real-time allows both clinical 

laboratories and research laboratories conducting clinical trials to remotely track and analyze the FCS data format 

(converted into XML for data stream based interpretation, analysis and report generation). Templates can be built 

around this system for various quality and regulatory standards. 


Emir Osmanagic 

Scinomix 

4069 Wedgeway Court 

Earth City, Missouri 63045 

eosmanagic@scinomix.com 

Vertical Integration Platform 

Co-Author(s) 

Russell Leeker 

Traditionally, companies have designed laboratory automation systems to operate with few significant changes 

during assay production. The inflexibility of this approach is the primary reason companies are supporting 

development of more versatile systems. The Vertical Laboratory Integration Platform (VIP) is a framework for 

distributed modular automation for laboratory processes. Modularity of the components, highly flexible product 

transport mechanisms, and a high level of distributed intelligence are key characteristics of the VIP. Laboratories 

can realize an excellent return on investment through the VIP’s ability to adapt to the quick and rapid changes of 

lab processes. The first version of the VIP has been developed for Cell-Based Assays incorporating incubation, 

liquid handling, washing and plate sealing on plug-and-play shelves under environmental controlled conditions. 

The system transports any height SBS standard footprint plates to and from instruments in a vertical configuration, 

saving valuable laboratory space. When a process changes and an additional or different instrument is required a 

plug and play shelf can be removed and reconfigured then plugged back into the VIP framework. 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS


Bradley Mikesell 

Pfizer Global R&D 

10777 Science Center Road 


bradley.mikesell@pfizer.com 

Automated Accurate Mass Analysis Using FTICR Mass Spectrometry 

134 

Co-Author(s) 

Manuel Ventura, Terri Quenzer, 

Ben Bolanos, Michael Greig 

High-resolution mass spectrometry can be utilized as a fast, effective means of confirming the empirical formula 

of most pharmaceutical compounds or aiding in the elucidation of unknown structures. Advantages of Fourier 

transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS) for accurate mass assignment include superior 

mass accuracy, high resolution, high sensitivity, high precision, and rapid analysis. FTICR-MS is also well-suited 

for MS n experiments due to nondestructive ion detection. Here we describe an automated system to acquire small 

molecule accurate mass data for a wide variety of compounds for drug discovery using a high-resolution FTICR- 

MS instrument. An external standard consisting of three compounds of various masses is introduced with each run 

to ensure a reliable calibration, generally to within 2 ppm accuracy. To correct for variable sample concentrations, 

we have developed an active script to optimize ion population by normalizing ion accumulation times. Samples 

which fail to yield adequate ion signal intensity under a standard positive mode electrospray method are evaluated 

subsequent to the batch run. The ionization source on this system is readily switched out so that either APCI 

(atmospheric pressure chemical ionization) or APPI (atmospheric pressure photoionization) sources may be used 

for samples which are better suited to those techniques. This system thereby enables automated detection/ 

confirmation of nearly all compound classes submitted providing valuable structure validation for drug discovery 

projects with rapid turnaround. It is also highly useful in these efforts for identification of unknown species. 


Donald Mossman 

CPC-Cellular Process Chemistry, Inc. 

One Broadway Street, Suite 600 

Blackstone, Massachusetts 02142 

mossman@cpc-net.com 

Sequential Organic Synthesis as a New Approach in Drug Discovery 

Scientists in drug discovery have been constantly challenged to improve the lead generation process. Shorter 

product life spans and increasingly tight specifications are accompanied by ever increasing demands for larger 

numbers of candidates and more specific functionality each of them. With these demands also comes the need for 

reproducibly high purity compounds manufactured in a safe manner with complete traceability. In their attempts 

to achieve this companies find that there is excessive resource drainage as the iterative cycles of adaptation of 

chemistries to an increasing variety of constraints. CYTOS ® Continuous Chemistry establishes a revolutionary new 

alternative enabling companies to conduct their chemistries from early research through to production using the 

same technology and synthesis process. CYTOS ® can provide advanced technology for improving and optimizing 

chemical synthesis through continuous chemical synthesis and the use of microreaction technology. Microreaction 

technology already is inducing a paradigm shift by demonstrating the advantages of continuous processing 

(better chemistry, faster development and higher R&D throughput) over the more conventional batch processing. 

This technology eliminate scale-up problems, due to the fact that parallelized arrays allows for the production of 

chemicals and pharmaceuticals from milligram to Kg scale and into full production quantities all in the exact same 

environment using the exact same reactions.


Jaymie Sawyer 

Dyax Corporation 

109754 Torreyana Road, W-1 


jsawyer@dyax.com 

Managing Automated RFLP Analysis in Phage Display Antibody Screening 

135 

Co-Author(s) 

I-wei Feng, Lee A. Morganelli, 

Rosanto Paramban, Roger Dettloff, 

Irina Mineyev, Paul Kotturi 


Automated screening of Dyax’s proprietary human Fab library is currently in use to discover new antibodies 

and develop research reagents in collaboration with BD Biosciences. PCR fingerprinting is a useful tool in the 

analysis of clones derived from large libraries containing similar sized inserts. The fingerprints allow us to assess 

the diversity in pools of selected phage before moving into high throughput screening, or to avoid repeated 

expression and purification of the same clone. Vector-specific primers amplify the insert which is then digested 

with a frequently cutting restriction enzyme. Typically, gel electrophoresis is then used to visualize RFLPs. The 

Caliper AMS 90 SE system allows 96-384 digested DNA samples to be analyzed without running or photographing 

gels. The series of DNA fragments within a given sample are identified by LabChip HT software. To fully exploit 

fingerprinting, the data output must allow comparison of digests run at different times and facilitate correlation of 

clone identity with functional assays. These final data handling procedures are tedious and not automated. We 

developed a software tool to analyze the results from an AMS 90 SE and automate the final clone identification. 

DNA fragments between 50 and 500 base pairs are binned into groups between 15 and 20 bps. The peaks within 

a group are assigned a letter of the alphabet, resulting in a clone ‘name’. The resulting clone names can then be 

exported and correlated with functional assays such as expression levels and ELISA performance to identify new 

antibodies generated by phage display. 


David Semin 

Amgen, Inc. 

One Amgen Center Drive, Mailstop 29-M-B 

Thousand Oaks, California 91320 

dsemin@amgen.com 

The Next Generation of a Compound Management System in Drug Discovery 

Co-Author(s) 

Janet Cheetham, Stewart Chipman, 

Peter Grandsard, Colin McRavey, 

Sabrina Park, Jim Petersen 

As the competition in drug discovery intensifies companies need to become more operationally efficient and to 

maximize return on investment. Since the emergence of automated compound storage and retrieval systems in the 

1990s there has been considerable progress on overall compound management strategies to facilitate compound 

flow throughout research operations. Some of these recent strategies have evolved around the new market of 

small to medium sized storage and retrieval systems. In an effort to fully enable Amgen’s global lead discovery 

efforts we are developing a compound management system based on a modular and multi-tier approach with 

the concept of archival and operational compound stores. The modularity enables flexibility and incorporation 

of new technology platforms, while the multi-tier approach enables redundant and priority storage formats. A 

system of operational stores will fuel the chemistry and high throughput screening activities, while an archival 

store will be used ensure long-term compound quantity and quality. A global software infrastructure solution 

with generic interfaces to the modular components will be presented. The infrastructure is designed to enable 

excellence at compound collection stewardship while maintaining flexibility for change in business processes 

and the incorporation of new technology platforms. This drive towards the next generation system built upon 

these hardware and software concepts should enable a compound management system in drug discovery to be 

operationally efficient and effectively stay off the critical path and timeline for research programs. 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS

8:00 am Thursday, February 5 Emerging Technologies – National Lab Tech Transfer Room A3 

Erica Briggs 

Los Alamos National Laboratory, MS C333 


eab@lanl.gov 

An Introduction of Technology Transfer With the National Laboratories 

The Technology Transfer Session will provide a forum for representatives from the DOE national laboratories to 

educate the audience about technology transfer mechanisms for moving science from the national laboratories to 

commercial markets. Laboratory presentations will focus on state-of-the-art capabilities in the areas of analytical 

instrumentation, high throughput screening/proteomics and computational software that are available for licensing 

and/or research collaboration. The session will begin with an overview of the basic missions of each national 

laboratory and a general description of the science currently being done at those institutions. Each participating 

laboratory will also have time to briefly highlight some of the relevant technologies being developed at their facility. 

We will also talk about some of the technology transfer success stories at each of the national labs. The five 

laboratories will all have approximately 15 minutes to present this information. Following the introductions of each 

laboratory, we will begin a presentation of technology transfer mechanisms at DOE national laboratories. This 

discussion will cover different structures for licensing technologies from the laboratories, arranging for collaborative 

research agreements, and initiatives for the commercialization of technologies from the laboratory. We will also 

address intellectual property issues as pertains to the above mentioned mechanisms, as well as work funded by 

outside parties at the labs, and user facilities at the labs. Open Questions and Answers: The final 20 minutes of the 

session will be an open forum for questions from the audience. At that time, we will be able to answer questions 

about technologies presented during the session, as well as mechanisms for technology transfer. 


Steve Lake 

Argonne National Laboratory 

9700 S. Cass Avenue 

Argonne, Illinois 60439 

slake@anl.gov 

Technology Transfer at Argonne National Laboratory 

136


Erica Briggs 

Los Alamos National Laboratory, MS C333 


eab@lanl.gov 

Technology Transfer at Los Alamos National Laboratory 


Pam Seidenman 

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 

1 Cyclotron Road MS 90R1070 


psseidenman@lbl.gov 

Technology Transfer at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 

137 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS


Bruce Harrer 

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory 

P.O. Box 999 / K9-78 

Richland, Washington 99352 

bruce.harrer@pnl.gov 

Technology Transfer at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory 


Laura Santos 

Sandia National Laboratories 

P.O. Box 5800 MS1413 

Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185-1413 

lesanto@sandia.gov 

Technology Transfer at Sandia National Laboratories 

138

10:30 am Thursday, February 5 Emerging Technologies – IT Informatics Room A3 

Larry Arnstein 

Teranode Corporation 

2815 Eastlake Avenue E. 

Seattle, Washington 98102 

larrya@teranode.com 

Design Tools: A New Approach to Computing in Life Sciences 

139 

Co-Author(s) 

Zheng Li 

Neil Fanger 

Research and development in life sciences must scale beyond the ability for one group, division, or even company 

to own all of the required scientific, laboratory, and information technology resources. Instead, new languages 

and tools are needed that allow individuals and groups to make specific contributions in the context of a large 

scale effort within or across enterprises. These new languages and tools must have broad applicability to foster 

heavy re-use of IT investment; and they must incorporate conceptual models and physical form factors that are 

appropriate for classically trained scientists and technicians. Pervasive and Ubiquitous Computing is a branch 

of computer science that aims to remove barriers, both physical and intellectual, to effective use of computing 

technology. On the strength of two technologies conceived at the University of Washington, Teranode Corporation 

has created a new category of software called “Design Tools for Life Sciences”. This technology integrates 

modeling of complex biological systems with design, execution, and documentation of laboratory procedures 

using a straight-forward graphical language that is backed by a pervasive computing infrastructure. Individuals can 

now communicate about outcomes and predictions with little to no extra effort, and IT professionals can create a 

wide variety of specific applications at low cost with a high degree of interoperability. 


Eric Jones 

Enthought, Inc. 

515 Congress Avenue 

Austin, Texas 78701 

eric@enthought.com 

Python for Scientific Computing – An Open Source Solution 

Python is a well-designed general purpose programming language used in a variety of domains from powering 

web-sites (Google, Bank of America, NATO, and many others) to processing the data and images from the Hubble 

Telescope (STScI). Python has emerged as an excellent choice for scientific computing because of its simple 

syntax, ease of use, and elegant multi-dimensional array arithmetic. Python’s interpreted evaluation allows it to 

serve both as the development language and the command line environment in which to explore data. Python also 

excels as a “glue” language that joins multiple legacy codes written in different languages together – a common 

need in the scientific arena. This talk provides an overview of Python and reviews the wealth scientific tools 

available and how they pertain to laboratory automation. Some of the tools discussed include: 

• Numeric – Support for array (vectorized) arithmetic. 

• SciPy – Scientific Algorithms including Linear Algebra, signal processing, etc. 

• Chaco – Cross-platform plotting and visualization tools. 

Python and these associated tools share the same Open Source development model that has propelled the Linux 

operating system to notoriety. We will briefly discuss how open source methodologies can be used across an 

industry or within a company to create lower cost, quality software. 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS


Gerald Knoll 

Fraunhofer Institute Manufacturing Engineering and 

Automation (IPA) 

Nobelstrasse 12 

Stuttgart, D-70569 Germany 

gerald.knoll@ipa.fhg.de 

140 

Co-Author(s) 

Johann Dorner, Frank Bölstler, 

Joachim Seidelmann 

Universal and Mobile Messaging Framework M2A “Message to Anywhere” for Laboratory 


This paper presents a software prototype for an universal and mobile Messaging Framework M2A “Message 

to Anywhere”. Access on actual laboratory data is an essential necessity in laboratory automation. This is how 

today’s laboratories are able to meet requirements as: 

• Faster changing processes with more reduced quantities 

• Access on various kinds of data 

• Configuration of laboratories distributed worldwide 

• Increase availability of laboratory equipment 

Mobility is an important factor in the cleanroom industry. Laboratory apparatus become much more flexible if they 

possess a mobile control (e.g., PDA, web-panel or cell phone). As a result, laboratory personnel need to coat less 

often due to the fact that an apparatus in a cleanroom can be controlled from any point. The time saved easily 

amounts to many hours per month. Furthermore, the risk of a probe becoming contaminated during its process 

is also reduced. In bio-engineering laboratories, the contamination hazard for laboratory personnel through lifethreatening 

substances can also be limited considerably by using a mobile control. The M2A-Framework consists 

of a communication layer complying with current standards. By using the buy-and-run principle, no software 

needs to be installed on the mobile end-device. A generic adapter permits the rapid linking of devices, equipment, 

and applications to the communication layer. A visualization component which is independent of the input/output 

device portrays directly the semantic model of the generic adapter. Therefore, client information as user manuals, 

ERP system order data or statically performance data are on hand, beside actual process data.

1:30 pm Thursday, February 5 Emerging Technologies – Performance Metrics Room A1 

John Bradshaw 

Artel, Inc. 

25 Bradley Drive 

Westbrook, Maine 04092 

jbradshaw@artel-usa.com 

141 

Co-Author(s) 

Alex L. Rogers, Tanya R. Knaide, 

Richard H. Curtis, George Rodrigues 

A Multichannel Volumetric Verification (MVV) System for Ensuring the Accuracy and Precision 

of Liquid Delivery 

Building upon their expertise in liquid delivery verification and their proprietary ratiometric photometry, Artel has 

developed a system that overcomes the limitations of other methods (e.g., gravimetric, fluorimetric, or single dye 

photometric) designed to calibrate automated liquid handling equipment. By measuring the absorbance ratio of 

two photometric dyes, the MVV system determines both accuracy and precision of volume delivery from various 

types of multichannel liquid handling equipment (both automated instrumentation as well as manual pipettes) 

with 8-, 12-, or 96-tips operating over a volume range from 2 to 200 mµL. A suggested robust test protocol of 

nine volumes over the working volume range requires from as little as one to at most three hours to perform, 

depending on the speed of the liquid handler being validated. As well as providing speed, ease-of-use and high 

performance in assessing accuracy and precision, the MVV system provides traceability to international standards 

which answers regulatory compliance requirements and ensures comparable inter-laboratory results. In-house data 

collected during the development of the MVV system, which shows good agreement with other approaches for 

determining liquid delivery, will be presented as a validation of the dual-dye photometric approach. Field testing of 

the MVV system on various makes of automated equipment will also be presented, further verifying this approach 

as a fast and reliable method for determining volume delivery performance. Finally, data demonstrating the utility 

of the MVV system for easily assessing and altering the aspirate/dispense parameters for creating optimized liquid 

delivery protocols will be discussed. 


Toshiyuki Shiina 


P.O. Box 1663 MS J580 


tshiina@lanl.gov 

Co-Author(s) 

Torsten Staab 

Derek Miller 

Improving Sample Analysis Throughput and Quality With a C#.NET-based, Real-Time QC 

Decision Support System 

In this talk we present the current status and the future plan of an integrated, software-based quality control 

system designed to significantly improve the sample analysis throughput and quality of Beryllium analysis 

laboratories throughout the U.S. Department of Energy complex. Originally this system was developed for the 

Perkin Elmer 4300DV Optical Emission Spectrometer, which is usually combined with an auto-sampler capable 

of more than 100 samples per run. The current implementation of the device control software has no feedback 

loop; hence requires constant manual monitoring by lab personnel. Our new control system is designed to enable 

automatic data analyses in real-time in order to reduce operational costs and human error. To achieve these goals, 

we have developed a rule-based expert system in the C#.NET programming language and ADO.NET (ActiveX 

Data Object) that continuously extracts and analyzes data from the instrument’s result database as the data is 

being generated. Using our customer-specified rule base, the system is capable of detecting abnormal operating 

situations fully autonomously in real-time. This also enables the system to perform on-the-fly quality control and 

automatic event notification of lab personnel via e-mail and/or pager. 

PODIUM ABSTRACTS


Paul Taylor 

Boehringer Ingelheim 

175 Briar Ridge Road 

Ridgefield, Connecticut 06877 

ptaylor2@rdg.boehringer-ingelheim.com 

Application of Integrated Statistical Design and Analysis to Automated Assay 

Optimization (AAO) 

142 

Co-Author(s) 

Jeff Yingling, Mohammed Kashem, 

Richard Nelson, Carol Homon 

In the last several years high throughput screening has become a sophisticated automated environment capable 

of processing tens of thousands of samples per day. In this context bottlenecks have shifted from screening 

production to other areas including assay development. Statistically designed experiments have been in use since 

the pioneering work of Sir Ronald A. Fisher in the 1920s. Their application to the optimization of biological assays 

has, however, been limited due to the sheer number of factors and the complexity of their responses. Intricate 

interactions and non-linear behaviors are a common hallmark of biological systems and this has suggested 

multivariate experimental design and analysis as a useful development tool. It is only within the last several years 

that the capability of translating randomized statistical designs into robotic protocols has become feasible. As 

such, automation has opened the door to novel means of experimentation that would be impossible to carry 

out manually due to time limitations and design complexity. Initially, simpler fractional factorial experiments were 

reported as being effective and this has led to the present aim of incorporating response surface design and 

predictive modeling. The attractiveness of this approach is that it allows statistical analyses to identify optima that 

are distinct from experimental test conditions. 


Peter Grandsard 

Amgen, Inc. 

One Amgen Drive 


peterg@amgen.com 

Building Confidence in Automation 

Co-Author(s) 

John Alexander 

Henry Schultz 

To get information on equipment performance levels, several Amgen’s automation users perform standardized 

tests at regular intervals with results instantaneously recovered, analyzed statistically and stored in a database. 

When these tests reveal problems or nonconforming performance, users and automation specialists are alerted 

by e-mail and the appropriate repairs or modifications take place. This program is one way of generating and 

maintaining confidence in automated systems. Other methodologies for generating that necessary level of 

confidence rely on well-defined initial validations, operational procedures, roles and responsibilities, or make use of 

the corporate web portal. They will be described using a small set of case studies in the areas of small molecule 

storage and retrieval, high throughput screening, and pharmaceutics.

NOTES 

143

NOTES 

144

POSTER ABSTRACTS 

TP – Tuesday Posters should be set up on Tuesday 10:00 – 10:30 am and removed by 6:30 pm on Tuesday. 

The presenting author must be present 1:30 – 3:00 pm on Tuesday. 

WP – Wednesday Posters should be set up on Wednesday 10:00 – 10:30 am and removed by 6:30 pm on 

Wednesday. The presenting author must be present 2:00 – 3:30 pm on Wednesday. 

145 

POSTER ABSTRACTS

TP001 

Thor Anders Aarhaug 

SINTEF 

Materials Technology 

Sem Sælandsvei 12 

TrondheimNO-7465 Norway 

taarhaug@ntnu.no 

Sintalyzer – A Fully Automated Analytical System for Fluoride Analysis 

146 

Co-Author(s) 

Kalman Nagy 

In the aluminum industry, fluorine analyses are interfered by the presence of aluminum, silicon and iron. Performing 

standard fluorine analyses using TISAB buffers will result in a negative analytical error due to complexation of 

fluoride. The Sintalyzer analytical system is a customized system for fluoride analysis in the aluminum industry. It 

is used exclusively in the Scandinavian countries, and has also been installed in Germany, India, and Slovakia. The 

system uses several buffers that, in addition to proper sample preparation, render the fluoride electrochemically 

measurable. For optimal analytical performance, a standard addition technique is used. To avoid a dilution of the 

original matrix, micro volumes of highly concentrated standard is used. Since the concentration-voltage relation is 

given by the Nernst equation, the addition volumes have to be calculated dynamically in order to ensure an equal 

distance between the responses from the fluoride electrode. Although there are alternatives to potentiometry for 

fluoride analysis in the aluminum industry, the investment cost of, for example an XRF, are 10 times higher and 

requires by far more maintenance. Also, the sensitivity of the ion-selective electrode yields a better analytical 

performance. The Sintalyzer analytical system utilizes a standard addition technique that, by changing the ionselective 

electrode, can be extended to several other ions. By applying a lead ion-selective electrode, sulphur 

dioxide can be determined by titration with lead nitrate. The system comes with complete procedures for the 

analysis of fluoride of all matrices that are common in aluminum industry. The system is accredited according to 

Norwegian Standard quality assurance of GLP. 

TP002 

Monica Adams 


Development Integration/Genomics 

800 Centennial Avenue 

Piscataway, New Jersey 08854 

monica.adams@amersham.com 

The Automation of TempliPhi and GenomiPhi on the Tecan Genesis Freedom 

The Genesis Freedom Automation Workstation from Tecan offers you a simple, effective way to gain all the 

advantages of liquid handling and laboratory automation, which was used to automate Amersham Bioscience’s 

TempliPhi and GenomiPhi kits. The Tecan Gemini software system allows easy protocol set-up and operation 

of the Freedom workstation. Amersham Bioscience’s TempliPhi Amplification kit is a novel process to efficiently 

prepare DNA sequencing templates in 4 – 6 hours. Templates are prepared by rolling circle amplification using 

bacteriophage Phi29 DNA polymerase.The GenomiPhi kit utilizes Phi29 DNA polymerase enzyme to exponentially 

amplify single and double stranded DNA by strand displacement amplification. The Tecan Freedom, with an eightchannel 

liquid handling arm, is capable of generating multiple TempliPhi or GenomiPhi 96-well reaction plates in 

more than half the time of manual pipetting. TempliPhi and GenomiPhi can be easily automated to work with liquid 

handling systems.

TP003 

Edward Alderman 


Drug Discovery Consulting 

Zymark Center - 68 Elm Street 


ed.alderman@zymark.com 

Co-Author(s) 

Geoffrey N. Grove, Zymark Corporation 

Mei Cong and Zhong Zhong, Cell & Molecular Technologies 

Chris Cowan, Promega 

Casey Laris, Q3DM 

Automation of Apoptosis and Reporter-Gene Assays Using Division-Arrested 

NFkB HEK293 Cells 

Due to the high failure rate of NCE’s in animal trials, researchers are increasingly choosing to run assays in more 

physiologically relevant systems. This has given rise to an increasing demand for cell-based assays earlier in drug 

discovery and development work. We demonstrate that a cell-culture facility is not needed to perform automated 

cell-based assays. Using the Staccato Sciclone Cell Station-Assay (an automated cell-based assay system) and 

division arrested HEK293 cells provided by CMT (Cell & Molecular Technologies), we present data demonstrating 

the equivalency of division-arrested cells to normal cells when assayed using Promega’s Apo-ONE Homogenous 

Caspase-3/7 and Steady-Glo ® Luciferase Assay Systems. 

TP004 

Chris Barbagallo 

Millipore Corporation 

Research & Development 

17 Cherry Hill Drive 

Danvers, Massachusetts 01923 

chris_barbagallo@millipore.com 

Automating Aqueous Compound Solubility Screening 

147 

Co-Author(s) 

Greg Kazan 

Libby Kellard 

Jason Blodgett 

Alan Weiss 

Compound solubility characterization in the early stages of the drug discovery process is becoming an essential 

tool prior to performing any biological testing. The main reason for this being that low solubility can lead to 

unreliable results during in vitro studies, such as the generation of false positives in these bioassays. This wastes 

valuable time and resources, which can add significant cost to drug research projects. In addition to these 

factors, the standard shake-flask method now used to evaluate drug solubility is inherently low throughput and 

labor intensive. Millipore has developed a 96-well, filter-based method for both semi-quantitative and quantitative 

solubility determinations. We describe the use of these protocols on several liquid handling platforms to show the 

ease and robustness of full automation of this process. Results shown correlate well with values obtained using 

the shake-flask method. Depending on calibration and replicate number, this procedure is capable of generating 

results for hundreds of samples per day. 

POSTER ABSTRACTS

TP005 

Alex Berhitu 

Spark Holland, Inc. 

666 Plainsboro Road, Suite 1336 

Plainsboro, New Jersey 08536 

alex.berhitu@sparkholland.com 

Denaturing Solid-Phase Extraction for Reduced Protein Interference in 

Bioanalytical SPE-LC-MS 

148 

Co-Author(s) 

Emile Koster 

Peter Ringeling 

Bert Ooms 

Solid-Phase Extraction (SPE) coupled on-line to LC-MS can provide fully automated assays with 100% 

recovery and high precision. However, many matrix compounds (e.g., proteins) are usually also trapped and can 

subsequently co-elute with the drugs. Although most co-eluting proteins do not interfere with detection, they can 

reduce the column lifetime or cause ionization suppression. Even though more than 95% of serum proteins are 

removed by reversed-phase on-line SPE and only a part of the trapped proteins elute into the analytical system, 

suppression of the MS response and reduced LC-column lifetime are sometimes reported. We have investigated 

the effect of denaturing SPE conditions on the amount of eluting proteins using direct UV monitoring of SPE clean 

up. To that end serum is loaded onto a HySphere C18 cartridge with acidified water and a wash step is performed 

under denaturing conditions such as high zinc sulfate concentration, high and low pH and high temperature. 

Results show that optimized denaturing wash conditions reduces the amount of co-eluting proteins significantly, 

which means longer column life time, less pollution of MS interface and reduced risk of ionization suppression. 

Compared to traditional off-line deproteinization (including centrifugation) followed by SPE, denaturing SPE is 

not only fully automated but it also gives cleaner extracts. Moreover, denaturing SPE reduces the risk of coprecipitation 

of drug and protein as separation of both occurs during the first SPE step. 

TP006 

Emily Berlin 

Pall Life Sciences 

600 South Wagner Road 


emily_berlin@pall.com 

Co-Author(s) 

Michael L. Metzker, Luke Mast, Geoffrey Okwuonu and Toni Garner, 


Kamran Usmani and Richard A. Gibbs, Baylor College of Medicine 

Meeting the Increasing Challenges of Speed, Performance, and Quality While Reducing 

Costs in Whole Genome Sequencing 

Following the completion of the human genome sequence, the BCM-HGSC in collaboration with its respective 

partners has recently released the final draft assemblies of the rat, Drosophila pseudoobscura, and honey bee 

genomes. Current efforts of draft quality sequence and subsequent assembly of the sea urchin, Rhesus macaque, 

and bovine genomes present new challenges in speed and performance while maintaining high quality and 

reduced costs. Additionally, tracking of species-specific projects and associated BAC clones to support our 

blended whole genome shot-gun strategy for Atlas assembly of whole genomes is critical for efficient project 

management. Our recent innovations in automation technology in both production and instrument loading groups, 

and the development of the 192-well plasmid purification platform have been instrumental in meeting these 

challenges. For example, the 192-well plate format increases throughput 2-fold at reduced materials and reagent 

cost while requiring the same number of research personnel and equipment (i.e., prep robots, storage freezers, 

and shakers). Single plate-to-plate transfers for paired-end DNA sequence reaction set-up ensures robust tracking 

efficiency of projects through our production pipeline. The current status of different whole genome projects and 

the underlying production strategies to ensure the highest quality draft sequence products will be presented.

TP007 

Christopher Bernard 

Bristol-Meyers Squibb Co. 

Discovery Technologies 

5 Research Parkway 


chris.bernard@bms.com 

149 

Co-Author(s) 

Moneesh Chatterjee, Andrew Bullen, James Myslik, 

William Monahan, Jeffrey Guss, Christian Strom, 

Jay Stevenson, Alastair Binnie 

A Microtube Rack Decapper/Sorter for use in the Automated Preparation of Compounds for 

High Throughput Screening 

A key requirement for using large compound collections in High Throughput Screening (HTS) is making 

compounds available in formats appropriate for screening. In most instances, part of the formatting process is 

dependent on converting compounds from a 96-well microtube format to more densely packed plate formats 

(i.e., 384-well or 1536-well). The first step after retrieval from the compound collection is to remove caps from 

individually sealed microtubes, and sort the microtube racks into specific groupings. Typically, the process of 

decapping and sorting is a manual procedure with inherent ergonomic stress, that also introduces the potential for 

racks to be grouped incorrectly. The lack of a commercially available system that was cost-effective and capable 

of automatically removing EVA caps from Micronic microtubes led us to create a custom system for decapping 

microtube racks. To address rack handling and sorting, a custom-made decapping device was integrated with 

commercially available stackers (VStack, Velocity11), a random access carousel (CRS), and a Vertical Array Loader 

(CRS) into a linear rail-based system. The overall system is run by a custom instrument control and scheduling 

application developed in LabVIEW (National Instruments). Additionally, sophisticated error trapping and inspection 

capabilities are included in this system to further enhance overall process reliability and to aid in recovery from 

system errors. The implementation of this custom system to decap and sort microtube racks in an automated 

production environment will be presented. 

POSTER ABSTRACTS

TP009 

Stefan Betz 

Kendro Laboratory Products GmbH 

Robert Bosch Str. 1 

Langenselbold, 63505 Germany 

stefan.betz@kendro.spx.com 

Production & Storage of High Density Chemical Microarrays 

150 

Co-Author(s) 

Michael Frank, Graffinity Pharmaceuticals AG 

Chemical microarrays are applied by Graffinity as part of a proprietary drug discovery platform which combines 

chemistry and biology with physics, information technology, and microsystem technology. As a result characteristic 

fingerprints of examined proteins provide detailed chemo-biological information for the subsequent “RAISE” 

process (Rapid Affinity Instructed Structure Evolution). In this process, small organic molecules are developed in an 

evolutionary way directed by their interactions with target proteins. Gold-coated glass chips are used as carriers 

for Graffinity’s chemical microarrays. The arrays have standard microtiter plate footprint with up to 9216 spots or – 

the latest generation – microscopy-slide size with up to 9600 spots. The gold layer is coated with a self assembling 

monolayer (SAM) of synthetic chemicals. The surface preparation was developed by Graffinity to enable the 

immobilization of chemical compounds while preventing the nonspecific binding of proteins. The transfer of 

chemical compounds onto the surface of the microarrays is achieved utilizing a spotting procedure. The spotting 

of the substances is reliable and precise, placing compounds onto the microarrays in a custom-built automated 

environment to ensure both quality and reproducibility at high throughput. For mixed storage of MTP-size as well 

as slide-size microarrays a modified Kendro Cytomat 6002 is used. The storage hotel enables space-saving inert 

and cooled storage of up to 700 MTP-size or 2800 slide-size microarrays per unit. 

TP010 

Laurent Bialy 


Chemistry 

Highfield 

Southampton SO17 1BJ United Kingdom 

laurent.bialy@gmx.de 

PNA-encoded Peptide Libraries – A New Tool in High Throughput Screening 

Co-Author(s) 

Mark Bradley 

Peptide nucleic acids were described by Nielsen as stable DNA analogues. We want to use PNA-DNA 

hybridisation to “arrange” in defined locations on a DNA chip each and every specific member of a split-and-mix 

library and then interrogate the library while attached to the array. A split-and-mix library of peptides covalently 

attached to an encoding PNA arm was synthesized and after cleavage from the resin was allowed to hybridize 

to a DNA-chip. This DNA chip can be used to screen the peptide library for reversible binding of various receptor 

molecules which are fluorescently labeled. Small, organic molecules which behave as selective binders for 

peptides could be used as therapeutic agents. Through binding peptidic hormones or growth factors or inhibiting 

protein-protein interactions which are crucial for biological signaling, these receptors could become a valuable 

tool in molecular biology or even become lead compounds for anti-cancer drugs. Our techonology is superior to 

classical on-bead-screening techniques because we can do our assays in homogeneous solution and hybridize 

to the chip afterwards, thereby avoiding artefacts of heterogeneous assays. Furthermore, we could also reuse 

our chips for more than one assay by simply washing off reversibly binding molecules. In conclusion, this new 

screening technology should be a valuable alternative to other techniques like on-bead-assays in the field of high 

throughput screening technology.

TP011 

Annegret Boge 

Molecular Devices 

Biochemistry 



annegret_boge@moldev.com 

Adaptation of a High Sensitivity 384-Well Solid Phase Assay Platform to 1536-Well: 

CatchPoint for Cyclic Nucleotides and Tyrosine Kinase Activity 

151 

Co-Author(s) 

Jonathan Petersen 

Jeannie Nguyen 

Gayle Teixeira 

Richard Sportsman 

The Molecular Devices Catchpoint platform is a very sensitive solid phase based assay system for assaying for 

cAMP, cGMP and tyrosine kinase activity. In order to make such a solid phase system amendable to ultra high 

HTS (even if it includes only one wash step) we have adapted it from 384-well plates to 1536-well plates. This 

adaptation was possible by the concurrent development of a new Washer/Dispenser System (AquaMax DW4) by 

Molecular Devices. We compare several performance parameters of the different assays between 384-well plates 

and 1536-well plates including sensitivity and variability. 

TP012 

Wayne Bowen 

TTP LabTech 


Melbourn, Herts SG8 6EE United Kingdom 

wayne.bowen@ttplabtech.com 

A Homogeneous Assay for P-glycoprotein Inhibition Using the Acumen Explorer 

Co-Author(s) 

Tristan Cope 

Matthew Cook 

Interindividual differences in drug absorption and disposition are an important cause of drug therapy failures. 

Evidence is increasing that active drug transport across cellular membranes is an important process involved in 

drug absorption and disposition. P-glycoprotein (Pgp) is an ATP dependant transmembrane protein, that actively 

transports molecules out of cells, including drugs such as digoxin and HIV protease inhibitors. Screening for 

inhibitors of Pgp activity at an early stage can thus highlight potential drug-drug interactions. Pgp activity was 

measured using the fluorescence due to calcein accumulation in the cytosol, produced by the action of cellular 

esterases on the non-fluorescent Pgp substrate, calcein-AM. Cell viability was assessed simultaneously through 

addition of the nuclear stain Propidium Iodide. Cellular fluorescence was measured using an Acumen Explorer 

laser scanning fluorescence microplate cytometer. This is a non-confocal system, permitting area-based scanning 

of fluorescent objects located on the bottom of micro-titre plate wells. The Acumen Explorer does not need to 

re-focus between wells, conferring high scan speed on any SBS standard plate, including 1536-well plates. It 

offers a 488 nm excitation source and up to 4 channels of data collection. The effect of verapamil, ketoconazole 

and rifampicin on Pgp activity was measured in HepG2 cells. All the compounds produced an increase in cellular 

fluorescence relative to untreated cells. The rank order of potency was verapamil = ketoconazole > rifampicin. 

Limited cytotoxicity was observed with ketoconazole at high concentrations (> 30 µM). These data demonstrate 

the utility of the Acumen Explorer in primary, mulitplexed ADMET screening. 

POSTER ABSTRACTS

TP013 

Christine Brideau 

Merck Frosst Centre for Therapeutic Research 

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology 

16711 TransCanada Highway 

Kirkland, Quebec H9H 3L1 Canada 

christine_brideau@merck.com 

Co-Author(s) 

Louis Jacques Fortin, Shiraz Adam and Jerry Ferentinos, 

Merck Frosst Centre for Therapeutic Research 

Joel Hunter, RTS Enabling Technology 

Julio Maher, RTS Life Science International 

SOS – A Sample Ordering System to Deliver “Assay-Ready” Compound Plates for Screening 

Many bottlenecks in drug discovery have been addressed with the advent of new assay and instrument 

technologies. However, storing and processing chemical compounds for screening remains a challenge for many 

drug discovery laboratories. Automated storage and retrieval systems are commercially available for medium to 

large collections of chemical samples. However, these samples are usually stored at a central site and are not 

readily accessible to satellite research labs. Drug discovery relies on the rapid testing of new chemical compounds 

in relevant biological assays. Therefore, newly synthesized compounds must be readily available in various 

formats to biologists performing screening assays. Until recently, our compounds were distributed in screw cap 

vials to assayists who would then manually transfer and dilute each sample in an ‘assay-ready’ compound plate 

for screening. The vials would then be managed by the individuals in an ad hoc manner. To relieve the assayist 

from searching for compounds and preparing their own ‘assay-ready’ compound plates, a newly customized 

compound dispensing system and software application was implemented at our research facility that eliminates 

these bottlenecks. The system stores and retrieves compounds in 1mL-minitubes or microtiter plates, facilitates 

compound searching by identifier or structure, orders compounds at varying concentrations in specified wells on 

96- or 384-well plates, requests the addition of controls (vehicle or reference compounds), etc. The orders are 

automatically processed and delivered to the assayist the following day for screening. An overview of our system 

will demonstrate that we minimize compound waste and ensure compound integrity and availability. 

TP014 

Jimmy Bruner 


High Throughput Biology 

5 Moore Drive 


jimmy.j.bruner@gsk.com 

A Novel System for Automated RNA Isolation 

“Increasing Throughput Without Increasing Footprint” 

152 

Co-Author(s) 

Bryan Laffite, David Murray, Ginger Smith, 

Jim Liacos, Amy Siu, Cathy Finlay 

The High Throughput Biology department at GlaxoSmithKline is developing in vitro models to better predict 

the efficacy of compounds in the clinic. The development and progression of disease is often associated with 

characteristic changes in gene expression.These “transcriptional profliles” (mRNA gene expression patterns 

associated with a given disease) can be used as biomarkers to monitor disease states. Therefore, we are 

utilizing transcriptional profiling as a way to understand diseases and the effects of pharmaceuticals on those 

diseases.Transcriptional profiling has numerous advantages over other techniques including highly sensitive 

and highly quantitative assays, simple assay development, and accessibility of nearly the entire genome to 

transcriptional readouts. Our transcriptional profiling strategy involves isolation of total RNA from samples followed 

by real-time quantiative PCR assays (Taqman assays).Current automated systems allow for the isolation of total 

RNA from one 96-well plate at a time on a Biomek FX taking approximately one hour per plate. The Automation 

team recently developed an automated system to increase throughput and reduce reagent waste for 96-well RNA 

isolation extractions. This system can isolate RNA from 10 96-well plates in approximately four hours. An additional 

goal was to create a system on one stand-alone Biomek FX. Beyond simultaneous processing of plates and 

custom deck lay out we designed and co-developed with Beckman a nested-tip design that allows the stacking of 

five P20 tip boxes on one alp location. This poster describes the nested tip functions, robot functions, and assay 

performance of a higher throughput automated RNA isolation workstation.

TP015 

Jesse Campbell 

Applied Molecular Evolution 

3520 Dunhill Street 


jcampbell@amevolution.com 

153 

Co-Author(s) 

Michael J. Cohen, Andrew Korytko, 

Barbara Swanson, Alain P. Vasserot 

Development of a Data-driven, Integrated Automation Platform for High Throughput 

Expression and Screening of Protein Engineering Libraries 

Protein engineering can drastically impact the efficacy and safety profile of therapeutic proteins and expand their 

clinical utility. The systematic exploration of beneficial amino acid changes in a protein requires the creation, 

expression, and screening of mutational libraries and the use of a wide range of procedures and assays. In 

order to facilitate the rapid evaluation of these libraries, we modified a Biomek FX-based system to create an 

integrated automation platform that enables robotic handling of engineering projects with widely different goals 

and requirements. This system is now capable of automated colony picking, plasmid preparation, mammalian 

cell transfection, quantification and robotic execution of a variety of project-specific screening assays. Integrated 

analysis software allows data-driven normalization of expression levels and sample re-arraying as well as the 

selection of primary leads based upon real-time investigator input. The heavy use of custom-designed hardware 

and software solutions was necessary to design a platform that considerably expands the utility of the original core 

system by maximizing unattended overnight usage and by accommodating a wide variety of libraries, expression 

systems, and screening assays. 

TP016 

Julie Chang 

MDL Information Systems 

14600 Catalina Street 

San Leandro, California 94577 

jchang@mdl.com 

An Inventory Management Solution From Registration to Assays 

The compound management group is often described as the hub of activity that manages the formulation, 

storage, distribution, and job tracking of requests for plates to various groups that input compounds as well as 

request compounds for testing. MDL will present an information management solution that will accommodate the 

workflows of chemists as well as biologists in the new MDL Plate Manager. 

POSTER ABSTRACTS

TP017 

Madhu Prakash Chatrathi 

New Mexico State University 

Chemistry & Biochemistry 

MSC 3C; North Horseshoe Drive 

Las Cruces, New Mexico 88001 

madhupra@hotmail.com 

Co-Author(s) 

Joseph Wang, Alexander Muck, Scott Spillman, Gautham 

Sridharan and Michael Jacobs, New Mexico State University 

Michael Schonning, Institute of Thin Films and Interfaces, 

Jülich, Germany 

Rapid Fabrication of Poly(methylmethacrylate) Microfluidic Chips by Atmospheric Molding 

Microfluidic devices are finding numerous applications in analytical chemistry. Most early reports on miniaturized 

analytical systems have relied on glass or silicon substrates. However, the cost of producing glass microchips 

and the ease of fabrication has driven researchers and producers to seek for alternative materials. Recent efforts 

have thus led to increasing use of polymeric materials [poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS), poly(methylmethacrylate) 

(PMMA) or polycarbonate (PC)] in the preparation of chip-based devices. PMMA has been particularly useful for 

analytical microsystems, owing to several advantages, including high chemical and mechanical stability and good 

support of the electroosmotic flow. A greatly simplified method for fabricating PMMA separation microchips is 

introduced. The new method of fabrication relies on UV initiated polymerization of the monomer solution in an 

open mold under ambient pressure. Silicon microstructures are transferred onto the polymer substrate by molding 

a methylmethacrylate solution in a sandwich (silicon-master/Teflon-spacer/glass-plate) mold. The chips are 

subsequently assembled by thermal sealing of the channel and cover plates. The new approach brings significant 

simplification of the process of fabricating PMMA devices and should lead to a widespread low-cost production 

of high-quality separation microchips and obviates the need for specialized replication equipment and reduces 

the complexity of prototyping and manufacturing. While the new approach is demonstrated on PMMA microchips, 

it could be applied to other materials that undergo light-initiated polymerization. Ongoing experiments in our 

laboratory are focused on tailoring the electroosmotic flow characteristics by changing the chemical properties of 

the bulk microchip material via judicious choice of the monomer material. 

TP018 

Melissa Cheu 

Genentech, Inc. 

BioAnalytical Assays 

1 DNA Way, Mailstop 86B 

South San Francisco, California 94080 

melissa@gene.com 

Validation of the Packard Multiprobe HT for Dilution of Biological Matrix Samples 

154 

Co-Author(s) 

Brent T. Nakagiri 

Riddhi Patel 

Patricia Y. Siguenza 

The BioAnalytical Assays Department at Genentech, Inc. performs drug level measurement and antibody to 

product testing in support of pre-clinical and clinical studies. To support drug level measurements, biological matrix 

samples are diluted in various diluents to fall within the standard curve ranges of 96-well plate based ELISAs. 

Since the concentration of drug varies in the samples being tested, some samples may need to be diluted more 

than others to fall within the standard curve range. The need for a dilution instrument that could simultaneously 

dilute a set of samples to multiple endpoints led to the selection of the Packard Multiprobe HT dilutor, a robotic 

liquid handling system capable of delivering up to eight different liquid volumes simultaneously through eight 

independently controlled syringes. Since BioAnalytical Assays runs samples in a regulated environment, validation 

of the Packard Multiprobe HT was performed before the instrument was put into use for dilution of samples. 

Validation testing included accuracy and precision checks of the instrument, error generation testing, and recovery 

of reference material diluted into plasma, serum, and buffer.

TP019 

Robin Clark 


BioStructures Group 

7869 NE Day Road W. 


rclark@decode.com 

Protein Maker: An Automated System for Protein Purification 

Co-Author(s) 

Alexandrina Muntianu, Hans-Thomas Richter, Denise Conner, 

Lawrence Chun, Lance Stewart 

The Protein Maker is an automated system for parallel liquid chromatography at medium scale (1-50 mg of 

protein). Protein solutions, wash buffers and elution buffers are delivered under positive pressure to up to 24 

columns by automated syringe pumps. Thus Protein Maker is analogous to an FPLC system that can run 24 

columns at a time. The 24 syringe pumps are connected to 8-way valves, with each pump and valve controlled 

independently through the software. A gantry with XYZ directional control carries two 24-port manifolds: one for 

sample loading and one for columns. Standard pre-packed 1 to 10 ml columns are mounted on the gantry with 

flow rates adjustable from 0.25 to 290 ml/min. Column fractions are delivered into 24-well block plates at any of 23 

deck locations. Protein Maker can be used to purify up to 24 different proteins in parallel on duplicate columns, or 

to test multiple purification strategies on one or a few proteins. Application results will be presented. 

TP020 

Matthew Cook 

TTP LabTech 


Melbourn, Herts SG8 6EE United Kingdom 

matthew.cook@ttplabtech.com 

155 

Co-Author(s) 

Olivier Dery, Gwyneth Olson, Annick Le Gall and 

Francine Fang, TTP LabTech 

Pierre Turpin, BD Bioscience Clontech 

BD Biosciences Clontech ZsProSensor-1, a Fluorescent Protein-based Proteasome Sensor 

Assay: Evaluation Using the Acumen Explorer 

Protein degradation by the proteasome is at the core of many pathological processes such as inflammation, 

autoimmunity, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. This has motivated efforts to identify compounds that 

modulate the activity of the proteasome. Assays to monitor this activity in live cells could boost these efforts by 

bypassing heavy biochemical manipulations. In this study, a proteasome targeting sequence was used to direct 

the reef coral fluorescent protein ZsGreen to degradation by the proteasome. The chimaeric fluorescent protein 

ZsProSensor-1 is constitutively degraded by the proteasome in stably transfected HEK 293 cells and accumulates 

under conditions that alter the activity of the proteasome. Because of its high sensitivity, this live cell assay allows 

monitoring of the activity of the proteasome by microscopes, flow cytometers and standard 96-well plate readers. 

Using the Acumen Explorer the inhibitory activities of four different inhibitors of the proteasome were detected 

at discrete time points using ZsProSensor-1-expressing cells. Propidium Iodide (PI) was used to monitor the 

cytotoxicity of these compounds. These data demonstrate the complimentary nature of BD Biosciences Clontech’s 

Novel Fluorescent Protein (NFP) based assays and the Acumen Explorer fluorescent detection system for the 

potential identification of compounds that modulate the activity of the proteasome as well as their cytotoxicity and 

other cellular effects. 

POSTER ABSTRACTS

TP021 

Cristopher Cowan 

Promega Corporation 

Applications 

2800 Woods Hollow Road 

Madison, Wisconsin 53711 

ccowan@promega.com 

156 

Co-Author(s) 

James Batchelor, Zymark Corporation 

Automated Isolation of Nucleic Acids on the Zymark SciClone ALH 3000 Using Promega’s SV 

96 Nucleic Acid Isolation Chemistries 

Isolation of nucleic acids is central to all manipulations used in molecular biology. Promega offers a variety of 

SV 96 Nucleic Acid Isolation Systems which provide a coherent set of vacuum based isolation protocols for 

purification of genomic DNA from tissues and tissue culture cells, total RNA from tissues and tissue culture cells, 

plasmids from bacterial cell cultures and PCR clean-up from PCR reactions. In collaboration with Zymark we 

have developed methods for the purification of all of these nucleic acid types using Promega’s SV 96 Nucleic 

Acid Isolation Systems on the Zymark SciClone ALH 3000 liquid handling workstation. The SV 96 Nucleic Acid 

Isolation Systems use filter plates for binding nucleic acids. Instead of using vacuum filtration for binding and 

washing steps, the Zymark SciClone ALH 3000 liquid handling workstation uses a positive pressure system to 

push reagents through the filter plates. Once bound, the nucleic acids are washed and the highly purified nucleic 

acid products are eluted in water. Once isolated, the samples can be used directly for downstream PCR, RT-PCR, 

quantitative PCR, sequencing and other molecular biological reactions. We demonstrate the automated isolation of 

a variety of nucleic acid types (genomic DNA, total RNA, plasmid, PCR product) from tissues, tissue cell cultures, 

bacterial cultures, and PCR reactions. Performance of the isolated nucleic acids in PCR, RT-PCR, and sequencing 

is demonstrated, with no detectable cross contamination. 

TP022 

Carole Crittenden 

Molecular Devices Corporation 



Carole_Crittenden@moldev.com 

Demonstration of Mitochondrial Aequorin Luminescent Signal Measurement by FLIPR3 

Co-Author(s) 

Jennifer McKie 

Yan Zhang 

The FLIPR3 ® is a cell-based HTS system that measures intracellular fluorescence assays such as calcium flux 

and membrane potential. Using a sensitive camera, the high throughput capabilities of the FLIPR3 system are 

expanded to include measurement of aequorin luminescent signal in cell-based G Protein Coupled Receptor 

Assays for drug discovery.FLIPR3 simultaneously reads all wells throughout the reagent addition process. 

The ability to read immediately after dispensing enables aequorin that yield flash luminescence. In this study, 

we demonstrate luminescence measurement capabilities for FLIPR3 and evaluate cell based luminescence 

applications for drug discovery.

TP023 

Katherine Dains 

Adeline Scientific 

Research 

1534 Plaza Lane, Suite 119 

Burlingame, California 94010 

kdains@earthlink.net 

157 

Co-Author(s) 

Wensheng Chen 

Information and Data Management Software for Tracking Patient, Research, and Analysis 

Data in Small to Medium Clinical and Research Labs 

We have developed software for information and data management for use in the small- to medium-sized life 

science research labs. The system is user configurable, uncomplicated, and affordable. Most commercial data 

management software products available require sophisticated IT setup, in-house personnel or outside contractors 

to control and maintain the system. Our system will appeal to many laboratories that require flexibility and 

specificity to their laboratory needs without the complexity and cost of a large and expensive product. At the 

center of the system is a configuration tool that can be set up to handle various laboratory data management 

workflows such as recruitment and tracking of research study candidates and related genetic studies. This 

intelligence tool is made possible through a proprietary data model cartridge technology. After completing the 

configuration process, the user can choose to deploy the data system or to merge data with existing systems. The 

system is designed with three-tier architecture in the form of web applications thus allowing for easy upgrades and 

remote access. Along with the simple web-based architecture, user-configurable data loading tools are provided 

that will adapt to most data importing tasks. Information can be entered and tracked over long periods of time, 

as well as easily retrieved through the web-based reporting structure. The system is built to support all major 

database products. We will present details on the architecture, detailed design specifications, and test results from 

collaborating research labs. 

TP024 

Juan Jose Diaz-Mochon 


Chemistry 

Highfield Campus 

Southampton SO17 1BJ United Kingdom 

jjd29@soton.ac.uk 

Novel PNA-Peptoid Conjugates as Antisense Drugs 

Co-Author(s) 

Laurent Bialy, Boon-ek Yingyongnarongkul, 

Adam Belson, Mark Bradley 

Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA) has been developed in the last decade as a new DNA mimic which hybridises 

complementary DNA or RNA sequences with higher affinity than its counterparts. PNA presents a 2aminoethylglycine 

backbone instead of the DNA sugar-phosphonate moiety. This uncharged backbone allows 

PNA to display a stronger hybridisation with DNA or RNA and to be easily synthesised. These features prompted 

investigators to develop PNA analogues as promising candidates for the antisense therapy strategies. Antisense 

drugs target genes that are active or over expressed in certain pathological processes thus disrupting the synthesis 

of disease-responsible proteins. However, the main drawback has been their lack of cellular permeability that 

has avoided their further development as efficient antisense drugs. A few promising PNA-conjugates have been 

reported but new models are necessary to improve cellular permeability and overall drug-like features. Herein a 

new type of PNA-conjugates with higher cellular permeability is introduced. These novel PNA oligomers are bound 

to peptoids that have been reported as successful transfection agents. A library of PNA analogues has been 

synthesised on solid phase using a novel deprotection strategy, and it has been tested on GFP-transfected cell 

cultures. Furthermore, this library will also be tested using a cell-based microchip assay. 

POSTER ABSTRACTS

TP025 

James Dixon 

North Carolina State University 

Department of Chemistry 

Dabney 413 

Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-8204 

jmdixon2@unity.ncsu.edu 

158 

Co-Author(s) 

Jonathan S. Lindsey 

Developing a Versatile Program and Database for use in Laboratory Science (PhotochemCAD) 

Laboratory researchers often face the problem of organizing and managing large quantities of experimental 

data, as well as comparing their data with literature data. In the photochemical sciences, the core data include 

the spectral properties of diverse substances. One wants to know the absorption and emission properties of a 

compound, have pointers to the literature, and to be able to perform calculations using such spectral data. We 

have developed a software package (PhotochemCAD) that includes a database of spectral data with literature 

references for 125 compounds of natural and synthetic origin. Features are available for performing diverse 

calculations of interest across the photochemical sciences, including Förster energy transfer, oscillator strength, 

multicomponent analysis, blackbody radiator, etc. The program (version 1, 1998) can be downloaded: 

http://www.kumc.edu/POL/PAPHome/Vol68/pap68sd1.html 

We have been working on developing version 2 of PhotochemCAD. The upgraded version includes features 

for spectral manipulation and display, addition of data to the spectral database, calculations related to energy 

transfer among pigments, and integrated help features. We also are working to incorporate spectra for additional 

compounds to the database. Other features have been incorporated to create a cleaner and more intuitive 

interface, and to make the downloading process seamless. This development effort has much in common with 

research aimed at creating versatile software programs that address the needs of experimentalists in laboratory 

settings. This presentation will provide an overview of the program and the solutions employed in upgrading to the 

new version. 

TP026 

Doug Drake 

IDBS 

2 Occam Court, Surrey Research Park 

Guildford GU2 7QB United Kingdom 

ddrake@id-bs.com 

Co-Author(s) 

Andrew Lemon 

Evgueni Kolossov 

In Silico Drug Profiling: QSAR Models as Frontline Weapons in the Fight to Find New Drug 

Candidates 

Traditionally, model building, prediction and virtual screening has been an expert-only field, limiting more general 

application of such techniques. Related information and knowledge transfer between therapeutic groups has 

been limited and therefore the value of such models has never been fully realized. We present a model building 

system to develop and refine QSAR models. Designed to support rapid creation of high quality QSAR models 

using a variety of algorithms, the system supports creation, validation, and annotation of models. The models 

have application in virtual screening and property prediction of compound libraries, complementing the skills and 

knowledge of research scientists in designing new candidates. This platform provides a systematic approach to 

drug design providing the ability to build an in silico drug profile for as many relevant, measurable parameter as 

required. The system promotes QSAR modeling as a front line tool to aid drug discovery scientists.

TP027 

Philipp Dreiss 

Fraunhofer IPA 

Department Cleanroom Manufacturing 

Nobelstr. 12 

Stuttgart 70569 Germany 

Dreiss@ipa.fhg.de 

Capability Management Framework for Clinical Equipment in Laboratory 

159 

Co-Author(s) 

R. Muckenhirn 

J. Dorner 

A. P. Kumar 

The Capability Management Framework (CMF) system provides predefined and configurable sets of developed 

software components for the examination and evaluation of analysis results based on system and process 

capability patterns during the analysis process. CMF takes into account all the analysis steps and the machine 

parameters, which are necessary for the analysis to recognize the non-trivial coherence among the system, 

process capabilities and the related parameters, which can be responsible for the origination of system, process 

capability deviations. The evaluation criteria, strategies and expert knowledge are provided by the knowledge 

based system. CMF as an object-oriented framework can be used for a rapid development and integration 

of capability management based services within a clinical environment for scheduling and dispatching. These 

services extend the current features of Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS). The following 

presentation will depict the associated development process and the corresponding integration of its components 

in the existing software architectures and services for how to setup communication. It includes the basic 

framework elements, services and its integration to the other already existing software architectures. The main 

topics are the basic software components and the underlying communication infrastructure and protocols that 

support during a rapid setup and configuration process. Further the concepts for service registration and discovery 

in the context of the clinical environment are pointed out. The concept is shown by an implementation based for 

several equipment types as used in semiconductor manufacturing and pharmaceutical industries. 

TP028 

Ping Du 

Black Mountain Scientific 

4 Fullerton Place 

Livingston, New Jersey 07039 

blackmountainscientific@yahoo.com 

SHOW – Sample Handling Operation Wizard 

Manual sample handling, such as moving samples or recording data visually, is a tedious and error prone 

process. Sample Handling Operation Wizard (SHOW) is a system developed to guide manual sample handling in 

laboratories. It comprises a sample tray mounted on a 15" flat-panel computer monitor. Up to four transparent 

micro titer plates and up to eight reagent vials may be placed on the sample tray. Images of the wells of the plates 

and vials are generated on the monitor and controlled by computer software. These images are directly aligned 

with the positions of the physical wells or vials. By highlighting the wells or vials involved in a sample handling 

step of a predefined protocol, manual operations can be performed with precise guidance from the system. As a 

result, the risk of locating a wrong sample or placing a sample at a wrong location can be minimized, and sample 

handling operations become more efficient and less stressful. 

POSTER ABSTRACTS

TP029 

Wayne Duncan 

Agilent Technologies 

5301 Stevens Creek Boulevard 

P.O. Box 58059 

Santa Clara, California 95052-8059 

wayne_duncan@agilent.com 

Tools for Improving Purification Throughput for New Drug Candidates 

160 

Co-Author(s) 

Douglas McIntyre 

Bringing new drugs to market quickly is a considerable challenge for modern drug discovery laboratories due 

to the tasks of identification and purification of huge numbers of samples. Dealing with such large numbers of 

diverse compounds requires a robust system that chemists can rely on and that provides flexibility, yet is not 

difficult to use. Depending on the phase of development, the success of the synthetic schemes employed, and 

the subsequent biological testing required, the purification system must be very adaptable to provide optimum 

results. At times compound recovery is the most important consideration, while at other times maximum purity of 

the fractions is most critical. Then there are times when it is best to compromise by maximizing both purity and 

recovery simultaneously. All of this needs to be as automated and high throughput as possible. The system used 

in this work includes capabilities such as active splitting, integrated delay sensing between detectors and fraction 

collectors, and mass spectral and UV monitoring were used to precisely set system parameters. A key element 

is the ability to help the user set appropriate slope and threshold parameters by working with a preview screen 

during purification set-up. It is also shown how fraction homogeneity calculations can often alleviate the need 

for re-analysis of fractions to obtain purity information. Adding to the productivity of the system is the use of a 

walk-up and browser software for easy sample submission and data review by non-experts in purification such as 

medicinal chemists. 

TP030 

Todd Edwards 

Protedyne 

Field Technical Specialist 

8070A South Lake Drive 

Dublin, California 94568 

todde@protedyne.com 

Automated Real Time Hit Picking, Retesting, and Reflux Testing 

Co-Author(s) 

Jason Quarles, Dave Wilson, 

Ralph K. Ito, Gregory A. Endress 

Advances in automation have enabled screening methods, such as enzymatic assays and ELISAs, to be performed 

in a high throughput fashion. Instruments can perform each of the steps more rapidly and with fewer errors 

than humans, however, in many cases, humans still perform the key steps of integrating the instruments and 

Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS). Typically, the screening process involves multiple steps for 

sample testing, manual data entry, and design of protocols to handle the positive samples and final processing 

of positives. Robotic arms and track systems can bridge the gap between instruments, however the lack of a 

data transfer standard in instruments and LIMS makes the integration process difficult and often impossible for 

the typical biological laboratory. Fully integrated systems such as Protedyne’s BioCube System combine liquid 

handling, LIMS, plate washing, and plate reading in a device that is controlled via a single user interface. As an 

example, we present the results of automated ELISA testing that include sample plate preparation, plate washing, 

plate reading, and automatic retesting of positive samples. By performing an automated initial screening of results, 

our system enables positive samples to be retested at higher stringency or sent to a technician for corroboration of 

results. The screening process then becomes a single protocol that starts with a sample set and results in a data 

set of tested and retested/reflux tested positives as well as rearrayed plates of positive samples that are ready for 

additional downstream processing.

TP031 

Alex Berhitu 




alex.berhitu@sparkholland.com 

161 

Co-Author(s) 

Steven Eendhuizen, Emile Koster, 

Martijn Hilhorst, Bert Ooms 

XLC-MS: Sample Extraction and LC Separation Merged Into a Single Automated 

Front-end System 

The universal applicability of MS as detection technique has been a great help in streamlining the lab organization. 

For sample preparation, though just as desirable, such a universal approach has not evolved so far, hampering 

the total automation and integration of front-end sample prep and LC-MS. To circumvent this problem, sample 

extraction is integrated with LC to permit direct injections of “raw” biological samples without prior filtration, 

centrifugation or protein precipitation. With this approach, LC, on-line SPE-LC (“XLC”) and method development 

can be performed without any change of hardware or MS connections. The potential of this new sample 

introduction approach for MS is demonstrated by examples of the various operating modes. In LC mode, the 

system can analyze standards or extracts obtained from validated LLE, protein precipitation and SPE procedures. 

XLC mode can be used to analyze untreated biological samples such as plasma directly. The benefits of this 

automated technique are fully explored, which means that, e.g., denaturing wash procedures were developed for 

a very efficient automated on-cartridge protein precipitation. Denaturing proteins on-cartridge minimizes matrix 

interferences such as ionization suppression, and also omits off-line protein precipitation and centrifugation. 

Also a generic XLC method is developed to eliminate method development (MD). For more demanding assays 

an automated protocol has been developed to simplify MD. The obtained data gives information on recovery, 

breakthrough and tubing adsorption of the drug to be analyzed. Moreover, the obtained data can be used to point 

out ionization suppression without applying post-column infusion experiments. 

TP032 

Morten Egeberg 

Dynal Biotech ASA 

Molecular Systems 

P.O. Box 114 Smestad 

Oslo, 0309 Norway 

morten.egeberg@dynalbiotech.com 

Co-Author(s) 

Ingrid Manger, Tommy Rivrud, 

Tine Borgen, Stine Bergholtz, 

Dag Lillehaug 

Magnetic Bead Based Automated Isolation of Polyhistidine-Tagged Proteins for Purification 

and Target Screening 

We have developed automated protocols for the isolation of recombinant polyhistidine-tagged proteins from 

bacterial lysates on ThermoLabsystem’s KingFisher 96 magnetic particle processor system, in addition to Tecan’s 

Genesis RSP and Beckman Coulter’s Biomek FX liquid handling robots. This method employs cobalt-based 

Immobilized Metal Affinity Chromatography (IMAC) using Dynal Biotech’s super-paramagnetic beads (Dynabeads ® ) 

to which the BD Talon chemistry has been immobilized. Compared to technologies that employ nickel-based 

IMAC, Dynabeads ® Talon are able to bind polyhistidine-tagged proteins with an enhanced selectivity. In addition, 

bound polyhistidine-tagged proteins are able to be eluted using conditions less stringent than those needed when 

using nickel-based IMAC. The polyhistidine-tagged proteins can be eluted from the beads, or bound to the beads 

they can be used directly in downstream applications such as phage display screening, protein-protein interaction 

studies and drug-target screens. By setting up this protocol on a variety of robotic systems, covering medium to 

high throughput applications, we show that Dynabeads ® Talon have properties making them highly suitable for 

automation. Moreover, our results demonstrates the flexibility and amenability of the Dynabeads ® Talon. 

POSTER ABSTRACTS

TP033 

Xingwang Fang 

Ambion, Inc. 


2130 Woodward Street 


xfang@ambion.com 

High Throughput RNA Isolation – Methods Comparison 

162 

Co-Author(s) 

Roy C. Willis 

Quoc Hoang 

Michael Siano 

The demand for high throughput RNA isolation has been dramatically increasing with wide application of RNAi, 

expression profiling and molecular diagnosis. We will present a comparison of various RNA isolation methods that 

have been adapted to high throughput platforms, focusing on consistently high yield and quality of isolated RNA, 

reduction of cross-contamination, and simplicity and robustness of the protocol. The most widely used method 

for high throughput RNA isolation uses glass fiber filter plate where RNA binds to filter in the presence of high salt 

and alcohol. New methods have been developed using microspheric beads. In general, microspheric bead-based 

approach results in more consistent RNA recovery than glass fiber filter based RNA method. This is because 

beads can be fully resuspended in solution to enable more thorough mixing, washing, and elution. In addition, 

bead-based method is easier to automate than filter plate-based method where vacuum may cause crosscontamination 

and occasional filter clog may fail all samples in the whole plate. We will show comparison results 

on RNA isolation from cultured cells, as well as for viral RNA isolation from liquid biological samples. We will also 

discuss a technology for generating cDNAs and performing PCR directly from cells. In this technology, nucleases 

and reverse transcriptase inhibitors are deactivated during a simple lysis step. The resulting cell lysate can be used 

directly to make cDNA and for one-step qRT-PCR, bypassing the RNA isolation step. Data from the application of 

this technology to siRNA-mediated gene silencing will be presented. 

TP034 

W. Steven Fillers 

TekCel, Inc. 

103 South Street 


steve.fillers@tekcel.com 

ENCOMPASS: A New Expandable Approach for Large-Scale, Multi-Format Sample 

Management 

Traditional approaches to automating large-scale sample storage, retrieval, and distribution have been limited 

to costly, customer engineered “cathedral” systems. Though these systems have met the capacity and process 

control demands of the select few, they present a number of significant implementation burdens and operational 

risks to many. Large-scale systems (>1M samples) are typically engineered to meet fixed capacity and throughput 

requirements, necessitating immediate capital investment to meet potential future storage needs. Custom 

development and construction of facilities to house the system is frequently necessary, further expanding the 

cost and time for system implementation that, by design, provides no cost-effective option for progressive 

expansion. Additionally, due to the complexity of these single-point-of-access systems, failures of individual 

robotic components can bring the entire sample management operation to a halt. To address these challenges 

TekCel has developed Encompass, an expandable, large-scale sample storage and retrieval system configurable to 

specific customer requirements. Encompass employs a versatile system architecture based on TekCel’s Universal 

Storage Module (USM). USMs serve as functional building blocks combined to provide the capacity and format 

scope (plates, tubes, vials, racks) required by the customer’s operational needs. Standard environmental control 

and robotic elements, established in TekCel’s modular sample management systems (TubeStore, PlateStore, etc.), 

are utilized to meet desired throughput and sample processing specifications while maximizing sample integrity. 

Encompass systems provide the highest degree of flexibility to address customer workflow requirements and allow 

staged implementation to support process change and manage capital outlay.

TP035 

Thomas Friedlander 

Foster-Miller, Inc. 

350 Second Avenue 

Waltham, Massachusetts 02451-1196 

tfriedlander@foster-miller.com 

Microfluidics Impact on Lab Automation and HTS 

We will look at the current technologies being developed in the world of microfluidics (Lab-On-a-Chip or LOC) and 

discuss the areas they will impact in the macro world of Lab Automation and HTS. Some HTS applications may be 

completely replaced by new developments while others may benefit and be helped along by increased screening 

capabilities presented by LOC solutions. We will identify how Lab Automation groups can help bring this new 

technology to their in-house customer base and help provide support and integration with current HTS solutions 

already in place. We will also discuss the broad nature of microfluidics R&D and the skill sets required to bring this 

new technology to the forefront. The discussion will include macromolecular crystallization technologies, HPLC, 

Genotyping, genetics, proteomics, cell based assays, proteins, labeling among other topics. 

TP036 

Sean Gallagher 

UVP, Inc. 

Product and Applications Development 

2066 W. 11th Street 

Upland, California 91786 

seang@uvp.com 

Co-Author(s) 

Alex Waluszko, Hui Zhang, John Wallace, and Kate Cole, 

UVP, Inc. 

163 

Molli Osburn, Scripps College 

Applications of a Highly Uniform UV Transillumination Imaging System for Quantitative DNA 

and Protein Analysis 

UV transillumination is a ubiquitous tool in Life Science research. With few exceptions, fluorescent stains used 

in post electrophoresis analysis of proteins and nucleic acids have significant excitation peaks with ultraviolet 

(300-365 nm) light, making midrange UV the excitation source of choice for high sensitivity analysis for many 

fluorophores. However, quantitative analysis is limited by the extreme lack of illumination uniformity across the 

surface of typical UV light boxes. We report the development of a highly uniform UV transillumination system. 

Through use of a high density lighting system with a tuned phosphor coating, uniformity of

TP037 

Alice Gao 

Corning Incorporated 

Corning Life Sciences-Applications 

2 Alfred Road 

Kennebunk, Maine 04043 

gaoa@corning.com 

Caco-2 Transport Assay Using New HTS Transwell ® 96-Well Permeable Supports 

164 

Co-Author(s) 

Debra Hoover 

Caco-2 cell monolayers grown on permeable transwell inserts are frequently used as an in vitro model for 

evaluating absorption properties, permeability and efflux transport properties of drug candidates in the drug 

discovery process. Such evaluations, as part of the ADME-TOX screening, are usually performed in the 24-well 

format. Recent advances in combinatorial chemistry and genomics have generated an unprecedented number 

of compounds needed for such testing, and have led to an increasing need for higher assay throughput. In this 

poster, we will describe the use of new HTS Transwell ® permeable supports in a 96-format using the Caco-2 

drug transport assay. A set of 7 drugs with known transport rates will be used to evaluate the permeability and 

differentiation level of Caco-2 cell monolayers grown on these 96-well transwell inserts. These results will be 

compared with those of 24-well transwell inserts. Performance of the 96-well transwell inserts with a robotic 

system will also be demonstrated using the Tecan Freedom Workstation which includes all of the fluid handling, 

robotics and incubator systems necessary to perform in vitro drug transport assays. 

TP038 

Carlos Garcia 

University of Texas at Austin 

Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology 

1 University Station A4800 


jackalccg@mail.utexas.edu 

Automated Aptamer Selection Against hnRNP A1 and its Proteolytic Derivative UP1 

Co-Author(s) 


J. Colin Cox 

Chi-Tai Chu 

One of the best studied and characterized core heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNP) is hnRNP A1 

and its proteolytic derivative UP1. UP1 is a natural fragment of hnRNP A1 and lacks the glycine rich c-terminal 

region found in A1. Both proteins have been found to promote telomere elongation by recruiting telomerase in 

mammalian cells and both are active in pre-mRNA splicing. Because telomerase activity has been detected in the 

vast majority of human tumors, it is an attractive target for anticancer therapy.The method of automated in vitro 

aptamer selection can produce aptamers from random sequence populations of up to 10 15 unique sequences in 

a matter of days. In contrast, manual generation of aptamers is a tedious and very time consuming process. By 

using high throughput automated selection using a pool of random sequence RNA, high-affinity binding sequences 

were selected. The selected sequences were then used to assay telomerase activity in vitro. These binding 

sequences, or aptamers, can function as biosensors that can be used for diagnostic purposes. They can also be 

used to challenge antibody binding sites and can deactivate certain protein activities. Both hnRNP A1 and UP1 

have been found to bind to vertebrate single-stranded telomeric repeats in vitro; however, only UP1 can recover 

telomerase activity from a cell lysate. Therefore any difference in selected sequences can be used to determine 

how the glycine-rich region of hnRNP A1 absent in UP1 influences its binding characteristics and activities.

TP039 

Patrick Goertz 

University of Texas at Austin 

Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology 



goertz.p@mail.utexas.edu 

Automated Selection of Aminoglycoside Antibiotic Aptamers 

165 

Co-Author(s) 

J. Colin Cox 


The in vitro selection of aptamers that bind to low molecular weight targets is commonly a tedious, timeconsuming 

project. Aptamers are short (~80 nt) segments of nucleic acid that have been shown to mimic many 

properties of antibodies and which bind with high specificity and affinity to molecular targets. The process of 

selecting aptamers includes several rounds of combining the target with a randomized pool of nucleic acid, 

washing away the non-binding species, and amplifying the bound members. Subsequent iterations of this process 

narrow down the nucleic acid pool to the strongest binding species. We have expanded current automated 

selection protocols to include aptamer selections against small molecules including the aminoglycoside antibiotic 

neomycin. This modified procedure decreases both the frequency of manual handling of the selection reagents 

and the time required to perform the experiment generating aptamers against the chosen target at a much greater 

rate. The method is suitable for integration with high throughput technologies, greatly expanding the possibility 

of discovering useful aptamers against other low weight targets. Such targets could include those with important 

diagnostic value such as neurotransmitters. 

TP040 

Norbert Gottschlich 

Greiner Bio-One, Inc. 


Frickenhausen72636 Germany 

norbert.gottschlich@gbo.com 

Mass Production of Plastic Chips for Microfluidic Applications 

Co-Author(s) 

A. Gerlach, G. Knebel, 

W. Hoffmann, A. E. Guber, 

Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, 

Institut für Mikrostrukturtechnik 

Germany 

Commonly, microfluidic chips for medical diagnostics or life sciences are made from glass or silicon. Over the last 

years, however, polymers have gained great interest as substrates since they promise lower manufacturing costs. 

In addition, polymers are available with a wide range of excellent physical and chemical properties. For a low-cost 

production of microfluidic systems as single-use products, adequate manufacturing techniques are required. We 

have produced several microfluidic systems from various plastic materials, mainly for Capillary Electrophoresis 

(CE). The microchannel systems were either molded into the plastic substrate by vacuum hot embossing or 

produced by optimized injection molding. Routinely, mechanical micromachining was used to create the required 

metal molding tools. Extremely precise mold inserts could be generated by galvanic/lithographic processes. 

The CE chips have been used to separate both DNA fragments and mixtures of inorganic ions. Detection was 

carried out either by laser induced fluorescence (LIF) or by electrical methods. In the latter case, contact-free 

conductivity detection with electrodes located outside of the CE system was used. Microstructures have also been 

incorporated in a larger format that meets the standardized microplate footprint commonly used in high throughput 

screening (HTS). Microfluidic plates with 96 or 384 identical microstructures for applications in HTS, clinical 

diagnostics, and gene analysis have been manufactured as well. 

POSTER ABSTRACTS

TP041 

Joseph Granchelli 

NalgeNunc International 

Research and Design 

75 Panorama Creek Drive 

Rochester, New York 14260 

jgranch1@rochester.rr.com 

Anaylsis of Nucleic Acid and Protein Arrays on NUNC ArrayCote 16-Well Slides and 

96-Well Plates 

166 

Co-Author(s) 

Dan Schroen 

Tom Cummins 

Microarray technology, with its ability to produce a simultaneous profile of gene expression across tens-ofthousands 

of transcripts, is an extremely powerful technique in genetic analysis. However, given the high density 

and therefore large expense associated with high-density printed arrays and target material, sample replication 

is often limited for most researchers. Often, many thousands of the measured transcripts on a high density, 

slide- based array are not regulated under the experimental conditions of interest and add only expense rather 

than understanding. The first step in a series of experiments often involves determining the subset of regulated 

transcripts using high-density arrays. Smaller arrays can be used that cover the subset of transcripts found to 

be regulated under a given set of experimental conditions.These smaller, focused arrays offer a significant cost 

advantage, allowing a trade between the expense of high density and the statistical power from multiple replicates. 

By combining the replicate sampling possible in a chambered format with chemistry (APS, Epoxy, and Aldehyde) 

familiar to microarray users, Nunc has extended array technology in the form of 96-well plate and 16-well slide 

array platforms with excellent performance characteristics. With this format it is possible to spot either nucleic 

acids or proteins with excellent spot morphology (protein spots less than 250µm, PCR product spots less than 

120µm) and good binding capacity (saturated signals at less than 0.2µg/ml probe concentration). Background 

levels are low, yielding substantial signal/noise ratios. 

TP042 

David Griffin 

Genevac, Inc. 

711 Executive Boulevard, Suite H 

Valley Cottage, New York 10989 

dgriffin@genevacusa.com 

Combining Lyophilisation and Centrifugal Evaporation to Make a Fast Drying Process That 

Results in Rapidly Resuspendable Dry Solid Compound 

Centrifugal Evaporation is the solvent removal process of choice for high speed parallel drying of large numbers 

of solutions in the 0.1 to 50 mls volume range, (particularly preparative HPLC fractions). However, lyophilisation is 

sometimes preferred because the final dried product may resuspend more easily and is less likely to adhere to the 

original vessel. Lyophilisation is however a very slow process taking as much as two days, unless a labor intensive 

“shell freezing” process is employed. Genevac have developed a hybrid process, which gives a lyophilised end 

product but is three-four times faster than conventional lyophilisation (i.e., possible overnight). A specially modified 

centrifugal evaporator is used, and racks can be handled straight from a fraction collector to the machine without 

the need for individual tube handling.

TP043 

Terri Grunst 


Scientific Applications 



tgrunst@promega.com 

MagneSil ® Total RNA High Throughput Isolation 

167 

Co-Author(s) 

Dan Kephart 

We have developed a novel total RNA isolation system that enables high throughput total RNA isolation without 

the need for centrifugation, vacuum filtration, or precipitation. The MagneSil ® Total RNA mini-Isolation System 

chemistry and format is designed for high throughput total RNA isolation in automated 96-well or 384-well formats. 

This novel system takes advantage of the unique properties of Promega’s MagneSil ® paramagnetic particle 

technology to isolate total RNA from complex biological mixtures. The automated total RNA isolation procedure 

takes as little as 30 minutes and includes a DNase step for removal of contaminating genomic DNA. 96-well total 

RNA can be isolated from

TP045 

Jennifer Halcome 

Eppendorf-5 Prime, Inc. 

Product Applications 

6135 Gunbarrel Avenue, Suite 230 


jhalcome@5prime.com 

168 

Co-Author(s) 

George Halley 

Gerry Huitt 

Plasmid DNA Purification Using the Eppendorf Perfectprep ® Plasmid 96 Vac Direct Bind Kit 

on the Eppendorf epMotion 5075 Workstation 

The Eppendorf epMotion 5075 workstation allows for full automation of a variety of applications. It is particularly 

suitable for the rapid purification of 96 plasmid preparations using the Eppendorf Perfectprep Plasmid 96 Vac 

Direct Bind kit. The protocol for this kit is provided, pre-programmed, with the epMotion 5075 workstation and 

results in excellent yields of high quality plasmid DNA. When sequenced, the DNA exhibits high passing rates 

and exceptional Phred Q>20 quality scores. The Eppendorf Perfectprep Plasmid 96 Vac Direct Bind kit and 

the epMotion 5075 provide a complete system for low and medium throughput isolation of plasmid DNA. The 

epMotion 5075 can be purchased with a variety of deck configurations that can include up to three temperaturecontrolled 

positions. In addition, the deck may incorporate either a vacuum manifold or a thermocycler. The 

versatility of the epMotion 5075 allows for the processing of a variety of applications including purification of BAC 

DNA using the Eppendorf Perfectprep BAC 96 kit and purification of PCR products using the Eppendorf PCR 

Cleanup 96 kit. Other applications include PCR and sequencing setup, thermocycling and restriction digests. 

TP046 

Paul Held 

Bio-Tek Instruments 

100 Tigan Street 

Winooski, Vermont 05404 

heldp@biotek.com 

Co-Author(s) 

Lenore Buehrer 

The ELx405 HT 384-Well Microplate Washer: Designed to Meet the Rigors of Biomolecular 

Screening 

In today’s HTS environment, 384-well microplates have become the preferred format, regardless of the screening 

assay type. Most often these assays require some sort of aspiration and/or dispensing of fluids to the wells of 

the microplate typically accomplished by a microplate washer. The ELx405 HT is a dedicated 384-well microplate 

washer that utilizes 192 pairs of aspiration and dispense-tubes to provide rapid and effective aspiration and 

dispensing of fluid without sacrificing features or performance. Using the same patented dual-action manifold 

design as the industry standard ELx405 Select washer, the ELx405 HT allows independent control, both vertically 

and horizontally, of the aspiration and the dispense manifolds. Several standard features have been included 

to make the ELx405 washer robotic-friendly and ideal for automation. Vacuum detection is provided to ensure 

that the vacuum pump is switched on and vacuum vessels are connected. Flow protection alerts the user to an 

interruption of flow to the dispensing manifold. Waste-level detection prevents overflow of waste into the vacuum 

pump. In addition to an overview of the ELx405 HT washer, data demonstrating the washer’s accuracy and 

precision of fluid-dispense, evacuation efficiency, as well as speed and timing will be included 

.

TP047 

John Helfrich 

NuGenesis Technologies 

Drug Discovery and Development Group 

1900 West Park Drive 

Westborough, Massachusetts 01581 

jhelfrich@nugenesis.com 

The Data Explosion: “Print-to-Database” Technology for the HTS Laboratory 

Managing and tracking data through the discovery, optimization and development, requires a compilation of many 

different types of inter-departmental analytical, biological, and document report outputs. Data collaboration from 

the multiple disciplines within the drug discovery environment across the entire enterprise, is critical to making 

crucial go/no go decisions regarding lead candidate development at all stages of the discovery process. This 

paper will focus on the use of an application-independent “print-to-database” technology that allows scientists, 

management and intellectual property personnel in a HTS environment to capture, catalog, view, and use the 

mountain of data for lead candidate program management. 

TP048 

Terry Hermann 

LabVantage Solutions, Inc. 

245 US Highway 22 West 

Bridgewater, New Jersey 08807 

thermann@labvantage.com 

Meeting the Needs of High Throughput Genetics-based Research 

169 

Co-Author(s) 

Terry Smallmon 

J. Kelly Ganjei 

Based on years of experience in accelerating the efforts of companies focused on high throughput genotyping, 

LabVantage has developed the Sapphire Genetics Accelerator. High throughput genotyping was a natural 

progression for Sapphire Informatics, which was initially developed for large-scale sequencing efforts, such as 

those at Monsanto. In order to accommodate the needs of groups performing large-scale genotyping and analysis, 

the accelerator was designed with several key features out of the box. Sapphire automatically organizes all 

sample and patient data by Project, Study, and Assay, and can flexibly store genetic variations, and export them 

in any format (e.g., linkage). In order to handle the different needs of bioinformaticists, Sapphire allows for the 

flexible assembly of contextual data surrounding the genetics variation. Eliminating the typical “hunt and peck” 

associated with volumes of data, Sapphire facilitates rapidly viewing genotypes in relation to population, disease, 

genetic region, or any other criteria that exists in the database. Easing the difficulty of analyzing tremendous 

volumes of genetics data, Sapphire integrates with Industry standard analytical packages such as Visual Genetics, 

Genehunter/2, SAGE, SAS, Pedcheck, Linkage, and Transmit. Additionally, through integration with these 

packages, expanding your analysis by linking up phenotypic components with genotypes becomes a trivial task. 

At the end of the day, and even before management requests updates, Sapphire provides real-time summaries 

of data from large datasets at the Project, Study, or Experiment level. In addition to mapping these details of the 

scientific process, Sapphire can track any level of detail about the resources being used. 

POSTER ABSTRACTS

TP049 

Darren Hillegonds 


Center for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry 

7000 East Avenue, L-397 


hillegonds1@llnl.gov 

Co-Author(s) 

John S. Vogel, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory 

David Herold and Robert Fitzgerald, Veterans Affairs San 

Diego Healthcare System/University of California, San Diego 

High Throughput Measurement of 41 Ca by Accelerator Mass Spectrometry to Quantitate 

Small Changes in Individual Human Bone Turnover Rates 

Biochemical bone turnover markers suffer from large analytical and natural fluctuations (20 – 30%), making small 

differences in bone resorption impossible to resolve. This limits the clinical utility of such markers for individuals with 

the skeletal complications associated with many disease states (e.g., metastatic cancer, renal failure, osteoporosis). 

We are developing the capability to measure small changes (5 – 10%) in bone turnover rate in vivo by tagging the 

living skeleton with 41 Ca. This measurement will enable earlier diagnosis of pathological processes and interactive 

intervention with therapeutic agents, allowing modulation of a therapeutic agent to obtain the best individual result 

for a patient. Among the stable and radioactive calcium isotopes, only 41 Ca is useful for direct quantitation of bone 

turnover because it is extremely rare in nature and radiologically benign (105,000 y half-life, pure electron capture 

decay). In support of several ongoing research projects, we have simplified and streamlined the sample preparation 

methodology. This, combined with the highly automated analytical instrumentation, allows a single operator to 

prepare or run more than 100 samples per day – significantly more than other 41 Ca programs worldwide. We have 

also prepared new 41 Ca dose materials for oral and intravenous administration. This 41 Ca was provided from a 

1% 41 Ca solution used in preparation of our primary standard, laboriously purified through selective precipitation 

and ion exchange. Radiological purity was measured for both beta and gamma radiation – both were at typical 

background levels. The trace elemental content was also measured, assuring the overall purity of the dose material 

for human use. 

170

TP050 

Lynn Hilt 

The Ashvins Group, Inc. 

Bio IT Professionals 

8390 N W 53rd Street, Suite 200 

Miami, Florida 33166 

jberlin@ashvinsgroup.com 

Software Validation for Automation Projects 

171 

Co-Author(s) 

Terry Weeks 

Thoroughly characterized and dependable software is a critical component of laboratory automation projects. The 

use of software to automate and streamline laboratory operations include projects that 1) automate laboratory 

procedures with robotic systems; 2) consolidate data collection and analysis; 3) manage and share data collected 

from sophisticated drug discovery or clinical research processes and/or 4) interface instruments, systems and 

software. Often these projects involve custom applications or modifications of Off-the-Shelf (OTS) software 

products. It is clear that these systems must satisfy Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) requirements, but the 

scope and methods employed to validate computer related systems is highly subjective.Validation of computer 

related systems is often complex, and alternate approaches may be used. The appropriate validation effort will 

depend upon various factors, including the complexity of the system, intended use of the system, and whether the 

functions are critical or non-critical in the automation project. This poster identifies factors to be considered and 

steps to be taken in validation of Computer Related Systems used in GLP environments.Validation technology may 

be addressed through a variety of testing formats such as: 

• Installation and Operational Qualification (IQ/OQ) 

• Off-the-Shelf Software (OTS) Validation 

• Custom Software Validation and Verification (V&V) 

In conclusion, pertinent validation testing and documentation are required to demonstrate proper performance of 

Computer Related Systems used to support laboratory automation projects. 

TP051 

Randall Hoffman 

Invitrogen Corporation 

Screening Applications 

501 Charmany Drive 


randy.hoffman@invitrogen.com 

Co-Author(s) 

Gerald Habenbacher, Tecan Austria 

Ion Channel Assay Development Using Voltage Sensor Probes on the GENios Pro 

Multifunctional Reader From Tecan 

Ion channels are important drug targets because of their critical role in nerve, cardiac, endocrine, and skeletal 

muscle tissues. The lack of sufficiently sensitive, high throughput screening systems has hampered research 

in this area. Voltage Sensor Probes (VSP) technology can be used with any ion channel target that changes 

membrane potential, and is therefore well suited for sodium, potassium, calcium, chloride, and ligand-gated ion 

channel research. The FRET-based detection method provides ratiometric results which significantly reduces errors 

arising from well-to-well variations in cell number, dye loading and signal intensities, plate inconsistencies, and 

temperature fluctuations. These combined features make VSP technology highly amenable for high throughput 

screening (HTS) applications. Assay development and therapeutic groups develop and validate ion channel assays 

prior to HTS and may have lower throughput instrumentation that may or may not be amenable to VSP technology. 

This abstract demonstrates the use of Tecan’s GENios Pro instrument as a suitable platform for development of 

VSP ion channel assays in both the pharmaceutical and academic environments. 

POSTER ABSTRACTS

TP052 

Dawn Marie Jacobson 

Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System 

3350 La Jolla Village Drive 


watermusicdoc@yahoo.com 

172 

Co-Author(s) 

David Herold 

Elevated Serum Total Protein as an Indicator of Chronic Viral Hepatitis and/or HIV Infection 

Background: The importance of diagnosing, treating, and preventing transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV), 

hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is well-known. An elevated serum total 

protein level may indicate an increase in immunoglobulins secondary to infection, autoimmune disease, hepatic 

compromise, the presence of a monoclonal gammopathy or malignancy. The relationship between an elevated 

serum total protein level and HBV, HCV, and/or HIV infection is unknown. Methods: Chart review and laboratory 

analysis of 96 consecutive patients with a protein level greater than 8.3 g/dL (reference range 6.4-8.3 g/dL) was 

performed. Laboratory analysis included serum total protein level, SPEP, HIV-1 ELISA, HBsAg, HBsAb, HBcAb, and 

HCV antibody testing. Results: 66 patients (69%) showed serologic evidence of one or more of these infectious 

diseases. 25% were new diagnoses (0 HIV, 6 HCV, 18 HBV). This represents a prevalence of HBV and HCV 

infection that is four times what would be expected in the San Diego veteran population. Conclusions: An elevated 

serum total protein level may be an indicator of inflammation secondary to HBV, HCV, or HIV infection. In the light 

of cost-effective medicine, and especially in areas where resources are limited, an elevated serum total protein 

level should be utilized as an additional screening modality to direct the diagnosis of unsuspected HBV, HCV, 

and HIV infection. The clinical use of a highly automated and inexpensive total protein screening test will insure a 

greater percentage of infected individuals will be identified, treated, and educated about the prevention of disease 

transmission. 

TP053 

Joong Hyun Kim 


Chemical and Envrionmental Engineering 

B148 Bourns Hall 


jhkim@engr.ucr.edu 

Nano Crystal Hydride Stable DNA Probe 

Co-Author(s) 

Jared Stephens 

Dimitrios Morikis 

Mihrimah Ozkan 

Revolution in biochemistry and biomedical engineering has been boosted by the inventions of tools such as PCR, 

DNA chip, Biosensors and so on. DNA or RNA probe is the basic component of those tools because DNA or 

RNA has high stability and specificity to its targets. Among those probes, molecular beacons have distinguished 

ability to detect their specific targets in a sample containing even single base- mismatched targets. Furthermore, 

the novel probes do not require washing step to observe fluorescence when there is hybridization between the 

probes and the targets. Therefore, molecular beacons have been applied in various applications including realtime 

monitoring of polymerase chain reactions, developing DNA sensors, and in monitoring target RNAs in vivo 

for drug developing. However, for practical in vivo application of molecular beacons, limitation still remains due to 

the photobleaching characteristics of organic dyes and their available limited number of colors. Since the lifetime 

of organic dyes is not long enough, it is challenging for example to observe expression of target RNA in vivo. 

Furthermore, organic dyes have their own excitation wavelength, and they require multiple energy sources, which 

can cause energy accumulation in living cells. Since their spectrum’s overlap, it is difficult to observe two different 

colors at the same time and thus can limit the number of detectable target. Here we report for the first time a 

hybrid molecular beacon with nanocrystal an inorganic fluorophor and organic quencher that exhibits improved 

stability against photobleaching.

TP054 

Andreas Kuoni 

University of Neuchatel 

Institute of Microtechnology 

Rue Jaquet-Droz7 

Neuchatel, CH – 2007 Switzerland 

Andreas.Kuoni@unine.ch 

Multi-Channel Dispenser for Micro-Array Printing 

173 

Co-Author(s) 

Marc Boillat, University of Neuchatel 

Bart van der Schoot, Seyonic SA 

The ability to carry out assays in parallel in a micro array format is essential for the success of high throughput 

analysis systems. We report a new type of piezoelectric dispenser which dispense 65 pL droplets in parallel and 

in a 2D array format onto a micro-arrray at a 2D spacing of 500 µm. The dispenser is continuously loaded from a 

standard well plate with a well spacing of 4.5 mm during dispensing. An innovative technology using Polyimide 

sheets has been developed for the construction of a 2D micro-array printing device. The flexibility of the laminated 

Polyimide sheets allows assembling different sizes of dispensing arrays at a center-to-center spacing of 500 µm 

in a modular way by stacking flexible dispenser sheets (e.g., 32*48, 16*24, 8*12). The major advantages of the 

present device are no interface changes in the fluidic path, no tubing for liquid transportation, and no robotics 

system. The spotting has been characterized qualitatively and quantitatively. First we observe satellite free 

dispensing. The average droplet velocity is 1.79 m/s ± 0.2 m/s per line at a common driving signal of 180 Volts. 

The dispensed droplet has a nominal volume of 65 pL, calculated from the droplet diameter. The variation of 

dispensed volume between spotting sites is have been compared first by calculating the evaporation rate and 

then applying this to the droplet evaporation time. The average evaporation time for a single channel measuring 30 

successive droplets is t=1.40 sec ± 0.12 sec results in a CV value of 8.6 %. 

TP055 

Fred Lange 


Institute of Automation 


Rostock18119 Germany 

fred.lange@uni-rostock.de 

Data Mining and Visualization in Sports Medicine Automation by WebServer Oriented 

Software and WebBrowser Oriented User Interfaces 

Co-Author(s) 

Regina Stoll 

Reinhard Vilbrandt 

Laboratory data archives organized in databases play an important role in modern preventive medicine. Especially 

in Occupational Health and Sports Medicine huge amounts of data about human’s fitness are produced. 

Distributed data sources and acquisition systems do not allow to produce enough representive data about all 

possible populations in every lab. So, the idea was born to centralize databases and to identify physical fitness 

data by methods and algorithms on the fundaments of these centralized data. But, so the concept for data 

processing in data mining has to be centralized too. The strategy for this is based on Web-server running software 

components. The goal was to prevent local software components, except the operating system. This would be 

a big step in direction of ubiquitous computing – independed from the operating system. The problem’s solution 

is oriented to build data mining procedures in graphic object oriented software systems. Virtual instruments (VIs) 

in LabVIEW (National Instruments) are an excellent tool for interpretation and visualization procedures for data in 

Occupational and Sports Medicine. In the last five years many applications for data processing in Occupational 

and Sports Medicine have been developed in our lab based on local Virtual Instruments connected to real sensor 

systems. A way to solve the problem in general is an implementation of centralized server oriented operated 

LabVIEW applications connected to a Man-Machine-Interface performed by a Web-Browser. The paper shows 

some model-applications and the way to realize Web-Interfaces and Data mining with the Internet-Toolkit in 

LabVIEW. The system can be used to fill the database with data from collaborators via Internet and get them back 

the calculated results as an image or as an ASCII-data set. 

POSTER ABSTRACTS

TP056 

Joseph Machamer 



Sunnyvale, California 94089-1136 

joe_machamer@moldev.com 

Luminescence Assays and FDA CFR 21 Part 11 Compliance With the New LMax II384 

Microplate Luminometer 

Luminescence microplate assays continue to grow in popularity as reagent kit vendors introduce new, highly 

sensitive assays. Many of these assays are performed in the laboratories of pharmaceutical and biotechnology 

companies where compliance with FDA CFR 21 Part 11 is a requirement. Here we report on the results of 

applications run on the recently introduced LMax II 384 microplate luminometer from Molecular Devices in a FDA 

CFR 21 Part 11 environment. 

TP057 

Dieudonne Mair 


Department of Chemical Engineering 

727 Lattimer Hall 


dmair@uclink.berkeley.edu 

174 

Co-Author(s) 

Timothy Stachowiak, Jean Frechet, and Emily Hilder, 


Frantisek Svec, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 

Monolithic Modules in Micro Total Analytical Systems Rapidly Fabricated From Plastics 

We report on the development of microfluidic devices fabricated from plastics, placing a porous polymer monolith 

in the channels, and use of these devices in the field of proteomics. To achieve this, a robust nickel master for 

injection molding of the devices has been fabricated using the dry etching, electroplating, and molding (DEEMO) 

process. Optical and chemical properties of a series of potential thermoplastic polymers have been screened and 

the best candidate for the injection molding of microchips – cyclic olefin copolymer Topas 8007x10 – selected. 

Since the surface of this material is highly hydrophobic, surface modifications targeting an increase in hydrophilicity 

were explored using model systems. According to the contact angle measurements, photografting the surface 

with poly[(ethylene glycol) monomethacrylate] (PEGMA) chains afforded a hydrophilic surface similar to that of 

poly(ethylene glycols) and led to a significant reduction in protein adsorption. The preparation of rigid, porous, 

methacrylate-based monoliths that resist protein adsorption and functions as a static mixers/chemical reactors 

was also studied. Hydrophilic monoliths were prepared by adding 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) to the 

polymerization mixture. The pore size, measured by mercury porosimetry, was shown to decrease as HEMA 

content was incrementally increased.

TP058 

Kirk Malone 

The University of Edinburgh 

The School of Chemistry 

Joseph Black Building, West Mains Road 

Edinburgh EH9 3JJ United Kingdom 

Kirk.Malone@ed.ac.uk 

The Design and Synthesis of High Affinity Ligands for Human Cyclophilin A 

175 

Co-Author(s) 

Nicholas J. Turner 

Malocolm Walkinshaw 

Cyclophilin A (CypA) is a member of the immunophilin family of proteins and a receptor for the immunosuppressant 

drug cyclosporin A (CsA). CypA also catalyses cis-trans isomerisation of peptidyl-prolyl (Xaa-Pro) amide bonds, 

biologically important in protein folding. CypA is a potential therapeutic target for areas including HIV replication 

and parasitic development. The use of a computational molecular docking programme to screen a virtual library 

of compounds identified dimedone (5,5-dimethyl-1,3-cyclohexanedione) as a potential ligand. A number of low 

molecular weight ligands have been synthesised based upon O-acylated dimedone and N-acylated aminodimedone. 

Routes to 4-alkylated dimedone were also investigated and derivatives synthesised. Ligands were 

screened for binding to CypA using mass spectrometry, and ligand:CypA complexes were observed under 

electrospray ionisation conditions. Recent work has focused on the synthesis of a combinatorial library of 

compounds to further investigate the ligand:protein interaction. 

TP059 

Justin Mecomber 

University of Cincinnati 

Department of Chemistry 

404 Crosley Tower 

Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0172 

mecombjs@email.uc.edu 

Rapid and Cost-Effective Prototyping of Plastic Microfabricated Devices for Mass 

Spectrometry 

Co-Author(s) 

Douglas Hurd 

Patrick A. Limbach 

The increased interest in polymer-based microfabricated and microfluidics devices as alternatives to silica-based 

devices for bioanalysis that are generated by a molding process require the generation of metal molding masters. 

Traditionally, expensive or time-consuming approaches including LIGA, UV-Lithography or electrical discharge 

machining are used to generate metal molding masters. Here, we demonstrate that conventional CNC-mills, such 

as those readily available in university or private machine shops, can be used to generate metal features with 

tolerances up to a factor of 10 better than expected from the mill specifications. With such improved machining 

tolerances, a CNC-milling approach can now be used to generate high aspect ratio features suitable for lab-ona-chip 

devices. Hot embossing, in conjunction with solvent bonding, has been utilized to fabricate these polymer 

devices. An electrophoresis based detection system using fluorescence microscopy has been employed to 

determine the analytical capabilities of microchips generated in this manner. Comparisons with microchips made 

by molding fabrication methods such as wire imprinting and LIGA will be compared to microchips produced from 

the molds made by CNC-machining. These easily produced chips are of a suitable quality and design for use with 

analytical methods such as microchip-CE laser induced fluorescence or mass spectrometry. 

POSTER ABSTRACTS

TP060 

Gwendolyn M. Motz 

The University of Texas 

ICMB 

2500 Speedway, MBB 3.424 


gwenmotz@mail.utexas.edu 

Automated Optimization of Aptamer Selection Buffer Conditions 

176 

Co-Author(s) 

J. Colin Cox 


Optimizing the buffer conditions of the selection of nucleic acid species (aptamers) increases the likelihood 

of producing an anti-target aptamer. Aptamers, with high target affinity and specificity, are often compared to 

antibodies, as aptamers emerge in the industry as diagnostic and therapeutic tools. The increased demand for 

aptamers encourages high throughput aptamer generation. The selection buffer conditions may vary as widely as 

the selection targets, and therefore buffer optimization is helpful if not required for effective aptamer selections. 

Such optimization work is time consuming and repetitious, which bodes well for high throughput applications. 

To accommodate this, an automated buffer testing protocol has been developed to test target-to-unselected 

RNA pool binding in the presence of 96 different buffer conditions. Such a program requires very little pre-run 

preparations. The dynamic program may vary the monvalent salt(s) identity, monovalent salt(s) concentration, 

divalent salt(s) identity, divalent salt concentration, buffer identity, buffer concentration, and pH. The optimized 

buffer conditions likely increase the probability of a successful selection and therefore promote higher ratios of 

successful aptamer selections against a variety of targets. 

TP061 

Peyman Najmabadi 

University of Toronto 

Mechanical and Industrial Engineering 

5 King 

Toronto, Ontario M5S3L1 Canada 

najm@mie.utoronto.ca 

Co-Author(s) 

Andrew A. Goldenberg 

Andrew Emili 

Axiomatic Conceptual Design and Investigation of a New and Generic Laboratory Automation 

Robotic Workcell With Application to Proteomics 

Proteomics (and Genomics) laboratories make use of experimental protocols that are highly repetitive and labour 

intensive. Furthermore, proteomics research is highly dependent on the productivity of a sizeable community 

of medium-sized (10 – 20 person) biochemical laboratories, which have limited resources. This paper presents 

the conceptual design, using the principles of axiomatic design theory, of a novel, generic laboratory robotic 

workcell optimized for increasing the productivity and efficiency (i.e., throughput) of these laboratories. Axiomatic 

theory defines the design process as the creation of solutions that satisfy specified requirements through 

systematic mappings between functional requirements (FR’s) and design parameters (DP’s) that are consistent 

with fundamental axiomatic principles which are Independence and Information axioms. Based on this theory, an 

optimal robotic workcell is conceptually designed to meet the major requirements of medium-sized biochemical 

laboratories: operational flexibility, reconfigurability, scalability, throughput and small footprint. The axiomatic design 

principles are used as an effective structural framework to model traditional configurations of laboratory automation 

and to assess their shortcomings to fulfill the requirements of medium-sized laboratories. A robotic workcell is 

proposed by choosing appropriate design parameters for the functional requirements such that the overall design 

is decoupled. The workcell is generic and could be used for automating different biochemical protocols in mediumsized 

proteomics or related laboratories. Systematic design procedures of axiomatic theory has led to a design 

which outperforms traditional laboratory robotic workcells: (i) it has a higher value for throughput to footprint ratio; 

(ii) it is more protocol reconfigurable; and (iii) it is more scalable.

TP062 

Laura Pajak 


Biomedical Research Division 

7451 Winton Drive 


laura.pajak@sagian.com 

Automated Proteomic Applications on Beckman Coulter’s Biomek ® NX Laboratory 


177 

Co-Author(s) 

Chad Pittman 

Scott Boyer 

The information included in this poster describes the utilization of a new automated liquid handler, the Biomek 

NX Laboratory Automation Workstation, for proteomic applications. His-Tag proteins were purified from bacterial 

cultures in 96-well plates. Following purification, aliquots from the purified samples were quantitated on the 

Biomek NX using a Bradford assay. An integrated gripper on the span pod of the Biomek NX permits the microtiter 

plate containing the quantitation samples to be placed into an integrated reader, the AD340 ALP. This allows for 

complete walk-away automation of protein purification and quantitation. The following system components for the 

proteomic applications will be described: 

• The hardware requirements for the Biomek NX 

• Software and methods to drive the automation workstation. 

Results obtained when purifying proteins from both uninduced and induced bacterial cultures on the worksurface 

of the Biomek NX will be described. 

TP063 

Chad Pittman 


Applications 



chad.pittman@sagian.com 

Automation of Immunotech’s IL-8 ELISA Using Beckman Coulter’s Assay WorkStation 

Version 1.5 

Co-Author(s) 

Laura Pajak 

Scott Boyer 

Beckman Coulter, Inc. has developed and optimized an automated method using the Assay WorkStation Version 1.5 

to provide a complete, walk away system that automates ELISA assays. The system uses SAMI ® WorkStation 

scheduling software to optimize the use of incubations to make processing as efficient as possible. The method 

allows processing of up to three families (6 plates) in under five hours with minimal reagent waste. On-deck plate 

washing and reading are achieved by using an integrated Beckman Coulter MW96 washer and AD340 Automated 

Labware Positioner, respectively. Consumables are stored in an Automated Storage Module Cytomat Microplate 

Hotel HS with Plate Shuttle System and brought onto the worksurface by the Biomek ® FX Cytomat Automated 

Labware Positioner thereby allowing complete processing without user intervention.The information provided here 

will: 

• describe the automated system used to process the ELISA; 

• demonstrate the utility of the Assay Workstation; 

• describe the results when processing Immunotech’s IL-8ELISA kit on this system. 

POSTER ABSTRACTS

TP064 

Dominik Poetz 


Analytical Chemistry Division 

100 Bureau Drive 


dominik.poetz@nist.gov 

Using the Analytical Information Markup Language (AnIML) to Represent LC-Diode-Array 

Data 

ASTM Subcommittee E13.15 has been formed, in part, to develop a standard markup language for spectroscopic 

and chromatographic result data. The Analytical Information Markup Language (AnIML) is being created using the 

Extensible Markup Language (XML) and is based on existing markup languages for analytical result data such as 

NIST’s SpectroML and Thermo’s GAML as well as data definitions and concepts from existing standards such as 

JCAMP-DX, the ASTM’s Andi standards, IUPAC definitions, etc. The initial work has begun to create the AnIML 

core, the schema representing the data and metadata common to all analytical spectroscopy and chromatography 

techniques. The E13.15 subcommittee has asked NIST to develop an example implementation of AnIML for data 

from liquid chromatography with diode array detection. This technique was chosen as a model because it is not 

overly complex, as contrasted with mass spectrometry or nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and because 

the datasets are inherently two-dimensional. The implementation will be created around the AnIML core and will 

consist of a “technique-specific” layer for LC-diode arrays that is vendor independent, along with enough of a 

“vendor-specific” layer to realize the application for at least one existing commercial instrument. The goal is to 

create a sufficient AnIML representation for data from a actual analytical technqiue to see what works and what 

needs revision, to demonstrate the power of the markup language approach, and to serve as a model for those 

writing technique specific layers for other analytical spectroscopy and chromatography domains. 

TP065 

Ketul C. Popat 

Boston University 

Department of Biomedical Engineering 

44 Cummington Street 


kpopat@bu.edu 

178 

Co-Author(s) 

Tejal A. Desai and Gopal Mor, Boston University 

Craig Grimes, Pennsylvania State University 

Poly-Ethylene-Glycol Grafted Non-fouling Nanoporous Alumina Membranes 

Membranes currently used for separation of sub-micron particles in biomedical applications are of asymmetric 

or anisotropic variety and are made from polymers such as polysulfone or polyacrylonitrile. Several 

bioincompatibilities are associated with these polymeric membranes limiting their applications. Aluminum oxide 

substrates have been chosen for several reasons, including compatibility with our processing protocols, chemical 

and thermal stability, and ease in post-processing surface modification. Several studies have shown this material 

to be bioinert. However, the biocompatibility of the membrane material must be further investigated and improved. 

With proper surface modification, the protein adsorption can be lowered and the non-fouling characteristics can 

be improved. In this study we graft alumina membranes with a biocompatible polymer like poly (ethylene glycol) to 

investigate protein adsorption. Albumin and Fibrinogen were selected as model proteins since they are important 

components in immunogenic and thrombogenic reactions. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and atomic 

force microscopy (AFM) were used to characterize PEG films on alumina membranes.

TP066 

Johannes Posch 

Tecan Austria GmbH 

Untersbergstrasse 1A 

GroedigA-5082 Austria 

johannes.posch@tecan.com 

Co-Author(s) 

G. Probst, K. Kratochwil, H. Bauer, 

R. Fuchs, G. Kreil, M. Köprunner, 

Austrian Academy of Science, Institute of Molecular Biology 

Automation of In Situ Hybridization on Tecan HS Series Hybridization Stations 

In situ hybridization (ISH) is a widely used technique in genome research to identify the function and interaction of 

genes and gene products in immobilized tissue sections. ISH provides a possibility to identify spatial and temporal 

activation of specific genes in specific diseases. With the HS 400 and 4800 Hybridization Stations, Tecan provides 

a series of instruments that are designed to fully automate microarray experiments but also to offer the flexibility 

to semi-automate in situ hybridization experiments. The HS Hybridization Stations eliminate manual errors and 

guarantee execution under constant conditions. 

TP067 

Shalini Prasad 


Electrical Engineering 

A 220 Bourns Hall 


shals_prasad@hotmail.com 

Neurons as Sensors: Mixed Chemical Agent Sensing 

179 

Co-Author(s) 

Xuan Zhang 

Mo Yang 

Cengiz Ozkan 

Mihri Ozkan 

There is a need to develop small, highly sensitive, accurate, portable biosensors that can be used in real time 

situations which has the ability to distinguish between various chemical agents. Current methods rely on chemical 

properties or molecular recognition to identify a particular agent. These are limited in their capability to detect 

large number of possible agents both known and unknown, characterize the functionality of the known agents and 

predict human performance decrements. There is still a major gap in performing functional assays in the laboratory 

and implementing this concept in the field. This can be overcome by using cell based bio-sensors (CBB’s). We 

have designed and implemented novel CBB using single neurons as sensors that achieve single cell sensitivity and 

single agent selectivity using dielectrophoresis. We show here the capability of this sensor to accurately identify 

specific chemical agents from an environment containing a mixture of chemical agents.There is a special focus 

on sensing of gasoline and diesel. The chemical identification was performed by frequency domain analysis of the 

extracellular signal which generated a unique signature pattern vector corresponding to specific chemical agents. 

A time domain analysis was performed to determine the speed of response. The goal of the research is to develop 

a single cell sensor applicable in real time field conditions. The physiological changes in the cell due to the specific 

agent in terms of modifications to the ion channels are also determined simultaneously in a visual manner by the 

application of calcium and potassium dyes. 

POSTER ABSTRACTS

TP068 

Kirby Reed 

Gilson, Inc. 

Applications 

3000 West Beltline Highway 

Middleton, Wisconsin 53562 

kreed@gilson.com 

Evaluating and Determining Precision and Accuracy for Automated Liquid Handlers 

Dispensing Nanoliter Volumes of Viscous Solutions 

The thrust in today’s research is to smaller and smaller scale in order to complete a greater number of assays in 

a given amount of time leading to higher throughput and hopefully drugs to market. Micro scale research is not 

trivial, especially in regards to the dispensing of nanoliter volumes of viscous solutions and reagents with accuracy 

and precision. This application will demonstrate an evaluation procedure that will determine precision and accuracy 

for a series of viscous solutions dispensed in the nanoliters range via an automated liquid handler that employs 

non-contact solenoids for liquid aspiration and dispensing. The study is based on spectrophotometric analysis and 

will compare the results to the more commonly chosen weighing technique. 

TP069 

Laurent Rieux 


Pharmaceutical Analysis 

A. Deusinglaan 1 

Groningen9713 AV Netherlands 

l.rieux@farm.rug.nl 

NanoLC-MS analysis of TNFα in Microdialysates 

180 

Co-Author(s) 

Patty Mulder, Harm Niederlaender, 

Elisabeth Verpoorte, Rainer Bischoff 

TNFα is a small (17.4kDa) protein with pleiotropic activities related to cytotoxicity and inflammation. In order to 

study the role of TNFα in disease models in living animals, it is sampled locally by implanting a microdialysis probe. 

Due to the low concentrations expected (pg/mL) and the minute volumes of microdialysate, enhanced analytical 

sensitivity is required. We are therefore developing an analytical platform based on nanoLC-ESI-MS, which will 

be coupled with microdialysis for real-time, on-line analysis of TNFα in rats To this end, a nanoESI interface was 

built in-house. Electrical contact was made through a liquid junction by applying a high voltage on a stainlesssteel 

zero-dead-volume connection. The nanointerface was mounted on an xyz-micropositioner that allowed 

some rotational positioning. The performance of the nanointerface (spray stability, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)) was 

studied with respect to positioning of the spray needle and eluent composition. Positioning the interface in front of 

and close to the MS inlet gave the highest signal intensity, whereas SNRs were optimal at longer distance. The use 

of distally coated needles gave the most consistent SNRs and it was easier to obtain a stable spray. At the same 

time, these needles required lower spray voltages and were robust. Better SNR and higher signal intensities were 

obtained with bare-silica needles, but they required more careful tuning. Therefore, distally coated needles were 

chosen for further work, which consisted of setting up a nanoLC system with a 75-µm-id analytical column. Work 

to analyze microdialysates spiked with TNFα to evaluate system sensitivity is underway.

TP070 

Kate Ross 

University of Leeds 

Chemistry 

Woodhouse Lane 

Leeds LS2 9JT United Kingdom 

kater@chem.leeds.ac.uk 

The Enhancement of Selectivity of a Pd-catalysed Three-component Cascade Reaction 

Using Automated Parallel Synthesis and Multivariate Data Analysis 

181 

Co-Author(s) 

Ronald Grigg 

Automated parallel synthesis with multivariate analysis is described for the optimization of a Pd-catalysed threecomponent 

cascade reaction of 7-buta-2,3-dienyl-1,3-dimethyl-3,7-dihydropurine-2,6-dione with iodobenzene 

and morpholine. Certain reactions of this type can yield a single isomer, although this is not the case with every 

reaction, the chemistry presented here being one where the selectivity of the reaction has not responded to routine 

one-factor-at-a-time optimization. Statistical experimental design is employed in the investigation of the effect of 

seven reaction factors on selectivity, yield and impurity levels. Reagent and phosphine stoichiometry, palladium 

source, time, temperature and concentration are included in the design, which is completed in 20 reactions on 

the Anachem SK233 Workstation with online HPLC monitoring. A solvent and base screen is then carried out 

using the predicted optimal conditions; these factors were previously controlled, as the substantial number of 

discrete variables involved is unsuited to the fractional factorial design. Instead, principal component analysis is 

used in selection of solvents, so gaining maximum variation in solvent properties and insight into which of these 

affect selectivity. Heterocyclic tertiary amines are chosen by pKa for screening as bases alongside alkali metal 

carbonates and acetates. This investigation will yield two-fold results, not only in enhancement of the reaction 

selectivity, but also information gained from a repeat design using optimized base and solvent conditions will reveal 

the importance of the sequence of experimentation if significantly different results are obtained. 

TP071 

Stephan Rudlof 

Fachhochschule Wiesbaden – University of Applied Sciences 

Computer Science 

Kurt-Schumacher-Ring 18 

Wiesbaden D-65197 Germany 

rudlof@informatik.fh-wiesbaden.de 

Robustness and Flexibility for Scheduling 

In a lab automation environment the real duration of an activity often cannot be predicted. This complicates 

the construction of a good scheduling algorithm. Say there is a sequence of device activities performed on 

different devices. If the successor of an activity has to be started immediately after its predecessor, the allocation 

time for its device needs to be long. This leads to the concept of time buffers between subsequent activities 

giving flexibility to the scheduler. As a consequence the resulting working plan will be robust against variability 

in execution times and will have short allocation times. This paper describes an approach needing very few 

parameters: minimal and maximal execution and delay times are sufficient. Just two delay parameters are sufficient 

to model all kind of delays from a fixed time delay (if time is zero, there is no delay) to a very flexible spring-like 

one. Together with the two activity execution time limits it is possible to keep the reservation times for devices low. 

Finally an outlook to a generalization to higher order activities follows: if there is a recursive definition of activities, 

higher order activities are composed of sub-activities, which may be composed, too; at the leafs there are atomic 

(device) activities. The time buffer approach above can be used at different levels in such an activity tree. This 

approach may be useful to develop powerful scheduling algorithms. 

POSTER ABSTRACTS

TP072 

Burkhard Schaefer 


Analytical Chemistry Division 

100 Bureau Drive; Building 227; Room A-159 

Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8394 

burkhard.schaefer@nist.gov 

Creating the Analytical Information Markup Language (AnIML) 

182 

Co-Author(s) 

Gary Kramer 

Multiple, vendor-specific, proprietary data formats have made it difficult to interchange analytical result data 

between instruments and applications. When data are interchanged, metadata are rarely included, often 

rendering the datasets useless after the particulars of the experiment have been forgotten. The few existing 

data exchange standards are not compliant with modern network-based data interchange technologies. A few 

years ago NIST began to develop a markup language for uv/visible spectrometry data based on the Extensible 

Markup Language (XML). The result, SpectroML, showed the power of this approach and is now integral to 

NIST’s data handling in its optical filter Standard Reference Materials program.ASTM subcommittee E13.15 on 

Analytical Data Management was formed in part to develop a general markup language, such as SpectroML, for 

all spectroscopic and chromatographic result data. Work has begun on the initial task to develop a core schema 

representing the information that is common to all analytical techniques. If a general core can be developed and 

adopted, standard applications can be written to utilize this core and accomplish simple functions such as data 

visualization, importing data into applications such as spreadsheets, etc. With a simple applet a web browser such 

as Microsoft’s Internet Explorer could display any spectral or chromatographic trace. More sophisticated concepts 

such as integrating peak areas, leveling baselines, etc. will require more complicated software, but having a single 

technique-independent routine to view data, paste the visual image into reports, or import data into other programs 

for further processing will be of enormous utility. This presentation will describe the current status of the AnIML 

development efforts and point out possible uses in various application domains. 

TP073 

Sadhana Sharma 

The Ohio State University 

Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute (326 HLRI) 

473 W. 12th Avenue 

Columbus, Ohio 43212 

sharma.119@osu.edu 

Rapid and Sensitive Determination of Cardiovascular Drugs in Mouse Plasma Using 

Solid-phase Extraction and RP-HPLC 

Co-Author(s) 

John Shapiro 

Stephen C. Lee 

Mauro Ferrari 

Fast and sensitive determination of the drugs is essential for pharmaceutical automation and disease management. 

Capillary electrophoresis, liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS), immunoassays and high-performance 

liquid chromatography (HPLC) are some of the methods used for drug analysis. Of these, the HPLC methods 

have been used most frequently because of their simplicity, sensitivity, and selectivity. Drug analysis from blood/ 

plasma samples requires sample pretreatment before actual HPLC analysis. This can be achieved using solidphase 

extraction (SPE), protein precipitation and SPE, liquid–liquid extraction (LLE), solvent extraction followed by 

column-switching, or solvent extraction and SPE. Higher number of pretreatment steps decreases efficiency and 

increases analysis time. In addition, most of these HPLC methods require relatively large (a maximum of 0.5–1.0 ml) 

biological sample and multiple extraction steps. In cases where available sample volumes are in microliters, the 

HPLC methods with single LLE are generally not considered sensitive enough due to the presence of endogenous 

interferences. Solid phase extraction can be useful for such cases. In the present research effort, a rapid, simple and 

sensitive method for the determination of simvastatin in mouse plasma is developed. This method utilizes Waters 

OASIS solid-phase extractor and Symmetry C8 reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography column 

for micro-sample analysis and is useful for analysis of the drug released from microfabricated silicon nanoporous 

implant in mouse/human.

TP074 

Letha Sooter 

The University of Texas at Austin 

Chemistry and Biochemistry 



letha@mail.utexas.edu 

Automated Double-stranded DNA Aptamer Selections 

183 

Co-Author(s) 

Andrew Ellington 

In vitro, double-stranded DNA aptamer selections were automated using a Tecan Genesis workstation. Aptamers 

are nucleic acid species that bind a target molecule with a high affinity and specificity. The selection process 

begins with a randomized pool of approximately 10 14 different double-stranded DNA molecules. Non-binding 

species are partitioned away, while species that bind the target molecule are amplified through the polymerase 

chain reaction. The iterative rounds result in the preferential enrichment of those binding species with the highest 

affinities. Post-selection, the pools are cloned and sequenced. A double-stranded DNA aptamer selection 

against the nuclear factor kappa B (NF�B) p50 homodimer was automated as a proof-of-principle. NF�B is a well 

characterized transcription factor that is known to bind a specific family of double-stranded DNA sequences. The 

results of the automated selection strongly correlate with previous manual selections against the same target. 

Following six rounds of selection, 93% of the sequences contained a general NF�B family binding sequence. 

The automated process also produced a significant increase in throughput. A manual round of selection requires 

several days of work, while an automated round requires only four hours. Presently, selections are being performed 

against multiple transcription factors in parallel. The selection process is used to identify the double-stranded DNA 

binding sequence of these proteins. With this information genomes can be searched for these binding sequences, 

thereby identifying information about the transcription factor function in vivo. 

TP075 

Henrik Schiøtt Sørensen 

Risø National Laboratorium 

Optics and Fluid Dynamics 

Frederiksborgvej 399 

Roskilde4000 Denmark 

henrik.schioett.soerensen@risoe.dk 

Fabrication of a Polymer Based Bio-sensing Optical Component 

Co-Author(s) 

Niels B. Larsen and Peter E. Andersen, Risø National Laboratorium 

Darryl J. Bornhop, Vanderbilt University 

A disposable optical biosensor is the objective of this research. The work presented here is based on a simple 

phenomenon, which may provide high sensitivity towards dissolved analytes in a polymer based micro fluidic 

system. Micro interferometric backscatter detection (MIBD) was first described by Bornhop et al. (Darryl J.Bornhop, 

Applied Optics 34[18], 3234-3239. 20-6-1995.) and has since proved to be able to detect changes in the refractive 

index in the 10 -7 regime. Absolute measurements of the refractive index have previously been demonstrated 

experimentally with a precision of 2.5 x 10 -4 in refractive index (H. S. Sorensen, H. Pranov, N. B. Larsen, D. J. 

Bornhop, and P. E. Andersen, Analytical Chemistry 75, 1946-1953 (2003)). The flow channel itself constitutes the 

optical element involved, hence great efforts are exerted to manufacture the flow channels with high accuracy. 

The geometry of the channel is similar to a half circle shape. Photolithography is used for the etching mask. The 

etching is performed with HF into fused silica to attain isotropic etching. The resulting groove is to be electroplated 

for injection molding of polymers. The fabricated microstructures are characterized by techniques such as confocal 

microscopy. Computer simulations of the system are presented concerning the demand on fabrication technique 

performance. Fabricated structures are shown as well. Our work showed that underetching of the patterned 

openings in the etch mask leads to formation of trapezoidal rather than semicircular grooves. 

POSTER ABSTRACTS

TP076 

Duraisamy Sridharan 

Anna University 

Ramanujan Computing Centre 

Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600025 India 

sridhar@annauniv.edu 

A Generic Model for Timely Refreshing of Very Large Semi-Dynamic Web Sites 

184 

Co-Author(s) 

P. Sakthivel 

S. K. Srivatsa 

The popularity of the World-Wide Web has made it a prime vehicle for disseminating information. More and more 

corporations and individuals advertise themselves through web sites in recent years. Although there has been 

much work on WWW information management, research in keeping information on web sites up-to-date is still 

in its infancy. Usually, all Web pages can be classified into three categories as follows: 1. Static: This kind of Web 

pages present information that either does not change over time, or it rarely changes. 2. Dynamic: The content of 

these Web pages varies according to various input parameters. 3. Semi-dynamic: These Web pages have their 

contents derived from some source databases and they change in response to updates to the source databases. 

In relative to dynamic pages, we refer to them as semi-dynamic pages because they remain static and do not 

change automatically unless a user initiates a refresh request explicitly. As the WWW continues its rapid growth, 

the number of semi-dynamic Web pages with information extracted from source databases increases rapidly too. 

A crucial problem arises when base data change at a high frequency and there is a need to keep a large set of 

semi-dynamic pages up-to-date in response to the changes since nobody is interested in stale data on the Web. In 

this paper, we study this scenario as a website refresh problem. We propose a generic model for timely refreshing 

semi-dynamic web sites, and discuss several important research issues involved in the field. A good solution to 

this problem is especially important for Genomic information management, electronic commerce applications, and 

other database-driven applications. 

TP077 

Claudia Stewart 

NCI-FCRDC 

MTC 

P.O. Box B 

Frederick, Maryland 21702 

stewart@ncifcrf.gov 

Automated Process of Q-PCR/Gene Expression 

Co-Author(s) 

James M. Cherry, Kelly T. Martin, 

Naryan K. Bhat, David Munroe 

The use of high throughput automation for the study of gene expression is currently under development. New 

large scale assays for genotyping, pathogen detection, viral load expression, and drug effects on cells are either 

underdevelopment or currently in use. The growing demands in the field of genomics require the development of a 

high throughput production for both quality RNA and its associated cDNA.This will allow for the use of a sensitive 

PCR based fluorescent detection assay, like Taq Man to be used high throughput. While automation solutions 

are readily available for various methods such as, RNA extraction, preparation of first strand synthesis cDNA, 

and running multiple Q-PCR, and integrated approach in linking all of the methods on a robotic platform is still 

forthcoming. Our progress in developing such a format is presented here.

TP078 

Regina Stoll 


Institute of Occupational Medicine 

St. Georg Str. 108 


regina.stoll@med.uni-rostock.de 

Fuzzy Based Medical Expert System for Automated Data Interpretation in Occupational 

Medicine 

185 

Co-Author(s) 

Mohit Kumar 

Norbert Stoll 

In medical data processing often there is a problem to formulate algorithms for data interpretation. In occupational 

medicine i.e., a number of different parameters are acquired for giving an idea to an expert about the status of 

physical fitness. The paper describes an neuro-fuzzy approach as a data mining tool for determination of physical 

fitness of a patient on a virtual scale between 0 and 1. The advantage of this procedure is, that there is no need for 

an analytical description of the complex functionality of physical fitness. So, the network is trained by original data 

and are able to fit in new data points on demand. The data used in this system are respiratzory parameters and 

heart rate parameters in combination with body type and body fat measurement data. By this way, the knowledge 

of an medical expert is combined with the individual parameter levels. The whole system is an artificial medical 

expert system for data interpretation. 

TP079 

Yu Suen 


Biological Systems Operation 



ysuen@beckman.com 

Co-Author(s) 

Keith Roby, Javorka Gunic 

Michael H. Simonian, Graham Threadgill 

An Automated, High Throughput Cell-Based Assay System Using the Biomek 3000 

Laboratory Automation Workstation and CellProbe HT Caspase 3/7 Whole Cell Assay 

Using Beckman Coulter’s CellProbe HT Caspase 3/7 Whole Cell Assay in primary or secondary screening provides 

quality information on cellular responses to apoptotic regulators. This 35 µL total volume homogenous assay 

measures caspase 3/7 activities in a 384-well format. The high throughput and low sample volume cell-based assay 

is achieved using the Biomek 3000 Laboratory Automation Workstation for cell preparation, apoptosis induction and 

substrate addition. The Affinity Multi-Mode Reader (Cambridge Research Institute, Boston) is an ultra-sensitive 

screening platform that uses a focused laser and CCD camera for fluorescent intensity detection. The caspase 

3/7 activity is inducer dose-dependent and responder cell number-dependent. Using this system, a strong signal 

and a z´ factor of 0.5 were achieved with a minimal cell number. The dose response of DEVD-CHO inhibition of 

caspase 3/7 activities was used to demonstrate the superior sensitivity and specificity of this system. The Biomek 

3000 Laboratory Automation Workstation facilitated CellProbe HT Caspase 3/7 Whole Cell Assay implementation, 

reduced the chance of contamination and minimized the intensive requirement of sterile skills. The automated 

CellProbe assay can be used for high throughput screening of drug candidates for apoptosis regulators. 

POSTER ABSTRACTS

TP080 

Sarah Tao 

Boston University 

Biomedical Engineering 

44 Cummington Street 


stao@bu.edu 

Polymeric Microdevices for Applications in Targeted Drug Delivery 

186 

Co-Author(s) 

Ka Wah Lee and Tejal Desai, Boston University 

Mike Lubeley, University of Illinois, Chicago 

The rapid development of macromolecular biopharmaceuticals has placed increasing interest on advanced carrier 

systems for efficient oral drug delivery. Advances in microfabrication technology have enabled the creation of 

entirely new classes of drug delivery devices which can possess a combination of structural, mechanical, chemical, 

and electronic features to surmount the challenges associated with conventional delivery systems. In this research, 

the strengths of microfabrication and micromachining are capitalized to create a completely novel, multifunctional 

microdevice from poly(methyl methacrylate) for potential applications in highly localized, tissue-specific oral drug 

delivery. PMMA drug delivery microdevices can be precisely manufactured using traditional microfabrication 

techniques. The PMMA is chemically modified to introduce surface amine groups to which biologically active 

molecules, such as avidin, can be covalently linked utilizing traditional carbodiimide coupling reagents. By further 

attachment of tomato lectin molecules, the PMMA is rendered cytoadhesive towards Caco-2 cells. PMMA 

devices are specifically designed flat and thin to maximize contact area with the intestinal lining. This flat design 

also minimizes the side areas exposed to the constant flow of liquids through the intestine. Corresponding in 

vitro studies have shown that these modified microdevices have increased Caco-2 cell recognition over control 

particles, as well as increased anchorage in comparison to PMMA microspheres. In addition, the presence of 

mucus proteins do not create as great an impact on the cytoassociation of these modified PMMA microdevices 

as on the control devices. In conclusion, these findings demonstrate the potential advantages of utilizing 

micromachined, asymmetrically cytoadhesive PMMA devices for applications in oral drug delivery. 

TP081 

Robert Umek 

Meso Scale Discovery 

9238 Gaither Road 


rumek@meso-scale.com 

Co-Author(s) 

Lisa Gazzillo, Anu Mathew, 

Malcolm Smith, Timothy Schaefer, 


A High Throughput Replacement for Western Blots: Protein Expression Analysis Using the 

MSD Multi-Array Platform 

We describe high throughput protein expression assays that are quantitative, rapid and sensitive. These assays 

provide alternatives to existing methods such as Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence techniques, which 

are labor-intensive, low in throughput, and time-consuming. In one procedure, cell lysates are adsorbed directly in 

the wells of MSD Multi-Array microplates; another format uses specific capture antibodies to increase sensitivity. 

Both procedures detect specific proteins by using an antibody labeled with an electrochemiluminescence reporter. 

We present two examples that demonstrate the utility of these assays: the identification of HEK293 clones that 

over-express the human vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2), and the detection of epidermal 

growth factor receptor (EGFR) in an established carcinoma cell line. The assay can also be used to quantify the 

abundance of particular post-translational states of proteins of interest.

TP082 

Surekha Vajjhala 

Nanostream, Inc. 

580 Sierra Madre Villa Avenue 


surekha.vajjhala@nanostream.com 

Micro Parallel Liquid Chromatography for High Throughput ADMET Profiling 

187 

Co-Author(s) 

Li Zhang, Paren Patel, Jeffrey Koehler, 

Steve Hobbs, Chris Phillips 

The Nanostream Veloce system – which includes an instrument, software, and replaceable microfluidic cartridges – 

incorporates pressure-driven flow to achieve chromatograms comparable to conventional HPLC instrumentation 

while offering a dramatic increase in sample analysis capacity. The system enables parallel chromatographic 

separations and simultaneous, real-time UV detection for rapid determination of ADMET properties. Each 

Nanostream Brio cartridge, made of polymeric materials, incorporates twenty-four columns packed with standard 

(C-18) stationary phase material to achieve reverse phase separations. Mixing and distribution of the mobile phase 

to each of the 24 columns is precisely controlled in each cartridge. The system provides an ideal platform to 

accelerate assessment of physicochemical properties (i.e., log P, CHI, etc.) for a large number of compounds.This 

poster demonstrates how the Veloce system offers specific benefits for rapid assessment of ADMET parameters. 

The 24-fold increase in sample analysis capacity allows standard curve generation and simultaneous analysis 

of multiple replicates of samples in a single run. By accelerating access to high quality data, the Veloce system 

enables scientists to make decisions about promising leads earlier in the drug discovery process. 

TP083 

Ian Whitehall 

TTP LabTech Ltd 

Melbourn Science Park, Cambridge Road 

RoystonSG8 6EE United Kingdom 

inw@ttplabtech.com 

Cell Based Assays in 384- and 1536-Well Formats using MosQuito and the Acumen 

Explorer 

Co-Author(s) 

Paul Wylie 

Rob Lewis 

Wayne Bowen 

There is a growing interest in using whole cell assays in screening. By using a 1536-well format, the quantities 

of expensive compounds can be substantially reduced having a major impact on the cost of a screen. There are 

currently a number of technologies that dispense cells into 384-well formats, but fewer that are able to dispense 

viable cells into a 1536-well plate.In this study, we have used the MosQuito liquid handling system, which uses 

disposable pipettes, to dispense cells into 384- and 1536-well plates. We have then used the Acumen Explorer 

laser scanning fluorescence microplate cytometer to study proliferation of the cells over several days. We have also 

shown that we can determine cell cytotoxicity, as an example of a whole cell assay. The results demonstrate that 

MosQuito can successfully dispense viable cells into 384 and 1536 microtitre suitable for detection and assay with 

the Acumen Explorer. 

POSTER ABSTRACTS

TP084 

Hayley Wu 


Assay Development 



hayley.wu@calipertech.com 

Co-Author(s) 

Javier Farinas, Charles Park, Cheryl Cathey, Christopher Tsu, 

and Michael Pantoliano 

Lawrence Dick, Millennium Pharmaceuticals 

A High Throughput Microfluidic Protease Substrate Identification Assay 

Enzymatic assay development is often hampered by the lack of good substrates. We have developed a high 

throughput substrate identification assay based on a microfluidic chip. A series of fluorogenic substrates is sipped 

onto a chip and split into two parallel channels, one of which contains enzyme. Enzymatic activity on the substrate 

leads to a change in fluorescence. The difference in fluorescence between the enzyme channel and the reference 

channel is used to calculate the efficiency of the substrate for the target protease. The use of microfluidic channels 

gives excellent control of the timing and volume of reagent addition, making it possible to compare the enzyme 

channel with respect to a control. This improves data quality and allows for the optimization of substrates. The 

assay was validated using trypsin and a library of AMC labeled tripeptides. The results were consistent with the 

known amino acid sequence specificity of trypsin. 

TP085 

Hongkai Wu 


518 Everett Avenue, #A 

Palo Alto, California 94301 

hongkai@stanford.edu 

On Chip Chemical Assay by Forming Droplets in Fluidic Systems 

188 

Co-Author(s) 

Richard N. Zare 

A goal of micro-total analysis systems (mTAS) is the manipulation and analysis of minute amount of biological 

samples in the order of pL volume, i.e., the size of most individual cells. Here, we demonstrate an integrated 

microfluidic system that was used to fast mixing of chemicals, on-column incubation of reactions without diffusion 

(e.g., labeling fluorescence tags and lysis of cells) and detection and analysis of final products. The system was 

fabricated in poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) and the fluid flow was driven by pressure. Samples in aqueous 

solutions were brought together and segregated into discontinuous droplets by another flow of immiscible fluid. 

These two parts in water droplets were mixed rapidly (ms) through a zigzag channel with pressure-driven flow. 

After fully mixed, the flow was stopped for reaction incubation before laser-induced fluorescent signals were 

measured. The two immiscible phases of droplets in the microchannels effectively prevented diffusion of chemicals 

during mixing and on-column incubation, which could require long time. Two different assays were performed in 

our chip. One is the enzyme assay of ß-galactosidase (ß-Gal) using resorufin ß-galactopyranoside (RBG) as its 

substrateand. The other assay is the determination of the concentrations of biological species. Each droplet had a 

volume of ~100 pL, and the number of molecule that are assayed was in the order of fmole in a droplet. The small 

volume of the droplets makes this system an excellent candidate for analysis the contents in individual single cells 

(volume in the order of pL), which we will do next.

TP086 

Wendy Yang 

FreshGene, Inc. 

2076 Beechwood Way 

Antioch, California 94509 

wendy@freshgene.com 

Co-Author(s) 

Qinghong Yang, Sandra Hatcher, and Henrietta Seet, 

FreshGene, Inc. 

Jeffrey Gregg, University of California, Davis – Medical Center 

Application of Holliday Junction Based Allele-Specific (HAS) Genotyping Platform for 

Detecting Two Common Thrombophilia Genetic Mutations 

The Factor V Leiden mutation (G1691A) and the Factor II (G20210A) mutation are the two most common genetic 

risk factors for venous thrombosis. Factor V Leiden mutation is present in 5% of the Caucasian population 

and the Factor II (G20210A) mutation is present in 2 % of the general population. We report the development 

of a novel diagnostic assays for detecting the Factor V Leiden mutation and the Factor II (G20210A) mutation 

based on a new mutation detection platform developed by our group: Holliday Junction based Allele Specific 

(HAS) genotyping (Yang et al, 2003). A mismatch at a point mutation site between the target PCR amplicons 

and reference PCR amplicons will lead to stable Holliday Junction structure formation which can be detected 

by either gel electrophoresis or fluorescence polarization (FP). This technology offers a robust and cost-effective 

alternative to standard genotyping technologies. DNA samples from 200 individuals previously tested for the 

Factor V Leiden mutation and the Factor II (G20210A) mutation by PCR-RFLP were used in this study. There 

was complete concordance between the HAS based assay and PCR-RFLP for detecting the two mutations. We 

therefore conclude from our data that the HAS genotyping platform is highly accurate with advantages over other 

genotyping techniques in terms of cost and efficiency 

TP087 

Lilly Zhang 

Amgen, Inc. 

Pharmacokinetics and Drug Metabolism 

One Amgen Center Drive MS 1-1B 


leiz@amgen.com 

189 

Co-Author(s) 

John D. Laycock, Jill Hayos, 

Julie Flynn, Gary Yesionek, 

Krys J. Miller 

Automated Strategies For Protein Precipitation Filtration And Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) 

Optimization On the TECAN Robotic Sample Processor – Applications In Quantitative 

LC-MS/MS Bioanalysis 

Strategies are discussed for developing (1) automated protein precipitation-filtration (PPF); and (2) SPE for 

separation of adductive metabolite from parent compound using TECAN. In part (1), the automated PPF is 

accomplished via the integration of TECAN with on-line positive pressure processor. Over 400 spiked plasma 

samples and 300 study samples underwent parallel sample preparation via PPF and manual protein precipitation 

with centrifugation (PPC). Sample extracts were analyzed using LC-MS/MS. Correlation between PPF and 

PPC was determined based on the concentration data. The results showed that PPF generated concentration 

results comparable to that of PPC. This enables the full automation of sample preparation and eliminates human 

intervention, peripheral equipment, and consumables needed for centrifugation. Part (2) discusses an automated 

strategy for SPE method development using the setup in (1). Various types of solvents and SPE beds were tested 

in 96-well format. The recovery of parent compound and metabolite were plotted against the SPE conditions to 

determine optimal combination. This fully automated SPE method selection for optimization proves thorough 

yet less laborious therefore has potentials in routine applications. Our strategies for addressing the integration of 

the robotic procedures, LC-MS/MS acquisition, and data analysis software are discussed to support automated 

experimental designs. 

POSTER ABSTRACTS

TP088 

Jaskiran Kaur 

Orochem Technologies, Inc. 

762 Burr Oak Drive 

Westmont, Illinois 60559 

sales@orochem.com 

190 

Co-Author(s) 

Asha Oroskar 

The OroTherm Model HC1080, Orochem Heating and Cooling Plate – A Unique Instrument 

Using the Latest Technology in Thermoelectric Cooling (TEC) 

With an overall small footprint and precise temperature control, the OroTherm 8C1080 is designed to meet the most 

demanding testing conditions. The cooling plate can be designed to accommodate a number of different reactor 

block configurations, with uniform temperature control from –10˚ C to +80˚ C to within 0.5˚ C at the control sensor. 

The temperature controller is configured through a personal computer using RS-232 or RS-485 bi directional 

control allowing the user a variety of control options. The computer set value provides for manual control of the 

output of either polarity, from 0% to 100% of load power. Proportional control is achieved using PID (Proportional, 

Integral and Derivative) control algorithms as well as dead band control (on/off) with an adjustable hysterisis may 

be selected. Differential temperature control is also offered when using two input sensing thermisters. Once the 

control parameters have configured, the PC may be removed and the controller runs as a stand-alone unit. 

The thermoelectric cooler used to provide the heating and cooling is designed specifically for thermal cycling 

applications. The unit is capable of rapid heating and cooling rates, maximum temperature of 130˚ C. The new 

material allow high temperature cycling of more than 600,000 cycles. This translates into a very efficient heating 

and cooling controller that will provide years of maintenance free service. 

TP089 

Steve Dulle 

Monsanto 

800 North 


sjdull@monsanto.com 

Automation in Monsanto Biotechnology 

Co-Author(s) 

Renee Matlick 

Gina Balch 

Thomas Le 

Mary M. Blanchard 

Mark Vaudin 

Monsanto is a company that has transitioned from an agricultural chemical based platform to a combined 

chemical, plant trait and seed enhancement program. For this transition, the company has placed an emphasis on 

Genomics, Biotechnology, and Breeding for crop improvements and product development. Reducing costs and 

improving efficiencies are key business drivers for the organization. By applying a mix of biology and engineering 

to implement new instruments, procedures, and protocols, the Automation Technology team provides a seamless 

introduction of automation and biology related process improvements to the Biotech project teams. This provides 

value in the form of ergonomic, cost, and FTE impact.

TP090 

Alain Truchaud 

Center of Research in Biomedical Technology 

Institut de Biologie 

9 Quai Moncousu 

44093 Nantes Cedex 1, France 

a.truchaud@red-crtb.com 

191 

Co-Author(s) 

D. Morin, F. X. Chobletf, S. Belsoeur, T. Le Neel 

Center of Research in Biomedical Technology 

Development of an Automated Workcell Around a Multicapillary Zone Electrophoresis 

Instument for Human Serum Protein Analysis 

P. Chauvin, Sebia 

A new multicapillary zone electrophoresis instrument for human serum protein analysis, the Capillarys, was recently 

launched by Sebia company. In this instrument, serum samples are arranged manually in racks which are loaded 

by the technician inside the system; then, the analytical process (dilution in the buffer, injection in the capillaries, 

detection and data processing) is fully automated. After analysis, the rack is collected manually by the operator. 

We integrated the Capillarys in an automated workcell able to pick tubes from a sample transportation system 

(Total Laboratory Automation), to arrange them in the right position for barcode reading on the racks of the 

Capillarys. The racks are transported and loaded in the Capillarys by the robot. After analysis, racks are 

automatically collected and disposed on a stacker, waiting for storage, waste management, or transportation to 

another instrument. 

It was not necessary to modify neither the software, neither the hardware of the Capillarys, thus avoiding eventual 

conflicts about the maintenance of the instrument; we just added two external sensors for rack detection, and we 

modified the cover to let an easy robotic access to the rack loading and unloading area. Safety of the operator is 

insured by safety transparent doors equipped with sensors which stop the process if one door is opened during 

the process. 

Conclusion: we proved that the Capillarys is robot-compatible in an automated workcell, able to be connected to 

a Total Laboratory Automation system, thus introducing serum protein electrophoresis as a basic fully automated 

screening profile in Clinical Biochemistry, 24h/day, 7 days/week. 

TP091 



Institute for Automation 

R.-Wagner-Strasse 31 

Rostock 18119 Germany 

kerstin.thurow@uni-rostock.de 

Automation Systems for Bioscreening – Development and Services 

Co-Author(s) 

Kristin Entzian 

With the ending of important patents and the increasing resistance of micro organisms against currently available 

antibiotics there is a great demand of the pharmaceutical industry for the development of new leading drugs. 

Since the methods of combinatorial chemistry and the exploitation of new sources such as natural drugs deliver 

a high number of potential drugs the development of automated HTS methods for the biological testing and 

screening of these compounds is essential. Biological testing parameters include cell viability, cell proliferation, 

the measurement of intracellular calcium, the determination of enzyme inhibition or even the determination of the 

stability and metabolization of potential drug candidates. Different cell based and cell free assays can be used as 

targets for the determination of the biological activity. 

The presentation will give an overview about current and future developments in this field of high throughput 

screening. A robot based high throughput screening system was assembled and programmed for different test 

procedures. Examples for test results in enzyme inhibition, Ca determination and cell proliferation will be given. 

The flexibility of the systems enables the easy adaptation to customer specific assays and requirements and thus 

allows the use of the automated solution to provide screening services to pharmaceutical companies. 

POSTER ABSTRACTS

WP001 

Chris Barbagallo 


Research & Development 



chris_barbagallo@millipore.com 

Automating Large DNA Insert Preparation for Sequencing 

192 

Co-Author(s) 

Masaharu Mabuchi, Janet Smith, 

Peter Rapiejko, Joseph Hitti 

Bacterial Artificial Chromosome (BAC) and fosmid libraries have proven to be powerful tools for both physical 

mapping and the finishing process of genome sequencing. However, their unique properties (i.e., large DNA inserts) 

have also presented several technical challenges when adapting their preparation to higher throughput. One major 

obstacle to this process is the low copy number of the vectors harbored by the host cells. Typically, BAC and 

fosmid inserts are maintained at only 1 – 2 copies per cell. As a result, yields obtained from a given volume of 

culture are significantly lower than that for plasmid and cosmid DNA vectors. Modification of both bacterial growth 

conditions and DNA purification methodologies have been essential to maximizing yields and obtaining high quality 

template for downstream applications. We describe here methods that enable higher throughput processing for 

end sequencing of BAC and fosmid templates. Isolation of these clones and subsequent sequencing cleanup 

occur in a 96-well format, which is demonstrated on automation platforms to provide DNA of sufficient quantity 

and purity for direct sequencing utilizing an ABI 3700 capillary sequencer. 

WP002 

Steven Eendhuizen 




steven.eendhuizen@sparkholland.com 

XLC-MS for Therapeutic Drug Monitoring 

Co-Author(s) 

Alex Berhitu, Emile Koster, 

Peter Ringeling, Bert Ooms 

Solid-phase extraction is integrated with the LC separation (“XLC”) to permit direct injection of “raw” biological 

samples without prior filtration, centrifugation or protein precipitation. The XLC system was coupled to MS 

(API2000) which is operated in positive multiple ion monitoring mode. Both thermally assisted electrospray 

ionization (ESI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) have been considered. In order to 

demonstrate the XLC-MS concept for therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) the important neuroleptic drug clozapine 

(CLZ), and its metabolites desmethyl-clozapine (DMC) and clozapine-N-oxide (NOX) were determined in serum. 

For LC-MS interfacing, detectability of CLZ and metabolites is better with the APCI interface, whereas selectivity 

is better with the ESI interface. Recovery is essentially quantitative (100%), detection limits are in the sub ng/ 

mL range and the linear range is sufficiently large to cover the therapeutic range for clozapine in serum (10 to 

1000 ng/mL). The within day precision is < 5% (at low therapeutic levels) and the accuracy within ± 10% of the 

established concentrations. Optimization of SPE resulted in XLC-MS cycle times of only about 2 min. Because 

SPE is performed within the LC run, throughput could only be increased further by changing LC conditions, e.g., 

column length, mobile phase flow rate, modifier percentage and pH. Summarizing, a sensitive, selective, robust 

and fast method for the monitoring of “blood levels” of clozapine and metabolites is obtained. Moreover, seamless 

integration of front-end sample prep and LC-MS (XLC-MS) seems to result in a universal and fully automated 

platform for TDM.

WP003 

Emily Berlin 


600 South Wagner Road 


emily_berlin@pall.com 

Use of the AcroPrep 96 Filter Plate for the Parallel Preparation of Recombinant Proteins 

193 

Co-Author(s) 

Tao Hu 

Kevin Seeley 

While genomic methods are effective for presumptive gene expression analysis, the real players in the overall 

control of a particular genetic trait come from any of the over 300,000 proteins found in the cell. Bottlenecks in 

protein production highlight the need for more effective automated systems to recover proteins for proteomic 

analysis. Fully automated purification strategies may include a number of steps where lysate clearance, desalting 

and protein concentration are needed. Beyond standard sample preparation steps, the optimization of purification 

for over-expressed tagged-recombinant proteins requires the screening of a collection subclones that often have 

highly variable expression and activity levels. Although size-separation applications can be done effectively using 

ultrafiltration, a more specific affinity IMAC system is typically needed to purify biomolecules from crude lysates. 

This study demonstrates the use of AcroPrep plates containing microporous membranes for the preparation of 

recombinant proteins isolated from IMAC resin minicolumns. The flexibility of the AcroPrep format is demonstrated 

by the creation of a matrix of IMAC conditions within a single plate. This matrix can be set up to not only help 

determine which metal ligand binds the target protein but can allow the design of parallel processing tests to 

optimize the ratio of resin to lysate for a particular clone. The construction of the AcroPrep plate allows both 

manual and automated handling, demonstrates bead retention, and shows consistent well-to-well performance 

effectively giving the protein biochemist an edge in the development in protein purification protocols. 

WP004 

Wayne Bowen 

TTP LabTech 


Melbourn, HertsSG8 6EE United Kingdom 

wayne.bowen@ttplabtech.com 

Neutrophil Adhesion: A HTS Compatible Assay Using the Acumen Explorer 

Co-Author(s) 

John Budd 

A variety of pathological conditions exist in which cellular adhesion events are key to the evolving disease state. 

These include myocardial infarction, Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), Goodpasture syndrome 

and general trauma. Cell adhesion also plays a crucial role in the immune system and is an important factor in 

inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, and psoriasis. The concepts involved in the cell 

adhesion process are a rapidly developing area of cell biology and over the last five to ten years it has become 

possible to work out, at a molecular level, how cells attach to each other and to extracellular matrix molecules. 

This will be important for future drug development. The importance of cell adhesion molecules in the homing 

of lymphocytes to lymphoid organs, in neutrophil localization in inflammation, and in the interaction of both 

lymphocytes and neutrophils with vascular endothelium suggests that defects in these molecules might have 

severe consequences. Initially, we have demonstrated quantification of neutrophil adhesion to confluent bovine 

arterial endothelial cell monolayers (BAEC) grown in 96-well plate platforms. These experiments have shown 

a consistent signal of 6 to 1 of PMA-stimulated neutrophils to basal adherence of unstimulated cells. These 

leukocyte adhesion assays, specifically adapted for use on the Acumen Explorer, could prove to be a useful 

adjunct for pharmacological drug screening purposes and particularly for academic research, given the speed and 

functionality of the Acumen Explorer technology. 

POSTER ABSTRACTS

WP005 

Carole Crittenden 




Carole_Crittenden@moldev.com 

194 

Co-Author(s) 

Jennifer McKie 

Yan Zhang 

Oxidative Burst: Amplex ® Red Detection of Hydrogen Peroxide Release From Differentiated 

HL-60 Cells Using FlexStation II384 Microplate Reader and the HTS Format of FLIPR3 

The release of reactive oxygen species by activated human neutrophils plays an important role in the body’s 

defense against infection. The process of oxidative burst is correlated with many disease states, and is a primary 

component of phagocytosis and apoptosis in neutrophils. Here, HL-60 cells differentiated by incubation with 

DMSO to form neutrophil like cells are activated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) to undergo oxidative 

burst. In the presence of horseradish peroxidase, Amplex ® Red reagent (Molecular Probes) (10-acetyl-3, 7dihydroxyphenoxazine) 

is oxidized by extracellular H2O2 to produce red-fluorescent resorufin. Capabilities for 

reagent addition, fluorescent signal detection, and data analysis by FlexStation II384 are used to optimize a cellbased 

kinetic medium-throughput screen. By tuning the laser to 514.5 nm excitation and use of the 540-590nm 

bandpass emission filter, the assay is transferred to the high throughput screening format of FLIPR3 ® . 

WP006 

Doug Drake 

IDBS 


GuildfordGU2 7QB United Kingdom 

ddrake@id-bs.com 

Making Sense of it All: Data Management for the New Challenges in Drug Discovery 

Co-Author(s) 

Michael Collingsworth 

Jack Elands 

The dramatic increase in novel drug targets in many therapeutic areas, in conjunction with technological advances 

in methodology and hardware, has created an explosion of information on compounds under test for specific 

therapeutic targets. Increased economic pressure on drug discovery companies to “fail early” and so “fail cheaply” 

has resulted in parallel processing, with ADME and toxicology experimentation occurring earlier in the drug 

discovery process. Consequently, there is greater need for effective information management so that scientists can 

communicate efficiently to reach quick decisions based on a plethora of scientific data. IDBS provides software 

that enables discovery organizations to maximize the value of their research data. These analysis and decision 

making products can dramatically increase productivity and accelerate critical decision making about a candidate’s 

potential for success, allowing scientists to share knowledge easily across projects. The following scenario outlines 

a typical drug discovery scenario of creating and screening a chemical library designed to identify inhibitory activity 

of a MAP kinase, demonstrating how ActivityBase 5.1 can assist scientists with their data collection and analysis 

and help them to make informed decisions faster.

WP007 

Morten Egeberg 

Dynal Biotech ASA 

Molecular Systems 

P.O. Box 114 Smestad 

Oslo0309 Norway 

morten.egeberg@dynalbiotech.com 

Magnetic Bead Based High Throughput PCR- and Sequence Cleanup 

195 

Co-Author(s) 

Tommy Rivrud 

Erling Finne 

Dag Lillehaug 

The advancements in high throughput DNA sequencing technologies the last decade has led to an increased 

demand for efficient upstream sample preparation. Thorough removal of contaminants such as primers from 

the PCR reaction and un-incorporated dyes, excess nucleotides and salts from the DNA sequencing reaction 

combined with high yields of isolated DNA are critical to obtain high quality DNA sequences. To meet these 

requirements we have developed automated protocols for PCR- and sequence cleanup on Beckman Coulter’s 

Biomek FX liquid handling robot. These protocols are based on Dynabeads ® magnetic separation technology. We 

use paramagnetic Dynabeads ® to bind directly to PCR- or sequencing products. When the products are bound to 

the beads, a simple magnetic separation event takes place prior to washing of the beads to remove contaminants. 

The products are then quickly eluted from the beads for downstream handling. Compared to conventional methods 

such as ethanol precipitation and gel filtration, our magnetic bead based technology is ideal for implementation 

on automated platforms as no centrifugation or vacuum filtration steps are required. Moreover, we show that the 

quality of the data and the robustness of the technology meet the high requirements of today’s high throughput 

DNA sequencing facilities. 

WP008 

Boaz Eidelberg 

Bayside Motion Group 

Business Development 

27 Seaview Boulevard 

Port Washington, New York 11050 

beidelberg@baysidemotion.com 

Co-Author(s) 

Joe Timpone 

Guidlines for Selecting XYZ Machines for High Precision High Throughput Lab Automation 

The future of high quality life longevity lies in biotechnology advances and Lab Automation. The immense amount 

of costly testing, needed to identify feasible target molecules, requires efficient Automation tools. Automation 

is required for low precision handling of microplates, bio chips, and wells in and out anciliary Lab equipment, 

such as environmental chambers and cenrefuges. It is also required for high speed, high precision fluid handling, 

assaying and sensing, in a process of detecting gene expression and protein activity. The objective of this article 

is to discuss useful guidelines and tools for selecting optimal XYZ machines for various applications in Lab 

Automations. Basic definitions of key process performance variables, such as accuracy, repeatability, dead band, 

and resolution will be made. Variables effecting process throughput such as jerk, acceleration, velocity, and settling 

time will be discussed. In addition, important machine variables effecting image clarity and quality of sensing, such 

as constant velocity and jitter will be explained. The XYZ Lab automation machine, is constructed as an assembly 

of slides, bases, bearing, encoders, motors, amplifiers, and controllers. Each element possesses numerous 

characteristic that effect the overall system performance. The article will highlight the relationship between key 

machine component parameters and the desired process performance.An analytical tool, BIMO, which assist in 

the selection process of an XYZ machine for Lab Automation process, by analyzing cost/performance tradeoffs 

of various options will be discussed. Finally, examples of simulated BIMO runs and actual tested data for various 

Lab Automation equipment will be presented. Bayside’s proprietary analysis tool – BIMO, will be distributed to 

participating audiance with interest in high precision Automation tools. 

POSTER ABSTRACTS

WP009 

Marcy Engelstein 


R & D 



marcy_engelstein@millipore.com 

Streamlining Automation of In-Gel Digestion and MALDI Target Spotting 

196 

Co-Author(s) 

Libby Kellard and Anja Dedeo, Millipore Corporation 

Mikkel Nissum, Tecan 

With the completion of the Human Genome Project, there is now significant emphasis on identifying proteins and 

protein function. As a consequence, the number of protein samples being processed has increased dramatically. 

Proteins are typically separated by MDLC or 2D gel electrophoresis. Those of interest are digested, concentrated/ 

desalted, and analyzed using mass spectrometry. This procedure is time consuming and labor intensive. We 

describe here two methods to improve the In-Gel digestion process – a one-plate or two-plate protocol that 

differ primarily in their throughput and automation capabilities of the elution step. The one plate protocol uses the 

Montage ® In-Gel Digest ZP Kit (Millipore) on the Tecan Genesis ® . This procedure allows for automated processing 

of gel pieces in a ZipPlate micro-SPE plate up to the C18 elution step. Peptides are eluted and transferred directly 

to the MALDI target off-line. A fully automated process is available with this protocol using vacuum elution with 

subsequent spotting onto the MALDI target. The two-plate protocol utilizes a ZipPlate ® micro-SPE plate (Millipore) 

in tandem with a TecPro96 plate (Tecan) on the Tecan Genesis. This procedure allows for full automation of the 

entire process, including direct transfer of purified peptides from the ZipPlate plate onto a MALDI target plate for 

immediate analysis. 

WP010 

Xingwang Fang 

Ambion, Inc. 


2130 Woodward Street 


xfang@ambion.com 

High Throughput Sample Preparation for RNAi Studies and Expression Profiling 

Co-Author(s) 

Roy C. Willis, Quoc Hoang, 

Michael Siano, Weiwei Xu 

The demand for robust high throughput RNA isolation and amplification increases very rapidly since RNAi 

and microarray technologies gains wide applications. We present: 1) high throughput siRNA synthesis by in 

vitro transcription; 2) a comparison of various high throughput RNA isolation; and 3) a fully automated mRNA 

amplification method for microarray analysis. In vitro transcription can generates both short (21bp) and long 

(>300bp) double-stranded RNAs with same function as chemical synthesized RNAs, but in much shorter time. The 

protocol is automatable in 96- or 384-well format, enabling quick screening for the best sequence to targeting a 

specific gene. Different high throughput RNA isolation methods will be compared, focusing on consistency and 

quality of isolated RNA and simplicity and robustness of the protocol. We’ll also discuss the streamline of RNA 

isolation with RNA quantification by qRT-PCR and amplification for microarray analysis. In general, microspheric 

bead-based approach results in more consistent RNA recovery than glass fiber filter based RNA method, and 

RNA can be eluted in a smaller volume. This is because beads can be fully resuspended in solution to enable 

more thorough mixing, washing, and elution, while the glass fiber matrix is fixed in a filter plate. In addition, we will 

present a high throughput sample preparation for microarray analysis. The method is based on the Van Gelder and 

Eberwine procedure and seamlessly integrates mRNA amplification, labeling and purification in a 96-well format. 

The results from beta testing of this technology will be presented.

WP011 

Alice Gao 


Corning Life Sciences-Applications 

2 Alfred Road 

Kennebunk, Maine 04043 

gaoa@corning.com 

Performance of 384 Low Volume Microplates in FP-based GPCR Binding Assays 

197 

Co-Author(s) 

Debra Hoover 

In current high throughput screening (HTS) industry, 384-well format is the most predominant form because of 

its reasonably high throughput as well as the availability of more robust instrumentation. However, reagent costs 

sometimes can make an HTS in 384-well format an unaffordable option. In this poster, We will demonstrate the 

use of 384 Low Volume microplates in fluorescent polarization based receptor binding assays. The total assay 

volume is reduced from 40 µL to 10 µL using these plates without compromising assay parameters (e.g., IC50 

of reference inhibitors) as well as screening parameters (e.g., Z-factor, S/N and S/B). As a result, the overall cost 

of screening is reduced by a factor of 4, in addition to the conservation of precious compound collections. This 

option also provides the advantage of avoiding the costly replacement of new instrumentation.In conclusion, we 

will demonstrate assay miniturization in 384-well format without compromising data quality. 

WP012 

Terry Hermann 





Information and Image Management for Proteomics-based Research 

Co-Author(s) 

J. Kelly Ganjein 

Shariq Alavi 

Proteomics is one of the most important post-genomic approaches to understanding gene function and the 

biological processes involved in disease. Consequently, the scientific and laboratory approaches used in this 

avenue of discovery have generated a need for different data handling procedures. Researchers are working 

with solutions that force them to study data out of context, and are being asked to analyze data that has been 

completely dissociated from the genealogy of the original samples. The latest advances in information technology 

are being implemented in a solution designed to assist in properly managing the vast amount of information 

generated through proteomics research. We will discuss the problems resulting from the explosion of data in the 

proteomics field, as well as the methods used to acquire, integrate, automate, analyze, and generally manage 

the data. We will further consider the benefits of having an “information hub” that allows the integration of 

substantial quantities of highly complex and disparate data sources, thus providing a technology framework for 

image management. This discussion will cover key issues surrounding the design and development of a proper IT 

infrastructure for the life sciences, with specific relevance to the datatypes being generated in proteomics. 

POSTER ABSTRACTS

WP013 

Günther Knebel 


R & D 


Frickenhausen72636 Germany 

Ulrike.Honisch@gbo.com 

Low Birefringence Plates for Crystal Scoring Under Polarized Light 

198 

Co-Author(s) 

Ulrike Honisch 

In the post-genomic era structure determination by X-ray diffraction becomes more and more important in the 

context of structural genomics and structure-based drug design. Protein crystallization is still a major bottleneck in 

structure determination and automation in this area is proceeding constantly. Whereas the setup of high throughput 

screens for the identification of proper crystallization conditions has been subject to automation for some time, 

automated image acquisition, data analysis and crystal scoring are relatively recent projects. A powerful tool for the 

identification of crystals is illumination under polarized light. On the basis of its birefringent properties crystalline 

material can easily be distinguished from amorphous precipitate. The major obstacle in utilizing birefringence has 

been the birefringent background of the plastic materials used for crystallization devices. This presentation will 

address the current drawbacks in imaging systems with polarized light options, and salvages due to unique resins 

in combination with a sophisticated manufacturing process. The performance of these new non-birefringent plates 

will be shown in sitting drop and crystallization under oil applications. 

WP014 

David Humphries 

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 

Engineering 

One Cyclotron Road, Mail Stop 25A-119 


DEHumphries@lbl.gov 

New High Performance Magnetic Separation Technology for Laboratory and 

Industrial Applications 

Co-Author(s) 

Martin Pollard 

Chris Elkin 

New high performance hybrid magnetic separation technology has been developed at the D.O.E. Joint Genome 

Institute and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory for general laboratory and high throughput automated 

applications. This technology has broad applicability for molecular separation in the areas of genomic automation, 

high throughput screening, and proteomics among others. Its applicability ranges from large and small scale 

microtiter plate processes and flow separation processes to single molecule DNA manipulation. It is currently 

an enabling purification technology for very high throughput production sequencing at the D.O.E. Joint Genome 

Institute. This technology incorporates hybrid magnetic structures that combine linear permanent magnet material 

and ferromagnetic material to produce significantly higher fields and gradients than those of currently available 

commercial devices. These structures incorporate ferromagnetic poles that can be easily shaped to produce 

complex field distributions for specialized applications. The higher maximum fields and strong gradients of the 

hybrid structures result in greater holding forces on magnetized targets that are being processed as well as faster 

extraction. Current development versions of these magnet plates have exhibited fields in excess of 9000.0 gauss 

and gradients approaching 1000.0 tesla/meter. The design of these structures is easily scalable to allow for field 

increases to significantly above 1.0 tesla (10000.0 gauss). This technology is currently being made available to 

industry through the Tech Transfer Department at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

WP015 

Diane Johnson 

Pfizer Global Development and Research 

Material Management 

Eastern Point Road, Box 7031-10 

Groton, Connecticut 06340 

diane_l_johnson@groton.pfizer.com 

199 

Co-Author(s) 

Steve Brinkman, William Heineman, 

Craig Hines, Michele Kelly, 

Kim Matus 

Pfizer Global Research and Development Material Management Global Center of Emphasis: 

Global Liquid Operations at the Groton Kings Heights Technology Center 

Material Management global liquid operations focuses around a two Centers of Emphasis (CoE) model; one CoE 

in Europe (Sandwich) and one CoE in the US (Kings Heights Technology Center, Groton Connecticut). The CoE 

storage and distribution model optimizes liquid compound handling access, speed, and efficiency by centralizing 

production functions. The Material Management-CoE model provides for redundant processing, storage and 

distribution capability at two sites for all of Pfizer Global Research and Development. Vital to the success of the 

CoE concept and global ordering was the adoption a uniform set of business rules and the deployment of a 

global ordering platform. Groton Material Management remains committed to providing high quality compound 

stewardship, storage, and processing together with corresponding data necessary to support Pfizer Global 

Research and Development needs. 

WP016 

Mike Jones 

Cambridge Antibody Technology Automation 

Milstein Building, Granta Park 

Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB1 6GH United Kingdom 

mike.jones@cambridgeantibody.com 

Automated DNA Sequencing: Quality Not Quantity 

Co-Author(s) 

Richard Stevens 

Kate Goode 

The DNA Chemistry facility at Cambridge Antibody Technology (CAT) is responsible for sequencing 20,000 

antibody fragments per month. The quality of the sequence data returned to the scientist is critical for identifying 

unique antibodies for further analysis. Good quality data means that the downstream process of analysing 

sequences is significantly reduced. Automated workstations have been set up to improve the efficiency and 

quality of the results, and the pass rate for first time submitted sequences is 90% or greater. Automated systems 

provide reproducibility through the process, along with a greatly reduced error rate than would normally be seen 

if the process was done manually. Flexibility, diversity, and a short process time frame have dictated the use of a 

workstation approach rather than a large fully automated system, with the same machine used for different parts 

of the process. This means that if any piece of equipment is down then the process does not come to a stand still. 

Here we show how we have automated DNA sequencing in the laboratory with a Tecan Genesis workstation, a 

Tecan Miniprep and a Perkin Elmer Evolution P3 pipettor. 

POSTER ABSTRACTS

WP017 

Lynn Jordan 


68 Elm Street 


lynn.jordan@zymark.com 

Automation of BAC 96 DNA Purification 

200 

Co-Author(s) 

Jim Batchelor, Kelly M. Clark, and Joseph A. Hensley 

Brinkmann, an Eppendorf Company 

Jennifer L. Halcome and George R. Halley 

Eppendorf - 5 Prime, Inc. 

Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes (BACs) play a large role in BAC-end sequencing, fingerprinting and mapping to 

assemble large genome constructs. In laboratories performing these applications, obtaining high quality BAC DNA 

in an automated high throughput manner is essential. A BAC 96 reagent kit has been performed on an automated 

liquid handler, utilizing a variety of accessories to achieve optimal downstream results. Resuspension, lysis, and 

neutralization are achieved by utilizing specialized genomic tips and an automated indexed shaker. Addition 

of solutions is accomplished by using a 96-tip head; and all downstream filtration steps are performed using a 

superior positive pressure technique, as opposed to vacuum differential. All plate movement on the deck is done 

using a versatile gripping system. Data will be presented to demonstrate validation of the methodology, including 

BAC DNA yield and purity, as well as throughput and scalability of this automated protocol. 

WP018 

Sanjaya Joshi 

Userspace Corporation 

11118 NE 141 Place 

Kirkland, Washington 98034 

sanjay@userspace.com 

Co-Author(s) 

David R. Goodlett and Hookeun Lee 

Institute for Systems Biology 

Improving the Performance of Mass Spectrometry Analysis With Automated Peak-Parking 

Using Off-the-shelf Components 

Most electrospray ionization (ESI) based Mass Spectrometry (MS) analysis algorithms prioritize high abundance 

pepdites in a mixture during HPLC introduction. One way to study the low abundance and co-eluting peptides 

in a mixture, is to slow the flow rate of the HPLC (High Performance Liquid chromatography) has to be slowed 

down considerably, while maintaining the gradient of the organic solvents. This technique of temporarily destroying 

the chromatography (in-flow) whilst studying low abundance peptides is called “Peak Parking”. This technique 

is specifically used to increase for tandem Mass Spectrometry (MS/MS) coverage from complex mixtures during 

LC-ESI-MS/MS. Userspace Corporation and the Institute for Systems Biology have been collaborating to build 

a modular and dynamic peak parking setup using “off-the-shelf” components. An add-on to traditional peakparking 

techniques is a dynamic control of the ESI voltage in Electro Spray Ionization Mass Spectrometers as 

flow changes. The voltage control will help maintain a stable ESI as flow rate changeswould provide an additional 

specificity to the entry of the peptide ions for MS/MS study. Correlation to other performance metrics variables – 

gradient, pump pressure, total ion count, base peak, spray voltage, MS/MS transition and flow rates – would be 

presented. This system is a closed-loop real-time response system which automatically identifies when peakparking 

needs to commence and end. Peak Parking increases the yield of peptides identified in a specific mixture.

WP019 

Jeff Kane 


600 S. Wagner Road 


Jeff_Kane@pall.com 

High Throughput Protein Recovery From Organic Solvents Using AcroPrep 96 Multi-well 

Plates Containing Mustang Ion Exchange Membranes 

201 

Co-Author(s) 

Kevin Seeley 

Emily Berlin 

While genomic methods are effective for presumptive gene expression analysis, the real players in the overall control 

of a particular genetic trait come from any of the over 300,000 proteins found in the cell. A majority of current 

separation systems use 2D-gel technologies to display differential protein patterns as well as provide a format for 

gel excision for the recovery, identification and detection of proteins. An alternative method to gel electrophoresis 

involves separating the protein population into fractions using HPLC reverse-phase chromatography. This allows 

the separation of proteins based on hydrophobic interactions along a first dimension but leaves the dilute protein 

fractions in an organic solvent. In order to process the second dimension, the protein is captured on Pall’s proprietary 

Mustang ion exchange membranes, eluted, concentrated with ultrafiltration (UF) and injected into a second round 

of HPLC or other analytical technique. This study demonstrates the use of the AcroPrep 96 Filter Plate containing 

Mustang membranes to develop protocols for the capture of proteins from HPLC column effluents followed by 

further concentration and desalting using the Acroprep 96 UF Filter Plate. The construction of the AcroPrep 96 Filter 

Plate allows both manual and automated handling, and shows consistent well-to-well performance effectively giving 

the protein biochemist an edge in the development in protein purification protocols. 

WP020 

Libby Kellard 


Automation R&D 



libby_kellard@millipore.com 

Co-Author(s) 

Sonia Gil 

Steven D. Sheridan 

Automation of Receptor-Ligand Binding Assays Using the MultiScreen ® HTS Filter Plate 

Perhaps the most critical screening parameter in the drug discovery process is the quantification of the specific 

affinity a drug has for a particular cellular receptor. Whether the process be carried out as a primary screening 

method for large compound libraries or as a secondary screening tool to rank compounds for binding affinity, high 

throughput, automation compatibility and accurate receptor-ligand binding analyses are required. The design of 

the new MultiScreen HTS filter plate allows the plate to be easily gripped and moved around robotic decks and 

associated stackers. The plate can accommodate standard bar code labeling systems for ease of tracking when 

processing or storing numerous samples. The MultiScreen HTS filter plate can be used for coincidence counting 

which provides the best signal to noise ratio. The data presented here will demonstrate automation of the receptor 

ligand binding assay using the MultiScreen HTS filter plate on the Perkin-Elmer Evolution P3 Workstation. All steps 

were performed using the Evolution except for incubation and the final analysis step using a scintillation counter. 

POSTER ABSTRACTS

WP021 

Dan Kephart 


Scientific Applications 



dkephart@promega.com 

Automated Genomic DNA Purification From Large Volumes of Whole Blood 

202 

Co-Author(s) 

Cris Cowan 

Terri Grunst 

We have developed a novel reagent/hardware system that enables completely automated and scaleable genomic 

DNA isolation from up to 10 ml of whole blood.The method takes advantage of the unique properties of Promega’s 

MagneSil paramagnetic particles in conjunction with a novel tube rack/magnetic device to allow isolation using 

standard 50ml conical tubes on a variety of automated platforms. Greater than 300µg of DNA is isolated from 

whole human blood containing a minimum of 1 x 10 6 white cells; over 500µg can be obtained from blood with 

higher white cell counts. The purification procedure is completely automated and does not require differential lysis, 

fractionation of white cells, centrifugation, precipitation, or rehydration of DNA prior to analysis. Performance of the 

isolated DNA is demonstrated in real-time and endpoint PCR, restriction digest, and STR analysis. 

WP022 

Alan Kishbaugh 




akishbaugh@meso-scale.com 

Co-Author(s) 

Gisbert Spieles, Erin Grossi, Kent Johnson, 

Rob Calamunci, George Sigal, Svetlana Leytner, 


Multiplex Measurements of Cytokines in High Density Formats Using Multi-Array 

Technology 

This poster presents multiplexed immunoassays for human cytokines using Meso-Scale Discovery’s (MSD’s) Multi- 

Array platform. These assays were conducted in MSD’s new Multi-Spot plates, using a sample kit provided by 

MSD. The kit includes plates pre-coated with capture antibodies for each cytokine, a cocktail of labeled detection 

antibodies and other related assay reagents. MSD’s multiplex cytokine assays have no-wash formats, rapid 

protocols (2.5 hours) and fast read times (~70 sec. per plate). They are compatible with complex assay matrices 

(e.g., cell supernatants, cell lysates, serum, blood). No-wash assays require as little as 10 µl of sample, and 

have excellent selectivity (99.5%) and sensitivity (~1-10 pg/ml). The wide dynamic range (>3 logs) allows users 

to avoid multiple dilutions. We present data from a panel of numerous cytokines. Specifically, we demonstrate 

the performance of a 384-well Multi-Spot kit for measuring IL-1ß, IL-2, IL-6 and TNF-a. We also compare the 

performance of this kit with other MSD Multi-Spot plate formats.

WP023 

Gunther Kolb 

Institut für Mikrotechnik Mainz GmbH 

Chemical Process Technology 

Carl-Zeiss-Str. 15-20 

Mainz, 55129 Germany 

kolb@imm-mainz.de 

203 

Co-Author(s) 

Ines Frese, Volker Hessel, Holger Löwe, 

David Tiemann, and Ioan M. Ciumasu, 

Institut für Mikrotechnik Mainz GmbH 

Petra M. Krämer, TU München, Wissenschaftszentrum 

Weihenstephan 

An Automated, Portable Immunochemical Flow Injection System for On-Site Analysis of 

Environmentally Hazardous Chemicals 

The instrument presented here applies an immunochemical flow injection procedure, which uses 

chemiluminescence as detection principle. Analysis is performed automatically. In the final stage of the 

development, the operator only needs to insert the chip into the instrument, inject the sample into the chip sample 

reservoir, and to push the start button. The heart of the instrument is a micro-structured analysis cell made of a 

polymer (PMMA) which is covered with gold. On the gold surface the antibodies of the immunochemical reaction 

are immobilised. Both the analysis cell, a depot for the enzyme and the sample reservoir are incorporated into a 

removable chip. The chip is connected to the analysis instrument and may be regenerated up to 50 times after 

use. The analysis instrument developed by IMM is composed of a polymer plate carrying the micro-channels, 

valves and a step-motor driven syringe, which transports the various working media through the instrument. 

The measurements are temperature dependent and therefore the field version of the instrument and the liquid 

tanks are air-conditioned. The instrument is controlled by a low-power embedded PC via a user-friendly screen 

mask and touch-screen. Six – eight hours of operation independent from the power grid is possible due to two 

accumulators supplying the system. First tests of the portable field instrument revealed successful determination of 

Trinitrotoluene (TNT) standards from 0.01 to 10 µg/l. This suggests that a screening of samples for TNT is possible 

in this concentration range. The instrument is currently tested under field conditions on a TNT-contaminated site. 

WP024 

Kristopher Kopacz 

Dyax Corporation 


300 Technology Square 


kkopacz@dyax.com 

Co-Author(s) 

Qi-Long Wu 

Janja Cosic 

David Buckler 

Multiple Parallel Purification of Fab Fragments Discovered Using Dyax Corp’s Phage Display 

Antibody Libraries 

Through phage display technology, individual lead biomolecules that bind with high affinity and specificity to 

specific molecular targets are selected from highly diverse phage display libraries. Various biomolecular scaffolds 

have been successfully used in phage display, including antibody, peptide, and protease inhibitor frameworks. 

In this approach for ligand discovery, combinatorial variation is introduced at specific binding regions of the 

display scaffold. Library members with the desired binding affinity and specificity can be selected through a 

panning process, and the amino acid sequence of the display molecule conferring the desired properties can be 

determined by DNA sequencing of the isolated phage clones. After individual phage clones are identified, a key 

step in validating the desired binding properties for isolated clones is to express and purify the display protein 

to allow direct binding measurements with the target molecule. This poster will describe methods and results 

for high throughput soluble Fab fragment production using Dyax’s antibody discovery technology platform. Fab 

DNA cassettes recovered from phage clones are reformatted into Fab expression vectors to produce soluble Fab 

fragments at levels of 2 – 20 mg/L. These soluble Fab fragments include affinity tags that can be used for efficient 

multiple parallel purification. 

POSTER ABSTRACTS

WP025 

Duane Kubischta 

DOE Joint Genome Institute 


2800 Mitchell Drive, B100 


DGKubischta@lbl.gov 

Identifying and Reducing Crossover Contamination at the Sub-Microliter Level for Pipetting 

Tips in a High Throughput DNA Sequencing Environment 

In a high throughput sequencing environment, where hundreds of 384-well plates are processed daily, the cost 

and loading efficiency associated with pipetting tips necessitates that the tips are used for processing multiple 

plates. When these tips are re-used, despite various washing and cleaning steps, there is always a risk of crosscontamination. 

This type of contamination was detected on a Beckman-Coulter Biomek FX, which is used for Solid 

Phase Reversible Immobilization (SPRI) clean-up of labeled sequencing fragments. This paper will detail the detection 

and characterization of this cross-contamination and efforts that were used to reduce its occurrence.At the U.S. DOE 

Joint Genome Institute, a SPRI protocol is used with a magnetic bead, ethanol, and tetraethyleneglycol (BET) solution 

to bind ssDNA in order to clean up the remaining cellular and sequencing chemistry debris from a Rolling Circle 

Amplification (RCA) preparation process. This process is accomplished with a 384-well head on the Biomek FX. Plates 

are processed in parallel batches of 8–10 and go through the following steps: BET addition, BET incubation, BET 

removal on magnets, ethanol rinse on magnets, ethanol evaporation, and H20 resuspension and transfer. Pipetting 

tips are currently washed with deionized H20. This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department 

of Energy’s Office of Science, Biological and Environmental Research Program and by the University of California, 

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract No. W-7405-Eng-48, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 

under contract No. DE-AC03-76SF00098 and Los Alamos National Laboratory under contract No. W-7405-ENG-36. 

WP026 

Scott Kuzdzal 

PerkinElmerSCIEX 

Proteomics 

710 Bridgeport Avenue 

Shelton, Connecticut 06484 

scott.kuzdzal@perkinelmer.com 

204 

Co-Author(s) 

Joe DiCesare, Mary Lopez, 

Lisa Sapp, Tillmann Ziegert 

Fully-Automated, High Throughput Peptide Mass Fingerprinting by MALDI Orthogonal-TOF 

Mass Spectrometry 

MALDI-TOF-MS has become an important analytical tool in the identification of proteins and evaluation of their 

role in biological processes. While Peptide Mass Fingerprinting (PMF) provides accurate identification of proteins, 

processing hundreds or thousands of samples a day can be labor and time intensive. The combination of 

automated liquid handlers with orthogonal MALDI-TOF provides for extremely accurate, fully-automated analysis 

of such samples. The prOTOF 2000 o-MALDI TOF supports 96 and 384 well stainless steel and disposable MALDI 

targets. These sample targets are handled by an extremely precise high-speed source (accuracy of 2 microns). 

Acquisition, peak-picking, protein database searching and reporting are all performed using an integrated 

software platform and can be automated in batch mode. The instrument can be coupled with the MultiProbe and 

TOFprep robotic liquid handling systems to increase sample preparation throughput. The orthogonal geometry 

of the instrument allows the MALDI source to be completely decoupled from the TOF chamber, eliminating any 

discrepancies associated with ionization and the sample target. This geometry enables the use of collisional ion 

cooling to focus ions from the source. As a result, the ions are equilibrated so that their energy distribution is 

reduced, enhancing resolution. This design eliminates the need for delayed extraction and provides enhanced 

mass accuracy and stability. Mass accuracies of 10 ppm or less over an entire 384 well plate are typical using a 

single external calibration. This instrument configuration also provides higher sensitivity and better resolution over a 

wider mass range. Sub-femtomole BSA digests provide sequence coverage greater than 30%.

WP027 

Arja Lamberg 


Microplate Instrumentation 

Ratastie 2, P.O. Box 100 

Vantaa01620 Finland 

arja.lamberg@thermo.com 

Co-Author(s) 

Merja Mehto and Arja Lamberg, Thermo Electron 

Stine Bergholtz, David Gillooly, Diem Tran, Tine Borgen, Dynal Biotech 

Virpi Kymäläinen and Maija Partanen, Thermo Labsystems 

KingFisher 96 – A Novel High Throughput Platform for Protein Applications 

Sample preparation is often a limiting step for proteomic applications and requires solutions for high throughput 

template preparation. Magnetic particle technology provides rapid and easy to automate method for sample 

preparation from different sources. KingFisher family consists of three magnetic particle processors for customers 

having different needs for sample preparation throughput. The patented technology is based on concept where 

magnetic particles are transferred instead of liquids. The system is designed to automate the sample preparation 

process of proteins, nucleic acids and cells. We have now developed an automated method for the isolation of 

recombinant polyhistidine tagged proteins using KingFisher 96 and super-paramagnetic particles Dynabeads ® 

TALON. Dynabeads ® TALON particles employ a cobalt-based Immobilized Metal Affinity Chromatography 

(IMAC) on which BD TALON chemistry has been immobilized. Compared to technologies that employ nickelbased 

IMAC, these cobalt-based beads are able to bind polyhistidine tagged proteins with an enhanced selectivity. 

Using this system the isolation of 96 polyhistidine tagged proteins from bacterial lysate with high purity takes less 

than 25 minutes. The proteins eluted from, or bound to magnetic particles can be directly used in downstream 

applications such as phage display, aptamer screening or other drug discovery applications. In this poster the 

excellent performance of KingFisher 96 and Dynabeads ® TALON is pointed out by referring the analysis data of 

purified proteins. 

WP028 

Fred Lange 





fred.lange@uni-rostock.de 

205 

Co-Author(s) 

Regina Stoll 

Thomas Renger 

High Resolution Mobile Measurement of Oxygen Concentration in Main Breath Stream by 

Optical Oxygen Sensing – An Application in Occupational and Sports Medicine 

Measurement of cardiocirculatory parameters like heart rate and blood pressure does not bring sufficient results 

for evaluation of metabolic components of physical behavior of the organism especially regarding strain under 

labour and different intensities of sport’s activities. So, new ways for miniaturizing and optimizing of gas sensors 

are important. The development result shows an application of a miniature, high resolution fast optical fluorescence 

based measurement system positioned in the breath main stream. In a first step the sensor is inplemented into a 

mask, in further developments a “headset ensemble” is the goal.The system can be used for functional and fitness 

determination in the sport’s medical diagnostics lab as well as in the field or in labour environments. A special 

application is performed to be used as a physiological monitoring system in space. 

POSTER ABSTRACTS

WP030 

Kurt Lund 

ACESystems, Inc. 

135 Sixth Street 

Del Mar, California 92014 

klund@abac.com 

The HTS Compound-Thawing Bottle Neck (and How to Avoid it With a New Processor) 

In terms of laboratory HTS efficiency, the thawing requirement for stored compounds presents itself as a huge 

bottleneck…until now with the advent of the new Thawing Processor System (TPS) from ACESystems, Inc. In the 

present paper the thawing behavior of solvents frozen in microplates is investigated in two types of experiments: 

(1) conventional thawing on the bench, and (2) rapid thawing with the TPS. It is also discussed how the TPS 

allows wells to be thawed, individually without disturbing the other wells in the plate, thus preserving precious 

compounds. The clearest observation from the bench tests (1) is that solvents in the wells remain largely frozen 

for hours after plate-removal from the freezer. Thus, for a center well of a 96-well microplate, even 3 hours was 

not enough time to effect 100% thawing on the bench. The rapid thawing experiment (2) was conducted using 

computer feedback control with the TPS. For DMSO in a standard one-ml well, frozen to -5˚ C, this resulted in 

100% thawing in only 31⁄2 minutes, without causing excessive temperatures to the solvent. Overall, it is concluded 

that there can be great enhancement to laboratory efficiency with the Thawing Processor System, as well as large 

savings in compound preservation by thawing only selected wells in a microplate, instead of the whole plate. 

WP031 

Joseph Machamer 




joe_machamer@moldev.com 

206 

Co-Author(s) 

Greg Kazan, 


Tom Onofrey, Millipore Corp. 

Recent Developments in High Throughput, Turn-Key Solubility, and Permeability Compound 

Ranking Assays 

When combined with data from primary screening assays, measurement of the physiochemical properties of new 

chemical entities can provide a basis for the ranking of compounds based on their potential to be developed 

into viable drug candidates. The strategy of ranking the developability of new chemical entities (NCE) based on 

characterization by high throughput characterization of compound solubility and permeability is increasingly being 

applied in the drug discovery industry. We have developed automatable, turn-key assays to measure solubility and 

permeability that use Millipore membrane technology and a Molecular Devices SpectraMax absorbance microplate 

reader. The benefits of this approach include good correlation with low throughput, “gold standard” assays, no 

methods development, automation friendliness, reduced need for instrument expertise, and software flagging of 

data validity.

WP032 

Colin Masui 

Symyx Technologies 

Life Sciences 



cmasui@symyx.com 

High Throughput Process Optimization for the Fine Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industries 

Symyx Technologies is currently applying its expertise in high throughput screening to develop fully integrated 

workflows for process optimization that greatly reduces the time and material needed to find the optimum 

conditions for a given organic transformation. Automated robotics is utilized in order to prepare catalysts and 

substrates and for post reaction workup and analytical preparation. The ability to run under a diverse set of 

conditions with temperature ranges from -20 to 200˚C and pressures up to 1500psi are capable using proprietary 

reactor formats (96 well Hip and PPR ® -48 reactors). Automated in situ injection of catalysts and substrates under 

reaction pressure is capable in the Parallel Pressure Reactor (PPR ® -48) System. The entire systems are completed 

by incorporation of the Symyx Renaissance software suite which delivers a complete, secure database 

environment to design experiments, control robotics, capture, store, recover, and explore the data and information 

from every stage of the workflow. 

WP033 

Timothy McCauley 

Pierce Biotechnology, Inc. 

R&D 

3747 N. Meridian Road 

Rockford, Illinois 61101 

tim.mccauley@piercenet.com 

207 

Co-Author(s) 

Mahesh Mathrubutham, Sherri Z. Millis, 

Aric G. Morgan, Michael L. Stanaitis 

IQ ® Technology: An Automated HTS Assay for Screening Kinase, Phosphatase, and 

Protease Targets 

IQ ® Technology, a patent-pending homogeneous, universal detection platform originally designed for high throughput 

screening of kinases and phosphatases, has now been applied to screening of proteases. Representative enzymes 

from each of the major classes of proteases have been assayed in the IQ format. Enzyme activity and compound 

inhibition data will be presented for such enzymes as Trypsin, MMP-3 and Caspase-3. The technology has been 

tested in 96- to 384- to 1536-well microplate formats and is universally suited for automated screening systems. 

IQ Technology is a direct, non-competitive assay format that does not require antibodies or radioactive reagents. 

Fluorophore-labeled peptides are used as enzyme substrates. Kinase or phosphatase activity is quantified by direct 

measurement of the phosphorylation state of the substrate. For protease activity, cleavage is quantified by utilizing 

a peptide substrate containing a phospho-residue distal to the fluorphore. Protease assays result in cleavage of the 

substrate, which liberates the fluorphore-labeled terminus from the phosphorylated terminus. Cleavage is measured 

by the change in fluorescence intensity that occurs when a proprietary iron-containing compound binds specifically 

to phosphoryl groups on peptides and quenches the fluorescence. Ki’s generated using this platform correlate with 

published values. IQ Technology provides a universal method that can be used with any peptide sequence and 

is insensitive to high concentrations of ATP and substrate. The IQ Technology has been validated against a large 

number of detergents, organics, and other reagents found in reaction mixtures and has been optimized for high 

throughput applications with representative Z´ values of 0.7. 

POSTER ABSTRACTS

WP034 

Ruth H. Myers 

Aurora Instruments, LLC 

Instrumentation & Customer Solutions 

9645 Scranton Road, Suite 140 


ruth_myers@aurorainstruments.com 

208 

Co-Author(s) 

Jason Johnson 

Chris Biagioli 

Solving the Dispensing Challenges of Assay Miniaturization in High-Density Microplates 

As the pharmaceutical industry rapidly progresses towards greater utilization of high-density microplates, 

instrumentation technology struggles with the challenges imposed by assay miniaturization. Aurora Instruments 

has overcome these challenges by employing the technical foundation established in the development of the 

Ultra High Throughput Screening System (UHTSS) platform. This poster will describe the fluidic challenges 

that miniaturization technology strives to surmount and the strategies that Aurora Instruments employs in the 

development of their dispensing technology. Miniaturization technology faces formidable challenges to achieve 

higher throughput, while lowering costs, maintaining high quality data, and delivering it all in a smaller instrument 

package. With the implementation of high-density microplates, the ability to control fluidics in terms of nanoliter 

volumes becomes a necessity. Through novel design, Aurora Instruments surmounts the hurdles of dispensing 

with the Flying Reagent Dispenser (FRD). In order to maintain high quality data, dispensing technology must be 

capable of precise dispensing of nanoliter volumes without cross-contamination. Aurora’s FRD uses non-contact 

dispensing and four independent fluid pathways to address 384-well, 1536-well, and 3456-well microplates across 

a volume range of 200 nL to 9 µL. The FRD supports both fully integrated high throughput screening and standalone 

assay development applications. 

WP035 

Pankaj Oberoi 




poberoi@meso-scale.com 

Ultra-High Throughput Screening Using Multi-Array 1536-Well Plates 

Co-Author(s) 

David Stewart, Kevin Khovananth, Stephen Tessier, 

Alan Kishbaugh, Kent Johnson, Jacob Wohlstadter 

Meso Scale Discovery has expanded its technology platform for detection of biomolecules and other analytes 

to include Multi-Array 1536-well plates. These plates allow for experimentation and screening in ultra high 

throughput modes with a per plate read time of approximately one minute. Similar to other MSD Multi-Array 

plates, the 1536-well plates are available with different surface properties, have high sensitivity (100 attomoles), 

have a wide dynamic range (5 logs) with no significant well-to-well cross-talk, and are compatible with most lab 

automation equipment. Assays developed on 384-well Multi-Array plates were transferred to 1536-well plates 

for a number of different assays including biotin-avidin, protein-protein, and receptor-ligand binding systems. We 

present screening data with workflows capable of greater than 500,000 data points per shift.

WP036 

Jeff Olson 

Abbott Laboratories 

R46S 

200 Abbott Park Road 

Abbott Park, Illinois 60064-6212 

jeff.olson@abbott.com 

Membrane-Bound Protein Crystallization Workstation 

209 

Co-Author(s) 

Mark Chiu 

Mike McCoy 

Jeff Pan 

This poster describes a recently developed method for dispensing protein-containing, gel-like, lipidic cubic phases 

onto crystallization trays, and preparation of these trays for various protein crystallization experiments. Tiny 

volumes (typically 200 nL – 1 µL) of lipidic cubic phase material containing either soluble or membrane associated 

proteins are deposited onto multi-well trays for crystallization experiments which are prepared using either free 

interface diffusion, sitting drop, or batch methodologies. The fundamental principle involves: (1) the preparation of 

the protein containing gel and loading into a novel, gel dispensing device; (2) positive-displacement dispensing of 

the protein containing gel onto the assay trays; (3) preparation of the trays for various experiments by automated 

addition of precipitating buffers or other reagents, and (4) application of humidity control to reduce concentration 

changes of the reagents due to evaporation. The system, which is based on a standard Gilson 215 pipetting 

robot, is fully automated and enables a far greater number of membrane-protein crystallization experiments to be 

performed than could be accomplished manually. 

WP037 

Cengiz S. Ozkan 


Mechanical Engineering 

Bourns Hall, A305 


cozkan@engr.ucr.edu 

Cell Based Biosensors 

Cell based biosensors offer the capability for detecting chemical and biological agents in a wide spectrum. 

Membrane excitability in cells plays a key role in modulating the electrical activity due to chemical agents. 

However, the complexity of these signals makes the interpretation of the cellular response to a chemical agent 

rather difficult. It is possible to determine a frequency spectrum also known as the signature pattern vector 

(SPV) for a given chemical agent through analysis of the power spectrum of the cell signal. It is also essential to 

characterize single cell sensitivity and response time for specific chemical agents for developing detect-to-warn 

biosensors. In order to determine the real time sensing capability of single cell based sensors, multi-chemical 

or cascaded sensing is conducted and the performance of the sensor is evaluated. We describe a system for 

the measurement of extracellular potentials from primary rat osteoblast cells isolated onto planar microelectrode 

arrays using a gradient AC electric field. Fast Fourier and Wavelet Transformation techniques are used to extract 

information related to the frequency of firing from the extracellular potential. Quantitative dose response curves 

and response times are obtained using local time domain characterization techniques. Future applications of this 

technique will also be discussed. 

POSTER ABSTRACTS

WP038 

Laura Pajak 





laura.pajak@sagian.com 

Using Beckman Coulter’s Biomek ® NX Laboratory Automation Workstation for the 

Purification of High Quality Plasmid DNA 

210 

Co-Author(s) 

Chad Pittman 

Scott Boyer 

The information included in this poster describes the utilization of a new automated liquid handler, the Biomek NX 

Laboratory Automation Workstation, in the preparation of plasmid DNA using Promega’s Wizard ® SV 96 Plasmid 

DNA Purification System. A single plate of bacterial pellets can be purified on the deck of the Biomek NX in 

approximately 50 minutes. The following system components, for the purification of plasmids, will be described: 

• The hardware requirements for the Biomek NX 

• Software and method to drive the automation workstation 

• Results when purifying plasmids using Wizard SV96 reagents. 

Plasmids were analyzed by standard methodologies to assess the quality and quantity of product. Automated 

capillary sequencing on Beckman Coulter’s CEQ 8000 Genetic Analysis System was performed thereby 

demonstrating the suitability of the purified plasmids for capillary sequencing. 

WP039 

Geoff Parker 

Scimcom 

NewMarket Road, Fordham 

Cambs CB7 5WW United Kingdom 

gparker@scimcom.com 

Right Time, Right Place – Right Information? 

It has been estimated that two out of every three business decisions are the wrong decisions. These wrong 

decisions usually happen because people do not have the right information, and the right amount of information 

they need to make a more informed, and therefore more appropriate decision. The amount of information 

produced by and held in all businesses is exploding. There is simply more information available than people can 

process. Competition, regulation and computerisation have all played a part in producing a mountain of information 

that is often difficult to view and access, and sometimes near impossible to gain real value from.The sheer volume 

of information detracts from its worth. Organizations are unable to extract the knowledge or data they really need, 

and so the mass is rendered valueless. With so much new information rapidly adding to the top of the pile, the life 

value of knowledge is decreasing. Quite simply, the longer you have data the older and less valuable it becomes. 

So companies need to harness their data as rapidly as possible, and get the right (amount of) information to the 

right place at the right time. This paper will address how organizations can climb, conquer, and control the data 

mountain. It will consider approaches that companies can adopt to realise the sustainable competitive advantage 

that is locked in their knowledge, information, data, and resources.

WP040 

Fiona Payne 

Zinsser Analytic GmbH 

Eschborner Landstrasse 135 

FrankfurtD-60489 Germany 

info@zinsser-analytic.com 

Automation Platform for Salt Prescreening and Polymorph Screening Studies 

211 

Co-Author(s) 

Werner Zinsser 

Polymorphism has become a concern in today’s pharmaceutical research labs as it affects a number of issues 

in pharmaceutical systems varying from processing characteristics to bioavailability. During thr pre-formulation 

stage of drug development, polymorph screening is a tedious and time-consuming process. Zinsser Analytic 

has developed Crissy, an automated liquid and powder handling platform for salt pre-screening and polymorph 

screening studies. This platform automates the necessary steps for extensive crystallisation using different 

solvents, temperatures, concentrations, agitation and pH-measurement. A special Crissy reactor block has been 

designed to directly present the crystals to the XRPD system without any additional sampling steps. The top of 

the reactor bottoms is ideal for XRPD-detection. Cross contamination caused by electrostatic force moving the 

powders, is minimized as the detector block itself is grounded and the individual reactor cavities are separated in 

from each other the “up”-position. 

WP041 

Jonathan Petersen 

Molecular Devices Corp. 

Instrument R&D 



jon_petersen@moldev.com 

Co-Author(s) 

AquaMax DW4: A Flexible Tool for Heterogeneous 1536 Assays 

Co-Author(s) 

Jeannie Nguyen 

Annegret Boge 

Gayle Teixeira 

The AquaMax DW4 is a new liquid handling instrument for assembly of screening assays in 96, 384 and 1536 

formats. Because it can dispense up to four different assay components, the AquaMax can assemble assays of 

varying complexity. It is also a plate washer, thus enabling heterogeneous assays such as ELISAs. The AquaMax 

can dispense volumes as small as 0.5 µL to enable miniaturized assays, or up to 320 µL. The AquaMax has high 

throughput, making it suitable for screening applications. It can be used to dispense liquid reagents as well as 

suspensions of beads or cells. Both aspiration and dispensing are gentle enough for cellular assays that require 

washing. This combination of performance and flexibility makes the AquaMax Liquid Handler a powerful tool 

for assembling assays for drug discovery. The poster will present basic performance data for the dispenser and 

washer. It will also demonstrate the instrument’s utility in assembling homogeneous, heterogeneous, and cellular 

assays. 

POSTER ABSTRACTS

WP042 

Chad Pittman 


Applications 



chad.pittman@sagian.com 

212 

Co-Author(s) 

Laura Pajak 

Scott Boyer 

Automation of Immunotech’s IL-8 ELISA Using Beckman Coulter’s Biomek 3000 Laboratory 


Beckman Coulter, has developed and optimized an automated method using the new Biomek 3000 Laboratory 

Automated Workstation to provide a complete, walk away system for ELISA assays. The system uses the unified 

Biomek software to optimize liquid transfers while making sample processing as efficient as possible. The method 

allows processing of a single plate while minimizing reagent waste. Integrated plate washing is achieved using 

the Wash–8 Tool that provides consistent reagent addition and removal. The combination of the Biomek 3000 

Laboratory Automated Workstation and integrated plate washing offers a complete system for processing ELISA 

assays without user intervention. The information provided here will: 

• describe the automated system used to process the ELISA; 

• demonstrate the utility of the Biomek 3000; 

• describe the results when processing Immunotech’s IL-8ELISA kit on this system. 

WP043 

Ileana Place 

STEM/ReactArray 

2555 Kerper Boulevard 

Dubuque, Iowa 52001 

ibplace@branstead.com 

STEM ReactArray Improved Productivity Using Manual and Automated Parallel Reactors 

Equipped With Liquid Handling and On-line HPLC Analysis 

ReactArray was developed by an on-going collaboration between the leading drug companies and the instrument 

industry and is ideal for large range of uses, like process chemistry, drug degradation studies, formulation 

applications and crystallization studies. ReactArray automates reaction preparation, sampling, quenching, dilution, 

and HPLC analysis and provides the advantage of monitoring reactions under precisely controlled conditions.

WP044 

Dieter Popp 


Untersbergstr. 1A 

Groedig/SalzburgA-5082 

dieter.popp@tecan.com 

213 

Co-Author(s) 

Mateja Niederreiter, Manfred Lansing, 

David Yost, Klaus Döring, 

Melissa Foshee 

Characterization of Human Alpha-Thrombin Aptamer System by Automated Fluorescence 

Lifetime Analysis 

One particular problem hampering the high throughput drug screening process today, is auto-fluorescence of 

new chemical entities (NCEs). Many fluorescence based measurements can be significantly affected by these 

auto-fluorescent NCEs, resulting in a decrease in assay specificity and an increase in the false positive rate. 

This obviously affects both throughput and cost during a screening campaign. Fluorescence Lifetime (FLT) 

measurements appear to be exempt from this type of interference, thus virtually eliminating false positive results 

due to auto-fluorescence of NCEs. Tecan has recently developed and launched a microplate reader to detect 

Fluorescence Lifetime signals. To demonstrate the usefulness and robustness of the FLT detection technology a 

model assay was developed using aptamers. Aptamers are single-stranded nucleic acid oligomers, that analogous 

to antibodies are capable of binding target molecules with high affinity and specificity. Employing their unique 

binding properties, aptamers can be used as a screening tool for identification of unique ligands, i.e., new drug 

candidates in drug discovery. The human alpha-thrombin aptamer is a DNA 15-mer that binds to thrombin and 

inhibits its proteolytic activity during the blood clotting cascade. The specific interaction was monitored by the 

fluorescence lifetime change of a fluorescence label conjugated to the thrombin aptamer. In order to illustrate 

the potential for drug discovery, we have used the thrombin inhibitor hirudin and studied its effect on aptamerthrombin 

complex formation. All FLT measurements were performed on Tecan’s ULTRA Evolution reader. 

WP045 

Johannes Posch 


Marketing 

Untersbergstrasse 1A 

GroedigA-5082 Austria 

johannes.posch@tecan.com 

Tecan’s LSx00: Automated Processing and Analysis of Microarrays Implemented Prior 

Content Quality Control 

Co-Author(s) 

Ralph Beneke 

Gerald Probst 

Homogeneous high signal to background ratios and scan-to-scan reproducibility of microarray are desirable 

to increase reliability of conclusions drawn from them. Automation of process from sample preparation and 

processing to data acquisition and analysis is an essential requirement to reduce experimental variation as well 

as increase number of experimental repetitions possible – one of the major bottlenecks regarding statistical 

probability. Tecan’s LSx00 series scanner in combination with MediaCybernetics’ ArrayPro4.5 offers the ultimate 

solution for high reproducibility of the scanning and analysis process combined with outstanding flexibility. The 

LSx00 series scanner is the breakthrough and enabling solution for Academia as well as Biotech in R&D and high 

throughput facilities by improving reproducibility and safety of microarray experiments. We present fully automated 

batch run of classical slide arrays with fluorescence independent pre-check of spot quality on slides prior to 

hybridization – and therefore without using and bleaching dyes. A QC of spots and slides prior to hybridization 

saves money and enables troubleshooting of “bad spots” before and after slide processing. 

POSTER ABSTRACTS

WP046 

Lynn Rasmussen 

SAIC: NCI Frederick 

Molecular Technology 

915 Tollhouse Avenue, Suite 211 

Frederick, Maryland 21702 

rasmussn@mail.ncifcrf.gov 

High Throughput Peptide Synthesis on a Biomek FX Liquidhandler 

214 

Co-Author(s) 

Carl Saxinger, Casey Frankenberger, David Munroe, 

SAIC: NCI Frederick 

Marc Goldstein, Beckman-Coulter 

Protein and peptide microarrays are being developed as tools for proteomics. The sutibility of a peptide for use 

in the microarray format must be determined empirically. Current methodologies for peptide synthesis, while 

automated, are not high throughput. To produce thousands of peptides for testing is slow and expensive. We have 

developed a simple method to produce small quantities of large numbers of peptides for screening. Once peptides 

are selected as microarray compatible, conventional methods are used to produce the quantities necessary for 

printing. 

WP047 

Kirby Reed 

Gilson, Inc. 

Applications 



kreed@gilson.com 

Novel Approach for Screening of Drug Absorption Via an Automated System 

Co-Author(s) 

Alan Hamstra 

It is imperative in drug discovery and ADMET to have a handle on the membrane permeability of the drug 

compounds and small molecules. Membrane permeability in turn predicts the clinical absorption of these 

compounds/drugs. Acceptable methods for estimating drug permeability include liposome assays, Caco-2 cell line 

culture or intestinal tissue. A basic issue with these methods lies in the fact that they can be costly and extremely 

labor intense. An alternative to those methods involves Immobilized Artificial Membrane (IAM) chromatography 

phases, which mimic the lipid environment found in cell membranes. IAM fast-screen mini columns (1 cm x 3 mm) 

determine drug capacity factor (k´IAM), which correlates well with drug permeability in Caco-2 cells. Implementing 

the IAM fast-screen columns in a HTS lab to determine drug permeability would be extremely advantageous, 

allowing for the screening of 100’s to 1000’s of possible drug candidates in a fraction of the time, at substantially 

reduced cost. The automated system has the capabilities of incorporating 1-4 HPLC systems to increase the 

throughput for the analysis. The systems run independent of one another which is extremely important since the 

chromatographic retention factor k´ is measured, and cannot be affected by flow splitting. The system also is 

capable of solubilizing the dry compounds prior to injection. The system can transfer the “hits” to a “hit” plate for 

further analysis or storage.

WP048 

Scott Reeves 

REMP USA 

150 Hopping Brook Road 

Holliston, Massachusetts 01746 

scott.reeves@remp.com 

Co-Author(s) 

Michael Girardi, REMP USA 

Carol Homon, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 

Thorsten Poetter, Bayer Crop Science AG 

Berta Strulovici, Merck & Company, Inc. 

Gerhard Mihm, Boehringer-Ingelheim Pharma KG 

Tools for Sample Management that are Efficient, Versatile, Proven and Evolving – REMP Tube 

Technologies 

High Throughput Screening (HTS) has been heralded as the way to develop better drugs faster. Screening 

technologies in drug discovery have recently seen dramatic advances which have led to throughputs of 

over 100,000 compounds per assay per day. There has also been an emergence of a plethora of new assay 

technologies enabling a greater range of targets to be screened, all of which have helped catapult HTS into ultra 

HTS (UHTS). 

However, to be successful at drug discovery, the Compound Management operation must be efficient, versatile, 

and evolving while trying to ensure that their compound libraries are of the highest quality. In the past, the 

management of compound collections were performed by groups that were viewed as serving simple dispensary 

functions. Investment in this operation was small and its role not understood by many in drug discovery 

organizations. The importance of the corporate compound collection, often regarded as “the company’s largest 

asset” or it’s “crown jewels,” shifted from the collection size being the most important factor to a more balanced 

view of the importance of quality and quantity. The results of HTS and UHTS, as well as the drug discovery 

process as a whole, is only as good as the compounds that are delivered and, therefore, a very important factor in 

its relative success or failure. This poster will provide some insight and data from several Compound Management 

operations that are considered to be efficient, versatile and evolving and describe how this has been achieved. 

WP049 

Heidrun Rhode 

Friedrich-Schiller-University, Medical Faculty 

Institute of Biochemistry 

Jena07740 Germany 

heidrun-rhode@mti.uni-jena.de 

Co-Author(s) 

M. Schulze, G. A. Cumme, A. Horn, Simon Renard, and 

Thomas Moore, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Medical Faculty 

Peter Zimmermann, CyBio AG 

Multichannel HTS/ µHTS Liquid Handling Systems – Check Using Two-Indicator Systems 

Multichannel HTS/µHTS liquid handling systems have to be checked under conditions close to the screening 

reality, i.e., with commonly used sample solutions and employing microplate technology. We propose a simple 

method to determine precision and accuracy of multichannel liquid handling systems using a combination of 

gravimetric and optical measurements. The precision of the optical signal is improved by multi-wavelength 

measurements using two indicators and buffers with low temperature dependence of pH. Factors causing nonlinearity 

between the sample volume delivered into a well and the optical signal are considered. The resolution 

of the method i.e., the imprecision of the measuring system as determined by the imprecision of the signal of a 

homogeneous solution with two indicators is better than 0.3% CV and 2% CV using absorbance and fluorescence 

measurements, respectively, suggesting that absorbance measurements should be preferred. The gravimetrically 

determined inaccuracy is less than 0.5% CV. The suitability of the method proposed is demonstrated with two 

liquid handling devices using different ejection principles, with commonly used fluids, with 96, 384 and 1536 

microplates, and with photometric and fluorimetric indicators. Despite the substantial improvement of fluorescence 

signals by multi-wavelength measurements, fluorimetry still tends to overestimate the imprecision of a liquid 

handling system. Imprecisions obtained with optimized methods and with both devices were lower than 2% CV for 

2 µl set volume with 384- and 1536-well microplates and about 1% CV with higher set volumes. 

215 

POSTER ABSTRACTS

WP050 

Steve Richmond 

Genetix Ltd 

R&D 

Queensway 

New MiltonBH25 5NN United Kingdom 

steve.richmond@genetix.com 

AliQuot – High Throughput Liquid Dispensing Into Microplates 

216 

Co-Author(s) 

Sky Jiang, Paul Raine, Sarah Stephens, 

Chris Mann, Julian F. Burke 

There is a need for an automated, high throughput system capable of dispensing low volumes into high density 

microplates accurately and precisely. At Genetix we have developed the aliQuot. This is a small footprint, bench 

top machine that can dispense volumes in the range 1 – 350 µl into 96-, 384- and 1536-well microplates with a 

CV of 3 % at 10 µl. The system has been designed to minimise the dead volume and there is a backflush facility 

to recover liquid at the end of a run, thus minimising loss of precious samples. To allow extended unattended run 

times, a stacker system that holds 40 microplates is available and the machine incorporates a RS232 interface to 

enable remote operation. In this poster we demonstrate the accuracy and precision of the aliQuot and its use for 

high throughput applications. 

WP051 

Luke Roenneburg 

Gilson, Inc. 

Applications 



lroenneburg@gilson.com 

A Totally Automated Solution for Normal and RP Preparative HPLC With Analytical 

Purification Determination: cLC 

Co-Author(s) 

Alan Hamstra 

It’s imperative in today’s world that researchers get the most bang for their buck. Purification of compounds has 

largely been accomplished through liquid-based chromatography. The advantages of preparative chromatography for 

compound purification are well established. Reverse phase chromatography, although being the method of choice, 

is limited by sample capacity /injection, possible sample solubility issues and lengthy dry downs. It would be very 

advantageous to researchers if one could expand the capabilities of these instruments. Researchers have shown 

quite an interest in implementing normal phase chromatography for compound purification. Benefits such as fast dry 

downs and enhanced solubility make normal phase chromatography an attractive alternative for compounds that 

are incompatible with RP chromatography. A possible solution to this dilemma is to automate the capabilities of RP 

and NP in one system in addition to being able to analyze the collected fraction for purity. The cLC (comprehensive 

LC ) system is a totally automated purification system with on-line analytical analysis of fractions, using both NP 

and RP environments. The cLC system requires only a little more bench space than a conventional HPLC system 

at about the same price. The system can automatically switch between normal and reverse phase, and is capable 

of accessing both pre-packed disposable silica-based columns and reverse phase columns without operator 

intervention. Collected fractions can then automatically be injected for determination of purity. Presentation of the 

system will include data representing the throughput and analysis capabilities of the system.

WP052 

Jas Sanghera 

TTP LabTech 


Royston SG8 6EE United Kingdom 

jas.sanghera@ttplabtech.com 

217 

Co-Author(s) 

David Pole 

Wayne Bowen 

A Homogenous Assay for Inhibition of Basal Proliferation in 96- and 384-Well Formats Using 

the Acumen Explorer 

Estimating for a given cell population, both proliferation and its rate is critical to experiments in a wide variety of 

disciplines for example, immunology, cardiovascular disease and cancer. For this reason, over the years a number 

of assays have been developed to measure these processes and the gold standard assay has remained the 

uptake of 3H Thymidine. Examples of other assays developed to obviate the use of 3H label are MTT Formazan 

(colorimetric), BrdU ELISA (fluorescence) and Acid Phosphatase (colorimetric). However, all these assays involve 

a number of steps. Using the Acumen Explorer laser scanning fluorescence microplate cytometer a simple 

homogenous quantitative assay can be performed in both 96- and 384-well plate formats. Experiments described 

here show how the Acumen Explorer can be used to follow the basal proliferation of both adherent and suspension 

cell lines and the effect of inhibitors Pacilitaxel and Anisomycin quantified. 

WP054 

Eric Schmidt 

Ahura Corporation 

46 Jonspin Road 

Wilmington, Massachusetts 01887 

eschmidt@ahuracorp.com 

Innovations in Photonics for Biotech Applications 

Co-Author(s) 

Daryoosh Vakhshoori 

Biotech researchers have had to adapt their techniques around the tools which have been available, often with 

high expense and sub-optimal results. Now, thanks to billions of dollars invested in telecommunications, new 

classes of instruments based on novel technologies are being directed at the problems confronting the biotech 

community. Semiconductor lightsources and MEMs offer high reliability, long life, and small packages with very 

high efficiency, making them an ideal replacement for traditional lasers and optics. With all these advantages, 

scientists and engineers are thinking “outside the box” combining cross disciplinary know-how to create new 

classes of instruments with advanced capabilities including: multiple wavelengths, modulation, scanning, and most 

of all portability. Breakthrough innovations come when incremental innovations converge on a new market. In the 

case of photonics, innovations underwritten by billions of dollars of telecom investment are bearing fruit in the 

medical, scientific and industrial field. Teams of physicists and engineers are working to develop low-cost mobile 

optical platforms which should revolutionize drug discovery by putting “Main Frame” power onto the researchers’ 

desk top.These next generation systems will incorporate multiple semiconductor lightsources, the optics to 

manipulate the photons, the apparatus to expose the samples and the detectors to measure the results in “Lap 

Top” size instruments. The vision is to utilize the breakthroughs in semiconductor lasers and MEMs to provide 

maintenance free, reliable, high efficiency packages which offer more functionality than what is presently available. 

POSTER ABSTRACTS

WP055 

Donald Schwartz 

DRD 


West Peabody, Massachusetts 01960 

donschwartz@drddiluter.com 

218 

Co-Author(s) 

Donald S. Martin 

First Dual Resolution Syringe (DRS), Using Differential Displacement, for Practical Contact- 

Free Nanoliter Transfer of Discrete Samples or Within-tip Mixtures, and Extreme Dilutions 

The unchallenged aspiration supremacy and reliability of smooth motor-controlled positive displacement syringe 

devices has been sullied by small seal and bubble hassles and recently overwhelming demands for ever-finer 

resolution without loss of blowout power. Awesome complexity has spawned to try to compensate for the 

shortcomings. The Dual Resolution Syringe (DRS) (patented and patent-pending) is a syringe with a glass barrel 

the same ID as a 1 mL syringe, with a sturdy little spring-loaded piston that is slightly smaller than the glass barrel 

ID. The piston can move in and out of the barrel, coordinating with the plunger. When the two move together 

(DRD Differential Mode) the cross sectional area difference and resolution are like a 10 µL (or even 1 µL) syringe, 

aspirating smoothly down to 10 nL. Then the plunger moves alone (DRD Bulk Mode), delivering abundant flow 

power (like a 1mL syringe) to blow the minute sample out, which it can do at well over 1.5 meters/sec through any 

diameter tip, intact and without damage (Blastoff), to its microplate, array, spotting or Maldi target. Samples and 

reagents can also be mixed inside certain tips and the mixture delivered contact-free. 

DRD has thus endowed the syringe with its Differential Displacement capability. This preserves the classic 

strengths of venerable classic syringe technology, eliminates shortcomings, and enormously enhances its range 

and analytical flexibility. The elimination of small seals and crannies, and the high flow priming throughout, also 

greatly increase reliability and longevity. The DRS directly replaces a conventional syringe in its host system. 

Substituting a DRS for a conventional 250 µL syringe, for example, immediately gives 25X finer resolution for 

aspiration, 4X more flow power for delivery, and within-tip mixing capability. This model can also aspirate a 10 nL 

sample and dilute it 30,000:1. The DRS debuts as individual units and as a bank of eight 9 mm-spaced units for 

contact-free transfer of drops down to 10 – 25 nanoliters.

WP056 

Steven Sheridan 

Millipore 

Life Sciences 



steven_sheridan@millipore 

219 

Co-Author(s) 

Sonia Gil 

Libbey Kellard 

Scaling From 96- to 384-Well Assay Platforms: Characterization of Receptor-Ligand Binding 

Using 384-Well Filter Plates Optimized For Maximum Radiation Detection 

A significant portion of the drug discovery process involves the systematic screening of large compound libraries 

for specific binding to various cellular receptors. For decades, heterogeneous filter binding assays have been 

used for this purpose, particularly under more challenging conditions such as when the receptor is prepared 

from unpurified tissue homogenates or cell membrane fragments. To date, most screening has been performed 

on 96-well platforms. However, with a rapidly increasing number of compounds available from natural product 

isolation and combinatorial chemistry, a bottleneck has been created which has made it necessary to develop 

higher throughput platforms that make it possible to perform adequate library screening in a timely and cost 

effective manner. A 384-well filter plate has been developed and optimized for automated radiometric receptorligand 

binding assays. This 384-well filter binding format increases throughput of receptor-ligand binding screening 

without sacrificing sensitivity, robustness or precision. The design is optimized for maximum radiation detection 

and is compatible with coincidence scintillation counting making it possible to achieve the same low-end sensitivity 

as attained with a 96-well plate. Using parallel experimental procedures, reagents and receptor systems, data are 

presented that demonstrate the scalability of radiometric receptor-ligand binding assays from a 96- to a 384-well 

format. The higher density of the 384-well filter plate allows for quantitative receptor-ligand binding assays in a 

robust, fast, and reagent saving format. 

WP057 

Christopher Silva 




chris_silva@moldev.com 

SpectraMax M2 Multi-detection System Allows Validated Microplate-based Fluorescence and 

Absorbance Assays in a GLP/GMP Environment 

The SpectraMax M2 multi-detection microplate reader with dual-mode cuvette port allows a wide rage of 

fluorescence (FI) and absorbance (Abs) assays to be converted into QC, manufacturing and pre-clinical 

environments. Dual monochromators, uv/vis wavelength range, PathCheck, fluorescence, and absorbance 

validation plates with integrated SoftMax Pro data analysis and FDA 21 CFR Part 11 compliant tools and an 

automation interface make the transfer of assays from research and development to the GLP/GMP environment 

straightforward. 

POSTER ABSTRACTS

WP058 

Michael Simonian 



P.O. Box 3100 

Fullerton, California 92834-3100 

mhsimonian@beckman.com 

Using the Biomek ® 3000 Laboratory Automation Workstation to Interface 2D Liquid 

Chromatography With Mass Spectrometry for Multidimensional Proteome Profiling 

220 

Co-Author(s) 

Matthew Cu 

Edna Betgovargez 

Graham Threadgill 

The discovery stage of proteome profiling typically involves the comparison of different states of a cell or tissue. 

One approach utilizes fractionation of the proteome followed by mass spectrometry (MS). A two-dimensional, 

liquid chromatographic fractionation system, the ProteomeLab PF 2D, followed by a third dimension with MALDI- 

TOF MS has been used for this approach. The first dimension separation is chromatofocusing where proteins are 

separated by pI and collected in fractions based on pH intervals. Upwards of 20 pI fractions are then separated in 

a second dimension by reversed-phase chromatography. From each second dimension run, 80-90 fractions can 

be collected. To accommodate the large number of fractions generated by the first two dimensions for subsequent 

MS analysis, the Biomek 3000 Laboratory Automation Workstation was used. The Biomek 3000 Laboratory 

Automation Workstation prepared and spotted the fractions from the second dimension runs along with the 

appropriate matrix on a 384-well format MALDI target. The third dimension measures the mass to charge ratio of 

the proteins. Human plasma and serum were compared with this multidimensional approach. Although albumin 

constitutes 55% of blood proteins, lower abundant proteins and proteins of 4-12 kD in the same pI fraction as 

albumin were detected by MALDI-TOF MS. The Biomek 3000 Laboratory Automation Workstation facilitated the 

complete analysis of a fractionated proteome by removing the potential bottleneck resulting from the large number 

of samples collected from the first two dimensions. 

WP059 

Katja Sippola 

PerkinElmer Life and Analytical Sciences, Wallac Oy 

Biochemistry 

P.O. Box 10 

TurkuFIN-20101 Finland 

katja.sippola@perkinelmer.com 

Co-Author(s) 

Joni Helenius, Sanna Rönnmark, 

Maija-Liisa Mäkinen, Jari Suontausta, 

Christel Gripenberg-Lerche, Satu Kovanen 

Automated DELFIA ® Filtration Assays in 96- and 384-well Format for GPCR Studies 

Time-resolved fluorescence enhancement technique DELFIA ® enables development of highly sensitive assays 

for high throughput screening. We have developed a family of Europium-labeled peptides and proteins designed 

for ligand receptor binding assays, as well as a Europium-labeled GTP binding kit for functional assays. These 

products provide an excellent non-radioactive alternative that is both stabile and sensitive. Ligand binding assays 

based on filtration are the most widely used assays to characterize drug candidates for specific receptors. The 

procedure requires liquid handling, incubation and filtration steps that are typically performed manually. We have 

automated the Europium-label utilizing binding assays both in 96- and 384-well format using an assay workstation 

that allows fully hands-free operation. The results demonstrate comparable or superior performance to manual 

assays with greatly increased through-put.

WP060 

Stephen Skwish 

Merck & Company, Inc. 

Automation & Informatics 

P.O. Box 2000 


stephen_skwish@merck.com 

FIZICS: A Novel Macro Imaging System 

221 

Co-Author(s) 

Francisco Asensio, Greg King, Glenn Clarke, 

Gary Kath, Michael J. Salvatore, Claude Dufresne 

Constantly improving biological assay development continues to drive technological requirements. Recently, a 

specification was defined for capturing white light and fluorescent images of agar plates ranging in size from the 

NUNC Omni tray (96-well footprint, 128 X 85 mm) to the NUNC BioAssay Dish (245 X 245 mm). An evaluation of 

commercially available products failed to identify any system capable of fluorescent macro imaging with discrete 

wavelength selection. To address the lack of a commercially available system, a custom imaging system was 

designed and constructed. This system provides the same capabilities of many commercially available systems 

with the added ability to fluorescently image up to a 245 mm 2 area using wavelengths in the visible light spectrum. 

WP061 

Ginger Smith 


High Throughput Biology 

5 Moore Drive 


ginger.r.smith@gsk.com 

Automation Systems Run in Parallel 

Co-Author(s) 

Amy Siu, Renae Crosby, Jim Liacos, 

Cathy Finlay, Jimmy Bruner 

The High Throughput Biology department at GlaxoSmithKline develops in vitro models to better predict the 

efficacy of compounds in the clinic. The automation team is responsible for developing methodologies that are 

robust, flexible and scaleable based on the specific science of the assay and required throughput. One of the 

strategies of the automation team is to provide identical platforms on which any one assay can be run in parallel 

or simultaneously and yield the same results. This poster describes the validation of an IL-1 Stimulated p38 Map 

Kinase translocation assay in HFF cells run on three separate Map C II’s on the same day and compares the 

results to the assay run by hand. 

POSTER ABSTRACTS

WP062 

Norbert Stoll 





norbert.stoll@uni-rostock.de 

Automated Sampling System for Parallel Autoclaves in High Throughput Chemistry 

222 

Co-Author(s) 

Wof-Dieter Heinitz 

Hans-Joachim Stiller 

KerstinThurow 

The paper describes a parallel sampling system for autoclaves for application in combinatorial chemistry. For 

kinetic investigations a sampling for analytical reasons has to be performed. The system is able to take samples 

from 5 / 10 autoclaves under pressures up to 60 bars. Up to 10 samples for every reactin system will be filled into 

a gc-vial placed on a base plate in microplate format. The system is fully automated and can be included into 

integrated systems. 

WP063 

Regina Stoll 


Institute of Occupational Medicine 

St. Georg Strasse 108 


regina.stoll@med.uni-rostock.de 

Real-time Physical Fitness Validation by Automated Respiratory Analysis 

Co-Author(s) 

Norbert Stoll 

Physical fitness is one of the most important status information about a patient in internal medicine as well as 

in occupational and sports medicine. Unfortunately, the most significant parameter VO2max (maximal oxygen 

uptake) has to be determined under vita-maxima conditions. To decrease the risk for the patient and to save time 

a determinmation of VO2max at submaximum level has to be performed. The paper describes an automated 

real-time method on a basis of analytical liearizable functions with regression equations for VO2-P- and VCO2-Pfunctions 

for tests under increasing load P conditions. The system has been included into and tested with the data 

of an ergospirometry measurement system. The results are shown in relation to other post-run off-line heart rate 

based estimation methods and show the advantage of the approach.

WP064 

Rowan Stringer 

Novartis Horsham Research Centre 

Biology 1 

Wimblehurst Road, Horsham, West Sussex 

Nr LondonRH12 5AB United Kingdom 

rowan.stringer@pharma.novartis.com 

96-Well Caco-2 transport Model for Drug Permeability Studies 

223 

Co-Author(s) 

Elizabeth Willmott 

Rachael Profit 

Sarah Beech 

Paul Nicklin 

A 96-well Caco-2 permeability screen has been established for drug absorption profiling. After 21 days of culture 

on Millipore MultiScreen ® inserts, light microscopy showed the formation of intact monolayers of polarised 

columnar cells. Ultra-structural studies confirmed the presence of a microvilli brush-border and tight junctions 

between cells. Monolayers had low permeability towards the paracellular marker, [ 14 C]mannitol (Papp = 0.21±0.06 

cm/s), and high permeability towards propranolol (Papp=19.6±4.6 cm/s). This system had good intra- and interplate 

reproducibility for reference compounds (e.g., CV = 18% for the Papp of 15 drugs, over 16 different test 

occasions). Moreover, a good correlation was observed between their in vitro Papp and the fraction absorbed 

in man. The Caco-2 monolayers were also Pgp-competent, having a net efflux transport for known substrates – 

e.g., efflux ratios for acebutolol (~100-fold), quinidine (~20-fold) and verapamil (~3-fold). The 96-well screen 

was integrated with an automated bioanalytical platform, enabling high compound throughput. For example, 

a set of 100 marketed drugs and 1200 discovery project compounds were screened in 16 weeks. This model 

system differentiated compound classes having low and high permeability as well as highlighting those having a 

susceptibility for efflux transporters. 

WP065 

Michael Su 


Instrument R&D 



Michael_su@moldev.com 

Co-Author(s) 

Jinfang Liao 

Evelyn McGown 

Dual-Glo Luciferase Assay Measurements in the LMax II 384 Microplate Luminometer 

and the Analyst ® GT Multimode Reader 

Reporter gene assays are used to study eukaryotic gene expression. Dual genetic reporters are commonly used in 

transient transfections of cultured cells to minimize experimental variability caused by differences in cell number, 

viability or transfection efficiency. One plasmid containing the experimental reporter gene (coupled to a regulated 

promoter) is cotransfected with a second plasmid containing a control reporter gene (coupled to a constitutive 

promoter). Bioluminescent reporter systems using firefly and Renilla luciferases are widely used as co-reporters 

because both assays are easy and sensitive. Previously, luciferase reporter assays have been “flash” assays that 

must be read within seconds of reagent addition and require integrated injectors in the luminometer. Recently, 

Promega introduced a Dual-Glo Luciferase assay System for high throughput analyses. The signals are stable for 

2 hours after reagent addition and integrated injectors are not necessary.In this study, we optimized measurement 

parameters and compared Dual-Glo Luciferase assay results on the LMax II 384 Microplate Luminometer and 

the Analyst ® GT Multimode Reader. Due to the stability of the luminescent signal, both instruments are well suited 

for integrating this dual luciferase assay into high throughput screening lines. 

POSTER ABSTRACTS

WP066 

Yu Suen 


Biological Systems Operation 



Ysuen@beckman.com 

224 

Co-Author(s) 

Keith Roby 

Javorka Gunic 

Michael H. Simonian 

Automation of Caco-2 Cell Preparation, Drug Permeation and Transport Assay on the Biomek 

3000 Laboratory Automation Workstation 

Incorporating predictive ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination) assays in earlier stages 

of drug discovery can help in rejecting candidate molecules that lack necessary pharmacological properties. A 

human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line, Caco-2 can be used to assess absorption, permeation and efflux 

transport properties of a candidate drug. A high throughput Caco-2 assay can provide useful information for lead 

optimization in the drug discovery industry. This poster describes the use of Beckman Coulter’s Biomek 3000 

Laboratory Automation Workstation to automate Caco-2 cell preparation and differentiation in the BD Falcon 

HTS 96-Multiwell Insert System. Additionally, Beckman Coulter’s Biomek 3000 Laboratory Automation Workstation 

was used to automate the compound permeability, efflux testing and sample collection. We have demonstrated 

intact and functional Caco-2 monolayers after 21 days of culture manipulation by the Biomek 3000 Laboratory 

Automation Workstation. The Caco-2 monolayer provided a selective barrier for transcellular and carrier-mediated 

efflux transport of different drugs. The permeability ranking of drug standards using the Caco-2 assay system 

matched well with the Potential Internal Standards suggested by the FDA. The bi-directional transport studies 

verified functional P-glycoprotein efflux pump activities. The Biomek 3000 Laboratory Automation Workstation 

facilitated Caco-2 assay implementation, reduced the chance of contamination and minimized the intensive 

requirement of sterile skills. The automated Caco-2 assay can be used for high throughput screening of drug 

candidates for absorption 

WP067 

Joseph Suzow 

Pediatrix Screening 

Molecular Genetics 

90 Emerson Lane 


jsuzow@yahoo.com 

Application of Automation for Clinical Newborn Screening: Detection of Hearing Loss 

Associated Cytomegalovirus 

Co-Author(s) 

Zhili Lin 

Michelle Lage 

Edwin W. Naylor 

This study consists of a clinical newborn screening application for the detection of cytomegalovirus (CMV). CMV 

infection in the newborn is associated with the onset of hearing loss. Early detection of hearing loss is critical 

for normal child development. Specimens are collected on a paper filter card. After drying, a small paper disk is 

punched into each well of a 96-well plate. A Beckman Coulter Core System is then used to extract DNA from 

the blood spot and set up a PCR reaction. The Core System consists of a Biomek FX liquid handler, an ORCA 

arm, peripheral heat blocks, stacker carousels, plate sealer, and plate piercer. A 20µl PCR reaction is set up in 

a 384 well format. The reaction consists of FRET hybridization probes combined with common PCR reagents. 

Following amplification, product is detected using the Roche Light Typer instrument. Detection involves monitoring 

of fluorescence during a post PCR melting cycle. A mathematical derivative of the resulting melting slope is used 

to convert the slope to a peak. The apex of the peak corresponds to the melting temperature of the detection 

probe. Detection of a peak indicates the presence of amplified CMV DNA. The Light Typer instrument is capable of 

detecting 384 specimens in a single 10 minute run. We have demonstrated the ability to screen greater than 2000 

clinical specimens each day.

WP068 

Anny Tangkilisan 

Symyx Technologies 

Life Sciences 



atangkilisan@symyx.com 

Application of High Throughput Screening for Pre-formulations Using the Symyx 

Technologies Workflow 

A high throughput crystallization system has been developed at Symyx Technologies with applications in preformulations. 

Capability of running over 384 different crystallizations/day with four different independently 

controlled heating/cooling environments and rapid serial screening will be described. Crystallizations are preformed 

on the Symyx Technologies developed crystallization unit and screened using birefringence, Raman, XRD and a 

Symyx parallel melting point apparatus. All the screening data is stored into a database and sorted by using a 

proprietary software package developed at Symyx Technologies. Examples of a salt selection of ephedrine and a 

polymorph study of phenylbutazone using this system will also be presented. 

WP069 



Institute for Automation 



Kerstin.Thurow@uni-rostock.de 

Automated Screening of Cytotoxic Compounds 

225 

Co-Author(s) 

Kristin Entzian 

Toxicology and pharmacological activity of cytotoxic drugs where tested in a robotic high throughput screening 

cell assay (HTS), which allows prediction for the efficacy and for toxic effects of the drug. A robotic HTS system 

was assembled and programmed to seed cells in 96 well plates. The cell lines are incubated with a serial dilution 

of the test substance. After incubation for 2 to 3 days are metabolic indicator dye added. The remaining metabolic 

rate is measured after an additional incubation for several hours in a plate reader. The accumulation of dye in the 

remaining vital cells is plotted against the dilution of the test substance. The concentration of test substance where 

the absorbance is half of the maximum is considered the pharmacological activity or the toxic limit respectively. 

The activity is calibrated against the activity of substances with known cytotoxic activity and toxicity. The activity 

of Busulfan, Piposulfan and of several commonly used formulation components such as Cremophor EL, PEG 

400, DMSO, Acetone, Ethanol and Cyclodextrin were tested against several carcinoma and non-carcinoma cell 

lines.The assay is reproducible and is able to rank cytotoxic compounds according to relative cytotoxicity. This 

assay is suitable for screening of cytotoxic compounds for cytotoxic activity as well as for general toxicity. The 

assay is also indicative of cytotoxic effects of excipients. 

POSTER ABSTRACTS

WP070 

Melissa Trout 

Code Refinery 

2201 Candun Drive, Suite 101 

Apex, North Carolina 27523 

mtrout@code-refinery.com 

Integrating Software Validation Throughout Software Development 

226 

Co-Author(s) 

Samir Dandekar 

Mike Brown 

Code Refinery’s software validation methodology allows a customized approach for all phases of the software 

development life cycle. Closely integrating validation into the development life cycle improves software quality 

and reduces cost and effort when attempting to obtain product approval from regulatory agencies. Code 

Refinery’s focus relies heavily on three standard concepts: communication, documentation and testing. Efficient 

communication among team members is vital during the review of validated documents, goals and project plans. 

To accurately include validation in a software product’s development, documentation must verify that each step in 

the development life cycle fulfills the requirements of the previous stage in order to meet the needs of the ultimate 

end user. Lastly, comprehensive testing verifies that the software consistently meets user needs, fulfills safety 

regulations and operates without defects in critical functionality. Code Refinery’s integrated validation will control 

and minimize the variables impacting software development. The software validation methods and documents 

outlined in this poster illustrate the effectiveness of structured, supportive software validation. 

WP071 

Robert Umek 




rumek@meso-scale.com 

High Throughput Multiplexed Assays for Biomarkers and Phosphoproteins 

Co-Author(s) 

Paula Denney Eason 

Jenny Ly 


The intense interest in biomarkers and phosphoproteins arises from their importance in critical processes. These 

proteins are best measured in a multiplex format: understanding a given signal transduction pathway often requires 

measuring multiple phosphoproteins and samples containing biomarkers (e.g., serum) are often precious. In this 

poster we present multiplex immunoassays for biomarkers and phosphoproteins using Meso Scale Discovery’s 

(MSD’s) Multi-Array platform. These assays are conducted in MSD’s Multi-Spot plates, using plates pre-coated 

with capture antibodies for each biomarker or phosphoprotein, a cocktail of labeled detection antibodies and other 

related assay reagents. The assays offer excellent sensitivity, compatibility with complex samples such as serum or 

blood, and a wide dynamic range that avoids the necessity of multiple dilutions.

WP072 

Surekha Vajjhala 

Nanostream, Inc. 



surekha.vajjhala@nanostream.com 

Rapid Compound Purity Screening using the Nanostream Veloce System 

227 

Co-Author(s) 

Li Zhang 

Paren Patel 

Sergey Osechinskiy 

Over the past decade, advances in combinatorial chemistry and target characterization have significantly increased 

the number of drug candidates and targets available to drug discovery screeners. To ensure a meaningful screen, 

an increasing number of pharmaceutical companies are now evaluating compound purity. The Nanostream Veloce 

system, together with 24-column Brio cartridges, offers a novel approach to micro parallel liquid chromatography. 

This system allows users to achieve unprecedented throughput for standard assays while matching the 

performance of conventional LC instrumentation, thus enabling a cost effective way to routinely monitor compound 

purity with minimal modification to current methods and work flow. This poster presents results of a study of 

pharmaceutical compound library samples using the Veloce system. Individual chromatograms, percent purity 

results, study duration and total solvent consumption are compared to results obtained using conventional HPLC. 

WP073 

Scott Van Arsdell 



30 Commerce Way 

Woburn, Massachusetts 01801 

svanarsdell@perbio.com 

SearchLight Proteome Arrays: Multiplexed Assays for High Content Screening 

Co-Author(s) 

Rajiv Pande 

Christine Burns 

A SearchLight Proteome Array for quantitative detection of proteins is described. The array is created by 

spotting 25 capture antibodies in a 5 X 5 pattern at the bottom of each well in a 96-well polystyrene microtiter 

plate. Target proteins are ‘captured’ by appropriate arrayed antibodies upon sample introduction. Biotinylated 

secondary antibodies are added and specifically bind the captured protein. Streptavidin-horseradish peroxidase 

conjugate is subsequently added to tag the ‘biotinylated antibody – protein – capture antibody’ sandwich, followed 

by the addition of a chemiluminescent substrate. The plate is imaged with the SearchLight CCD Imaging and 

Analysis System, and the density of each spot is quantified. A cocktail of recombinant target proteins is assayed 

on the plate to generate standard curves and allow quantification of analytes in the samples. We describe the use 

of a SearchLight 25–plex array to quantitate a panel of cytokines and chemokines (human IL-1 alpha, IL-2, IL-4, 

IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, IL-18, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, RANTES, Eotaxin, MDC, TARC, I-309, MIP-1 

alpha, MIP-1 beta, MCP-1, GRO-alpha, NAP-2, IP-10, MIP-3 alpha, and MIP-3 beta). The array was utilized to 

monitor cytokine and chemokine expression in mitogen stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). 

We demonstrate the applicability of SearchLight Proteome Arrays for high content screening by simultaneously 

quantifying 25 analytes per well (2400 data points in a 96-well plate, up to 80 samples per plate). SearchLight 

assays are simple, very sensitive and rapid (~2hrs); and the technology is compatible with plate based robotics. 

POSTER ABSTRACTS

WP074 

Sofia Vikstrom 

PerkinElmer Life and Analytical Sciences 

R&D 

Wallacoy P.O. Box 10 

TurkuFIN-20101 Finland 

sofia.vikstrom@perkinelmer.com 

A Cell-Based Multi-label DELFIA Assay for Measuring Phosphorylation of Proteins 

228 

Co-Author(s) 

Christel Gripenberg-Lerche 

Pertti Hurskainen 

Ilkka Hemmilä 

We have developed a cell-based DELFIA assay to test compounds for their ability to affect the signal transduction 

in the cell, or to modulate cellular stress. The Cell DELFIA assay is performed in 96-well microplate format and 

replaces classical gel-electrophoresis and Western blotting techniques by the utlilization of cells as the target of 

the assay instead of isolated proteins. The assay has been used to detect changes in the phosphorylation level 

of different proteins using lanthanide-labeled antibodies. This cell-based DELFIA assay provides the means for 

identifying multiple parameters in the cell. This approach is used for detecting two or more kinases or events, in 

the cell, when using one of the lanthanide labels as a control for the number of cells per well, by the binding to a 

cellular component which remains at a constant level. 

WP075 

Erich von Roedern 

Aventis Pharma 

Chemistry 

Building G838 

Frankfurt65926 Germany 

erich.roedernvon@aventis.com 

SynCar: A New Automated Solution Phase Synthesis Platform for Medicinal Chemistry 

Co-Author(s) 

Angelika Weber 

Hans-Ulrich Stilz 

Automation of all the important functionalities of solution phase synthesis into one integrated system is still 

a challenge. The demands on such a system were to provide with short cycle times, series of 50 – 250 pure 

compounds in a 20 – 50 mg scale for target class libraries and lead optimization. In a co-development between 

Aventis and Accelab GmbH, Kusterdingen, Germany we designed an unprecedented system of independent 

workstations connected by a shuttle transfer system produced by Montech, Derendingen, Switzerland. At the 

moment seven modular workstations process four reaction samples on each shuttle in parallel such as synthesis 

(temperature control and liquid reagent handling), filtration, liquid-liquid extraction, evaporation, weighing, solid 

phase extraction and HPLC-MS analysis. The modular design allows an easy expansion for future needs. The 

system can be continuously loaded at any time with shuttles and every shuttle can have its own workflow. Design 

and engineering combines a high flexibility with high throughput.

WP076 

Wei Wang 

Pfizer 

PGRD 

2800 Plymouth 


wei.wang@pfizer.com 

Automation Tools To Aide Information Management in a Pharmaceutical Discovery 

Environment 

229 

Co-Author(s) 

Brian Boyd 

Neelesh Nundkumar 

Mark Proefke 

A chemist often needs an instant access to analytical NMR data obtained in Open Access (OA) NMR lab in 

modern pharmaceutical discovery. Although OA NMR is not a new concept, we’ve found that there are still plenty 

opportunities for improvement, especially in terms of interconnecting different software to create an integrated lab 

environment. Here we present a suite of laboratory automation tool kits that has helped the management of datainformation-knowledge 

flow in our lab. Specific examples include a easy-to-use VNMR interface called MyNMR, 

and a web-based SQL application dubbed Data Pfinder. 

POSTER ABSTRACTS

WP078 

Mike Wheeler 

Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospital Trust 

Chemical Pathology 

Lambeth Palace Road 

London SE1 7EH United Kingdom 

mike.wheeler@kcl.ac.uk 

Introduction of Automation Into Clinical Laboratories in the UK 

230 

Co-Author(s) 

Carolyn Piggott 

Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospital Trust 

Stephen Halloran 

University of Surrey 

There has been a slow and cautious approach to automation in the UK and few laboratories have either total 

automation or pre-analytical systems.Laboratories have few sources to help them to decide whether automation 

is appropriate for them, which system to choose and on reliability. We have carried out an off-site evaluation of 

seven different pre-analytical systems (Bayer, Beckman, Dade Behring, Olympus, Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, 

Roche, and Tecan (Abbott), in 10 hospitals. Information was gathered on site and system information before 

and after introduction of the pre-analytical system; procurement (purchasing) procedures; installation and 

implementation procedures; fulfilment of expectations; system reliability and customer support, and detailed 

systems specifications. Choice of total automation or stand-alone pre-analytical instrument was not related to size 

of hospital/workload. Several project managers emphasised the need to identify the processes that would benefit 

from automation. Although sites commented on the reduction in health and safety risks, there were some concerns 

about safety e.g., with the Roche and Olympus systems. Expectations were not realised in all cases. A reduction 

of turnaround time was not always achieved especially if the system could not handle the maximum workflow. 

Common problems across the sites were system errors due to poorly attached barcode labels and patient address 

labels leading to errors with centrifuges, sample holders and level sensing units. Poor definition barcode labels and 

sample tube caps were also a source of problems. Other problems were linked to slow response of/insufficient 

support engineers and lack of spare parts in the UK leading to extended downtimes. 

WP079 

Ian Whitehall 

TTP LabTech Ltd 


RoystonSG8 6EE United Kingdom 

inw@ttplabtech.com 

Primary HTS Neurite Outgrowth Assay Using the Acumen Explorer 

Co-Author(s) 

John Budd 

Paul Wylie 

Wayne Bowen 

The discovery and characterization of compounds and new chemical entities that promote or suppress neurite 

outgrowth is of great importance in the continued search for therapies to treat central nervous system diseases 

such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. A simple, rapid, quantitative neurite outgrowth assay has now been 

developed for the Acumen Explorer laser scanning fluorescence detection system, in both 96- and 384-well 

plate format. Experiments described have used the SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cell line. Conditions were 

established where differentiation and subsequent neurite formation were stimulated over a 3 to 7 day period by 

chronic exposure to all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). Neurite formation was then quantified by addition of the dye 

4-(4-(dimethylamino)styryl)-N- methyl pyridinium iodide (4-Di-1-ASP) (Molecular Probes, Inc.). Plates were then 

scanned on the Acumen Explorer. Using the unique capability of the Explorer the inclusion of differentiated and 

non-differentiated cells in appropriate populations was performed to provide neurite number per well.

WP080 

Chris Willis 

Ambion, Inc. 

Research and Developement 

2130 Woodward Avenue, Suite 200 


cwillis@ambion.com 

High Throughput Viral RNA Isolation from Swab, Serum and Plasma 

231 

Co-Author(s) 

Xingwang Fang 

Michael A. Siano 

The molecular diagnosis is getting widely adapted because of its high sensitivity and high throughput with short 

turn around time, which is often based on RNA isolation and quantitative RT-PCR. The widely used Trizol method 

for RNA isolation (phenol extract followed by ethanol precipitation) is very difficult to scale up. We have developed 

a magnetic beads based RNA isolation, which is high throughput and can be easily automated. This technology 

enables viral RNA isolation from swabs with a very simple procedure in 96-well plate to efficiently recover RNA 

without sample cross contamination. It has been successfully used for high throughput diagnosis of Exotic 

Newcastle Disease (END) shortly after END breakout in United States last October. This technology is also very 

useful for viral RNA isolation from serum and plasma samples, as well as total RNA isolation from culture cells 

and small pieces of tissue. Results of RNA isolation from various liquid samples using this technology will be 

presented. Applications and the advantage of this technology will be discussed. 

WP081 

Steven Wilson 

Joint Genome Institute 


2800 Mitchell Drive 


sewilson@lbl.gov 

Integrating Microsoft’s .NET Platform Into the DOE’s Production Genomics Facility 

The DOE Joint Genome Institute’s semi-automated DNA sequencing production line requires operators to manually 

transfer batches of sample plates between instruments. Manual handling of plates presents opportunities for plate 

errors through plate mixups, mismatches, and lost plates. Microsoft’s .NET platform is being used at JGI to assist 

operators in accurate plate tracking during manual handling. .NET’s ease of use and its ability to be integrated with 

windows OS and Oracle Databases has made it a good choice for production line programming. 

Over the past year, JGI has created software that: 

• Checks barcodes for plate mix-ups 

• Checks the growth levels of glycerol stock wells 

• Sends emails when a robot fails 

• Uploads barcodes to an Oracle database. 

These pieces of software have become a valuable part of the sequencing facility and are used on a daily basis. 

The software has given the JGI the ability to better track its performance in key areas with information that was 

not previously collected because it would have been manually intensive.The software has also brought a new level 

of confidence and reliability to the JGI in terms of sequence assembly. By uploading associated plate pairs and 

preventing plate mix-ups the informatics team can focus on checking sequence matches instead of determining 

which projects have contaminated others. By catching mix-ups at the operator level, they have the chance to 

make notes in the database regarding source-destination pairs and reduce the amount of troubleshooting the 

informatics group has to do. This work was performed under the auspices of the US Department of Energy’s 

Office of Science, Biological and Environmental Research Program and by the University of California, Lawrence 

Livermore National Laboratory under Contract No. W-7405-Eng-48, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory under 

contract No. DE-AC03-76SF00098 and Los Alamos National Laboratory under contract No. W-7405-ENG-36. 

POSTER ABSTRACTS

WP082 

Hayley Wu 


Assay Development 



hayley.wu@calipertech.com 

Microfluidic Kinase Selectivity Screening Assays in Off-Chip Assay Format 

232 

Co-Author(s) 

Holly Reardon 

Thi Ngoc Vy-Trinh 

Ella Li 

Javier Farinas 

Jude Dunne 

Promising drug candidates are often abandoned due to toxic side effects. A biochemical surrogate of toxicity 

testing is evaluation of cross-reactivity with other related and unrelated targets. Kinase inhibitors pose an increased 

risk of cross-reactivity with other kinases, when the hit is a competitive inhibitor of ATP binding. A panel of >15 

kinases assays has been developed using Caliper’s off-chip mobility shift assay to screen for such unintended 

side effects. The extent of phosphorylation of a fluorescently labeled peptide was measured by electrophoretic 

separation of the product and substrate. All the assays were carried out in the same assay buffer, with the ATP 

concentration set at the Km for each kinase. The kinases selected, including CDK2, MAPKAPK2, and Fyn, 

comprised members from all of the major kinase families. Dose response curves were measured for a series of 12 

commercially available kinase inhibitors. The assays were robust and reproducible (Z´ > 0.8) over an extended run 

time and from chip to chip. The observed pattern of activity of the inhibitors against the enzyme panel underscores 

the usefulness of selectivity screening early in the development of lead compounds. 

WP083 

John T. Y. Wu 

Government of Alberta 

Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development 

O.S. Longman Laboratory Building 

6909 – 116 Street 

Edmonton, Alberta T6L 1X4 Canada 

john.wu@gov.ab.ca 

Co-Author(s) 

Eva Y. W. Chow 

Lester S. Y. Wong 

Evelyn E. Bowlby 

Development of an Automated High Throughput Screening Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent 

Assay for Chronic Wasting Disease Prions in Elk and Deer 

An automated high throughput-screening (HTS) enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to perform 

active surveillance for chronic wasting disease (CWD), a prion induced transmissible spongiform encephalopathy 

(TSE) found in elk and deer in Canada. It was developed from a licensed commercial diagnostic kit (BIO-RAD). 

In the United States this test has already been validated for detection of the abnormal prion protein (PrPres) for 

CWD. Our robot-assisted automated system is housed in a biosafety level II laboratory. Each tissue was assigned 

a 12-digit unique bar code number for specimen tracking and audit trail requirement according to ISO 17025. 

Homogenized tissues were treated with proteinase K at 37˚ C in microtubes or deep well microplates. Addition 

of butanol followed by centrifugation precipitated the PrPres and the resulting pellet was re-solublized, and its 

infectivity diminished by treatment at 100˚ C in a resolving buffer. A Biomek2000 or FX (Beckman Coulter) robotic 

liquid handling workstation linked with an ELx 405 microplate washer (Biotek) and a Vmax microplate reader 

(Molecular Device) was used to perform the sandwich ELISA. Computer programs were written to automate the 

ELISA protocol (liquid transfers, microplate washing, optical density values scoring, calculations and validation of 

the results). A 100% reproducibility and repeatability between the manual and automated-ELISA was achieved. 

A local area network was used for the analysis information management. By automating both the specimen 

preparation and ELISA, a 10-fold increase in output was seen. This system increases throughput, reduces labor 

cost and the overall unit cost of the test.

WP084 

Michael Yavilevich 

Inventor 

5 Haim Street Apt. 4 

Kiriat Bialik27076 Israel 

fastspin@barak-online.net 

Fast Spin Centrifuge, Analytical Module and Automated Laboratory System 

The present project relates to Rapid Centrifuge and compact Analytical Module like elements of Fast Automated 

Laboratory System. Fast Spin Technology conducts specimen separating and cap removing during same spin 

or use only cap removing step for previously separated tubes. Some new methods and devices were invented 

developing said Fast Spin Centrifuge and compact Analytical Module. Fast Spin realizes variable inclination spin 

method. This allows more rapid phase separation between serum, clot and gel. In a second stage the tubes 

spin while their longitudinal axes are aligned with the direction of the centrifugation force to allow reliable gel 

seal. Separation process in variable inclination tubes was investigated. This study allows at first to develop rapid 

Centrifuge, to continue in developing Pre-Analytical Station and complete in Analytical Module which aimed to 

solve the problem of modular automation of pre-analytical and analytical clinical laboratory processes. Fast Spin 

Technology is best suited to LaboratoryAutomation. Fast Spin is not only rapid separator. It is a powerful preanalytical 

and analytical station. This Technologysimplifies connecting tubes with Analyzer. Prototypes of the Rapid 

Centrifuge and cap removing device were built and successfully tested in some local laboratory. Preliminary results 

confirm the feasibility of the project. Invented new Analytical Module use Batch Technology for loading-unloading 

tubes, removal-replacement a caps, rapid centrifugation and specimen testing. This Technology intends to improve 

structure and productivity of all Clinical Laboratory Automated System. Fast service will bring new clients to these 

Labs. Fast Spin contains original technical and technological ideas and is in the global demand. 

WP085 

Lilly Zhang 

Amgen, Inc. 

Pharmacokinetics and Drug Metabolism 

One Amgen Center Drive MS 1-1B 


leiz@amgen.com 

Quantitative Biological Sample Analysis Using NanoESI (Nanomate 100 ® ) –MS/MS 

233 

Co-Author(s) 

John D. Laycock 

Krys J. Miller 

The Nanomate 100 ® evaluation for quantitative analysis of exploratory pk screening is discussed. Calibration 

curves of Amgen compound A in plasma were analyzed on both Nanomate 100 ® –MS/MS and conventional 

LC-MS/MS. API3000 mass spectrometer was used in both cases. Results were compared on curve fitting, LLOQ, 

dynamic range, accuracy, precision, carryover, and matrix effect. The results show that Nanomate 100 ® performs 

comparably to LC-MS/MS. Nanomate 100 ® also exhibits advantages such as no cross contamination, minimal 

sample consumption, and much shorter sample cycle time. In addition, quantitation results of real study samples 

are shown. More than 100 plasma samples from various studies were analyzed on Nanomate 100 ® –MS/MS in 

parallel with LC-MS/MS. The results showed good correlation between the two interfaces. However, in many cases 

Nanomate ESI chip requires further sample clean up, and it can often be labor intensive. Additional advantages 

and limitations are also discussed. Overall, Nanomate 100 ® currently does not offer significant advantage in 

quantitative analysis of multiple analytes at sub-nanogram levels in early in vivo exploratory pk screening due to 

matrix suppression. However, Nanomate 100 ® demonstrates great potentials in multiple research areas such as 

Caco-2 screening, microsomal inhibition, and metabolite ID. 

POSTER ABSTRACTS

WP086 

Ruth Zhang 




ruth.zhang@sagian.com 

Plasmid Purification Using Promega’s Wizard* SV96 Reagents and Beckman Coulter’s 

Biomek ® 3000 Laboratory Automation Workstation 

234 

Co-Author(s) 

Chad Pittman 

Scott Boyer 

Laura Pajak 

The information included in this poster describes the utilization of a new liquid handler, the Biomek 3000 

Laboratory Automation Workstation, in the preparation of plasmid DNA using Promega’s Wizard SV 96 reagents. 

Using this system, plasmids are purified via binding to and eventual elution from a silica matrix using vacuum 

filtration. The following system components for the purification of plasmids will be described: 

• The new automated workstation, the Biomek 3000 

• The software and method to drive the workstation 

• The results when purifying plasmids using Wizard SV96 reagents. 

Representative data obtained from the purification of plasmids using this system will be shown. Data from 

automated capillary sequencing on Beckman Coulter’s CEQ 8000 Genetic Analysis System will be shown 

demonstrating the suitability of the purified plasmids for stringent assays such as capillary sequencing. 

WP087 

Juergen Zimmermann 

EMBL 

Genomics Core Facility 

Meyerhofstrasse 1 

69117 Heidelberg D69117 Germany 

zimmermann@embl-heidelberg.de 

Co-Author(s) 

Vladimir Benes, Christian Boulin, and Ralf Griebel 

Paul Lomax, Perkin Elmer Life Sciences 

Thomas Zinn, Ullrich Schübel, Macherey Nagel, and 

Klaus Günther Eberle, Hettich GmbH & Co KG 

Return of the Centrifuge: Automated DNA Extraction by Small Production Islands 

General liquid handling systems are well established and centrifuges are judged sometimes even as old fashioned 

in the field of automation. Nevertheless the combination of both systems is not wide spread in smaller systems. 

The combination of continuous and discontinuous processes is compromising either throughput or load balancing. 

Additional hardware is necessary for the interface of both instruments. Purification of DNA by Silica based methods 

is also a well established procedure which is automated nowadays with vacuum driven robotic systems. This 

automation approach is problematic under several circumstances. Especially sets of complex sample material (e.g., 

animal tissues, plant tissues, forensic material) may overload conventional instruments. Variations in the viscosity 

of a single sample may ruin the output of a complete run, as the flow through is not guaranteed. The presented 

automated solution combines the stability of silica based purification chemistry and automated centrifugation, 

resulting in higher reproducibility and offering access to samples which couldn’t be processed so far.

NOTES 

235

NOTES 

236

INDUSTRY SPONSORED WORKSHOP LUNCHEONS 

Guests should have pre-registered through the company web sites. If you have not registered, 

please visit the company’s exhibit booth to inquire. 

Location Event 

Tuesday, February 3 12:00 – 1:30 pm 

Room J1 The Automation Partnership Workshop Lunch 

Room F Genetix Workshop Lunch 

Room A8 Greiner Bio-One Workshop Lunch 

Room C3 IDBS Workshop Lunch 

Room J4 Millipore Corporation Workshop Lunch 

Room N Tecan Workshop Lunch 1 

Room C2 Tecan Workshop Lunch 2 

Room J2 TekCel Workshop Lunch 1 

Room J3 Thermo Electron Workshop Lunch 

Location Event 

Wednesday, February 4 12:30 – 2:00 pm 

Room J4 Beckman Coulter Workshop Lunch 

Room F Caliper/Zymark Workshop Lunch 

Room A8 JALA Prospective Authors Workshop 

Room J1 MDL Information Services Workshop Lunch 

Room C2 Tecan Workshop Lunch 3 

Room J2 TekCel Workshop Lunch 2 

Room J3 Thermo Electron Workshop Lunch 

237 

INDUSTRY WORKSHOPS


The Automation Partnership Workshop Lunch 12:00 – 1:30 pm Room J1 

The Automation Partnership 

3411 Silverside Road, Webster Building 

Wilmington, Delaware 19810 

(302) 478-9060; (302) 478-9575 fax 

info@automationpartnership.com 

www.automationpartnership.com 

Recent Advances in Automation for Cell-Based Assays – Growth, Selection, Optimization, 

and Quality 1536 Assays 

Generating and selecting new stable cell lines is labor intensive and time consuming. TAP is developing a flexible, 

modular system to automate parallel culture of thousands of cell lines, growing in multi-well plates. The system will 

significantly increase capacity for generating stable cell lines, remove this step as a bottleneck, and allow users to 

choose the optimum cell lines from many thousands. 

Genetix Workshop Lunch 12:00 – 1:30 pm Room F 

Genetix 

Queensway 

New Milton, Hampshire 

BH25 5NN United Kingdom 

info@genetix.com 

Advances in Microarraying From Genetix 

This workshop shows how you can implement the latest technology to improve the quality and throughput of your 

microarrays. Learn how you can print DNA or proteins on multiple surfaces, including into microplate wells. From 

sample prep to printing and scanning, see how industry leaders optimize their applications for maximum results. 

Whether you are a seasoned professional, or new to the technology, this is a must attend tutorial. 

Greiner Bio-One Workshop 12:00 – 1:30 pm Room A8 


1205 Sarah Street 

Longwood, Florida 32750 

(407) 333-2800; (407) 333-3001 fax 

info@us.gbo.com 

HTA-Plate: Unique 96-well plate for DNA- and Protein Arrays 

Within many biomolecular, pharmaceutical and diagnostic laboratories there is an increasing demand for quicker 

more cost-effective testing methods utilizing the most up to date techniques. Greiner Bio-One has now closed 

this gap with the development and launch of the HTAPlate (High-Throughput microArraying Plate). The “HTA 

Plate” combines the advantages of the universal microplate platform with microarrays for diagnostic applications. 

With 96 shallow wells and a low well rim of only 0.3 mm, the HTAPlate has been optimised for the simultaneous 

analysis of multiple samples. The low height of the rims facilitates both quick and cost effective printing of a wide 

range of analytes onto the 96-wells of the plate, and modern robotic spotters and arrayers are already equipped to 

handle this 96-well format. 

238

IDBS Workshop 12:00 – 1:30 pm Room C3 

IDBS 


Guildford GU2 7QB, United Kingdom 

44 (0) 1483 595 010; 44 (0) 1483 595 001 fax 

mstrangwick@id-bs.com 

Practical Methods and Business Rules for Automating Potency Data Processing 

This workshop will discuss business rules for processing potency data. Key questions that will be addressed 

include: 

QC of controls/standards 

• What calculations? • What limits? 

Fitting data to a model 

• Which model(s)? • What parameter settings? 

• Data point weighting/exclusion methods? • Allow extrapolation? 

• Significance level for activity? • What goodness-of-fit calculations and limits? 

• What combination of descriptors most 

completely describes activity? 

Assay Variability 

• What calculations? • What limits? 

The implementation and enforcement of business rules for high-throughput processing will also be considered. 

Millipore Corporation Workshop Lunch 12:00 – 1:30 pm Room J4 


290 Concord Road 

Billerica, Massachusetts 01821 

(800) 645-5476; (800) 645-5439 fax 

Starting From Scratch: Implementation of an Automated High Throughput Method for 

Determining Aqueous Compound Solubility in Drug Discovery 

There is growing awareness of the importance of measuring aqueous solubility in compound profiling, medicinal 

chemistry, and especially in conjunction with lead optimization. Methods that are currently available to measure 

solubility have insufficient throughput and may require too much compound to be useful for most screening and 

early ADME applications. Information will be presented that can be used to implement, automate, and validate 

a robust, reliable, and high throughput method for determining aqueous compound solubility based on the use 

of a new, 96-well device, MultiScreen* Solubility Filter Plate. Discussion topics will include sample requirements, 

detailed protocols, automation and analytical options, and the ability to perform on-line data acquisition and 

analysis. Data detailing assay performance, sample throughput, and correlation with established, low throughput 

methodologies will be presented. 

239 

INDUSTRY WORKSHOPS

Tecan Workshop Lunch 1 12:00 – 1:30 pm Room N 

Tecan 

4022 Stirrup Creek Drive, Suite 310 


(919) 361-5200; (919) 361-5201 fax 

info@tecan.com 

The Molecular Biology Experience With Tecan! (Novel Automation Solutions) 

In this session you will learn about some of the many solutions available from Tecan for the automation of cell and 

protein biology applications. Explore the potential for your lab to automate the entire spectrum of applications from 

gene to clone and beyond. We will present automated solutions for nucleic acid sample purification, PCR set-up, 

DNA transfection, large scale cell growth, cell lysis, protein purification, and protein crystaliography. You will learn 

about valuable cost-saving, space-saving, and time-saving solutions in the workshop to bring back to your lab. 

Tecan Workshop Lunch 2 12:00 – 1:30 pm Room C2 

Tecan 



(919) 361-5200; (919) 361-5201 fax 


EVOware Software – Intuitive, Powerful, and Flexible! 

This workshop will introduce you to the simplified world of advanced instrument control. Tecan’s EVOware software 

package for the Freedom EVO platform is the next generation of liquid handling software. EVOware combines 

simplicity and ease of use with powerful features such as scheduling and the ability to integrate informatics 

solutions in a single software package. Come and have an opportunity to learn in depth about EVOware and have 

an opportunity to interact with our programmers. 

240

TekCel Workshop Lunch 1 12:00 – 1:30 pm Room J2 

TekCel, Inc. 



(508) 544-7000; (508) 544-7001 fax 

info@tekcel.com 

Cherry Picking Redefined: Pick-List to Custom Assay Plate Generation on a New, Integrated 

Tube Management Platform 

Presenter: W. Steven Fillers, Ph.D. 

From genomics to high throughput screening; lead optimization to chemical profiling; on-demand retrieval and 

formatting of samples to support diverse discovery operations presents significant technical and logistical 

challenges. Efficient storage, retrieval and sorting of discrete samples and delivering them to the point of use in 

the desired format is laborious, time consuming, error prone and costly. This presentation will focus on a new 

Tube Management System, from TekCel, which provides superior throughput and process control to support 

the most demanding discovery applications. Individual 2-D bar coded tubes, or racks of tubes, are picked, 

sorted and compiled within the controlled storage environment of the TubeStore module. Tubes compiled to 

user specifications can be delivered for processing at rates up to 11,500 tubes (120 racks) per hour. Seamless 

integration to TekCel’s TubeServer, TekBench-SP and Plate Management System provides complete 

automation of sample processing tasks (96-channel tube piercing, controlled thawing, reformatting, master and 

assay plate generation) all within a controlled, inert processing environment. The system’s modular architecture 

affords considerable flexibility and provides a clear path for system expansion to accommodate future capacity, 

throughput or workflow needs. 

Thermo Electron Workshop Lunch 12:00 – 1:30 pm Room J3 


5344 John Lucas Drive 

Burlington, Ontario L7L 6A6 Canada 

(905) 332-2000 x 319; (905) 332-1114 fax 

christy.jacobs@thermo.com 

The Tools to Upgrade: Designing Scalable Laboratory Automation 

The reality in today’s research lab is change. How do you accommodate change while maintaining high 

throughput? 

Presented by Thermo Laboratory Automation and Integration, this workshop is about automating your laboratory 

with a modular platform that facilitates rapid change -- in assays and instrumentation. You will learn how to 

automate your assays using a new solution-focused Thermo layout tool. You will also learn how you scale 

automation from benchtop to production line. 

No materials are required, just think about your assay flow and where the bottlenecks are in your lab before 

coming to this workshop. 

241 

INDUSTRY WORKSHOPS


Beckman Coulter Workshop Lunch 12:30 – 2:00 pm Room J4 




The Use of Beckman Coulter’s Biomek ® Laboratory Automation Workstations for Proteomic 

Applications 

Presenters: Laura Pajak, Ph.D. and Michael Simonian, Ph.D. 

This workshop describes various techniques commonly used in proteomics research. We have broken down the 

processes involved into four main areas: 

• Sample Preparation (Centrifugation) 

• Protein Identification /Proteome Profiling (2D HPLC, MALDI TOF, PA 800) 

• Protein Characterization (DNA prep, His Tag purification, ELISA) 

• Protein Function (Cell Probes, Cell Preparation, Protein Protein interaction, Bacterial 2 hybrid system) 

We will discuss each of these areas and describe where the use of Beckman Coulter automation workstations 

(Biomek 2000, Biomek 3000, Biomek NX, Biomek FX) is beneficial. The use of automation to improve throughput, 

reproducibility and data quality will be described. 

Caliper/Zymark Workshop Lunch 12:30 – 2:00 pm Room F 

Caliper/Zymark 



(650) 623-0700; (650) 623-0500 fax 

info@calipertech.com 

Advances in Microfluidic Screening Assays 

Presenters: Walter Ausserer and Javier Farinas 

Microfluidic lab-on-a-chip screening assays have been developed for many target classes, including protein 

kinases, protein phosphatases, proteases, lipid kinases, and GPCR’s. In this workshop, we will present details 

of novel screening assays developed within the past year. Emphasis will be placed upon new assays for protein 

kinase selectivity screening and calcium flux. We also will preview Caliper’s next-generation microfluidic screening 

platform. 

JALA Prospective Authors Workshop 12:30 – 2:00 pm Room A8 

JALA Prospective Authors Workshop 

Presenter: Mark F. Russo, Ph.D., JALA Executive Editor 

Each year, ALA publishes six issues of JALA. The first half of this workshop focuses on how and why ALA 

members can: showcase their work in this popular and highly regarded scientific journal, take advantage of JALA’s 

new online services for authors, and explore what volunteer opportunities exist for authors and other interested 

members. The second half focuses on practical advice for preparing successful technical papers. Workshop 

is open to all conference attendees. For more information contact: Journal of the Association for Laboratory 

Automation (JALA), 819 Shorewood Boulevard, Manitowoc, WI 54220, (920) 652-0427, jala@labautomation.org. 

242

MDL Information Services Workshop Lunch 12:30 – 2:00 pm Room J1 

MDL Information Services 



(510) 895-1313; (510) 614-3608 fax 

l.hill@mdl.com 

Inventory Management Solution for Discovery Scientists 

Learn to manage your sample and plate inventory with MDL Plate Manager and interface with chemistry and 

biology data. The workshop will demonstrate how to create, dilute, pool, remap, and store plates; browse the 

inventory and drill down to sample and compound level details; track volumes, freeze/thaw cycles, locations, and 

each plate’s parents and daughters. See how the inventory data connects to the chemical registration database 

to access compound batch information, and share information with MDL Assay Explorer for a complete data 

management solution. 

Tecan Workshop Lunch 3 12:30 – 2:00 pm Room C2 

Tecan 



(919) 361-5200; (919) 361-5201 fax 


The Molecular Biology Experience With Tecan! (Integrating and Validating Our Partners Kits) 

In this exploratory session, you will learn about work done with our reagent partners to produce automated 

solutions for molecular biology labs. Tecan partners with many leading molecular biology reagent companies to 

provide the most flexible, open platform for molecular biology automation. Come and hear our partners talk about 

automating their kits on Tecan automation. 

Together, Tecan and our partners can provide you with proven solutions for all aspects of your molecular biology 

automation needs: from gene to clone and beyond! Come learn more in this session. 

243 

INDUSTRY WORKSHOPS

TekCel Workshop Lunch 2 12:30 – 2:00 pm Room J2 

TekCel, Inc. 



(508) 544-7000; (508) 544-7001 fax 


Stability of Compounds Stored in TekCel Plate Management System. 

Application of New Approaches for Ultra-High-Throughput Analysis of Compound Stability 

Presenter: James Connelly, Ph.D. 

Collections of compounds used for pharmaceutical lead generation are both a major asset and an opportunity 

for drug discovery. Therefore, protection and preservation of this high-value resource is of supreme importance. 

Stability of compounds stored in DMSO solutions can be increased by application of conditions such as inert 

atmosphere and low temperature. The TekCel Plate Management System has been used for over 1.5 years to store 

combinatorial libraries at the Aventis Combinatorial Technologies Center. Increased surveillance and continuous 

QC of stored collections can be facilitated by new technology for ultra-high-throughput chromatography and 

mass spectrometric analysis. Preliminary results on the application of new analytical technologies and the relative 

stability of these drug discovery samples will be presented. 

Thermo Electron Workshop Lunch 12:30 – 2:00 pm Room J3 



Burlington, Ontario L7L 6A6 Canada 

(905) 332-2000 x 319; (905) 332-1114 fax 


Thermo Electron’s KingFisher ® – A Novel High Throughput Platform for Protein 

Purification Applications 

Thermo will be presenting a flexible customer solution for recombinant protein purification based on magnetic 

particles. This solution combines Thermo’s unique KingFisher purification technology and Dynal Biotech’s 

Dynabeads ® TALON ® , offering rapid protein purification with high-quality results. Purified proteins are ready for 

use in a variety of downstream applications such as screening for new drugs and drug targets and studying DNAprotein 

or protein-protein interactions. 

Fully functional high-purity proteins can be isolated with excellent reproducibility and increased sensitivity. 

This robust and reliable method can purify up to 96 samples in less than 30 minutes. Data showing excellent 

performance of the new solution will be presented. 

244

NOTES 

245

EXHIBITOR LISTING 

3M Bioanalytical Booth 1219 

AB Controls Booth 1326 

ABgene Booth 1439 

ABS, Inc. Booth 1541 

Adept Technology, Inc. Booth 1528 

Adhesives Research, Inc. Booth 940 

Advion BioSciences, Inc. Booth 528 

Aerotech, Inc. Booth 1513 

Affordable Automation Ltd Booth 1532 

AID-CORP Booth 1615 

ALIO Industries Booth 1608 

Allegro Technologies Booth 1619 

American Linear Manufacturers Booth 1132 

Amersham Biosciences Corp. Booth 1010 

Applied Biosystems Booth 1520 

Applied Mechatronics Booth 1437 

Applied Robotics, Inc. Booth 233 

Applied Scientific Instrumentation Booth 1407 

Apricot Designs, Inc. Booth 1538 

ARTEL Booth 834 

Association for Laboratory Booth 1607 


Astech Projects Ltd. Booth 1424 

Aurora Discovery, Inc. Booth 909 

Axygen Scientific Booth 1426 

Bal Seal Engineering Booth 1324 

Barnstead International/STEM Booth 808 

BD Biosciences Booth 1319 

Beckman Coulter, Inc. Booth 1107 

Big Bear Automation Booth 240 

Bio-Tek Instruments, Inc. Booth 908 

Bio Integrated Solutions Booth 1503 

Biomation Booth 912 

BioMedTech Laboratories, Inc. Booth 113 

BioMicroLab, Inc. Booth 241 

Biosero Booth 1536 

Biotage Booth 215 

BioTX Automation, Inc. Booth 111 

Bishop-Wisecarver Corporation Booth 1227 

BMG Labtechnologies, Inc. Booth 707 

Boston Biomedica, Inc. Booth 1220 

Brandel Booth 213 

Brinkmann Instruments Inc. Booth 632 

Brooks Automaton, Inc., Booth 1228 

Life Sciences Group 

Caliper Technologies Corporation Booth 1201 

The Center for Biophysical Booth 235 

Sciences and Engineering 

Chromagen, Inc. Booth 1141 

Code Refinery Booth 932 

Computype, Inc. Booth 1519 

Corning Incorporated Booth 312 

CyBio AG Booth 338 

deCODE genetics Booth 836 

Del-Tron Precision Inc. Booth 107 

Digital Bio Technology, Inc. Booth 711 

DigitalVAR, Inc. Booth 837 

Dionex Corporation Booth 534 

Discovery Partners International Booth 1008 

DRD Diluter Corporation Booth 1433 

Drug Discovery & Development Booth 135 

Drug Discovery World Booth 1610 

Eastern Plastics, Inc. Booth 1037 

E&K Scientific Products Booth 1113 

EDC Biosystems Booth 1515 

Eksigent Technologies Booth 833 

ELMO Motion Control, Inc. Booth 1537 

Elsevier Booth 1607 

Encynova Booth 727 

Essen Instruments, Inc. Booth 332 

Evotec Technologies Booth 937 

Exatron Corporation Booth 1507 

FIBERLite Centrifuge Booth 1118 

Fisher Scientific Booth 1038 

G&L Precision Die Cutting, Inc. Booth 1509 

General Data Company, Inc. Booth 1033 

Genetic Engineering News/ Booth 725 

Modern Drug & Discovery 

Genetix Booth 425 

Genmark Automation Booth 539 

Genomic Solutions Booth 810 

GenoVision Inc. Booth 1535 

GenVault Corporation Booth 541 

Gilson, Inc. Booth 1025 

Glas-Col, LLC Booth 210 

Greiner Bio-One, Inc. Booth 619 

Hamilton Company Booth 207 

HEMCO Corporation Booth 421 

Hettich Booth 933 

Hudson Control Group, Inc. Booth 1413 

IDBS Inc. Booth 439 

IKO International, Inc. Booth 1125 

ILS Innovative Labor Systeme Booth 1229 

INA Linear Technik, Booth 1318 

A division of INA USA Corp. 

Innovadyne Technologies, Inc. Booth 733 

Innovative Microplate Booth 814 

Invetech Instrument Development Booth 435 

and Manufacture 

ISC BioExpress Booth 936 

J-Kem Scientific, Inc. Booth 1006 

Jencons Scientific, Inc. Booth 713 

Jouan Robotics Booth 507 

Julabo USA, Inc. Booth 520 

Jun-Air, USA Booth 1134 

Kendro Laboratory Products Booth 1524 

246 

Kloehn Company Booth 533 

KMC Systems, Inc. Booth 1514 

LABCON North America Booth 1129 

Labcyte Booth 1136 

LabVantage Solutions, Inc. Booth 1221 

Lathrop Engineering, Inc. Booth 1425 

Lawrence Berkeley Booth 941 


LEAP Technologies Booth 1036 

Liconic Instruments Booth 206 

Los Alamos National Laboratory Booth 824 

Luminex Corporation Booth 735 

Macherey-Nagel Booth 709 

MATECH Booth 934 

MatriCal, Inc. Booth 1328 

Matrix Technologies Corporation Booth 1506 

MDL Information Systems Booth 1112 

MéCour Temperature Control Booth 1120 

Merlin BioProducts BV Booth 1600 

Mettler-Toledo Autochem Booth 535 

Micralyne, Inc. Booth 1032 

MicroGroup Booth 906 

Micronic Systems Booth 441 

Micropump, Inc. Booth 519 

Microscan Systems, Inc. Booth 1427 

Millipore Corporation Booth 907 

MJ Research, Inc. Booth 1014 

Modern Drug Discovery/ Booth 109 

Chemical & Engineering News 

Molecular BioProducts Booth 1007 

Molecular Devices Corporation Booth 719 

Motoman, Inc. Booth 1212 

Multi-Contact USA Booth 1238 

MWG Biotech, Inc. Booth 137 

Nanostream Booth 232 

National Instruments Booth 1511 

NB Corp of America Booth 1035 

New England Small Tube Booth 1329 

Corporation 

NSK Precision America, Inc. Booth 1011 

NuGenesis Technologies Booth 715 

NUNC Brand Products Booth 532 

Opticon, Inc. Booth 939 

Oriental Motor USA Corp. Booth 1612 

Orochem Technologies, Inc. Booth 1041 

Oyster Bay Pump Works, Inc.. Booth 1428 

Pall Life Sciences Booth 1411 

Parker Hannifin Corporation Booth 636 

PerkinElmer Life and Booth 625 

Analytical Sciences 

PharmaGenomics Magazine Booth 841 

Pierce Biotechnology, Inc. Booth 1218

EXHIBIT HALL 

San Jose McEnery Convention Center 

141 240 

139 238 

137 236 

135 234 

133 232 

115 

212 

113 

111 210 

109 

206 

107 

241 

338 

239 

237 336 

235 334 

233 332 

213 312 

215 

211 

POSTERS 

207 

441 

538 

439 

536 

435 

534 

433 532 

520 421 

419 518 

407 

528 

425 

524 

539 636 

535 

632 

533 

525 

519 

618 

620 

Pneutronics Division of Booth 739 

Parker Hannifin Corporation 

Point Technologies, Inc. Booth 1409 

Popper & Sons, Inc. Booth 419 

Porvair Sciences Ltd. Booth 1518 

Process Analysis and Automation Booth 1533 

Promega Corporation Booth 1320 

Protedyne Corporation Booth 525 

RAPP POLYMERE GmbH Booth 1606 

REMP AG Booth 913 

ReTiSoft, Inc. Booth 334 

Rheodyne LLC Booth 521 

Richard Scientific, Inc. Booth 234 

Rigaku Booth 536 

Rixan Associates Booth 1401 

RoboDesign International, Inc. Booth 538 

Roche Applied Science Booth 524 

Roche Instrument Center Ltd. Booth 1429 

RSF Electronics, Inc. Booth 1601 

RTS Life Science International Booth 1119 

SAGE Publications Booth 239 

Sanyo Scientific Booth 806 

SCIENCE/AAAS Booth 832 

Scientific Specialties, Inc. Booth 935 

541 

507 

625 

735 

834 

733 832 

729 

826 

727 

725 824 

619 719 

ENTRANCE 

840 

739 

836 

841 940 

839 938 

837 936 

835 934 

833 932 

941 

1038 

939 

937 1036 

935 1034 

933 1032 

247 

1035 1134 

1033 1132 

1025 

1021 1120 

1019 1118 

714 814 

912 

1014 

913 

1015 1114 

713 

810 

711 

811 

908 

1008 

909 

1112 

1011 

1110 

709 808 

807 

1007 1106 

707 806 

906 907 1006 

1041 1141 1240 

1541 1640 

1136 

1037 

1139 1238 

1439 1538 

1539 1638 

1437 1536 1537 1636 

1133 

1129 1228 

1127 

1224 

1125 

1220 

1119 

1218 

1113 1212 

1107 

Scinomix, Inc. Booth 1106 

Scivex Booth 1419 

Seyonic SA Booth 1127 

SGE, Inc. Booth 1015 

Shimadzu Biotech Booth 1139 

Sias Booth 236 

Silicon Valley Scientific, Inc. Booth 115 

Silex Microsystems AB Booth 237 

SKF USA Inc. Booth 141 

SLR Systems, Inc. Booth 133 

SMAC Booth 1539 

Sorenson BioScience Booth 336 

Spark Holland, Inc. Booth 620 

Sparton Medical Solutions Booth 618 

SPEX CertiPrep Booth 1325 

Stäubli Corporation Booth 1240 

Tecan/Tecan Systems, Inc. Booth 407 

Technical Manufacturing Booth 1114 

Corporation 

TekCel, Inc. Booth 1101 

TEKnova Booth 518 

TeleChem Int/ArrayIt.com Booth 840 

The Automation Partnership Booth 1224 

The Lee Company Booth 1225 

1229 1328 

1227 1326 

1225 1324 

1221 1320 

1219 1318 

1329 1428 

1327 1426 

1325 1424 

1319 

1101 1201 1401 

1534 1535 1634 

1433 

1532 1533 1632 

1429 1528 

1427 

1524 

1425 

1419 

1518 

1520 

1514 

1413 

1411 

1506 

1409 

1407 

1501 

1628 

1525 1626 

1624 

1620 

1519 

1618 

1515 1614 

1513 1612 

1511 1610 

1509 1608 

1507 1606 

1503 1602 

1501 1600 

1641 

1639 

1637 

1635 

1633 

1629 

1627 

1625 

1621 

1619 

1615 

1607 

1603 

1601 

ALA 

BOOTH 

Thermo Electron Booth 507 

THK America Booth 212 

Titertek Instruments Booth 1021 

Titian Software Ltd. Booth 835 

Tomtec Booth 811 

Torcon Instruments, Inc. Booth 211 

TradeWinds Direct, Inc. Booth 1327 

Tricontinent Booth 1019 

TTP LabTech Booth 1525 

Union Biometrica, Inc. Booth 938 

United Chemical Technologies, Inc. Booth 1501 

USA Scientific, Inc. Booth 729 

V&P Scientific, Inc. Booth 826 

Veeco Instruments inc. Booth 1012 

Velocity11 Booth 1133 

VICI Valco Instruments Booth 807 

Waters Corporation Booth 1110 

Watson-Marlow Bredel Pumps Booth 839 

Whatman Booth 433 

White Carbon Booth 1034 

Zinsser Analytic GmbH Booth 1534 

EXHIBITORS

Featuring the World’s Largest Exhibition on Laboratory Automation 

• A full spectrum of emerging and enabling laboratory technologies 

• More than 300 leading laboratory automation product and services providers 

• Today’s top biotechnology companies, equipment manufacturers, and more 

Stay on the cutting edge of laboratory technology at LabAutomation2004, you can expect unique opportunities to 

learn about the latest and greatest in laboratory automation products, services, and solutions. LabAutomation2004 

has the most expansive laboratory automation exhibition in the world and guaranteed to keep you on the cutting 

edge of science. 

You’ll see firsthand what’s new in the field of laboratory automation 

from today’s leading biotechnology companies, scientific equipment 

manufacturers, and much more. 

Not only will LabAutomation2004 help you keep up – it will propel you 

into a more exciting future! 

To purchase exhibition space for: 

February 1-5, 2004 

San Jose McEnery 

Convention Center 

San Jose, California 

248 

Location: Exhibit Hall 

Days & Hours: 

Monday, February 2, 2004 4:00 - 8:00 pm 

Tuesday, February 3, 2004 10:00 am - 6:30 pm 

Wednesday, February 4, 2004 10:00 am - 6:30 pm 

ALA LabFusion 2004 

Hynes Convention Center 

Boston, Massachusetts 

ALA_offi ce@labautomation.org 


Short Courses: June 12 – 13, 2004 

Conference and Exhibition: June 13 – 16, 2004 

ALA LabFusion 2004 is ALA’s brand new conference and exhibition. This new conference complements 

LabAutomation, ALA’s highly successful west-coast event. ALA LabFusion 2004 will focus on 

biopharmaceutical development and applications, as well as practical implementations, including technology 

acquisitions, pharmaceutical technologies, process chemistry, and system validation and qualifications. 

LabAutomation2005 

San Jose McEnery Convention Center Short Courses: January 30 – 31, 2005 

San Jose, California Conference and Exhibition: January 31 – February 3, 2005 

Call or write: 

Space Reservation! 

ALA Event Management Office Daphne Glover 

343 W. Erie, Suite 330 Exhibit Sales & Sponsorships 

Chicago, Illinois 60610 (312) 654-4314; (312) 803-1927 fax 

dglover@labautomation.org

3M Bioanalytical 

3M Center, Building 270-2A-08 

Maplewood, Minnesota 55144 

(651) 736-1426; (651) 736-1519 fax 

arichie-willits@mmm.com 

www.3m.com/empore 

AB Controls 

192 Technology Drive, Suite J 

Irvine, California 92618 

www.abcontrols.com 

ABgene 

565 Blossom Road 


www.abgene.com 

ABS, Inc. 

701-4 Cornell Business Park 


(302) 654-4492; (302) 654-8046 fax 

services@absbio.com 

www.absbio.com 

Adept Technology, Inc. 

3011 Triad Drive 


(925) 245-8109 

info@adept.com 

www.adept.com 

Booth 1219 (10 x 10) 

For high throughput ADME and Biological Sample Prep applications, Empore cards 

provide a simple route to high throughput sample drug screening. Activation, loading, and 

extraction for 96 samples can be accomplished in approximately one-half hour or less. 

The SPE card features 96 elution zones that can be rapidly loaded and eluted using newly 

developed equipment from Tomtec. Sequential sampling and direct injection into a mass 

spectrometer eliminate steps, saving customers time and money for basic drug discovery 

sample prep. 

Empore 96 well plates are ideal for sample prep in drug discovery and clinical studies. 

Empore SPExpress cards extend SPE to high throughput ADME and Early Drug 

Discovery Applications. Empore Affi nity Plates bind proteins, peptides, ligands, antigens, 

and antibodies for protein therapeutic and protein drug target studies. 

Booth 1326 (10 x 10) 

AB Controls is a Laboratory Automation Solution Provider. We emphasize on small and 

medium size robotic mass storage solutions for microplates, Tip Racks and nested tips. 

Products: 

1. Trx: 96 and 384 nested tip delivery system: 80 and 160 rack models available. 

2. Apix: 4 axis robot for delivery of microplates and tip racks. 

3. PlateSpace: A variable size, random access plate Storage/Retrieval system. 

Other custom solutions can be made. 

Booth 1439 (10 x 20) 

ABgene, ® an Apogent company, produce a diverse range of molecular biology reagents, 

plastic consumables and instrumentation, enabling us to offer complete product solutions. 

We provide local support and keep in close contact with the research community through 

our network of international sales offi ces and UK headquarters. To ensure that we continue 

to meet your expectations, we have invested heavily in research, both in-house and 

through collaborations with universities and industrial partners. We have also continued 

to expand our manufacturing facilities, which includes a state-of-the-art injection 

moulding cleanroom and laboratories. Our aim is to build on our strengths of quality, 

competitiveness, innovation and responsiveness. We are confi dent that our commitment 

to science and new technologies will enable us to offer you the best products and service 

now, and in the future. 

Booth 1541 (10 x 10) 

Analytical Biological Services Inc. (ABS) provides customized Bioreagents, Cell Culture, 

and RNA to drug discovery laboratories in nearly all the major pharmaceutical companies 

throughout the world. These preparations include: cell culture scale-up, Baculovirus, 

receptor binding preparations, enzyme extracts, Total RNA and Poly A+ RNA. 

Booth 1528 (10 x 10) 

Adept Technology is America’s largest manufacturer of industrial robots with more than 

30,000 factory automation systems installed worldwide. Adept manufactures a broad 

range of standard and cleanroom robots at work in the Laboratory Automation and 

Medical Device Manufacturing industry performing microtiter plate handling, colony 

picking, medical device assembly, surgical kit assembly and suture handling. Adept 

products can be used to automate a variety of applications in this industry including 

MicroTiter Plate Handling, Automated Sample Processing, Colony Picking, Medical Device 

Assembly, Material Handling and Packaging, Vision-Based Part Feeding and Machine 

Load/Unload – Injection Molding. 

249 

EXHIBITORS

Adhesives Research, Inc. 

400 Seaks Run Road 

Glen Rock, Pennsylvania 17327 

(800) 445-6240; (717) 235-8320 fax 

bday@arglobal.com 

www.adhesivesresearch.com 


15 Catherwood Road 


(607) 266-0665; (607) 266-0749 fax 

boardmaa@advion.com 

www.advion.com 

Aerotech, Inc. 

101 Zeta Drive 

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15238 

www.aerotech.com 

Affordable Automation Ltd 

Unit 21, The Bridgewater Centre 

Robson Avenue 

Urmston 

Manchester M41 7TE England 

0044 161 747 1890; 0044 161 747 1891 fax 

sales@affordableautomation.co.uk 

www.affordableautomation.co.uk 

AID-CORP 

Analytical and Industrial Development 

P.O. Box 4405 

Salem, Massachusetts 01970 

(978) 745-6265, (978) 745-6376 fax 

www.aid-corp.com 

ALIO Industries 

2339 West 8th Street 

Loveland, Colorado 80537 

(970) 461-9902; (970) 461-8828 fax 

sales@alioindustries.com 

www.alioindustries.com 

Booth 940 (10 x 10) 

Adhesives Research designs and manufacturers custom high-performance, pressuresensitive 

adhesive tapes and coated fi lm products for the healthcare industry. AR tape 

systems meet defi ned design criteria for microfl uidic devices and microplate sealing 

tapes. Specifi c technologies including low fl uorescence systems, conductive adhesives, 

structural systems, adhesives that withstand rapid thermal cycling processes, and 

systems that exhibit hydrophilic/hydrophobic surface characteristics. Four separate cGMP 

manufacturing facilities (Glen Rock, PA and Limerick, Ireland) are dedicated to adhesive 

formulating, coating, laminating, slitting, and fi nishing. 

Booth 528 (10 x 10) 

Advion BioSciences’ NanoMate 100 is the fi rst fully automated nanoelectrospray 

system for mass spectrometry. This novel microchip-based analytical technology 

signifi cantly enhances the data quality, utility and speed of electrospray ionization (ESI) 

mass spectrometry and eliminates carryover. The heart of the solution is the ESI Chip, 

a micro array of nozzles etched in silicon. The NanoMate allows laboratories to improve 

the performance of their mass spectrometers for proteomics and small molecule drug 

discovery and development. 

Booth 1513 (10 x 10) 

Motion Control and Positioning System Leader 

Aerotech has well over 30 years of experience as a supplier of top quality motion control 

products and positioning systems for the medical industry. Aerotech’s products have 

been successfully deployed in medical applications such as DNA & Proteomics research, 

drug discovery, hermetic seam welding, laser cutting of stents, intraocular lenses, hip 

replacement joints, and general medical process automation. 

Booth 1532 (10 x 10) 

Manchester based Affordable Automation has, for more than a decade, been at the 

forefront of developments in laboratory technology, building automated cells for some of 

the leading pharmaceutical organizations in the United Kingdom and Europe. The key to 

Affordable Automation’s success is in the understanding of the tightly controlled processes 

by today’s laboratories. Working closely with scientists, Affordable Automation develops 

bespoke automation systems to manage ultra High Throughput Screening, plate stacking 

and handling, vial fi lling and clean room cuff testing for companies such as AstraZeneca, 

Organon, Celltech, and Pfi zer. 

Booth 1615 (10 x 10) 

AID-CORP specializes in helping labs expand their budgets through improved technology 

management. AID-CORP provides quality reconditioned instrumentation and services 

to the Laboratory community. AID-CORP offers high-quality instrumentation including 

the following: Laboratory Automation/Robotics Systems; Microplate readers/washers 

and Spectrophotometers, PCR Thermal Cyclers, Scintillation Counters, Chromatography 

and Mass Spec systems, NMR’s and other high-end lab instrumentation We also offer 

the following services: Technology Valuations & Assessments, Equipment Remarketing 

Services We can meet with you to discuss how we can tailor an approach which meets 

your needs. Call Phil or Victoria Jackson at (978) 745-6265 for more information. 

Booth 1608 (10 x 10) 

ALIO Industries designs and manufactures precision automation serial stages and parallel 

kinematic robots for nanometer resolution and repeatability applications. Custom and 

standard motion solutions in metrology, microscopy, micro machining, micro assembly, 

fi ber optic alignment, laboratory equipment, and medical equipment for end user and OEM 

applications in atmospheric, clean room and vacuum environments. 

250

Allegro Technologies 

Unit 8 

Enterprise Centre 

Pearse Street 

Dublin 2 Ireland 

353 1 6791464; 353 1 6791544 

devin@allegro-technologies.com 

www.allegro-technologies.com 

American Linear Manufacturers 

629 Main Street 

Westbury, New York 11590 

(800) 892-3991; (516) 333-1729 fax 

sales@americanlinear.com 

www.americanlinear.com 

Amersham Biosciences Corp 

800 Centennial Avenue 

P.O. Box 1327 

Piscataway, NJ 08855-1327 

(800) 526-3593 or (732) 457-8000; 

(877) 295-8102 fax 

www.amershambiosciences.com 


3833 North First Street 

San Jose, California 95134 

www.appliedbiosystems.com 

Applied Mechatronics 

800 Antiquity Drive 

Fairfield, California 94534 

(707) 207-0587; (509) 356-8623 fax 

glenn@appliedmechatronics.com 

www.appliedmechatronics.com 

Booth 1619 (10 x 20) 

Allegro Technologies is a global leader in the development and production of reliable, 

robust and user friendly liquid handling solutions, enabling the addition and the transfer of 

nanoliter and microliter volumes of a wide range of fl uids. 

Allegro’s proprietary non-contact spot-on liquid handling technology brings signifi cant 

improvements to existing assays by increasing levels of precision and accuracy as well as 

decreasing assay costs through use of lower volume pipetting. 

Allegro will exhibit the Equator NS 808 eight channel pipetting system and will also 

feature the newest version of the system which incorporates a new bulk dispensing mode 

as well as traditional aspirate dispense mechanism further increasing the fl exibility of the 

system as a total solution provider. 

Booth 1132 (10 x 10) 

American Linear Manufacturers features “Made in USA” Precision Crossed Roller Linear 

Bearing motion products. ALM Crossed roller bearings are characterized by smooth, 

noiseless, frictionless motion, long life and zero side play in any attitude. On display at 

LabAutomation2004 will be automated single and multiple axis (XY, XYZ) positioning 

stages with Micro-stepping control system, custom designed motorized and manual 

positioning stages and a full display of ALM standard product line including motor ready 

positioning stages, slides, bearings, and components. Stop by and see our sleek, medical 

grade stainless steel/nickel plated aluminum stages. New low cost linear motion stages 

available. 

Booth 1010 (10 x 10) 

Amersham Biosciences Corp, the life science business of Amersham plc (LSE, NYSE, 

OSE: AHM), is a world leader in developing and providing integrated systems and 

solutions for disease research, drug development and manufacture. Our systems are used 

to uncover the function of genes and proteins, for the discovery and development of drugs 

and for the manufacture of biopharmaceuticals. 

Booth 1520 (10 x 10) 

Applied Biosystems, a business unit of Applera Corporation, develops and markets 

instrument-based systems, reagents, analytical software, informatics solutions, and 

contract services to the life science industry. The company aims to provide complete 

informatics solutions to customers in basic research, drug discovery, and development 

and offers a set of core software functionality with a world-class professional service 

organization to create whole lab solutions for better quality, throughput, and compliance. 

Booth 1437 (10 x 10) 

Applied Mechatronics is a manufacturer’s representative fi rm whose aim is to provide 

customers access to some of the nation’s top suppliers of motion control components and 

systems. With several decades of accumulated experience in automated machine design, 

our strengths in mechanical and electronic automation allow us to offer “out-of-the-box” 

expertise related to how these products interact with each other and in the real world. 

Furthermore, our expertise in working with multiple industries allows us to offer a crosspollination 

of ideas for your mechatronic needs. 

251 

EXHIBITORS

Applied Robotics, Inc. 

648 Saratoga Road 

Glenville, New York 12302 

(518) 384-1000; (518) 384-1200 fax 

info@arobotics.com 

www.arobotics.com 

Applied Scientific Instrumentation 

29391 West Enid Road 

Eugene, Oregon 97402 

(541) 461-8181; (541) 461-4018 fax 

info@asiimaging.com 

www.asiimaging.com 

Apricot Designs, Inc. 

825 S. Primrose Avenue Unit i 

Monrovia, California 91016 

(626) 256-6088; (626) 256-6060 fax 

info@apricotdesigns.com 

www.apricotdesigns.com 

ARTEL 

25 Bradley Drive 

Westbrook, Maine 04092 

www.artel-usa.com 

Association for Laboratory 


3N866 Ferson Creek Road 

St. Charles, Illinois 60174 

(866) 263-4928; (312) 803-1927 fax 

ala_offi ce@labautomation.org 


Astech Projects Ltd. 

Unit 4 Berkeley Court, 

Manor Park 

Runcorn 

Cheshire 

WA7 1TQ 

United Kingdom 

44 (0)1928 571797; 44 (0)1928 571162 fax 

peter.greenhalgh@astechprojects.co.uk 

www.astechprojects.co.uk 

Booth 233 (10 x 10) 

Applied Robotics, Inc. has a reputation for quality and reliability in the design and 

manufacture of automation accessories, including; QuickSTOP Collision Sensors, 

QuickConnect Systems, XChange Tool Change Systems, Single Axis Force Sensors, 

Grippers, Rotary Actuators and Laboratory Automation Accessories. Applied Robotics, 

Inc. is an international company serving the worlds automation market. Our products and 

services are used widely in manufacturing, welding, medical, food processing, assembly, 

and material handling markets. Applied Robotics, Inc. is an employee owned company 

and ISO9001 registered. 

Booth 1407 (10 x 10) 

ASI manufactures hardware for laboratory automation and fl uorescence microscopy 

that include: extremely precise closed-loop X Y Stages & DC drives for ultra-precise 

Z-axis focusing and XY-axis positioning. These precision devices can be used for 

microspotting, microarrays, microfabrication, and a number of other nanotechnology 

applications. ASI also offers high-speed fi lter wheels, monochromators and shuttering 

devices, microinjectors and micromanipulators, and a wide range of other devices for 

micropositioning and illumination control including complete photometry and imaging 

systems. 

Booth 1538 (10 x 20) 

At Apricot Designs, we are proud to call ourselves specialists in multi-channel microvolume 

pipettors, disposable pipet tips, and high-performance solvent evaporators. The 

primary focus of the company has been on multi-channel micro volume fl uid pipetting 

technology for high throughput and drug discovery applications. Our latest innovations 

include the unique 384 channel pipettors which not only work with 384 and 1536-well 

labware, but can also pipette 96-well labware! This convenient downward compatibility 

is one of its kind in the present market! In addition to our design and development 

capabilities, we also are supported with our in-house machine shop. This allows us to 

quickly respond to the needs of our customers for any custom equipment or equipment 

modifi cations. 

Booth 834 (10 x 10) 

The new Artel MVV Calibration System (Multi-Channel Volume Verifi cation) uses a novel 

dual-dye photometric method to overcome the limitations of other methods designed to 

calibrate automated liquid handling equipment. System components include equipment 

and reagents. Also featuring the Artel PCS ® Pipette Calibration System used for calibrating 

manual pipettes and Artel Pipette Tracker software, which provides automatic electronic 

data management of pipettes and their performance. 

Booth 1607 (10 x 40) 

The Association for Laboratory Automation is a worldwide organization representing 

leaders in all aspects of laboratory automation. ALA seeks to provide a greater 

understanding of the importance and value of automation technologies in laboratory 

settings, to advance science and promote education related to laboratory automation 

by encouraging the study, advancing the science and improving the practice of medical 

and laboratory automation. For more information, visit ALA in booth 1607, log on to 

labautomation.org, or contact ALA at (866) 263-4928. 

Booth 1424 (10 x 10) 

ASTECH Projects create bespoke automation systems for each customer’s unique 

requirements. ASTECH are specialists in a number of key areas such as Inhaler and 

Respiratory automation, High Throughput Experimentation (H.T.E) and novel “never 

been done before” solutions. ASTECH also integrate existing semi-automated systems 

(i.e. autosamplers, powder dispensers and specialist laboratory equipment) to produce 

truly innovative solutions that are admired throughout the industry. ASTECH deliver 

automation solutions that are both robust and fi t for purpose. Our key customers are in the 

Pharmaceutical, Life Sciences, Food and Petro-Chemical industries. 

252

Aurora Discovery, Inc. 

9645 Scranton Road, Suite 140 


(858) 334-4500; (858) 334-4564 fax 

info@auroradiscovery.com 

www.auroradiscovery.com 

Axygen Scientific 

33170 Central Avenue 

Union City, California 94587 

(510) 494-8900; (510) 494-0700 fax 

bob@axygen.com 

www.axygen.com 

Bal Seal Engineering 

19650 Pauling 

Foothill Ranch, California 92610-2610 

(800) 366-1006 or (949) 460-2100 

(949) 460-2300 

sales@balseal.com 

www.balseal.com 

Barnstead International/STEM 

2555 Kerper Boulevard 

Dubuque, Iowa 52001-1478 

www.barnstead.com 

BD Biosciences 

2 Oak Park 

Bedford, Massachusetts 01730 

(800) 343-2035 or (978) 901-7300 

(800) 743-6200 or (978) 901-7493 fax 

labware@bd.com 

www.bdbiosciences.com 




www.beckmancoulter.com 

Booth 909 (10 x 20) 

Aurora Discovery, Inc. is an international leader in the development of products and 

technologies that allow pharmaceutical companies to select and develop new medicines 

more rapidly and cost-effectively. Located in San Diego, we provide high value solutions to 

research challenges through automated instrumentation and software. 

Booth 1426 (10 x 10) 

Leading manufacturer of quality plastic consumables and lab equipment with focus on the 

HTS, PCR and general laboratory consumable market. LabAutomation2004 emphasis on 

Maxymum Recovery technology of tips, tubes and plates. Also, introducing a table top Heat 

Sealer for use in sealing adhesive fi lms to plates. Many new products: PCR style plates, 

Deep Well plates, reservoirs used in HTS, and many new robotic tip styles. Distributors 

located in over 80 countries worldwide. Known for exceeding the quality standards and 

performance of OEM manufacturers, for superior service and competitive pricing. 

Booth 1324 (10 x 10) 

For OEMs and suppliers with precision spring and seal needs, Bal Seal Engineering is the 

knowledgeable, professional and responsive engineering and manufacturing solutions 

provider of high quality, high value sealing, connecting, and energizing components 

worldwide. 

Since inception in 1958, pioneering, creating, and vision have been the keywords in 

describing the Bal Seal Engineering dynamic. Today, with over four decades of groundbreaking 

achievements and more than 120 active patents, Bal Seal Engineering designs, 

manufactures, and supplies customized products for sealing and innovative canted-coil 

springs for electrical current transfer and grounding; EMI shielding; and mechanical 

holding, latching, and loading applications. 

Booth 808 (10 x 10) 

STEM, a division of Barnstead International is a manufacturer of synthesis equipment for 

the drug discovery and development market. With a full range of synthesis equipment from 

reaction blocks to fully automated liquid handling workstations, STEM|ReactArray products 

are powerful tools for process development, crystallization, and degradation. 

Booth 1319 (20 x 20 Island) 

BD Biosciences, a business segment of BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), has four 

units: Clontech, Discovery Labware, Immunocytometry Systems, and Pharmingen. As 

one of the largest companies supporting the life sciences, BD Biosciences provides 

integrated, high-value products and services for genomics, proteomics, drug discovery 

and development, and cell analysis. Product offerings include innovative BD Falcon 

plasticware for tissue culture, fl uid handling and high throughput screening, a unique line 

of BD BioCoat cultureware with preapplied extracellular matrix and cell culture reagents 

that include ECM proteins, cytokines, and media additives. 

Booth 1107 (20 x 30) 

At Beckman Coulter, we’re streamlining your discovery process by bringing together 

essential components, and making them work together for you. Stop by our booth and 

come see what’s new in the world of laboratory workstations and learn about the new 

applications that are available to fi t your needs. Advanced technology combined with world 

class service and support are just another way our Smart Solutions are working for you. 

253 

EXHIBITORS

Big Bear Automation 


(510) 333-4338; (925)397-3148 fax 

www.bigbearautomation.com 

Bio-Tek Instruments, Inc. 

Highland Park, P.O. Box 998 

Winooski, Vermont 05404 

(888) 451-5171 

(902) 655-7941 fax 

customercare@biotek.com 

www.biotek.com 

Bio Integrated Solutions 

15 E. Palatine Road, Suite 107 

Prospect Heights, Illinois 60070 

(847) 325-5104; (847) 325-5105 fax 

mary@biointsol.com 

www.biointsol.com 

Biomation 

15091 AL Highway 20 

Madison, Alabama 35756 

(888) 297-4710; (256) 353-1774 fax 

info@biomation.net 

www.biomation.net 

BioMedTech Laboratories, Inc. 

6408 East Fowler Avenue 

Tampa, Florida 33617-2404 

(813) 985-7180; (813) 985-7957 fax 

jsasse@biomedtech.com 

www.biomedtech.com 

BioMicroLab, Inc. 

2500 Dean Lesher Drive, Suite A 

Concord, California 94520 

(925) 689-1200; (925)689-1263 fax 

info@biomicrolab.com 

www.biomicrolab.com 

Booth 240 (10 x 10) 

The Microplate Orbital Shaker product line from Big Bear Automation is a leading high 

quality shaker used in biotechnology, genomics, proteomics, and lab applications. This line 

of single wellplate 1mm orbital shakers provides the smallest foot print, highest speeds 

for vortexing, and the lowest temperature range on the market, and includes a lab model 

and an RS232 data driven model. Big Bear Automation also provides complex industrial 

automation machinery and robotics for a variety of industries. 

Booth 908 (10 x 20) 

Since the introduction of our fi rst product in 1981, Bio-Tek’s Laboratory Division has 

emerged as a worldwide leader in microplate instrumentation. Today, Bio-Tek designs, 

manufactures and distributes a full line of microplate instrumentation including 

absorbance, fl uorescence, and luminescence readers for multi-well formats; microplate 

washers for 96-/384-well applications; automated liquid handling and dispensing 

instruments; and data reduction software that expands every application from research to 

clinical market. 

Booth 1503 (10 x 10) 

Specializing in scalable and versatile liquid handling systems, value-added instrumentation 

and database support, Bio Integrated Solutions provides leading-edge laboratory automation 

and device integration solutions to the bench-top scientist as well as to core facilities. The 

compact and fl exible BISFlex liquid handling systems and the BioSpotter line of spotters 

provide comprehensive data logging and seamless interfacing with external devices through a 

powerful user-friendly software framework. Reactor blocks, Peltier devices, shakers, balances, 

plate sealers, evaporators and interface devices are available as standalone devices or as part 

of a custom integrated system. 

Booth 912 (10 x 20) 

Biomation Life Sciences Group provides process driven or turnkey automated systems to 

the life sciences industry. Our life sciences process knowledge and engineering expertise, 

in combination with our industrial quality automation experience and comprehensive 

programming capability, yields reliable, cost effective solutions using cutting-edge, 

proven, automation and robotic technology for your manufacturing, clinical, clean 

room or laboratory process automation needs. Services provided include evaluation, 

recommendation, simulation and implementation. These are followed up by on-site training, 

and service and maintenance for our dedicated, 24-hour, on call aftermarket group. 

Booth 113 (10 x 10) 

BioMedTech Laboratories, Inc., manufactures a line of high-quality 96-, 384-, and 1536well 

microplates, custom-coated with streptavidin, biotin, protein A/G/L, anti rabbit/mouse/ 

goat/human antibodies, Ni-chelate, glutathione, reactive amino/carboxyl/maleimidegroups, 

non-binding surface coatings, oligonucleotides, polylysine, collagen, fi bronectin 

or basement membrane extracellular matrix. BioMedTech also produces a panel of higheffi 

ciency blocking reagents engineered for inactivating the surface of plastic, glass, metal 

or silicon to maximize signal-to-noise ratio in receptor-, immuno-, kinase-, DNA/RNA, 

microarray- and biochip assays. 

Booth 241 (10 x 10) 

BioMicroLab’s XL20 tube handling system automates tube sorting for standard 96 tube 

rack labware. The XL20 robotics feature built-in 2D scanner technology to track 2D marked 

tubes. BioMicroLab offers several 2D tube scanner systems for single tube or 96 tube 

rack applications. Visit BioMicroLab to see the latest in automated tube handlers and 2D 

scanning systems for 96 tube rack labware. 

254

Biosero 

16909 Parthenia Street, Suite 102 

North Hills, California 91343 

(818) 891-7666; (818) 891-7336 fax 

info@bioseroinc.com 

www.bioseroinc.com 

Biotage 

P.O. Box 8006 

Charlottesville, Virginia 22932 

(800) 446-4752; (434) 979-4743 fax 

info@biotage.com 

www.biotage.com 

BioTX Automation, Inc. 

16753 Donwick, Suite A6 

Conroe, Texas 77385 

(936) 273-2633; (936) 273-2633 fax 

www.biotxautomation.com 

Bishop-Wisecarver Corporation 

2104 Martin Way 

Pittsburg, California 94565 

(925) 439-8272; (925) 439-5931 fax 

sales@bwc.com or info@bwc.com 

www.bwc.com 

BMG Labtechnologies, Inc. 

2415 Presidential Drive 

Building 204, Suite 118 

Durham, North Carolina 27703-8026 

(919) 806-1735; (919) 806-8526 fax 

usa@bmglabtech.com 

www.bmglabtech.com 

Boston Biomedica, Inc. 

375 West Street 

W. Bridgewater, Massachusetts 02379 

(508) 580-1900; (508) 580-2202 fax 

lbraswell@bbii.com 

www.bbii.com 

Booth 1536 (10 x 10) 

Biosero brings together a consortium of businesses into a sales and support structure that 

provides an ideal communication path between our customers and our business partners. 

Biosero offers a range of products and services, from reagents and consumables to 

software to instrumentation, with a focus on laboratory automation. 

Booth 215 (10 x 10) 

Biotage manufactures equipment and consumables for purifi cation from drug discovery 

to production scale. The new compact Sp4 system for the medicinal chemist easily 

and reliably automates fl ash purifi cation, increasing productivity and freeing chemist from 

manual purifi cations tasks. The Sp4 system sequentially operates four FLASH cartridges, 

each with a dedicated sample collection rack and waste bottle. The recently launched 

Syntage product line includes functionalized chemistry media cartridges that eliminate 

manual work-up and integrate synthesis and purifi cation into one seamless operation. 

Other High Performance Flash Chromatography (HPFC) products include the Horizon, 

Horizon Pioneer, and the new Quad UV parallel purifi cation system, plus FLASH 

cartridges and Samplet cartridges. Biotage launched the new Flex V3 software. 

Booth 111 (10 x 10) 

BioTX Automation is a startup company specializing in the integration and development 

of standard and custom robotic end effecters and work stations for Epson SCARA 

robots. These work stations and end effecters are manufactured from ABS plastic utilizing 

BioTX’s patent pending Rapid Automation Development System (RADS). Current standard 

offerings include Agar plate manipulation, 96 & 384: well pipeting, reagent dispensing, and 

plate manipulation. 

Booth 1227 (10 x 10) 

Bishop-Wisecarver Corporation’s DualVee Motion Technology ® exhibits performance 

characteristics most often associated with medical equipment design—smooth, low noise, 

reliable antifriction guidance. Our product line includes linear systems, rotary guides and 

systems, stainless steel, high temperature and clean room compatible components, and 

aluminum machine framing. For more than 30 years, Bishop-Wisecarver Corporation has 

provided its patented DualVee ® guide wheel design to a host of automation equipment 

engineers. 

Booth 707 (10 x 10) 

BMG Labtechnologies is a global manufacturer of microplate measurement and handling 

systems for basic research and High Throughput Screening. We focus on microplate 

readers with a wide variety of optical detection systems in conjunction with integrated 

liquid handling equipment. Established in 1989, BMG Labtechnologies is headquartered 

in Offenburg Germany, located on the edge of the Black Forest. The backbone of our 

worldwide sales and support network is formed by four BMG Labtechnologies subsidiaries 

located in the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Australia. 

Booth 1220 (10 x 10) 

Pressure Cycling Technology (PCT) uses rapid cycles of high and low hydrostatic pressure 

to control biomolecules. A PCT-based Sample Preparation System is offered by Boston 

Biomedica for the safe, effi cient, and reproducible extraction of nucleic acids and proteins 

from a variety of cells and tissues, including those generally considered “hard-to-lyse.” 

255 

EXHIBITORS

Brandel 

8561 Atlas Drive 


(800) 948-6506; (301) 869-5570 fax 

sales@brandel.com 

www.brandel.com 

Brinkmann Instruments Inc. 

One Cantiague Road 

Westbury, New York 11590 

(516) 334-7500; (516) 334-7521 fax 

info@brinkmann.com 

www.brinkmann.com 

Brooks Automation, Inc., 

Life Sciences Group 

15 Elizabeth Drive 

Chelmsford, Massachusetts 01824 

(978) 262-4354; (978) 262-4202 fax 

larry.chin@brooks.com 

www.brooks.com 




(650) 623-0700; (650) 623-0500 fax 

sales.info@calipertech.com 

www.calipertech.com 

The Center for Biophysical 

Sciences and Engineering 

1530 Third Avenue South 

Birmingham, Alabama 35294-4400 

(205) 975-9590; (205) 934-2659 fax 

Logan@cbse.uab.edu 

www.cbse.uab.edu 

Booth 213 (10 x 10) 

This year, Brandel proudly features our smaller Cell Culture System and Plate Sealing 

System. The Cell Culture system is self-contained within a hood, automating plate 

coating, cell seeding/feeding and permeability studies. Our Sealers offer an adhesivebased 

solution for applying uniform seals for most plate confi gurations, heights, and 

compositions. 

Booth 632 (10 x 20) 

Brinkmann Instruments exhibit will feature new liquid handling workstations, which range in 

performance from automated 96-well and single tube pipetting to nucleic acid purifi cation 

applications. This new line of lab automation equipment, called epMotion is designed and 

manufactured by Eppendorf, a world leader in liquid handling and innovative molecular 

biology research products. In addition to the workstations, the exhibit will include our 

Nucleic Acid Purifi cation, PCR enzyme and reagent system offering for molecular biology 

applications. 

Booth 1228 (10 x 10) 

The Life Sciences Group of Brooks Automation introduces the Parallab 350, a fully 

automated, integrated workstation for performing high throughput nanoliter volume 

reactions in molecular biology applications. Target applications include Cycle Sequencing, 

PCR, SNP’s, and Genotyping. Brooks also develops custom engineered equipment 

solutions for genomics, drug discovery, proteomics, and chemistry laboratories. 

Booth 1201 (20 x 40) 

Caliper Technologies is a leading provider of microfl uidic technology and laboratory 

automation solutions serving the worldwide life science, biotechnology, and 

pharmaceutical industries. With the recent acquisition of Zymark Corporation, Caliper 

now offers a state-of-the-art comprehensive portfolio of microfl uidic, liquid handling, and 

laboratory automation products designed to accelerate drug discovery and development. 

The Caliper booth at LabAutomation2004 features the complete line of Caliper and Zymark 

platforms. 

Booth 235 (10 x 10) 

The CBSE is a leading structural biology center with established high-throughput 

capabilities in: cloning, protein expression and purifi cation, protein crystallization and 

structural determination, molecular biophysics and biocalorimetry, structure directed 

combinatorial chemistry, assay development and high-throughput drug screening. The 

CBSE also has an ISO 9001:2000 certifi ed Engineering division to support the CBSE 

scientists with the development of specialized research instruments for the Center’s high 

throughput robotic workstations and laboratories. The engineering group has grown to 

become a full-service organization able to provide both academic, government, NASA (12 

different experiment systems for 35 space missions on 54 fl ights) and industry customers 

with solutions ranging from technical guidance all the way to full turn-key systems and 

services for mechanical, electrical and software. The engineering group is staffed by 

37 engineers and technicians with collectively over 500 years of applied life sciences 

engineering and aerospace experience. 

256

Chromagen, Inc. 

10449 Roselle Street 


(858) 558-1456; (858) 558-7166 fax 

info@chromagen.com 

www.chromagen.com 

Code Refinery 

2201 Candun Drive, Suite 101 

Apex, North Carolina 27523 

(919) 367-0003; (919) 367-9966 fax 

samird@code-refinery.com 

www.code-refinery.com 

Computype, Inc. 

2285 West County Road C 

St. Paul, Minnesota 55113 

(651) 633-0633; (651) 633-5580 fax 

info@computype.com 

www.computype.com 


45 Nagog Park 

Acton, Massachusetts 01720 

(978) 635-2200; (978) 635-2476 fax 

clswebmail@corning.com 

www.corning.com/lifesciences 

CyBio AG 

Goeschwitzer Str. 40 

Jena 07745 Germany 

49 36413510; 49 3641351409 fax 

info@cybio-ag.com 

www.cybio-ag.com 

Booth 1141 (10 x 10) 

Chromagen is a leader in providing enabling detection technologies for drug discovery and 

life science research. Our fl uorescent technology platforms incorporate molecular tools 

and detection probes into advanced assays for gene expression, kinases and GPCRs, 

accelerating drug discovery, and bioresearch. Chromagen manufactures assays, and 

provides screening and molecular biology services. 

Booth 932 (10 x 10) 

Code Refi nery delivers custom software development and software validation solutions 

to automate laboratory processes. From controlling robotic instruments to validating 

integrated systems, we have the expertise to produce fast, effective results for clients in 

pharmaceutical, clinical diagnostics, biotechnology, and other FDA-regulated industries. 

We work with clients through the entire project life cycle to ensure that all business goals 

are successfully achieved. 

Booth 1519 (10 x 20) 

Computype specializes in the unique identifi cation of labware items via bar code 

technology. We produce variable-information bar code labels, on-demand printing 

systems, bar code scanners, software, and print/apply systems for slides, tubes, vials, and 

microwell plates. We also develop customized interface solutions to help manage your 

data communication requirements. In lab automation, Computype has the experience you 

need to get the results you want. 

Booth 312 (10 x 20) 

Corning Incorporated is the major manufacturer of high-quality, high performance 

tools for high throughput screening, cell culture, genomics, and liquid handling. At 

LabAutomation2004, we will be highlighting our comprehensive line of microplates with 

modifi ed surfaces that provide for optimal performance of cell based and homogenous 

assays. In addition we will feature our newest products including our 96 HTS Transwell. 

Booth 338 (10 x 20) 

CyBio is a global life sciences enterprise with its headquarters in Jena, Germany, and 

offi ces all over the world. Being a company at the cutting edge of technology, CyBio 

develops, produces, and sells technology platforms for drug discovery. With more 

than 15 years of experience CyBio establishes new standards for precision, speed, 

and engineering with its hardware, software, and service products for the automation 

of drug screening processes. The portfolio covers a broad range of excellent solutions 

for pharmaceutical and agrochemical research: liquid handling, plate handling, plate 

imaging, and data handling to achieve fully automated screening technologies, the key for 

innovative and effi cient ultra high-throughput screening (uHTS). CyBio is a global market 

leader in the fi eld of simultaneous pipetting technology. 

257 

EXHIBITORS


7869 NE Day Road W. 


(206) 780-8535; (206) 780-8549 fax 

emeraldproducts@decode.com 

www.decode.com/emeraldproducts 

Del-Tron Precision Inc. 

5 Trowbridge Drive 

Bethel, Connecticut 06801 

(203) 778-2727; (203) 778-2721 fax 

deltron@deltron.com 

www.deltron.com 

Digital Bio Technology, Inc. 

Seoul National University 

1304 Institute of Advanced 

Machinery Design 

Seoul 151-742 Korea 

82 28897139; 82 28852267 

admin@digital-bio.com 

www.digital-bio.com 

DigitalVAR, Inc. 

26212 Industrial Boulevard 

Hayward, California 94545 

(510) 782-7577; (510) 784-1344 fax 

info@digitalvar.com 

www.digitalvar.com 

Dionex Corporation 

1228 Titan Way 

P.O. Box 3603 


(408) 737-0700; (408) 730-9403 fax 

marcom@dionex.com 

www.dionex.com 

Booth 836 (10 x 20) 

deCODE’s Emerald Products for Structural Biology are designed to ease the bottlenecks of 

Crystallography. Validated through our own research, these same proven systems are now 

available to you. Crystallography workstations, software, screens, and plates are available 

as separate components or as an integrated system to fi t your specifi c needs. To fi nd out 

more, visit us at deCODE.com/emeraldproducts. 

Booth 107 (10 x 10) 

Manufacturer of linear bearings including: ball slides, crossed roller slides, 1, 2, or 3 axis 

micrometer driven positioning stages, motor-ready lead screw driven stages, frictionfree 

air actuators, recirculating slide guides, crossed roller rail sets. Products range 

from subminiature slides to heavy duty positioning tables. Both straight line design and 

recirculating type. Modifi ed slides can be incorporated into your design. 

Booth 711 (10 x 10) 

Digital Bio Technology is one of the chief frontier fi rms in the Bio-Infra fi eld. Our company 

develops Solution Tools as well as experimental and medical diagnostic/analysis systems 

based on a new technology of Bio-MEMS, which combines MEMS (Micro Electro 

Mechanical System) technology and Bio technology organically. C-Chip is microchip type 

hemocytometer made of thermoplastics. It is exactly as precise as conventional glass 

hemocytometer, but extremely cheaper. * Disposable and not wear out. * Accurate with 

QC qualifi cation. * Easy to use without washing out and autoclave. * Safe without the 

chance to be exposed to infectious sample and drugs. C-reader is Automatic mocrochiptype 

hemocutometer. The C-Reader system is a fast alternative to conventional manual 

counting methods. The principle of the technique used in the C-Reader is the well known 

method of fl uorescence microscopy, implemented in a small, highly advanced fl uorescence 

microscope combined with a CCD camera and software-based image analysis. The 

excitation source is green laser. The emission fi lter removes all wavelengths from the light 

emitted from the sample except red fl uorescence light. The red fl uorescent light from the 

particles in the sample is focused onto the detector (CCD camera). Then image analysis 

program counts the red particles to represent the cell number in the sample. 

Booth 837 (10 x 10) 

DigitalVAR, Inc., is a premier Value Added Reseller (VAR), centrally located in the San 

Francisco Bay area. We specialize in providing computer systems, integration, and 

disk imaging services for Life Science instrument manufacturers and laboratories. 

We understand the special needs of the Life Science industry. Namely: Cost, quality, 

model stability, accurately repeatable delivery day in and day out, open purchase order 

procurement model; hardware integration and quality assurance. 

Booth 534 (10 x 10) 

Dionex develops, manufactures, and sells a broad range of instruments and consumables 

for IC, HPLC, capillary- and nano LC, and extraction. We offer a family of ion 

chromatography systems, including the ICS-2500, ICS-2000, ICS-1500 and ICS-1000; 

the Summit and inert BioLC ® HPLC systems; the LC Packings UltiMate system for 

proteomics; Chromeleon, ® chromatography management software; the MSQ mass 

spectrometric detector; and accelerated solvent extraction (ASE ® ) instruments. Also 

offered are a range of IC columns for anions and cations, and HPLC columns designed for 

specifi c applications like carbohydrate analysis, DNA and protein separations. 

258

Discovery Partners International 

9640 Towne Centre Drive 


(858) 455-8600 

www.discoverypartners.com 

DRD Diluter Corporation 


W. Peabody, Massachusetts 01960 

(978) 536-7062; (978) 536-7054 fax 

drddiluter@drddiluter.com 

www.drddiluter.com 

Drug Discovery & Development 

Reed Business Information 

301 Gibraltar Drive, Box 650 

Morris Plains, New Jersey 07950 

(516) 541-8566; (603) 250-0925 fax 

jboyce@reedbusiness.com 

www.dddmag.com 

Drug Discovery World 

39 Vineyard Path 

Mortlake, London, SW14 8ET, 


44 208 487 5656; 44 209 487 5666 fax 

damian@rjcoms.com 

www.ddw-online.com 

Eastern Plastics, Inc. 

110 Halcyon Drive 

Bristol, Connecticutt 06010 

(860) 314-2880; (860) 314-2888 fax 

sales@easternplastics.com 

www.easternplastics.com 

Booth 1008 (10 x 10) 

Discovery Partners International, Inc. (Nasdaq: DPII) is a world leader in drug discovery 

collaborations. DPI offers integrated services, products, and systems that span the drug 

discovery continuum, including target characterization, screening and targeted library 

design and synthesis, high throughput and high content screening, lead generation and 

optimization, gene expression analysis products, and protein crystallization. DPI has 

actively contributed to dozens of drug discovery collaborations, working on many of the 

most promising new biological target areas for the biotech and pharmaceutical industries 

around the world. 

Booth 1433 (10 x 20) 

DRD’s patented Differential or Dual Resolution Displacement pumps (most recently 

the CV1dur) are best known for providing the leading immunochemistry analyzers 

with unique wide range with precision. DRD has now miniaturized the technology as 

replacement syringes and as air pipettes. The Dual Resolution Syringe (DRS) can 

replace a conventional single resolution syringe, giving the system extraordinary aspiration 

resolution as fi ne as that of a 10 microliter syringe along with the volume and blowout 

power of a 1 mL syringe. The DRD Nanoblast is an air-fi lled pipette system that can 

pick up and transfer nanoliter volumes touchless. DRD thus endows venerable positive 

displacement technology with the DRD differential principle so that it can aspirate, blastoff 

touchless or dilute sub microliter and nanoliter samples—without any small seals and 

with ample excursion for fi ne metering—with matchless robustness and precision. New 

instruments and system capability for automated DRD microplate, microarray and spotting 

systems will be shown. 

Booth 135 (10 x 10) 

Drug Discovery & Development, a Reed Business Information publication, delivers 

insightful and timely coverage of the latest tools and technologies shaping the dynamic 

world of drug discovery research and development. Topics include the latest developments 

in HTS, genomics/proteomics, chemistry/pharmacology, cell-based technologies, and 

informatics. To obtain your FREE subscription visit www.dddmag.com. 

Booth 1610 (10 x 10) 

Drug Discovery World (DDW) is the world’s leading, truly global business review of 

drug discovery and development. Written by the world’s leading experts and aimed 

at a more senior audience across the various R&D disciplines, DDW discusses the 

latest technological and scientifi c advancements and the commercial implications of 

implementing these advancements. 

Booth 1037 (10 x 20) 

EPI is an ISO 9001:2000 registered company specializing in close-tolerance, complex 

machining of plastics. Tolerances to ±0.0002". CNC milling, drilling to 50:1 aspect ratio, 

tapping, turning, screw machining, polishing/fi nishing, bonding, welding, assembly, 

annealing. Design, engineering, material selection assistance. Extensive experience 

in medical, clinical diagnostics, surgical instruments, laboratory apparatus, test and 

measurement products, multi- and single-layer manifolds, fl uidics, electronics. EPI is 

the largest plastic machining company in the world and works with customers in several 

countries. 

259 

EXHIBITORS

E&K Scientific Products 

1085 Florence Way 

Campbell, California 95008 

(800) 934-8114; (408) 378-2611 fax 

www.eandkscientific.com 

EDC Biosystems 

871 Fox Lane 


(408) 273-2300 

info@edcbiosystems.com 

www.edcbiosystems.com 

Eksigent Technologies 

2021 Las Positas Ct., Suite 161 


(925) 960-8869; (925) 960-8867 fax 

info@eksigent.com 

www.eksigent.com 

ELMO Motion Control, Inc. 

1 Park Drive, Suite 12 

Westford, Massachusetts 01886 

www.elmomc.com 

Elsevier 

625 Walnut Street, Suite 300 


(215) 238-8741; (215) 238-6462 fax 

Encynova 

557-C Burbank Street 

Broomfield, Colorado 80020 

(303) 465-4800 

www.encynova.com 

Booth 1113 (10 x 20) 

E&K Scientifi c has been serving the pharmaceutical and biomedical research industries 

for over 28 years. Our long-standing commitment to provide total customer satisfaction 

and quality products has earned us a solid reputation throughout the medical industry. 

Our focus on product solutions for automating processes, reducing costs and waste has 

led us to develop a diverse product offering. Product solutions include storage systems, 

liquid handling systems, microwell plates from 1536 well to 6 well, reservoirs, molecular 

biology products and a full line of pipet tips to fi t most automated liquid handling systems. 

In addition, we are actively adding new products to meet the ever-evolving demands of the 

research and production communities. 

Booth 1515 (10 x 10) 

EDC Biosystems provides leading edge Research & Development tools and services to the 

Life Science Industries. More specifi cally, we offer novel solutions for the Combinatorial 

Materials Sciences and Drug Discovery markets with our patented True Non-contact 

Technology for low-volume liquid compound handling. 

Booth 833 (10 x 10) 

Eksigent Technologies is launching the Express HPLC system—the fastest, highest 

resolution liquid chromatography system available. The Express HPLC system provides 

as much as a 5X increase in assay speed without a loss of resolution. The Express-800 

system offers 8 fully independent HPLC systems in one compact enclosure, providing up 

to a 40X increase in throughput versus conventional analytical HPLC systems. Stop by the 

Eksigent booth to see a single-channel Express-100 system separate 7 compounds in less 

than 30 seconds! 

Booth 1537 (10 x 10) 

ELMO Motion Control is one of the leading suppliers of compact servo amplifi ers and 

motion controllers for brushless and DC servomotors within the low power range. Founded 

in 1988, the company has gained several years of experience in industrial electronic design 

and manufacturing. Today, serving a large number of leading machine manufacturers in 

different industry segments; such as measuring/inspection machinery, life sciences and 

lab automation. ELMO has locations in Germany, the United States and Israel. On top of 

that, ELMO offers full drive solutions, a combination of complete servo motor and drive 

packages. For further information see the company web site: www.elmomc.com. 

Booth 1607 (10 x 40) 

Elsevier is proud to present The Journal of the Association for Laboratory Automation 

(JALA). Elsevier is the world’s largest scientifi c, technical, and medical provider, 

publishing journals as well as books and secondary databases. JALA is the offi cial journal 

of the ALA. It is a multi-disciplinary international forum devoted to the advancement of 

technology in the laboratory. 

Booth 727 (10 x 10) 

Encynova provides fl uid control systems for precision dispensing and metering. Digitallycontrolled 

Travcyl Systems deliver the accuracy and repeatability required for automated 

processes. Pumping capability, fl uid measurement, and fl ow control are all in one compact 

module which does not require valves or calibration. Control from a PC or PLC via RS-485 

communication. Travcyl Systems are small enough to be robot-mounted and they 

integrate easily into manufacturing, lab, and OEM applications. 

260

Essen Instruments, Inc. 

3909 Research Park Drive, Suite 400 


(734) 769-1600; (734) 769-7295 fax 

info@essen-instruments.com 

www.essen-instruments.com 

Evotec Technologies 

Schnackenburgallee 114 

Hamburg D-22525 Germany 

(919) 467-8733; 49 40560 81488 fax 

robert.rodewald@evotec-technologies.com 

www.evotec-technologies.com 

Exatron Corporation 

2842 Aiello Drive 

San Jose, California 95111-2154 

(408) 629-7600 or (800) EXATRON 

www.exatron.com 

FIBERLite Centrifuge 

422 Aldo Avenue 


(408) 988-1103; (408) 988-1196 fax 

www.piramoon.com 

Fisher Scientific 

2000 Park Lane 

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15275 

(800) 766-7000 

www.fishersci.com 

G&L Precision Die Cutting, Inc. 

1766 Junction Avenue 


(408) 453-9400 or (800) 327-4553 

(408) 451-1199 or (800) 587-4288 faxes 

rperez@glprecision.com 

www.glprecision.com 

Booth 332 (10 x 10) 

Essen Instruments introduces Pipeline—a new generation of sterile dispensing equipment 

for cell culture media and reagents. The Pipeline Dispenser is to be used inside a biocabinet 

and designed to alleviate the tedious nature of manual pipetting operations. The 

Pipeline is fast, effi cient, and promotes consistent sterile technique. 

Booth 937 (10 x 10) 

Evotec Technologies, located in Hamburg, Germany is a wholly owned subsidiary 

of Evotec OAI, and is engaged in the development and manufacture of high quality 

instrument platforms. Evotec’s core FCS+ (Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy) 

technology is used primarily for biochemical binding assays, while other new technologies 

are focused on cell-based assays. Evotec’s Opera system represents the cutting edge 

in high-speed confocal microscopy offering the ability to screen cell-based assays in 

excess of 100,000 wells per day. Newly released, the Evotec Elektra system provides 

fully-automated selection of single cell clones based on their fl uorescence and imaging 

characteristics. Further advancements of Evotec’s core technology will be released in 2004 

offering bench-top FCS+ analysis for biochemical studies. 

Booth 1507 (10 x 10) 

Exatron began operation in May of 1974, as an integrator of Medical, Semiconductor, and 

Industrial applications. We have developed a personal philosophy regarding our customers 

and products. We provide hard-working, well made, reasonably priced equipment 

designed to match our customers’ varying applications. Our customers enjoy the widest 

variety of system confi gurations possible. Exatron is totally committed to supporting our 

older products. 

Booth 1118 (10 x 10) 

FIBERLite Centrifuge’s Mission is to improve laboratory safety worldwide by replacing 

metallic centrifuge rotors with safer, stronger and lighter Carbon Fiber Rotors. FIBERLite 

will display a full range of carbon fi ber composite rotors and the new FIBERFuge, the 

world’s fi rst totally composite centrifuge. Please visit us at www.piramoon.com. 

Booth 1038 (10 x 20) 

World-leader in serving science for the life science, biomedical, pharmaceutical, safety, 

university, and chemical markets, enabling scientifi c discovery and clinical laboratory 

testing by offering over 600,000 products and services to over 350,000 customers in 145 

countries. One-stop source of research, healthcare, safety, fi re fi ghting, and controlled 

environment products, state-of-the-art e-commerce capabilities and integrated global 

logistics network services. 

Booth 1509 (10 x 10) 

G&L Microplate Liddings – microplate sealing tapes offer a variety of temperature 

tolerant, semi-fl exible and impermeable adhesive coated fi lms for use in laboratory 

applications; available in aluminum, polyolefi n, and clear or white polyester fi lms. G&L 

can also customize sealing tapes to meet specifi c application needs. G&L specializes in 

tight tolerance die cutting, printing and multi-layer lamination utilizing a variety of pressure 

sensitive adhesive materials for medical components, diagnostic components, medical 

packaging and medical electronics. 

261 

EXHIBITORS

General Data Company, Inc. 

4354 Ferguson Drive 

Cincinnati, Ohio 45245 

(800) 733-5252; (513) 752-6947 fax 

medinfo@general-data.com 

www.general-data.com 

Genetic Engineering News/ 

Modern Drug & Discovery 

2 Madison Avenue 

Larchmont, New York 10538 

(914) 834-3100; (914) 834-3689 fax 

nrivera@liebertpub.com 

www.genengnews.com 

Genetix 

Queensway 

New Milton, Hampshire 

BH25 5NN United Kingdom 

info@genetix.com 

www.genetix.com 

Genmark Automation 

1201 Cadillac Ct. 

Milpitas, California 95035 

(408) 678-8510; (408) 678-8595 fax 

rhiannonh@genmarkautomation.com 

www.genmarkautomation.com 

Genomic Solutions 

17851 Sky Park Circle 

Irvine, California 92887 

www.genomicsolutions.com 

Booth 1033 (10 x 10) 

General Data provides innovative solutions for barcode labeling and identifi cation to the 

healthcare industry. We will be featuring StainerShield – a new solution that brings 

effective on-demand pre-stainer bar code labeling of tissue and specimen slides to the 

lab. StainerShield labels are formulated to withstand the harsh chemicals of a laboratory’s 

slide staining and preparation process. They are easily printed in the lab, and can use data 

directly from the LIS. Complete label printing starter kits are available for under $3,000. 

www.stainershield.com 

Booth 725 (10 x 10) 

The most widely read publication in the biotechnology/bioprocess industry worldwide. 

Provides major coverage of signifi cant issues, novel drug discovery technologies, 

regulatory, and scaleup guidelines, R&D, fi nancial news (including public offerings, 

mergers, and venture capital), funding and government news, corporate profi les, university 

news, meeting reports, foreign reports, new product and literature information, and critical 

in-depth articles relating to the production of biotechnology products. Indexed in BIOSIS, 

Biotechnology Citation index (ISI), Research Alert (ISI), and SCiSearch/Science Citation 

Index- Expanded (ISI). 

Booth 425 (10 x 30) 

Genetix designs and manufactures automated systems to meet your Proteomics, 

Genomic, Cell Biology, and Liquid Handling application needs. Our instrumentation, 

consumables and reagents provide the total solution to your Microarraying, 2D Gel 

Excision and Colony Picking research. 

Booth 539 (10 x 10) 

Genmark Automation would like you to experience a new way of looking at automated 

plate handling with our introduction of the most advanced high throughput robotic and 

automation systems on the market. Now you have a choice! Genmark Automation has 

been a Total Automation Solutions provider of integrated automation systems for the 

global semiconductor, data storage and fl at panel display industries for over 15 years. With 

an install base of over 25,000 systems worldwide, Genmark continues to offer the most 

advanced, high throughput, fully customizable atmospheric and vacuum robotics, isolated 

mini-environment front-end solutions, and complete “real time” virtual reality software tools 

for the semiconductor and now laboratory automation markets worldwide. Supporting 

OEM sales and manufacturing facilities, Genmark Automation has support offi ces located 

in the United States, Europe, Israel, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, and Korea. 

Booth 810 (10 x 20) 

Genomic Solutions develops, manufactures, and sells instrumentation, software, and 

consumables used to determine the activity level of genes, that can isolate, identify and 

characterize proteins, and to dispense small volumes of biologically important materials. 

The company’s products and systems enable researchers to perform complex, high 

volume experiments at a lower cost and in less time than traditional techniques. As a result, 

Genomic Solutions products and systems facilitate rapid and less expensive drug discovery. 

262

263

GenoVision Inc. 

901 South Bolmar St., Suite R 

West Chester, Pennsylvania 19382 

(610) 430-8841; (610) 430-8845 fax 

customer.service@genovision.com 

www.genovision.com 




(760) 268-5200 

www.genvault.com 

Gilson, Inc. 

3000 W. Beltline Highway 


(800) 445-7661; (608) 831-4451 fax 

sales@gilson.com 

www.gilson.com 

Glas-Col, LLC 

711 Hulman Street 

P.O. Box 2128 

Terre Haute, Indiana 47802 

(812) 235-6167; (812) 234-6975 fax 

pinnacle@glascol.com 

www.glascol.com 


1205 Sarah Street 

Longwood, Florida 32750 

(407) 333-2800; (407) 333-3001 fax 

info@us.gbo.com 

www.gbo.com/bioscience 

Hamilton Company 

4970 Energy Way 

Reno, Nevada 89502 

(775) 858-3000 

www.hamiltoncompany.com 

Booth 1535 (10 x 10) 

GenoVision is an innovative biotech company. GenoVision has developed a revolutionary 

technology for molecular haplotyping, Haplotype Specifi c Extraction, HSE. HSE allows for 

the physical separation of naturally diploid DNA into its haploid components for downstream 

application. HSE is elegantly simple, and provides a powerful tool for genetic analysis. 

Booth 541 (10 x 10) 

GenVault provides integrated dynamic archive solutions within an exchange network to 

facilitate the distribution of genetic samples and information and enable discovery. 


Gilson, Inc. is a manufacturer of high-quality, dependable automated liquid handling 

instruments for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Product lines include 

a full range (nano to preparative) of HPLC systems, along with high-throughput robotic 

workstations. Gilson also manufactures a line of instruments for OEM customers who 

incorporate these instruments into a wide range of existing laboratory systems. Gilson 

offers an extensive list of technical training courses that are designed to help customers 

maximize the operation of their Gilson instruments and software. 

Booth 210 (10 x 10) 

Introducing our robotic friendly mixer for liquid handling systems. Operation is by contact 

closure or through software control commands. Heating, cooling and concentration of 

samples can be incorporated with many systems. Glas-Col mixers are low profi le and can 

be designed for your application. 


Introducing the HTA Array, an innovative 96 well biochip microplate for high-throughput 

microarraying. This platform fi ts the standard SBS format and incorporates GREINER’s 

expertise with HTS products and current Biochip technology. Also featuring Real-Time 

PCR plates, 384 Well Small Volume plates, a full line of Glass Bottom plates, New and 

Improved Protein-Coated Labware and an enlarging CrystalStar Family of protein 

crystallization plates. 

Booth 207 (20 x 30) 

Hamilton Company provides a constellation of liquid handling robotics for the 

pharmaceutical and biotech industries. The MICROLAB ® STAR and STAR-let use patented 

technology for precise pipetting. Hardware options and standard software provide easy 

integration with third party devices. The Automated Vacuum System (AVS) allows for 

hands-free, feedback-controlled, robotics-friendly 96-well vacuum fi ltration. Visit the 

Hamilton booth to see and discuss our multiple fl uid handling technologies, the fl exible 

software packages, and the plate-handling robotic solutions. 

264

HEMCO Corporation 

111 Powell Road 

Independence, Missouri 64056 

(816) 796-2900; (816) 796-3333 fax 

info@hemcocorp.com 

www.hemcocorp.com 

Hettich 

Gartenstraße 100 

D-78532 Tuttlingen 

Germany 

49 7461 705-0; 49 7461 705-125 fax 

info@hettichlab.com 

www.hettichlab.com 

Hudson Control Group, Inc. 

10 Stern Avenue 

Springfield, New Jersey 07081 

(973) 376-7400; (973) 376-8265 fax 

info@hudsoncontrol.com 

www.hudsoncontrol.com 

IDBS Inc. 

2 Occam Court 

Surrey Research Park 

Guildford, Surrey 

GU2 7QB 

01483 595 000; 01483 595 001 fax 

www.id-bs.com 

IKO International, Inc. 

20170 S. Western Avenue 

Torrance, California 90501 

(310) 609-3988; (310) 609-3916 fax 

wco@ikonet.co.jp 

www.ikont.com 

Booth 421 (10 x 10) 

HEMCO will be exhibiting modular enclosures to isolate lab automation equipment and 

processes. These enclosures can be engineered to exhaust hazardous fumes, maintain a 

sterile HEPA fi ltered Class 100 work environment, recirculate precise temperature/humidity 

controlled air or supply HEPA fi ltered air in and out for product and personnel protection. 

Booth 933 (10 x 10) 

HETTICH is one of the leading manufacturers of laboratory centrifuges worldwide. The 

Rotanta Robotic centrifuge is the perfect match for system integrators from all fi elds of 

automated centrifugation. At LabAutomation2004 Hettich will show the machine integrated 

in a PVT module designed for use in clinical lab automation. 

Booth 1413 (10 x 20) 

Hudson sells robotics for microplate movement capable of integrating with more than 100 

devices from other manufacturers. Hudson also provides, through partnerships, liquid 

handlers, washers, and dispensers combined with robotics for completely automated 

assays as well as automated storage and retrieval systems. The company focuses on the 

pharmaceutical and biotechnology markets. 

Booth 439 (10 x 10) 

IDBS is a leading provider of advanced software solutions for the pharmaceutical, 

biotechnology, and agrochemical industries. IDBS’ applications, such as ActivityBase, 

are integrated data management, analysis, and decision-making products used in the 

drug discovery industry to acquire, manage, and use chemical and biological data across a 

spectrum of discovery activities. 

Booth 1125 (10 x 10) 

Long-Term Maintenance Free Linear Way Series, ML, MH, ME & MUL Series; Maintenance 

free for saving-resources. 5 years or 20,000 km lubrication free operation achieved. Anti- 

Creep Cage Crossed Roller Way, CRWG Series; Enable for using in vertical axis. Enable 

for high-speed and high-acceleration operation. The Smallest All Stainless made Ball Slide 

Unit; BWU6 is suitable for Bio-Medical Equipment in Clean room environment. Capilube 

Cam Follower, CF…/SG provides maintenance solution. Cleanroom Positioning Table, TC 

series achieved ISO Cleanliness Class 1 or less. New Concept Z-axis Elevating Stage; TZ. 

Compact XY-Theta linear motor stage; SA65D (65 mm x 65 mm x 56.5 mm) achieved 0.1micron 

m resolution. 

265 

EXHIBITORS

ILS Innovative Labor Systeme 

Mittelstrasse 37 

D-98714 Stuetzerbach Germany 

49(0)36784 50206; 49(0)36784 50207 fax 

ils@microsyringes.com 

www.microsyringes.com 

INA Linear Technik, 

A division of INA USA Corp. 

308 Springhill Farm Road 

Fort Mill, South Carolina 29715 

(803) 548-8500; (803) 548-8599 fax 

www.ina.com/us 

Innovadyne Technologies, Inc. 

2835 Duke Court, P.O. Box 7329 

Santa Rosa, California 95407-7329 

(707) 547-2500; (707) 547-2501 fax 

info@innovadyne.com 

www.innovadyne.com 

Innovative Microplate 

1998 Westover Road 

Chicopee, Massachusetts 01022 

(413) 593-5300; (413) 593-5900 fax 

jlipsky@innovativemicroplate.com 

www.innovativemicroplate.com 

Invetech Instrument 

Development and Manufacture 

44 Montgomery Street, Suite 1308 

San Francisco, California 94104 

(415) 533-1483; (415) 693-0826 fax 

instruments@invetech.us 

www.invetech.us 

ISC BioExpress 

420 North Kays Drive 

Kaysville, Utah 84037 

(800) 999-2901; (801) 547-5051 fax 

isc@bioexpress.com 

www.bioexpress.com 

Booth 1229 (10 x 10) 

ILS manufactures precision microsyringes from 0,5 µl to 50ml for manual dosing and 

automatic systems such as autosamplers, syringe pumps, dilutors and dispensers. For 

better precision, maximum chemical resistance and a longer lifetime, all syringes are 

made of genuine 3.3 borosilicate glass (DURAN ® = Schott Glaswerke AG). More than 700 

types and variations are available from the catalogue. As an OEM supplier ILS assists its 

customers in solving their liquid handling and dosing problems. ILS also offers a unique 

precision syringe pump VP 9100 for OEM application in microlitre dosage 

Booth 1318 (10 x 10) 

INA is your one stop source for linear and rotary motion systems—2 and 4 row ball & roller 

profi le systems, roundshaft systems, track roller systems, mechanical actuators, roller & 

ball screws, ball splines, ball screw support bearings, turntable bearings. State-of-the-art 

technology for every application. 

Booth 733 (10 x 10) 

Innovadyne Technologies, Inc. is a privately held, rapidly growing fl uidics technology 

company that manufactures and sells enabling non-contact, low-volume liquid 

transfer solutions to end users and leading lab automation companies. Innovadyne’s 

nanopipetting products range from single-channel, OEM-integrated dispensing devices 

to self-contained, 96-channel sample transfer instruments. 

Booth 814 (10 x 10) 

Innovative Microplate offers to take your research beyond the industry standard. 

Application specifi c microplates to personalized fi ltration devices. We create solutions that 

support your vision and achieve your scientifi c objectives. Complete in-house fabrication 

allows us to focus on rapid turnaround and lets you focus on your pursuits. 

Booth 435 (10 x 20) 

Invetech provides contract instrument design, development and manufacturing services 

for leading clinical diagnostics, life science and biotechnology companies. Our track record 

includes 20+ automated laboratory and point-of-care instruments since 1988. A 200+ 

in-house team with systematic ISO 9001, QSR compliant development processes and 

FDA registered manufacturing, plus our responsive approach, effectively integrates global 

teams to deliver high quality, fast-to-market results at a competitive cost. 

Booth 936 (10 x 10) 

ISC BioExpress offers wide-ranging technologies and products for the life science 

and drug discovery laboratory. Key products include reagents, RNAse/DNAse free 

consumables, automated sequencing solutions, and equipment for research procedures 

involving HTS, electrophoresis, nucleic acids, hybridization, fi ltration, immunology, and 

tissue culture. The extensive equipment offering includes products for gradient thermal 

cycling, centrifugation, electroporation, and more. 

266

J-Kem Scientific, Inc. 

6970 Olive Boulevard 


(800) 827-4849; (314) 863-6070 fax 

jkem911@jkem.com 

www.jkem.com 

Jencons Scientific, Inc. 

800 Bursca Drive, Suite 801 


(412) 257-8861; (412) 257-8809 fax 

info@jencons.com 

www.jenconsusa.com 

Jouan Robotics 

170 Marcel Drive 

Winchester, Virginia 22602 

(800) 820-9427 

(540) 869-8623; (540) 869-8626 fax 

info@jouanroboticsusa.com 

www.jouanroboticsusa.com 

Julabo USA, Inc. 

754 Roble Road 

Allentown, Pennsylvania 18109 

(800) 458-5226; (610) 231-0260 fax 

daniel@julabo.com 

www.julabo.com 

Jun-Air, USA 

1350 Abbott Court 

Buffalo Grove, Illinois 60089 

(847) 215-9444; (847) 215-9449 fax 

tomas.torp@jun-air.com 

www.jun-air.com 

Kendro Laboratory Products 

275 Aiken Road 

Asheville, North Carolina 28804 

(800) 522-7746 

info@kendro.com 

www.kendro.com 

Booth 1006 (10 x 10) 

Offering the Phoenix and our new Eclipse line of custom robotic Workstations for weighing, 

dissolution, SPE, reformatting, and custom designs. Eclipse workstations are module 

and built-to-order starting at just $13,000. Accessories include homing shakers, fi lter, 

SPE, and SPS stations. Parallel synthesis reactors offer built in stirring, inert atmosphere, 

and temperature control. Digital temperature controllers regulate any volume or piece of 

equipment to 0.1˚ C. Digital vacuum regulator controls pressure and eliminates mercury. 

J-KEM makes custom automation equipment to your specifi cation. 

Booth 713 (10 x 10) 

Introducing our new range of Millennium microplate products including 96/384 dispensers, 

washers and incubator shakers. Also featuring Sealpette & Powerpette manual and 

electronic pipetting and dispensing products and BioPlastics Real-Time PCR Tubes and 

Plates. 

Booth 507 (10 x 30) 

Jouan Robotics combines top-level expertise in robotics systems design with the 

internationally recognized know-how of Jouan in centrifugation, cold storage, incubation… 

Jouan Robotics offers automated modules, such as Automated Centrifuges, Automated 

CO2 incubators, and the MolBank, a unique instrument for automated cold storage and 

retrieval of microplates. We also develop complete sample preparation and management 

workstations based on our products. 

Booth 520 (10 x 10) 

Julabo is a worldwide manufacturer of constant temperature circulators with a 36-year 

reputation for high quality, reliable and durable products, combined with an excellent 

support. A wide product range of refrigerated & heating circulators, water baths and 

chillers is completed by the highly-dynamic temperature controllers of the Presto- and 

Forte HT-series. JULABO—When temperature matters. 

Booth 1134 (10 x 10) 

Specializing in clean and quiet Air. Powering gas generating equipment, rheometers, and 

laboratory instruments. Air bearings, leveling and suspension systems. Medical, dental 

and optical equipment and applications. Animatronics, airbrushing, automation, system 

pressurization, and particle analyzing and our newest product, medical grade compressed 

air. In-house custom applications and worldwide sales, service, and distribution. 

Booth 1524 (10 x 20) 

Kendro designs and manufactures the Heraeus brand of Cytomat robot accessible 

incubators and storage chambers. The products come in a wide variety of temperature 

ranges (-20 to +70C) and capacities (42 to 924 micro plates) used for cell-based assays, 

cell culture, compound storage, ELISA and other biochemical assays. These products are 

designed to provide superior environmental control and are easily integrated into most 

types and brands of automated 

assay systems. 

267 

EXHIBITORS

Kloehn Company 

10000 Banburry Cross Drive 

Las Vegas, Nevada 89144 

(702) 243-7727 or (800) 358-4342 

(702) 243-6036 fax 

info@kloehn.com 

www.kloehn.com 

KMC Systems, Inc. 

220 Daniel Webster Highway 

Merrimack, New Hampshire 03054 

(603) 886-7501; (603) 594-7022 fax 

kcushman@kollsman.com 

www.kmcsystems.com 

LABCON North America 

P.O. Box 5559 

Petaluma, California 94955 

www.labcon.com 

Labcyte 

1190 Borregas Avenue 


(408) 747-2000; (408) 747-2010 fax 

contact@labcyte.com 

www.labcyte.com 




(908) 707-4100; (908) 707-1179 fax 


www.labvantage.com 

Booth 533 (10 x 10) 

Kloehn Company is a primary manufacturer of precision liquid handling components 

including syringes, solenoid and shear valves, single and multichannel syringe pumps, 

needles and probes, and associated tubing and fi ttings. We specialize in turnkey fl uidic 

systems for OEM instrumentation. 

Booth 1514 (10 x 10) 

Design, development and production of electronic and electromechanical devices, 

including diagnostic, therapeutic, and biomedical instrumentation. Expert in all aspects 

of engineering, validation, and design for production; 20 +years of medical industry 

experience. Flexible turnkey manufacturing with full warranty and depot support. ISO 9001 

certifi ed; FDA registered. Full compliance with quality system regulation. 

Booth 1129 (10 x 10) 

Labcon operates from a 125,000 square foot facility about 45 minutes north of San 

Francisco. We develop and market Earth Friendly ® Disposable Pipet Tips for many 

automated pipettors. Our focus is on solutions that eliminate or reduce waste from the 

disposables you use. We have a variety of refi lling systems for pipet tips available some 

of which can be supplied directly to your pipetting station with our proprietary LightsOff 

Robots. 

Booth 1136 (10 x 30) 

Labcyte Inc. provides products to improve effi ciency and decrease costs for liquid 

handling in a broad set of life science applications. Labcyte offers the mini-Gene reagent 

dispenser for 96, 384 and 1536 well plates, the “mini-Stack” for automated plate handling 

and lid removal and the new SII for tabletop pipetting with interchangeable 96/384 channel 

pipetting heads and on-board disposable tip changing. For HTS, the BioCross has an 

eight-position deck with on-board robot for handling consumables and integrated stackers 

for plates, tips or reservoirs and integrates with shakers, vacuum stations, tip washers and 

cooling units. Labcyte supplies high-quality disposable tips for the Beckman Biomek ® , 

Multimek ® and FX ® systems and consumables for the Zymark RapidPlate, ® Tecan Genesis, ® 

and Perkin/Elmer-Packard Multiprobe ® and Evolution P3 as well as hydrophobic fi lter 

barrier tips. Labcyte’s newest product, the Echo 550, uses focused acoustics (ultrasound) 

for “touchless” liquid transfer. Having no contact between the device and the solution 

being moved means no washing or tips are required. The fi rst system is optimized for the 

transfer of 5 to 50 nL of DMSO/water solutions of compound libraries with CV’s of less 

than 8% for dispensing into empty or fi lled plates. 

Booth 1221 (10 x 10) 

LabVantage is a leader in Enterprise LIMS and Life Sciences LIMS solutions, and an 

Advanced IBM Business Partner. LabVantage provides intelligent sample and experiment 

data management solutions for traditional manufacturing QA/QC, pharmaceutical QC, 

genomics, proteomics, and high throughput screening. LabVantage also offers services 

such as industry and technology consulting, implementation services, application training, 

and extensive customer support services. Since 1981, LabVantage has implemented 

hundreds of laboratory information systems across a broad range of industries. 

268

Lathrop Engineering, Inc. 

1101 S. Winchester Boulevard, B110 


(408) 260-2111; (408) 260-2242 fax 

bobl@lathropengineering.com 

www.lathropengineering.com 

Lawrence Berkeley National 

Laboratory 

1 Cyclotron Road 


(510) 486-4000 

www.lbl.gov 

LEAP Technologies 

P.O. Box 969 

Carrboro, North Carolina 27510 

(800) 229-8814 

info@leaptec.com 

www.leaptec.com 

Liconic Instruments 

Industriestrasse 170 

9493 Mauren 

Principality of Liechtenstein 

423 373 63 39; 423 373 53 59 fax 

www.liconic.com 


P.O.Box 1663 


(505) 665-9091 

www.lanl.gov 

Booth 1425 (10 x 10) 

Lathrop is a fast track, full service product development organization. From concept to 

pre-production prototypes and manufacturing transfer, we have expertise in microfl uidics, 

optics, robotics, thermal, electronics, industrial design, packaging, embedded software, 

plastics, FEA analysis, systems integration, design for manufacturability, serviceability and 

cost reduction. Exceeding customer’s expectations by design since 1982. ISO9001:2000. 

Booth 941 (10 x 10) 

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is a major multi-program national laboratory, 

managed by the University of California for the Department of Energy (DOE). Berkeley 

Lab’s research produces transferable innovations and inventions. A variety of mechanisms 

are available through licensing and research partnership programs that help assist 

with commercialization from Berkeley Lab to the industry. Following a 72 year tradition 

of scientifi c inquiry and discovery, Berkeley Lab has developed technologies with a 

wide range of applications across industry, especially in the area of energy effi ciency, 

biotechnology, medical imaging and instrumentation, nanotechnologies, advance 

materials, environmental protection, and semiconductor processing. For a more detailed 

list of technologies available for licensing and collaborative research, please visit our web 

site at www.lbl.gov/tt/. 

Booth 1036 (10 x 10) 

LEAP Technologies will feature our 2D iD Gel Processing System for better gel imaging and 

spot cutting in proteomics. LEAP specializes in front-end automation for mass spec, LC, 

GC, and SPE. LEAP Shell is a new, unique, sample centric software product for the Mass 

Spec Lab. It synchronizes peripheral devices of the MS, including pumps, autosamplers, 

valves, and heaters. 

Booth 206 (10 x 20) 

Liconic AG is the world’s leading manufacturer of automated incubators for life science 

research. In addition, Liconic manufactures automated pick-and-place systems for 

innovative components, including those used in future-orientated communication 

technologies. 

Booth 824 (10 x 10) 

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) has a large and diverse bioscience research and 

technology development program funded in excess of $150M per year. The program 

features hundreds of academic and corporate collaborations and a fast-growing 

intellectual property portfolio. LANL is actively interested in developing additional 

collaborations with researchers in the life sciences industry. LANL will showcase some of 

its latest research as well as identify collaboration mechanisms, partnering opportunities, 

as well as technology transfer and 

licensing opportunities. 

269 

EXHIBITORS

270

Luminex Corporation 

12212 Technology Boulevard 


(512) 219-8020; (512) 219-5195 fax 

info@luminexcorp.com 

www.luminexcorp.com 

Macherey-Nagel 

6 S. Third Street, Suite 402 

Easton, Pennsylvania 18042 

(610) 559-9848; (610) 559-9878 fax 

sales-us@mn-net.com 

www.mn-net.com 

MATECH 

31304 Via Colinas, Suite 102 

Westlake Village, California 91362 

www.matech.us 

MatriCal, Inc. 

665 N. Riverpoint Boulevard 

Spokane, Washington 99208 

(509) 343-6225; (509) 343-9224 fax 

www.matrical.com 

Matrix Technologies Corporation 

22 Friars Drive 

Hudson, New Hampshire 03051 

(603) 595-0505; (603) 595-0106 fax 

www.matrixtechcorp.com 

Booth 735 (10 x 20) 

Luminex Corporation develops, manufactures and markets proprietary biological testing 

technologies with applications throughout the life sciences industry. The company’s 

xMAP system is an open-architecture, multi-analyte technology platform that delivers 

fast, accurate and cost-effective bioassay results to markets as diverse as pharmaceutical 

drug discovery, clinical diagnostics and biomedical research, including the genomics and 

proteomics research markets. The company’s xMAP technology is sold worldwide and is 

already in use in leading research laboratories as well as major pharmaceutical, diagnostic, 

and biotechnology companies. 

Booth 709 (10 x 10) 

Macherey-Nagel is a world-leader in the development, production, and distribution of 

DNA/RNA purifi cation kits based on fi lter, silica, magnetic bead, or alternative materials. 

The products are suitable for the isolation of plasmid DNA, PCR products, total RNA and 

genomic DNA on all common laboratory automated workstations. Please also inquire 

about our clinical and molecular diagnostic, plant, and forensic kits. 

Booth 934 (10 x 10) 

Since its founding in 1989, MATECH has become recognized as a world class research 

and development laboratory in the areas of optical, electronic, bio-materials, and high 

temperature ceramic materials by chemical polymerization methods. MATECH was 

founded by Dr. Edward J. A. Pope. During the past 13 years, MATECH has generated 

in excess of $5.5 million in revenues from private sector clients and product sales. 

In addition, MATECH manufactures and sells Fluorescent Reference Standards 

(www.matech.us) for calibrating plate-reading machines used in medical analysis, drug 

discovery, high throughput screening, and clinical diagnostics. MATECH’s past and 

present clients include ATK Thiokol, Pratt & Whitney Engine Division, Boeing IDS, Goodrich 

Aerospace, Westinghouse Nuclear Division, HITCO, Refractory Composites, Inc., Ceramic 

Composites Innovations (CCI), NALCO Chemical Corporation, Roche Diagnostics (formerly 

Boehringer-Mannheim Corporation), Beckman-Coulter (formerly Beckman Instruments), 

Inc., Schott Gas Burner Division, and Careside Diagnostics. This is only a partial listing. 

Booth 1328 (10 x 10) 

MatriCal is a leading developer of instrumentation for the life science research market. 

The company’s innovative products include a patented Microwell plate line featuring 

high quality low volume plates for HTS. The MatriStore, MatriSeal, MatriPress compound 

storage systems and 2D MicroBank minitube cassettes provide a robust and fl exible 

solution for compound management from freezers to fully integrated solutions. The 

SonicMan HT sonicator enables redissolution of compounds and extraction of target 

proteins, RNA/DNA, and enzymes in 96, 384, and 1536-well plates. The MatriCycler 

offers a patented robotic compatible solution for 1-20uL reactions for ultra high speed 

amplication in 384 and 1536-well formats. 

Booth 1506 (10 x 40) 

Matrix Technologies Corporation, a leader in liquid handling technology, offers an extensive 

line of devices and consumables. The company’s liquid handling instrumentation ranges 

from hand held pipettors to automated workstations. In addition, Matrix offers a wide 

range of high quality pipette tips. Also available are bar-coded liquid storage systems, 

proprietary microarray disposables and a broad selection of microwell assay plates. 

271 

EXHIBITORS

MDL Information Systems 



(510) 895-1313; (510) 614-3608 fax 

l.hill@mdl.com 

www.mdl.com 

MéCour Temperature Control 

10 Merrimack River Road 

Groveland, Massachusetts 01834 

(877) 398-6085 

mail@mecour.com 

www.mecour.com 

Merlin BioProducts BV 

Charles Petitweg 37-11 

4827 HJ Breda 

The Netherlands 

31 076-5816660, 31 076-5815560 fax 

info@merlin-bioproducts.com 

www.merlin-bioproducts.com 

Mettler-Toledo Autochem 

562 Bunker Court 

Vernon Hills, Illinois 60061 

www.mtautochem.com 

Micralyne, Inc. 

1911-94 Street 

Edmonton, Alberta T6N 1E6 Canada 

(780) 431-4403; (780) 431-4422 fax 

vwalker@micralyne.com 

www.micralyne.com 

Booth 1112 (10 x 10) 

MDL ® will demonstrate integrated biology and chemistry experiment management 

solutions from plate management through data analysis and reporting. The new workfl oworiented 

MDL ® Plate Manager with open architecture greatly simplifi es the creation and 

management of plate and sample information. MDL ® Assay Explorer makes it easy to 

capture, analyze, visualize, and store biological data. See how to import data from Excel 

worksheets, save images and documents as results, and interact with new 3D visualization 

and statistics tools. 

Booth 1120 (10 x 10) 

MéCour’s circulator-driven Thermal Blocks offer precise (+/- 0.1º C) temperature 

distribution over the entire Block; sealed unit to eliminate hazards or contamination; 

operate hot or cold between +/- 100º C. Perfect for laboratory manufacturing and 

automated robotic systems. Available in standard or custom confi gurations per customer’s 

specifi c requirements. All Thermal Blocks easily connect to the circulator and come with a 

lifetime warranty. 

Booth 1600 (10 x 10) 

Merlin BioProducts BV is proud to present the ViAll reader. ViAll, a unique system, 

based on 2 high resolution CCD cameras and newly developed software, reads all known 

2D tubes and racks within 1 second. The unique ViAll software makes a distinction 

between “no tube” and “illegible tube”, after which each tube can be inspected and 

corrected using the zoom option. The generated data can be exported to fi le. The ViAll 

software can also interface with an Automation ® server application. ViAll software can 

be integrated into ActiveX ® compatible software. The ViAll reader and software allows 

you to mix several brands (Micronic/Matrix/Abgene) and types of tubes in one rack. The 

orientation of a rack is automatically detected and corrected, thus eliminating wrongly 

orientated racks. This feature will reduce the number of human errors, thus enabling a 

higher throughput. ViAll software is also available in combination with a ViAll scanner. 

Both products are available for OEM. 

Booth 535 (10 x 20) 

Mettler-Toledo AutoChem provides solutions that enable scientists to dramatically 

reduce the time to discover and develop new compounds. These solutions automate 

the discovery process of: reagent preparation (USP), synthesis (MiniBlock/XT), work-up 

(ALLEXis), purifi cation (PrepSFC, MultiGram and MiniGram) and analysis (Analytical SFC, 

SFC/MS and MiniGram), compound management (Balance and Label Automators and 

FlexiWeigh). 

Booth 1032 (10 x 10) 

Micralyne is a pioneer and leader in the development and OEM manufacturing of 

microfabricated and MEMS-based components. MEMS products enable orders of 

magnitude improvements in biomedical instrumentation. Micralyne’s MEMS solutions 

include lab-on-a-chip devices and microfl uidic devices for drug discovery and drug 

delivery. Micralyne is a profi table and growing MEMS company. 

272

MicroGroup 

7 Industrial Park Road 

Medway, Massachusetts 02053 

(800) 255-8823; (508) 533-9881 fax 

sburke@microgroup.com 

www.microgroup.com 

Micronic Systems 

PMB 301, 4017 Washington Road 

McMurray, Pennsylvania 15317 

(724) 941-6411; (724) 941-8662 fax 

mortek@aol.com 

www.micronic.com 

Micropump, Inc. 

1402 NE 136th Avenue 

Vancouver, Washington 98684 

www.micropump.com 

Microscan Systems, Inc. 

1201 SW 7th Street 

Renton, Washington 98055 

(425) 226-5700; (425) 226-8250 fax 

info@microscan.com 

www.microscan.com 


290 Concord Road 

Billerica, Massachusetts 01821 

(800) 645-5476; (800) 645-5439 fax 

www.millipore.com 

MJ Research, Inc. 

590 Lincoln Street 

Waltham, Massachusetts 02451 

(888) 735-8437; (617) 923-8080 fax 

sales@mjr.com 

www.mjr.com 

Booth 906 (10 x 10) 

MicroGroup is a vertically integrated contract manufacturer focused on supplying 

stainless steel tubing, components and assemblies. 7,000,000 feet of stainless steel 

and nickel based alloy tubing under 1 inch in diameter alloy for short lead times. 

Premium ID fi nish tubing is available for probe applications. 

Booth 441 (10 x 10) 

Micronic offers a comprehensive line of sample storage tubes (2D coded, alpha numeric 

and non coded) racks, caps, bar code readers, and automated capping systems. We will 

be exhibiting the following products: 

• Tracker 2D coded tubes 

• Traxis 2D coded tubes 

• New 0.5 ml 2D coded tubes with minimal dead volume 

• New Color coded caps: 8 colors available 

• New Compact High Through Put Bar Code Reader: reads 96 tubes in 1 second 

• New Split Cap 

• New Starter Pack System: consists of a Table Model scanner, software, 72 racks of 

2D coded tubes, cap clusters, cap mat sealer—all for only $4,400.00 

• New Automated Capper and Decappers Systems. 

Booth 519 (10 x 20) 

Micropump ® offers an extensive line of precision low fl ow external and micro annular 

gear, piston, peristaltic, centrifugal, and vane pumps, and programmable drives from 

Ismatec. ® For complete fl uidic assemblies, Micropump can package its products with high 

precision switching valves from Rheodyne ® and vacuum pumps and compressors from 

Gast. Through its added product lines and increased fl exibility in custom OEM design 

capabilities, Micropump can provide fl uid handling system components and assemblies for 

a variety of applications. 

Booth 1427 (10 x 10) 

Microscan is a leading manufacturer of high-speed, fi xed-position bar code scanners and 

CCD readers capable of reading linear and 2D codes. As the only manufacturer focused 

exclusively on fi xed-position bar-code scanning technology, Microscan’s products and 

support are unmatched. Microscan scanners can be easily mounted along conveyor lines 

or integrated into other equipment. With a suite of customizable products and a full-service 

applications lab, Microscan can meet the demands of nearly every application. 

Booth 907 (10 x 10) 

Millipore will be introducing its new HTS platform for high throughput screening of 

ADME and Pre-ADME applications. On display will be Millipore’s comprehensive line of 

automation compatible assay systems for solubility, cell-based (Caco and MDCK), and 

non-cell based (PAMPA and permeability) drug absorption assays and bound vs. free drug. 

Automation compatible products and protocols for proteomics and genomics applications 

are also available. 

Booth 1014 (10 x 10) 

Exhibited will be MJ’s full line of Peltier thermal cyclers, including the DNA Engine, 

Tetrad, Dyad, PTC-100 ® and Minicycler ® lines—and the novel DNA Engine Opticon ® 

2 fl uorescence system for real-time analysis. Also displayed will be innovative reagent 

systems and vessels for thermal cycling. 

273 

EXHIBITORS

Modern Drug Discovery/ 

Chemical & Engineering News 

Centcom Ltd 

19035 Old Detroit Road, Suite 203 

Rocky River, Ohio 44116 

(440) 331-5151; (440) 331-3432 fax 

poorman@acs.org 

Molecular BioProducts 

9880 Mesa Rim Road 


www.mbpinc.com 




(408) 747-1700; (408) 747-3601 fax 

info@moldev.com 

www.moldev.com 

Motoman, Inc. 

805 Liberty Lane 

West Carrollton, Ohio 45449 

(937) 847-6200; (937) 847-6277 fax 

info@motoman.com 

www.motoman.com 

Multi-Contact USA 

5560 Skylane Boulevard 

Santa Rosa, California 95403 

(707) 575-7575; (707) 575-7373 fax 

mailbox@multi-contact-usa.com 

www.multi-contact-usa.com 

® 

Booth 109 (10 x 10) 

MODERN DRUG DISCOVERY…covering the world of genomics, proteomics, economics 

and clinical trials, MDD focuses on serving the growing needs of scientists involved in drug 

discovery and life science research. This practical, how-to-publication includes articles 

that focus on new drugs, new drug targets and technologies, economic and regulatory 

concerns, plus instructive and inviting features on how drug discovery and development 

actually takes place. 

Booth 1007 (10 x 20) 

Molecular BioProducts is a plastics injection molding company whose core focus is to 

provide value added liquid handling solutions to life science researchers in the Biotech, 

Academic and Pharmaceutical workplace. MBP is the leading provider of disposable lab 

supplies to the Life Science Industry around the globe. 


Molecular Devices Corporation is a leading developer of high-performance, bioanalytical 

measurement systems that accelerate and improve drug discovery and other life sciences 

research. The company’s systems enable pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies 

to leverage advances in genomics and combinatorial chemistry by facilitating the high 

throughput and cost effective identifi cation and evaluation of drug candidates. The 

company’s instrument systems are based on its advanced core technologies which 

integrate its expertise in engineering, molecular and cell biology and chemistry and are 

fundamental tools for drug discovery and life sciences research. 

Booth 1212 (10 x 20) 

Motoman’s RobotWorld* RW05 system is the basis for a new, high-throughput micro-plate 

ELISA processing system. The demo cell features integrated process equipment, including 

washer, dispenser, and plate reader, as well as a plate hotel/incubator. Motoman’s new 

AutoSorter*II features a high-speed SCARA robot equipped with Motoman’s integrated bar 

code reader and innovative tube gripper for sorting in a fl exible environment. It provides 

high throughput (approximately 1,000 tubes per hour), instrument-specifi c rack loading, 

and bar code label orientation. 

Booth 1238 (10 x 10) 

From design to manufacturing, Multi-Contact connectors and test accessories are 

produced to satisfy the highest industry standards. MC’s state-of-the-art connector 

technology offers both standard and custom designed solutions for a wide and diverse 

spectrum of applications. 

Medical Applications: 1.5mm and 2mm “Touchproof” safety sockets, plugs, leads and 

adapters. POAG (equipotential grounding) pins and sockets are manufactured to DIN and 

IEC recommendations. 3-in-1 Universal electrode clips for direct connections to various 

types of electrodes. 

274

MWG Biotech, Inc. 

4170 Mendenhall Oaks Parkway 

Suite 160 

High Point, North Carolina 27265 

(336) 812-9995; (877) 694-2832 toll free 

(336) 812-9983 fax 

www.THE-MWG.com 

Nanostream 



(626) 351-8200; (626) 351-8201 fax 

info@nanostream.com 

www.nanostream.com 

National Instruments 

11500 N. Mopac 


(512) 683-5723; (512) 683-5775 fax 

marti.mccollough@ni.com 

www.ni.com 

NB Corp of America 

2157 O’Toole Avenue, Suite D 


(888) 562-4175; (408) 435-1850 fax 

www.nbcorporation.com 

New England Small Tube 

Corporation 

480 Charles Bancroft Highway 

Litchfield, New Hampshire 03052 

(603) 429-1600; (603) 429-1601 fax 

erica@nesmalltube.com 

www.nesmalltube.com 

Booth 137 (10 x 20) 

MWG Biotech is a global genomics solution provider offering a variety of products and 

services for research needs from genome to gene function. Through our four business 

units – Genomic Technology, Genomic Diagnosis, Genomic Information and Genomic 

Synthesis we offer full-service solutions for thermal cyclers and robotic instrumentation 

for lab automation, microarrays and oligo sets, custom sequencing, and custom 

oligonucleotide synthesis. 

Booth 232 (10 x 10) 

Nanostream, Inc. (Pasadena, Calif.) provides high throughput microfl uidic analytical 

systems to companies involved in drug discovery and development. Nanostream’s 

systems are based on proprietary, modular product design that allows for timely 

introduction of new products according to market needs. Nanostream is pioneering micro 

parallel liquid chromatography (µPLC) with its premier product, the Veloce system. The 

Veloce system, designed for scientists who can benefi t from greater sample analysis 

capacity, integrates with existing workfl ow and increases the throughput of established 

HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography) techniques. Nanostream is a registered 

trademark of Nanostream, Inc. The stylized “N” logo, “Brio,” “Veloce” and “Snap-n-Flow” 

are trademarks of Nanostream, Inc. 

Booth 1511 (10 x 10) 

The diversity of the life science fi eld is mirrored in the wide range of applications solved 

by National Instruments products. From biotechnology to medical device testing, from 

analytical instrumentation to physiological monitoring, NI products provide highly fl exible and 

cost effective solutions. For the scientist, these tools help complete your research on time. 

For the engineer, these tools cut test time on your next application. National Instruments 

partners offer a wide range of services and solutions based on National Instruments 

products. Also, look for National Instruments Alliance Member Data Science Automation in 

our booth. Booth 1511, one stop shopping for all of your lab automation needs! 

Booth 1035 (10 x 10) 

NB liner products: from slide bush, fl ange type, Topball, and conventional types; slide 

units; shafting; slide ways; slide guides; ball spline; BG actuator. Offering wide range in size 

and material options to meet the most demanding of linear applications around the world. 

Most inch and metric dimensional standards are available for immediate delivery from local 

inventories. Custom machining of case hardened shaft also available. New Products: RV 

gonio Way, RBW plastic unit, SYBS miniature slide way. 

Booth 1329 (10 x 10) 

New England Small Tube is an ISO 9001: 2000 Certifi ed company, providing small 

diameter tube bending and fabrication. Our capabilities include burr-free cutting, bending, 

brazing, swaging, fl aring, bulging, micropolishing, electropolishing, passivation and Tefl on 

coating. New England Small Tube is a specialist in custom fabrication of sampling and 

reagent probes, preheater tubes, dispensing manifolds, and 96/384 well-plate tips! 

275 

EXHIBITORS

276

NSK Precision America, Inc. 

2171 Executive Drive, Suite 100 

Addison, Illinois 60101 

(630) 620-8500 

www.nskprecision.com 

NuGenesis Technologies 

1900 West Park Drive 

Westborough, Massachusetts 01581 

(508) 616-4578; (508) 616-9880 fax 

info@nugenesis.com 

www.nugenesis.com 

NUNC Brand Products 

Nalge Nunc International 

75 Panorama Creek Drive 


(585) 586-8800 

www.nuncbrand.com 

Opticon, Inc. 

8 Olympic Drive 

Orangeburg, New York 10962 

(845) 365-0090; (845) 365-1251 fax 

www.opticonusa.com 

webmaster@opticonusa.com 

Oriental Motor USA Corp. 

2570 W. 237th Street 


(800) 816-6867; (800) 309-7999 fax 

sales@orientalmotor.com 

www.orientalmotor.com 

Booth 1011 (10 x 20) 

NSK Precision America is an ISO certifi ed manufacturer of precision motion control 

components and systems. NSK’s product line includes, but is not limited to; precision 

ground and rolled ball screws, precision linear ball bearing guides, and direct drive rotary 

and linear motors. NSK is the world’s leading manufacturer of precision ground and rolled 

ball screws. NSK’s precision linear ball bearing guides are offered in standard and stainless 

steel, in a wide range of styles for many applications. NSK’s line of Direct Drive rotary and 

linear motors produce high torque at low speed while yielding fast accelerations, shorter 

cycle times, zero backlash, precise positioning, and lower friction. U.S. Manufacturing. 

Booth 715 (10 x 10) 

The NuGenesis Scientifi c Data Management System (SDMS) web-based platform provides 

a foundation for scientifi c data preservation and for integrating the collaborative fl ow 

of information through existing LIMS, EDMS, e-lab notebooks, visualization/analytics 

programs, and Microsoft Offi ce applications. Scientists fi nd, review and share their 

critical laboratory data, making key decisions and reducing cycle time. NuGenesis SDMS 

integrates with existing IT infrastructure, ensures data security, offers central or distribution 

administration and is quickly deployed with minimal IT resources. Over 300 life science 

companies use NuGenesis SDMS for long-term data preservation, intellectual property 

protection and 21CFR11 compliance. Custom integration and validation services are 

available. 

Booth 532 (10 x 10) 

NUNC offers a comprehensive line of cutting-edge products for HTS & automation. New 

microarray products include ArrayCote 16-well slides and 96-well plates, polymer slides, 

glass slides & accessories. Shallow Well 384 and 1536 plates optimize throughput, and 

Low Profi le BioAssay Dishes are designed for automated colony screening. 96-well Filter 

Plates isolate high quality Amplifi cation products and plasmid DNA. The white 384-well 

Low Crosstalk plate is optimized for luminescence and scintillation proximity assays. 

Booth 939 (10 x 10) 

More than 20 years of proven performance has made Opticon the choice for bar code 

readers. Select from a complete family of laser, CCD and 2D imagers, offering choices 

of size, scan speed and reading distance. Work closely with our engineers as they help 

integrate the right reader into your design. We modify to meet your needs. Unquestioned 

quality and durability. We are so sure of our product, Opticon now offers a 7 year warranty 

on fi xed mount CCD readers. Custom built—built to last! 

Booth 1612 (10 x 10) 

Oriental Motor USA is a manufacturer of motion control products. 5-Phase and 2-Phase 

stepping motors, motors only or as a complete system with driver and controller. AC 

motors, gearmotors, and DC brushless motors with controllers. AC/DC cooling products – 

fans, blowers, and cross fl ow fans. 

277 

EXHIBITORS

Orochem Technologies, Inc. 

762 Burr Oak Drive 

Westmont, Illinois 60559 

(630) 887-0616; (630) 887-0753 fax 

sales@orochem.com 

www.orochem.com 

Oyster Bay Pump Works, Inc.. 

PO Box 725, 78 Midland Avenue 

Hicksville, New York 11802 

(516) 933-4500; (516) 933-4501 fax 

info@obpw.com 

www.obpw.com 


600 S. Wagner Road 


(734) 665-0651; (734) 913-6114 fax 

lab@pall.com 

www.pall.com/lab 

Parker Hannifin Corporation 

6035 Parkland Boulevard 

Cleveland, Ohio 44124 

(216) 896-3000 

www.parker.com 

PerkinElmer Life and Analytical 

Sciences 

710 Bridgeport Avenue 

Shelton, Connecticut 06484 

(800) 762-4000; (203) 944-4904 fax 

info@perkinelmer.com 

www.perkinelmer.com 

Booth 1041 (10 x 10) 

Orochem offers a total process solution for bioanalytical, combinatorial chemistry, and 

drug discovery laboratories. 

• One of the largest selections of solid phase extraction products in high throughput 

96-well extraction plates as well as in traditional column and cartridge formats. 

• 96-well plates, 384-well plates functionalized with high performance “Orpheus” and 

“Celerity- Polymeric” sorbents, unique membranes and Coatings 

• Orpheus sorbents with minimal silanol content, custom packed in a format 

of your choice. 

• Vacuum Manifold, Vacuum Controller, Sample Concentrator, Robotic Liquid 

Handler, Reactor Block 

• Newly added Injection Molding capabilities! 

Booth 1428 (10 x 10) 

Internationally recognized specialist in microplate processing automation and precision 

liquid dispensing. OBPW automates complete processes incorporating precise liquid 

dispensing (nanoliters to liters), washing, blocking, drying, printing, labeling, hot stamping, 

lidding, sealing, incubation, fi ll verifi cation, data acquisition & more. We automate 

processing of 96, 384, and 1536-well plates, test tubes, slides, membranes, and more. 

Most applications concern medical diagnostic test kit manufacturing and laboratory 

automation for drug discovery. 

Booth 1411 (10 x 10) 

Pall Life Sciences, a leader in fi ltration, purifi cation, separation and detection technologies, 

offers a wide range of products for genomics, proteomics, drug discovery and HTS 

applications. Our products provide maximum recoveries, ease of use and lot to lot 

consistency. Products highlighted include 96 and 384 well fi lter plates, microarray slides, 

centrifugal devices, and blotting membranes. 

Booth 636 (10 x 30) 

Parker automation provides motion control solutions ideal for Life Science applications; 

i.e., liquid handling, micro-arraying, scanning and storage and retrieval robots. Parker 

motion technology includes programmable stepper/servo motors, PCI bus motion 

controller cards, miniature linear motor positioners and sealed positioning tables designed 

for 24/7 operation. 


PerkinElmer is a global technology leader providing products and services to customers in 

health sciences and other advanced technology markets that require innovation, precision 

and reliability. Operating through three business units—Life and Analytical Sciences, 

Optoelectronics, and Fluid Sciences—PerkinElmer, Inc. provides scientifi c instruments, 

consumables and services to the pharmaceutical, biomedical, environmental testing 

and industrial markets. PerkinElmer has a broad global sales and service network, with 

approximately 2,500 representatives operating in 45 countries, and marketing its products 

in 125 countries. 

278

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279

PharmaGenomics Magazine 

485 Route 1 South, Building. F, Suite 100 

Iselin, New Jersey 08830 

(732) 596-0276; (732) 596-0048 fax 

www.pharmagenomicsonline.com 


P.O. Box 117 

Rockford, Illinois 61105 

(815) 968-0747; (815) 968-7316 fax 

cs@piercenet.com 

www.piercenet.com 

Pneutronics Division of Parker 

Hannifin Corporation 

26 Clinton Drive, Unit 103 

Hollis, New Hampshire 03049 

(603) 595-1500; (603) 595-8080 fax 

ljoseph@parker.com 

www.pneutronics.com 

Point Technologies, Inc. 

6859 N. Foothills Highway 


www.pointtech.com 

Booth 841 (10 x 10) 

Written by scientists for scientists, PharmaGenomics delivers peer-reviewed, applicationsoriented, 

technical feature articles to 40,015 BPA audited industry subscribers.* 

PharmaGenomics is the global authority in life science and drug discovery research. 

Discover how PharmaGenomics will increase your infl uence and expand your reach. 

Booth 1218 (10 x 10) 

Pierce Biotechnology manufactures products for Drug Discovery including homogeneous 

detection assay systems, multiplex assays and a variety of pre-blocked coated 

microplates. The Pierce IQ Assay Platform provides high-throughput analysis of kinases 

and phosphatases. IQ Assays are universal and do not require the use of antibodies. 

The assay is directly scalable to 384- and 1536-well formats. Custom IQ Assays are 

available. Searchlight Arrays quantify up to 16 proteins per well in two hours using 

5–50 µl of sample. Assay offerings include measurement of cytokines, chemokines, 

angiogenic factors, MMPs and kinases. Searchlight Assays offer the accuracy and 

simplicity of a traditional sandwich ELISA in a multiplexed format with excellent sensitivity. 

Custom array design and testing services are available. Coated microplates include 

NeutrAvidin Biotin-Binding Protein and Streptavidin (in regular and high-binding capacity 

formats); Biotin; HisGrab Metal Chelate; Glutathione; anti-GST; anti-GFP; dextrin; 

activated maleimide; activated maleic anhydride; Protein A, G and L; and CellScreen 

Poly-D-Lysine; Poly-L-Lysine; and Collagen I. Custom plate-coating chemistries 

and chemistries on coated slides, beads and membranes are available through the 

ChoiceCoat ® Custom Plate-Coating Service. 

Booth 739 (10 x 20) 

Pneutronics Division of Parker Hannifi n is a leader in miniature solenoid and miniature 

proportional valve technologies, miniature fl uidic systems integration and design 

solutions while bringing value through an organizational focus on lean enterprise 

initiatives, continuous improvement, innovative product development, application specifi c 

designs, and premier customer service. For more information on Pneutronics, go to 

www.pneutronics.com. With annual sales exceeding $6.5 billion, Parker Hannifi n is the 

world’s leading diversifi ed manufacturer of fl uidic control, fi ltration, motion, and control 

technologies and systems. 

Booth 1409 (10 x 10) 

Point Technologies, Inc. is the world’s fastest growing microarray spotting pin 

manufacturer. The company uses precision electrochemical etching and electrical 

discharge machining (EDM) to manufacture genomic and proteomic microarray spotting 

pins for all arrayers. It is one of the few companies in the world that can point and 

electropolish tungsten wire. The company has recently announced ACCELERATOR 

Brand microarray spotting pin products for the worldwide gene expression market. The 

new pins have the following characteristics, which have been widely hailed by customers: 

• Material: Tungsten 

Benefi t: Long life due to increased hardness (4X that of SS) and vastly improved 

corrosion resistance compared to existing stainless steel pins 

• Color-coded Collars to denote tip and slit size 

• Sequentially numbered collars for traceability from microarray lab back to 

manufacturing 

• New Packaging to facilitate handling and storage 

• Radiused tips (Patent Pending) for higher density, consistent spots 

• Conical, Electropolished, Tapered tips for decreased substrate damage and improved 

spot morphology. 

280

Popper & Sons, Inc. 

300 Denton Avenue 

New Hyde Park, New York 11040 

(516) 248-0300; (516) 747-1188 fax 

sales@popperandsons.com 

www.popperandsons.com 

Porvair Sciences Ltd. 

6 Shepperton Business Park 

Shepperton TW17 8BA United Kingdom 

44 1932 240255; 44 1932 254393 fax 

int.sales@porvair.com 

www.porvair-sciences.com 

Process Analysis and Automation 

Falcon House, Fernhill Road, Farnborough 

Hampshire, GU14 9RX 


01252 373000; 01252 371922 fax 

info@paa.co.uk 

www.paa.co.uk 




www.promega.com 

Protedyne Corporation 

1000 Day Hill Road 

Windsor, Connecticut 06095 

(860) 683-1860; (860) 683-4178 fax 

pattid@protedyne.com 

www.protedyne.com 

Booth 419 (10 x 10) 

Popper & Sons, Inc. is an ISO 9001:2000 US Manufacturer of needles, probes and tips 

for laboratory automation. We offer standard, custom and OEM solutions for sample 

preparation, liquid handling, genomic automation, HTS, pipetting and micro-dispensing. 

Products include: blunt tubes, non-coring needles, OD/ID Tefl on, Ceramic and PSX 

ceramic coating. 

Booth 1518 (10 x 10) 

Part of the Porvair plc group of companies, Porvair Sciences specializes in the production 

of Microplates for assays, drug screening, sample storage and sample preparation. In 

addition to the wide range of Microplates, the company offers instruments for sample 

concentration and microplate sealing. New products at the booth will be the MiniVap 

sample concentrator and the Thermobond Auto, a plate heat sealing instrument for 

automated or manual use. 

Booth 1533 (10 x 10) 

Process Analysis & Automation Ltd offer fl exible laboratory automation software solutions. 

OVERLORD Workstation is a real-time scheduler that can be used to control simple 

to complex automated workcells where real-time decisions are required. OVERLORD 

Scheduler is a pre-emptive scheduler with the ability to control assays to tight time 

tolerances, with the ability to run multiple assays simultaneously and also insert extra 

assays during a run. Both packages can be distributed over a number of PCs. 

Booth 1320 (10 x 10) 

Promega Corporation is a worldwide leader in developing and implementing reagent 

systems to provide automated solution packages to our customers. Promega’s proven 

expertise in working with instrument manufacturers to generate total solutions for 

customers offers reagent and throughput fl exibility that is unmatched. Our product 

implementation portfolio includes: nucleic acid isolation and analysis; cellular analysis; 

proteomics; bioluminescence and reporter assays and Genetic Identity. 


Protedyne’s unique approach combines scientifi c and automation expertise with industrialquality 

automation and sophisticated data management. The foundation of the Company 

is the BioCube System platform, which brings advanced industrial-automation capabilities 

into the life science laboratory in a fast, fl exible, and reliable package. The company also 

provides contract laboratory research services utilizing the BioCube System. Protedyne is 

headquartered in Windsor, Connecticut, and has offi ces in Martinsried (Munich), Germany. 

For more information call (860) 683-1860 in North America or +(49) 89-8565-3400 in 

Europe, or visit Protedyne on the web at www.protedyne.com. 

281 

EXHIBITORS

RAPP POLYMERE GmbH 

Ernst Simon Str. 9 

D 72072 Tuebingen 

49 7071 763 157; 49 7071 763 158 fax 

rapp-polymere@t-online.de 

www.rapp-polymere.com 

REMP AG 

Weststrasse 12 

Oberdiessbach 3672 Switzerland 

41 31 770 70 70; 41 31 770 72 66 fax 

info@remp.com 

www.remp.com 

ReTiSoft, Inc. 

48 Forty-First Street, Suite 1 

Toronto, Ontario M8W 3N6 

Canada 

(416) 521-9720; (416) 521-9277 fax 

prodziew@retisoft.ca 

www.retisoft.ca 

Rheodyne LLC 

P.O. Box 1909 

Rohnert Park, California 94927-1909 

(707) 588-2000; (707) 588-2020 fax 

sales@rheodyne.com 

www.rheodyne.com 

Richard Scientific, Inc./ 

Sepiatec GmbH 

285 Bel Marin Keys Boulevard 

Novato, California, 94949( 

(415) 883-2888; (415) 382-1922 fax 

info@richardscientifi c.com 

www.richardscientifi c.com 

Rigaku 

9009 New Trails Drive 

The Woodlands, Texas 77381 

(281) 363-1033; (281) 364-3628 fax 

info@rigakumsc.com 

www.rigakumsc.com 

Booth 1606 (10 x 10) 

Since over one decade now, RAPP POLYMERE is one of the leading companies and 

fi rst address for polymer supports. RAPP POLYMERE offers a broad range of novel 

resins for solid phase chemistry combinatorial chemistry, library generation, peptide and 

oligonucleotide synthesis, as well as for diagnostic applications. Our products and services 

are: Resins for solid phase organic synthesis, custom synthesis, peptide synthesis, 

functionalized polymers, chemistry development, synthesizing modules, miniaturization, 

HPLC columns. 

Booth 913 (10 x 20) 

REMP specializes in solutions for life science Compound and Materials Management 

organizations around the world. Our products include systems, workstations, consumables 

and software applications for compound storage and retrieval, compound cherry-picking, 

climate control, plate replication and reformatting, powder dosing, vial weighing, tube 

capping and uncapping, thermal sealing, and piercing. Our corporate offi ce is located in 

Switzerland with subsidiary offi ces located in Germany, Japan and the United States. 

Booth 334 (10 x 10) 

ReTiSoft products include a software framework that simplifi es instrument integration, a 

scheduling software, 3D simulation viewer, and instrument testers for the laboratory 

automation market. 

To allow companies to wisely choose their laboratory instruments we implemented 

an open system for the integration, controlling and monitoring of diverse laboratory 

instruments. With our software your lab automation system can quickly become a mix of 

instruments from multiple hardware vendors. You can competitively select the best-ofbreed 

equipment to meet your unique lab automation requirements. 

Booth 521 (10 x 10) 

Rheodyne will exhibit TitanEX—a family of long-life, economical, low-pressure, fl uid 

valves for OEMs. TitanEX integrates several new technologies for a dramatic enhancement 

in shear-face valve performance. Advanced composite materials qualify TitanEX 

performance to 6,000,000 actuations. A unique, (patent pending) fi ttingless connection 

system simplifi es tubing interface to a fi nger tight operation. TitanEX—for stream selection, 

sample injection, and fl uid switching applications. 

Booth 234 (10 x 10) 

Innovative solutions for HPLC, SPE and LC/MS: The sepmatix concept in parallel HPLC 

offers an ultimate solution when high sample throughput is needed. Eight chromatographic 

channels are run using one single pump. Sepmatix modules for parallel injection, fl ow 

control, multiplex detection and parallel fraction collection are available as stand-alone 

units. The automated online HPLC/SPE (1D/2D) coupling technology of the sepboxR 

systems provide total separation of complex mixtures of natural products or combinatorial 

compounds. 

Booth 536 (10 x 10) 

Rigaku/MSC, is the world’s leading resource for single-crystal X-ray diffraction 

hardware, software and contract services. Rigaku/MSC offers fully integrated small 

and macromolecule applications, Rigaku generators, X-ray optical systems, cryocooling 

devices and peripheral devices. In addition, Rigaku/MSC provides small and 

macromolecular structure determination services on a contract basis. 

282

Rixan Associates 

7560 Paragon Road 

Dayton, Ohio 45459 

(937) 438-3005; (937) 438-0130 fax 

robots@rixan.com 

www.rixan.com 

RoboDesign International, Inc. 

5920 Pasteur Court 


(760) 438-5282; (760) 438-5286 fax 

info@robodesign.com 

www.robodesign.com 

Roche Applied Science 

9115 Hague Road, Building B 


(800) 428-5433; (317) 521-7317 fax 

www.roche-applied-science.com 

Roche Instrument Center Ltd. 

Forrenstrasse 

Rotkreuz 6343 Switzerland 

41 41 799 2555; 41 41 799 2287 fax 

oem.instrumentation@roche.com 

www.roche-oem-instrumentation.com 

RSF Electronics, Inc. 

2880 Gold Tailings Ct. 

Rancho Cordova, California 95670 

(916) 852-6660; (916) 852-6664 fax 

sales@rsf.net 

www.rsf.net 

RTS Life Science International 

Northbank, Irlam 

Manchester M44 5AY, United Kingdom 

44 161 777 2000; 44 161 777 2002 fax 

lifescience.info@rts-group.com 

www.rtslifescience.com 

Booth 1401 (20 x 20) 

Rixan Associates, Inc. is the North American Distributor of Mitsubishi robots and Samsung 

robots. Rixan provides robots, turn-key automation systems, training, service, engineering, 

linear tracks and custom end-of-arm tooling. 

Booth 538 (10 x 20) 

RoboDesign International, Inc. is a premier source for the development, design, 

manufacture, and support of custom and standard automation solutions and 

instrumentation for the life sciences industry. With our broad range of technical expertise, 

we are uniquely positioned to provide a wide array of engineering services, from rapid 

prototyping to OEM design and manufacturing. RoboDesign has developed products for 

the genomics, proteomics, hospital pharmacy, and laboratory automation industries. Our 

applications include protein crystal inspection and analysis, microarraying, and low volume 

liquid dispensing. Whatever your needs, RoboDesign is your single engineering source. 

Booth 524 (10 x 20) 

Roche Applied Science supplies reagents and instrumentation for life-science research. 

Our innovative instruments include the LightCycler Instrument for quantitative PCR and 

mutation detection; the MagNA Pure LC Instrument for fully automated nucleic-acid 

isolation from a wide variety of sample types; and the New LightTyper Instrument for 

simplifi ed post-PCR SNP genotyping. 

Booth 1429 (10 x 10) 

The Roche Instrument Center in Rotkreuz, Switzerland, a member of the Roche group, 

is a leading supplier of state-of-the-art diagnostic and analytical instruments. Since 

1969, over 35,000 instruments have been manufactured and installed worldwide. As one 

of the few unique OEM providers mastering a seamless OEM process in one location, 

we turn customer needs into comprehensive product solutions in the fi eld of laboratory 

automation. Now available is a new Poly-Pipettor 96/384, a compact and high-precision 

OEM module fi tting easily into various liquid handling systems. 

Booth 1601 (10 x 10) 

RSF Electronics manufactures and distributes linear encoders, digital readouts, digital 

depth probes and associated electronics for precision motion control (closed loop 

feedback) and measurement applications. Linear resolutions from 10 microns (0.0005") 

to 10 nanometers (0.0000005"). Non-contacting designs and fully enclosed designs have 

large air gaps and mounting tolerances. Models are available for high-speeds and include 

integrated limit switches. Vacuum rated, harsh environment and self-guided encoders are 

also available. Additional information can be found at www.rsf.net 

Booth 1119 (10 x 20) 

A leading supplier of automated laboratory systems, RTS Life Science provides industrial 

quality robotic systems for drug discovery applications including advanced sample storage 

and retrieval products, HTS systems—Assay Platform, fully automated cell culture— 

acCellerator, High Throughput Structural Biology and MDI /DPI testing. Customized to 

individual client requirements, systems utilize proprietary instrumentation and sophisticated 

SPRINT scheduling software to produce the optimum integrated solution. 

283 

EXHIBITORS

SAGE Publications 

2455 Teller Road 

Thousand Oaks, CA 91320 

(800) 818-7243; (805) 499-0871 fax 

lisa_lamont@sagepub.com 

www.sagepub.com 

SANYO Scientific 

SANYO Sales & Supply Co. 

1062 Thorndale Avenue 

Bensenville, Illinois 60106 

(800) 858-8442; (630) 238-0074 fax 

info@sanyobiomedical.com 

www.sanyobiomedical.com 

SCIENCE/AAAS 

1200 New York Avenue 

Washington, DC 20005 

(202) 326-6417; (202) 842-1065 fax 

www.scienceonline.org 

Scientific Specialties, Inc. 

1310 Thurman Street 

Lodi, California 95240 

(209) 333-2120; (209) 333-8623 fax 

info@ssi-plastics.com 

www.ssi-plastics.com 

Scinomix, Inc. 

4046 Wedgeway Court 

Earth City, Michigan 63045 

(314) 298-9800 

www.scinomix.com 

Scivex 

619 W. Oak Street 

Oak Harbor, Washington 98277 

www.scivex.com 

Booth 239 (10 x 10) 

SAGE Publications-an independent international publisher in the social sciences, 

technology and medicine-provides journals, books, and electronic media of the highest 

caliber. Researchers, students, and professionals have relied on our innovative resources 

for over 35 years. Please stop by our booth or visit us at www.sagepub.com to review our 

publications. 

Booth 806 (10 x 10) 

SANYO Biomedical, a division of SANYO Electric Co. of Osaka, Japan is a leading, 

vertically integrated, manufacturer and worldwide distributor of ultra low temperature 

freezers, incubators, laboratory refrigeration, environmentally controlled equipment, as 

well as HTS Automation Equipment. SANYO utilizes unique design and component 

technologies to deliver reliable and consistent test and storage conditions. Our web site is: 

www.sanyobiomedical.com. 

Booth 832 (10 x 10) 

Founded in 1880 by Thomas Edison, Science ranks as the world’s leading scientifi c 

journal. Each week, Science provides nearly 140,000 subscribers around the world with 

peer-reviewed original research, scientifi c research articles, and reports, science and 

research news as well as policy forums and perspectives on current topics. Scientists 

can also access the journal online at www.scienceonline.org. The site includes a 

comprehensive recruitment site, www.sciencecareers.org, offering job listings, career 

advice and a resume/cv database as well as a database of scientifi c meetings at 

www.sciencemeetings.org. 

Booth 935 (10 x 10) 

Scientifi c Specialties Inc., based in Lodi, California, is a manufacturer of injection-molded 

plastic consumables for use in life science research applications. 

Within the diverse product range, SSI specializes in tips for robotic workstations, 

manufactured to provide an exceptionally high level of quality assurance to meet the 

highest expectations. 

SSI’s easily recognizable precision products are available worldwide via an established 

network of dealers and distributors. ALA 2003 sees the launch of several new products 

suitable for HTS and other automated situations. 

Booth 1106 (10 x 20) 

Scinomix provides the scientifi c community with fl exible, modular automation and data 

management systems for use in research and drug discovery. 

Booth 1419 (10 x 20) 

Scivex leads the industry in creating and developing high-value components and 

technologies for Fluidic Instrumentation—through the world-class expertise of its 

component divisions: Upchurch Scientifi c, Sapphire Engineering and JL White Technical 

Sales. Scivex sets the standard in both quality designs and innovative modules for OEMs 

serving the Analytical Chemistry, Biotechnology and Clinical Diagnostic disciplines. 

Product lines include: tubing, precision dispense pumps and pump components, micro- 

and nanoscale components, valves, fi ttings, fi lters/frits, fl ow cells, and seals. 

284

Seyonic SA 

Puits-Godet 12 

Neuchatel 2000, Switzerland 

41 32 729 28 28; 41 32 729 28 29 fax 

marc.boillat@seyonic.com 

www.seyonic.com 

SGE, Inc. 

2007 Kramer Lane 


(800) 945-6154; (512) 836-9159 fax 

usa@sge.com 

www.sge.com 

Shimadzu Biotech 

7102 Riverwood Drive 

Columbia, Maryland 21046 

(888) 744-1611 

www.shimadzu.com 

Sias 

Churchmans Center 

11A Parkway Circle 

New Castle, Delaware 19720 

(302) 326-0433; (302) 326-0492 

info@sias.biz 

www.sias.biz 

Silicon Valley Scientific, Inc. 

4059 Clipper Court 


(510) 438-9300; (510) 438-9311 fax 

sales@svsci.com 

www.svsci.com 

Booth 1127 (10 x 10) 

Seyonic SA is a company specialized in the application of microsystem technology for 

measurement and control in laboratory instrumentation. One of our core competencies 

is accurate small volume liquid handling in the sub-microliter range. Seyonic assists in 

the development of applications and also takes care of component manufacturing and 

specialized assembly and testing of OEM instrument sub-systems. 

Booth 1015 (10 x 10) 

Analytical and Life Science Instrument Consumables—ProteCol capillary HPLC columns 

and accessories, micro volume syringes, capillary GC columns, injectors, ferrules, fi ttings 

(including SilTiteä ferrules for GC use), septa, micro valves, fi lters, inlet liners, tubing, 

HPLC columns; GC/MS Supplies—ETP electron multipliers, jet separators, column change 

system; Instruments—pyrolyzer, multidimensional system. 

Booth 1139 (10 x 10) 

Shimadzu Biotech is a new strategic global business unit of Shimadzu Corporation, 

focused on the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors. It has been created to bring 

together a strong solutions-based offering to accelerate the progress of biotechnology 

research and development. Shimadzu Biotech offers a wide range of key products, 

covering technologies from DNA sequencing to high performance mass spectrometry, to 

provide an integrated approach to the fast growing proteomics and genomics markets. It 

also supports other applications, including micro-satellite DNA and SNP analysis for drug 

discovery. 

Booth 236 (10 x 20) 

Sias develops and supplies innovative multi-tipped robotic liquid handling systems. Xantus 

is a modular robotic pipetting platform, combining fl exible liquid handling with robotic 

manipulation. With all functionality, including the pumps, housed in the arm, Xantus design 

simplifi es both system integration and stand alone robotic automation. Integrating modules 

such as shakers, heaters, vacuum modules and the Ixion robot friendly microplate 

centrifuge can expand Xantus functionality. 

Booth 115 (10 x 10) 

Silicon Valley Scientifi c provides lab automation services, instrument and software design 

and development, microfl uidic and microchip development, and contract services in the 

areas of surface chemistry and DNA sequencing. Solutions include the LabRAT rapid 

automation toolkit software, surface chemistry analysis systems, and custom development 

service packages. We can provide integrated solutions including laboratory robotic 

hardware, automated instruments, and automated protocols for a variety of laboratory 

needs. 

285 

EXHIBITORS

Silex Microsystems AB 

Box 595 

Bruttovägen 1 

SE-175 26 Järfälla 

Sweden 

46 8 580 249 13; 46 8 580 249 01 

helene.andersson@silex.se 

www.silexmicrosystems.com 

SKF USA Inc. 

1530 Valley Center Parkway 

Bethlehem, Pensylvania 18017 

( 800) 541-3624; (610) 861-4811 fax 

tarek.bugaighis@skf.com 

www.skf.com 

SLR Systems, Inc. 

23112 NE 22nd Street 

Camas, Washington 98607 

(360) 833-8500; (360) 833-8600 fax 

rodney@slrsystems.com 

www.slrsystems.com 

SMAC 

5807 Van Allen Way 


(760) 929-8170; (760) 929-7588 fax 

www.smac-mca.com 

Sorenson BioScience 

6507 S. 400 W. 

Salt Lake City, Utah 84107 

(801) 266-9334; (801) 262-0433 fax 

sbiinfo@sorbio.com 

www.sorbio.com 

Booth 237 (10 x 10) 

Silex Microsystems AB mission is to help telecommunication and life science companies 

pioneer new applications using MEMS technology and stay a step ahead. We use MEMS 

to design and make microsystems, like sensors, actuators, and other precision structures 

to be integrated with customers‚ end products. Every component is designed and 

produced in our own production fab and we guarantee that everything is of highest quality. 

Booth 141 (10 x 10) 

SKF the worlds largest manufacturer of bearings will exhibit its array of radial and linear 

motion solutions for laboratory automation. Products on display will include radial 

bearings, precision rails with anti-creep solutions, miniature profi le rails in stainless steel, 

actuators, ball screws and ball screw support bearings. In addition, SKF also offers a wide 

array of linear ball bearings, precision slides, and linear drive systems. 

Booth 133 (10 x 10) 

SLR Systems is a third-party laboratory automation integrator. As such, we design and 

manufacture custom laboratory automation and light industrial robotic systems, as well as 

laboratory automation peripherals such as automated heating blocks for our clients. We 

are not affi liated with any robot manufacturer or other lab automation provider; therefore 

we provide can you with the best robotic or dedicated lab automation platform on which to 

base your laboratory automation application. In other words, we work for you to solve your 

problems. Not for a robot manufacture to sell a robot. In fact, many of our systems are 

dedicated automation that do not even utilize a robot in the conventional sense. 

Booth 1539 (10 x 10) 

SMAC manufactures a variety of unique single pole linear motor based servo actuators for 

precision automation. These devices are capable of providing programmable positioning 

to sub micro level, programmable velocity, and uniquely, programmable forces. These 

capabilities allow SMAC Moving Coil actuators to “do work and verify its accuracy at the 

same time.” 

Booth 336 (10 x 10) 

Sorenson BioScience manufactures a wide range of liquid handling consumable products 

for use with laboratory automation. From robotic tips to plates, Sorenson sets the standard 

for quality. Automated QC instruments inspect tips for straightness and insure plates are 

free of pinholes. Low Binding Polymer Technology reduces binding of DNA and proteins 

to tips. All products certifi ed free of RNase/DNase, human DNA, PCR inhibitors, and 

pyrogens. 

286

287




(609) 799-7250; (609) 799-8250 fax 

usa@sparkholland.com 

www.sparkholland.com 

Sparton Medical Solutions 

5612 Johnson Lake Road 

DeLeon Springs, Florida 32130 

(386) 985-4631; (386) 985-5036 fax 

rkundinger@sparton.com 

www.sparton.com/service/medical/ 

medical.htm 

SPEX CertiPrep 

203 Norcross Avenue 

Metuchen, New Jersey 08840 

(800) 522-7739; (732) 603-9647 fax 

sampleprep@spexcsp.com 

www.spexcsp.com 

Stäubli Corporation 

201 Parkway West 

Duncan South Carolina 29334 

(864) 486-5416 

Stäubli Corporation – West Coast 

6773-D Sierra Court 

Dublin, California 94568 

(925) 551-7090 

www.staublirobotics.com 

Booth 620 (10 x 10) 

Spark is a world class provider of innovative sample introduction, extraction and separation 

technology. As recognized OEM partner, we offer a complete line of autosamplers including 

Spark’s new High Throughput Conditioned Autosampler Reliance. Our new online-SPE 

front end system Symbiosis offers a unique automated solution for LC-MS. As a total 

solution, it provides true automation of sample prep, better sensitivity and allows you to run 

your existing methods as well, without any hardware changes. 

Booth 618 (10 x 10) 

Sparton is an engineering and manufacturing services provider with over 100 years of 

successful history in the electronics industry. Sparton specializes in the development 

and implementation of custom solutions for electromechanical systems and devices. 

Applications include robotics, laboratory instrumentation, microprocessor based systems, 

and devices for the surgical, therapeutic, and diagnostic medical markets. Locations 

throughout North America. 

Booth 1325 (10 x 10) 

SPEX CertiPrep will display two unique products. The Geno/Grinder is a new grinding/ 

pulverizing mill used to prepare plant tissue for nucleic acid, yeast, enzyme, and protein 

extractions. The Freezer/Mill is a cryogenic grinder capable of producing a fi ne powder 

from samples such as plant/animal tissue; plastic, rubber and paper; pharmaceuticals, and 

heat-sensitive materials. 

Booth 1240 (10 x 10) 

Staubli Corporation – Robotics Division offers affordable fully articulated robots specifi cally 

designed for lab automation. Our RX and TX line of ultra clean, high speed robots will 

enable you to increase process integrity, traceability and throughput. The Staubli robots 

are already working in a diverse range of applications in assay plate handling, vaccine 

cell culture handling, syringe tray handling, drug discovery and batch handling. The line 

of Staubli robots will easily fi t into your layout with their spherical work envelope and easy 

to program PC based controller. Please stop by to visit us to learn more of our laboratory 

dedicated robot—the “TX” series.” 

288

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289

Tecan/Tecan Systems, Inc. 

4022 Stirrup Creek Drive Suite 310 


(919) 361-5200; (919) 361-5201 fax 


2450 Zanker Road 


(800) 231-0711; (408) 953-3101 fax 

tecansystemsinfo@tecan.com 

www.tecan.com 

Technical Manufacturing 

Corporation 

15 Centennial Drive 

Peabody, Massachusetts 01960 

(800) 542-9725; (978) 531-8682 fax 

sales@techmfg.com 

www.techmfg.com 

TekCel, Inc. 



(508) 544-7000; (508) 544-7001 fax 


www.tekcel.com 

TEKnova 

355 Princeton Avenue 

Half Moon Bay, California 94019 

www.teknova.com 

TeleChem Int/ArrayIt.com 

524 E. Weddell Drive, Suite 3 


(408) 744-1331; (408) 744-1711 fax 

www.arrayit.com 


Tecan is a leading player in the fast growing Life Sciences supply industry that specializes 

in the development, production, and distribution of enabling solutions for the discovery 

of pharmaceutical substances, as well as for genomics, proteomics, and diagnostics. 

With a long history in the liquid handling and microplate processing business, Tecan is 

synonymous with outstanding performance, effi ciency and superior technical support and 

service. Tecan offers a wide selection of liquid handling platforms, microplate readers/ 

washers and microarray instrumentation to address many of the profound challenges 

facing biomedical laboratories today. Tecan clients are leading pharmaceutical and 

biotechnology companies, university research departments and diagnostic laboratories. 

Tecan Systems, Inc., formerly known as Cavro Scientifi c Instruments, Inc., is the world’s 

leading OEM supplier of automated liquid handling products for manufacturers of 

laboratory instrumentation. Products include highly precise syringe pumps, complete robot 

systems for laboratory automation and application development software. Tecan Systems 

also offers customized engineering and manufacturing solutions under an ISO 9001 

certifi ed and QSR compliant quality system. 

Booth 1114 (10 x 10) 

TMC’s CleanTop ® Steel Honeycomb Optical Breadboards are an ideal base for mounting 

optical sub-assemblies and robotic automation equipment. The patented technology 

provides a fl at, stiff, damped, stainless steel mounting surface with custom sizes, shapes, 

and hole patterns to meet a wide range of applications. TMC also manufactures precision 

fl oor vibration isolation systems. New products include STACIS ® piezoelectric active 

vibration isolators, Lightweight Breadboards, Cleanroom Compatible systems and Radius 

Corner Tops. TMC has full custom capabilities. 


TekCel, Inc. is a leading innovator of laboratory automation for Life Science research. 

TekCel’s solutions yield dramatic improvements in effi ciency and effectiveness by 

automating manual processes, integrating applications and maximizing process controls 

to ensure biological and chemical sample integrity and resulting data fi delity. TekCel’s 

modular, scalable, environmentally controlled family of products allow you to invest in 

what you need today and seamlessly scale up to meet your future growth. Solutions 

include sample management automation—Plate Management System, Tube Management 

System; liquid handling platforms—TekBench, TekBench-SP; software and proprietary 

consumables addressing researchers’ needs from archive compound storage through 

screening result. 

Booth 518 (10 x 10) 

TEKnova is a molecular biology based manufacturing company that offers a complete 

line of plated media, solutions and reagents that support the standard molecular biology 

procedures given in current protocols in molecular cloning, molecular biology, and high 

through-put applications. TEKnova has opened a new 30,000 sq. foot state of the art 

facility to better serve all your media needs. We are ready to automate your lab media 

requirements. 

Booth 840 (10 x 10) 

TeleChem/ArrayIt.com produces a superior quality collection of Genome and Protein 

mining tools, kits and reagents, priced for research. “SpotBot” the personal automated 

microarrayer, holds 14 substrates. It utilizes TeleChem’s patented miniature stealth 

microspotting technology the same printing technology relied upon by 18 micorarray 

robotic manufacturers world wide. “SpotBot” is priced under $14,000. We manufacture 

ultra sensitive custom Microarrays, in a cleanroom, using our patented Micorarray printing 

pin technology on proprietary superfl at glass substrates. 

290

The Automation Partnership 

3411 Silverside Road, Webster Building 


(302) 478-9060; (302) 478-9575 fax 

info@automationpartnership.com 

www.automationpartnership.com 

The Lee Company 

2 Pettipaug Road, P.O. Box 424 

Westbrook, Connecticut 06498-0424 

(860) 399-6281; (860) 399-2270 fax 

inquiry@theleeco.com 

www.theleeco.com 



Burlington, Ontario L7L 6A6 

Canada 

(905) 332-2000 x319; (905) 332-1114 fax 


www.thermo.com 

THK America 

200 East Commerce Drive 

Schaumburg, Illinois 60173 

www.thk.com 

Titertek Instruments 

330 Wynn Drive 

Huntsville, Alabama 35805 

(256) 859-8600; (256) 859-8698 fax 

inquiry@titertek.com 

www.titertek.com 

Titian Software Ltd. 

100 Borough High Street 

London, SE1 1LB United Kingdom 

44 20 7863 3060; 44 20 7863 3001 fax 

info@titian.co.uk 

www.titian.co.uk 

Booth 1224 (10 x 20) 

The Automation Partnership is a world leader in the design and development of advanced 

industrial automation solutions for the life science industry. With a successful track 

record in automating and integrating processes for cell culture, compound and sample 

management, liquid handling and ultra high throughput screening, the company continues 

to develop and implement market driven automation solutions to meet the discovery, 

development and commercial challenges of the 21st Century. 

Booth 1225 (10 x 10) 

The Lee Company manufactures a complete line of precision, miniature fl uid control 

products offering reliable, consistent performance. On display are 2 and 3-way inert and 

non-inert solenoid valves, high speed micro-dispensing valves, fi xed and variable volume 

dispense pumps and associated inert fl uid handling components. Featured are new microdispensing 

valves capable of high speed nanoliter dispensing, new calibrated orifi ces 

designed for installation in plastics, and a new integrated pump/valve dispensing system. 


Thermo Electron Corporation is a world leader in high-tech instruments. The Thermo CRS 

Dimension4 automation platform and scalable CRS POLARA software offer a powerful 

combination of simplicity, reliability, fl exibility, and ultra-high throughput. The extensive 

range of Thermo microplate-based products (photometers, fl uorometers, luminometers, 

reagent dispensers, washers and microplates) offers trusted quality with consistent results. 

One example for effi cient use of such tools is the Thermo KingFisher instrument for protein 

and nucleic acid purifi cation. Thermo Electron Corporation is a leading solution provider for 

pharma research, drug discovery and biotechnology research. 

Booth 212 (10 x 20) 

The world leader in linear motion technology, THK originated recalculating ball bearing 

carriages on a square shape rail. By implementing these Linear Guides with a patented 

cage ball technology system, THK brings dramatic improvements in life, smoothness, 

noise, maintenance and overall cost. Our components consist of precision linear guides, 

ball screws, cross roller rings, link balls, rod ends and actuators. Available in stainless steel 

and miniature models for all types of lab automation and instrumentation equipment and 

biotechnology companies. ISO 9001 registered. U.S. manufacturing. 

Booth 1021 (10 x 10) 

Titertek Instruments produces a variety of products for liquid handling and microplate 

handling and processing. In its Huntsville, Alabama facility, Titertek produces microplate 

stackers, dispensers, washers, and custom assay processors as well as semi-automated 

liquid handlers for sample transfer and primary processing. Microplate stackers are sold 

both with Titertek’s own equipment as well as integrated to a variety of third party devices. 

Booth 835 (10 x 10) 

Titian Software develops IT systems for the life science industries, specializing in software 

that manages the samples used in drug discovery. Our clients use our products to improve 

the effi ciency, throughput and data integrity of the sample storage and preparation 

processes that feed their vital research functions. 

Our Mosaic software suite manages libraries of compounds and reagents through 

all stages of the drug discovery process. It incorporates inventory tracking, workfl ow 

management, sample ordering and the integration of robotic workstations from leading 

vendors. 

291 

EXHIBITORS

Tomtec 

1000 Sherman Avenue 

Hamden, Connecticut 06514 

(203) 281-6790 

www.tomtec.com 

Torcon Instruments, Inc. 

22301 South Western Avenue Building 105 


(310) 320-7313; (310) 618-0143 fax 

rkg@torconinstruments.com 

www.torconinstruments.com 

TradeWinds Direct, Inc. 

10555 86th Avenue 

Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin 53158 

(888) 323-3585; (262) 605-3262 fax 

sales@tradewindsdirect.com 

www.twdinc.com 

Tricontinent 

12555 Loma Rica Drive 

Grass Valley, California 95945 

(530) 273-8888; (530) 273-2586 fax 

liquidhandling@tricontent.com 

www.tricontinent.com 

TTP LabTech 

Melbourne Science Park 

Cambridge Road 

Royston, Herts SG8 6EE 


sales@ttplabtech.com 

www.ttplabtech.com 

Union Biometrica, Inc. 

35 Medford Street, Suite 101 

Somerville, Massachusetts 02143 

(617) 591-1211; (617) 591-8388 fax 

sales@unionbio.com 

www.unionbio.com 

Booth 811 (10 x 30) 

Tomtec is a leading provider of innovative automated solutions for drug discovery 

research—96 & 384 well pipettors and instruments for microplate washing, sealing and 

storage—supporting a wide range of applications including HTS, SPE and Genomics. 

Tomtec continues to enhance existing products and introduce new technology to meet the 

changing needs of research. Tomtec has introduced a number of innovative instruments 

over the years including the Harvester96, Quadra96 and the newest—the Autogizer. 

Tomtec will display new instruments for use in cell-based assays, bioanalysis and 

genomics/proteomics: Quadra 3NS, The Tower, and SPExpress. 

Booth 211 (10 x 10) 

Torcon Instruments has been designing and manufacturing equipment to automate 

procedures in the microplate format since 1984. Personnel at Torcon have designed 

or been on the design team for the fi rst dual wavelength Optical Density Reader 

for microplates, the fi rst Fluorometer for microplates, and the fi rst Luminometer for 

microplates. 

Booth 1327 (10 x 10) 

TradeWinds Direct, Inc. is dedicated to the design and manufacture of high quality and 

innovative laboratory products in response to our customers’ needs. Our specialties 

include: Laser-Etched Ceramic Bar Codes, 1D/2D, Vials/Tubes/Slides Automated Laser 

Bar Coding Systems Automated Capping/Uncapping Systems, Screw/Crimp/Plug Caps, 

Standalone/ Integrated Custom Design/Manufacture of Plastic Glass and Metal Labware/ 

Components Unique Standard Labware Products. 

Booth 1019 (10 x 10) 

TriContinent, an ISO 9001-certifi ed company, manufactures precise, reliable and affordable 

liquid handling instruments and devices, specializing in custom-made OEM products for 

clinical and biotechnology applications. TriContinent manufacturers OEM syringe pumps. 

Our pumps, whether standard, custom or modifi ed are designed for Low Cost, Quality 

and Application Optimization. TriContinent has established relationships with the most 

knowledgeable and successful clinical diagnostic and biotech companies in the world. 

Booth 1525 (10 x 30) 

TTP LabTech supplies laboratory-scale instrumentation and automation for the healthcare, 

biotech and pharmaceutical sectors. Its products include: comPOUND, a high-density, 

modular and scalable storage system, refrigerated to -20˚C; Mosquito, a low volume 

(50–1200nl) pipettor which uses disposable pipettes for zero cross-contamination; and 

Acumen Explorer, a laser-based fl uorescent microplate cytometer providing fast, multiparameter 

analysis for cell-based assays. 

Booth 938 (10 x 10) 

Union Biometrica provides automated systems for sorting/dispensing large (40–1,500 

microns) beads, such as those used in on-bead combinatorial assays, to facilitate 

experiment design for HTS compound screening and assay development. Based on size, 

optical density, and fl uorescent characteristics, COPAS instruments sort target beads 

into multiwell plates using a non-destructive sorting mechanism. This technology is also 

utilized for sorting of viable large cells, cellular aggregates, and small model organisms 

(C.elegans, Drosophila, zebrafi sh). 

292

United Chemical Technologies, Inc. 

2731 Bartram Road 

Bristol, Pennsylvania 19007 

(800) 385-3153; (215) 785-1226 fax 

www.unitedchem.com 

USA Scientific, Inc. 

P.O. Box 3565 

Ocala, Florida 34478 

(800) 522-8477; (352) 351-2057 fax 

infoline@usascientific.com 

www.usascientific.com 

V&P Scientific, Inc. 

9823 Pacific Heights Boulevard, Suite T 


(858) 455-0643; (858) 455-0703 fax 

azabrocki@vp-scientific.com 

www.vp-scientific.com 

Veeco Instruments Inc. 

2650 East Elvira Road 

Tucson, Arizona 85706 

(520) 741-1044; (520) 294-1799 fax 

info@veeco.com 

www.veeco.com 

Velocity11 

435 Acacia Avenue 

Palo Alto, California 94306 

(650) 846-6500; (650) 846-6520 fax 

info@velocity11.com 

www.velocity11.com 

VICI Valco Instruments 

P.O. Box 55603 

Houston, Texas 77255 

(713) 688-9345; (713) 688-3948 fax 

valco@vici.com 

www.vici.com 

Booth 1501 (10 x 10) 

United Chemical Technologies is a major competitor in the fi eld of silica based solid phase 

extraction technology. We offer a selection of over 50 functionalized silica gels and a wide 

range of polymeric resins which can be packed into cartridges, fl ash chromatography 

columns, and plates. We carry both 96- and 48- well plates, which are compatible with 

many liquid handling systems. UCT supports all of these products with outstanding 

technical assistance. 

Booth 729 (10 x 10) 

USA Scientifi c provides solutions for sample handling, testing, storage, and tracking. 

Products on display include: TipOne ® manual and automation tips, Micronic ® racked tubes 

and sealing caps, real-time PCR fi lm and plates; 384- and 1536-well plates, freezer racks 

and labels, Opticell ® cell culture systems, and more. 

Booth 826 (10 x 20) 

V&P Scientifi c makes Pin Tools for most robotic systems to transfer nanoliter through 

microliter volumes from microplates to membranes, other microplates, agar or glass slides. 

We make pin tools for 24, 48, 96, 384 standard and deep well microplates, and even 1536 

microplates. V&P also invented the fi rst practical method to stir or aerate the contents of 

individual microwells with our Alligator Tumble Stirrers and Levitation Stirrers, and a simple 

method of keeping particulates in suspension while pipetting. 

Booth 1012 (10 x 10) 

Veeco Instruments Inc. is a worldwide leader in metrology tools for the scientifi c/research 

and industrial markets. Our newest product, the Oasis Protein Crystal Imaging System , 

leverages Veeco’s industrial metrology experience into structural proteomics. This optical, 

high throughput screening tool provides unparalleled productivity and ease of use. Global 

sales and service offi ces are located throughout the United States, Europe, Japan and Asia 

Pacifi c. Additional information on Veeco can be found at www.veeco.com. 

Booth 1133 (20 x 30) 

Velocity11 is the leading manufacturer of automation platforms and benchtop 

instrumentation for laboratory processes. Velocity11’s suite of innovative products and 

commitment to service provide a winning combination for complete automation solutions. 

To see how we provide the fl exibility to meet your needs today and in the future, please 

stop by our booth or contact a Velocity11 sales representative. 

Booth 807 (10 x 20) 

For over 30 years, VICI ® Valco Instruments Co. Inc. has been the leading designer and 

manufacturer of valves and fi ttings for precision analytical, biomedical, and biocompatible 

instrumentation. Newest products for proteomics and genomics include: Cheminert ® 

CN2 Nanoinjector, optimized for nanovolume fl ow rates; Cheminert ® C2NH 10,000 psi 

injectors; and Cheminert ® C2NX 20,000 psi injectors. 

293 

EXHIBITORS

Waters Corporation 

34 Maple Street 

Milford, Massachusetts 01757 

(508) 478-2000; (508) 872-1990 fax 

info@waters.com 

www.waters.com 

Watson-Marlow Bredel Pumps 

37 Upton Drive 

Wilmington, Massachusetts 01887 

(978) 658-6168; (978) 658-0041 fax 

support@wmbpumps.com 

www.watson-marlow.com 

Whatman 

9 Bridewell Place 

Clifton, New Jersey 07014 

(973) 773-5800; (973) 773-0168 fax 

info@whatman.com” 

www.whatman.com 

White Carbon 

Melborun Science Park 

Melbourn, Royston 

Hertfordshire SG8 6EE 


44 1763 266606; 44 1763 262495 fax 

info@white-carbon.com 

www.white-carbon.com 

Zinsser Analytic GmbH 

Eschborner Landstr. 135 

Frankfurt D-60489, Germany 

49 69 789 1060; 49 69 789 10680 fax 

info@zinsser-analytic.com 

www.zinsser-analytic.com 

Booth 1110 (10 x 10) 

Now that Waters is home to Micromass MS technologies, no other company can offer you 

a more comprehensive range of products and services. Columns and Chemistries. Mass 

Spectrometry. HPLC. Instrument Control and Information Management Software. Service 

and Support. Whatever your laboratory’s needs are, we can answer them all. 

Booth 839 (10 x 10) 

Watson-Marlow Bredel, the world’s largest manufacturer of peristaltic pumps, will be 

displaying a wide range of instrument-quality OEM pumps. Customization services are 

available so that standard pumps can be optimized to best suit almost any application. 

The pumps are contamination-free and their simple design handles almost any fl uid 

reliability. Also featured will be PumpSil brand Silicone tubing with Lasertraceability for 

FDA approved applications. 

Booth 433 (10 x 10) 

Whatman is an international leader in separation technology manufacturing an extensive 

range of fi ltration products for high throughput sample preparation. In addition to standard 

collection and assay plates, we offer an extensive range of specialized membranes and 

medias encapsulated in multiwell fi lter plates of various well densities and volumes. Also 

available is a service for custom products and private labeling. 

Booth 1034 (10 x 10) 

White Carbon brings software-based solutions to life sciences. Its Pathways workfl ow 

system crosses the boundary between conventional LIMS systems and workcell control 

software, offering unrivalled integration and analysis capabilities. Pathways can be used to 

develop workfl ow systems rapidly and incrementally, enabling controlled process evolution 

and the capture of best practice. 

Booth 1534 (10 x 10) 

Zinsser Analytic is supplying a vast range of sophisticated systems and solutions for 

applications in modern drug discovery, combinatorial chemistry, screening and synthesis, 

as well as standard laboratory automation: LISSY- fast and precise liquid handling, 

LIPOS- automatic liquid and powder dispensing with powder pipette for variable deliveries 

of dry materials (also available with integrated microwave), CALLI- calibrating of vials 

and weighing of powders and liquid compounds (available with “intelligent” sample 

management system for “hit-picking” etc.—CALLI-plus). 

Zymark Corporation See Caliper Technologies Corporation on page 256. 

294

NOTES 

295

NOTES 

296

SHORT COURSES 


Barcode Technology – Page 298 

Economic Justification of Laboratory Automation – Page 298 

Emerging IT for the Laboratory – Page 298 

Introduction to High Throughput Screening – Page 298 

Introduction to Laboratory Automation – Page 299 

Introduction to LabView – Page 299 

Introduction to Molecular Biology – Page 299 

Mass Spectrometry Instrumentation & High Throughput Analysis – Page 299 

Microarrays & Their Applications – Page 300 

Migrating From VB6 to VB.Net – Page 300 

Sunday, February 1 and Monday, February 2: Two-Day Courses 

Getting Started With Excel and VBA in the Laboratory – Page 300 

Microfluidics I/II – Page 300 


Biostatistics – Page 301 

Introduction to Databases in the Laboratory – Page 301 

Introduction to Laboratory Automation – Page 301 

LIMS in the Organization – Page 301 

Mass Spectrometry in Proteomics & Drug Discovery – Page 302 

Mathematica – Page 302 

Molecular Diagnostic Automation – Page 302 

Patent Law – Page 302 

Pharmacogenomic Automation – Page 303 

Trajectory of Clinical Laboratory Automation – Page 303 

297 

SHORT COURSES


Barcode Technology Room B1 

Andrew Zosel 


Renton, Washington 

azosel@microscan.com 

Niels Wartenberg 


Renton, Washington 

nwartenberg@microscan.com 

This course will address the information requirements needed for the design of an automated identification system. 

Examples will include patient, tray and reagent identifiers. Linear, stacked and 2D codes will be covered along with 

their advantages and disadvantages. 

Economic Justification of Laboratory Automation Room C1 

Douglas Gurevitch 


San Diego, California 

dgurevitch@yahoo.com 

This course is designed for anyone interested in analyzing the costs and justifications of laboratory automation, 

from laboratory scientist or manager to financial officer needing an introduction into laboratory financial issues. 

The goal of this course is to introduce students to the terminology and methods used in the economic analysis of 

laboratory automation. 

Emerging IT for the Laboratory Room B3 

Burkhard Schäfer 

Burkhard Schäfer Software and Networks 

Mainz, Germany 

bs-sc@bubusoft.com 

Torsten A. Staab 


Los Alamos, New Mexico 

tstaab@lanl.gov 

This short course will provide an overview of emerging IT (Information Technology) that is applicable to R&D labs in 

the pharmaceutical, biotech, and clinical sectors. More specifically, this course will provide managers, IT decision 

makers, and engineers with the latest IT trends, introduce new and emerging IT, and discuss their pros and cons. 

Live product demos of the latest software application development, system and data modeling, database, and 

Internet technologies will also be included. 

Introduction to High Throughput Screening Room J3 

Carol A. Homon 

Boehringer-Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 

Ridgefield, Connecticut 

chomon@rdg.boehringer-ingelheim.com 

Richard M. Nelson 

Boehringer-Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 

Ridgefield, Connecticut 

rnelson1@rdg.boehringer-ingelheim.com 

This introductory course is designed for professionals new to the field of high throughput screening as well as 

those looking to get an overview of the current state of the art. The course will review the principles, strategy, 

and technology employed by successful screening operations in the pharmaceutical industry. Specific examples 

and case studies will be used to illustrate the application of laboratory automation, assay biochemistry, and data 

analysis in the HTS environment and to highlight important tips and pitfalls that can have significant effects on 

screen quality and productivity. 

298

Introduction to Laboratory Automation Room J2 

Steven D. Hamilton 


Boulder, Colorado 

s.d.hamilton@pobox.com 

Gary W. Kramer 

National Institute of Standards 

and Technology 

Gaithersburg, Maryland 

gkramer@enh.nist.gov 

299 

Mark F. Russo 


Princeton, New Jersey 

russom@bms.com 

This course is designed for those seeking an introduction to and overview of the field of laboratory automation, 

including workstations, integrated systems, microtechnology and informatics. Methods of planning and executing 

successful and effective automation projects, as well as the drivers, costs and benefits of implementing laboratory 

automation will be discussed. 

Introduction to LabView Room C4 

Richard M. Brueggman 

Data Science Automation, Inc. 

Canonsburg, Pennsylvania 

rmb@DSAutomation.com 

Zachary Nelson 

National Instruments 

San Francisco, California 

zachary.nelson@ni.com 

Robin Carr 

Drexel University 

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 

rcarr@coe.drexel.edu 

This course will demonstrate how to use National Instruments LabVIEW to develop custom laboratory automation 

applications in an intuitive graphical development environment. Participants will use the Instrument I/O Assistant, 

DAQ Assistant, and several configurable “Express VIs” in LabVIEW 7.0 to acquire, analyze, and present data 

acquired from external instruments (RS-232 or GPIB / IEEE-488.2) and plug-in data acquisition cards. The Vision 

Assistant and Motion Assistant will also be used to configure image analysis and motion control tasks. Saving data 

to files and monitoring and controlling experiments over the network using a web browser will also be discussed. 

Introduction to Molecular Biology Room F 

Marianne Manchester 


La Jolla, California 

marim@scripps.edu 

Anette Schneemann 



aschneem@scripps.edu 

This course is designed for individuals who have had little or no training in molecular biology and desire to acquire 

a working knowledge of the fundamental concepts and their applications. The course will cover basic processes 

such as DNA, RNA and protein synthesis, recombinant DNA technology, manipulation of gene expression, directed 

mutagenesis and protein engineering. It will also introduce the most important experimental techniques employed 

in this field. The course format will be informal and while no prior knowledge of molecular biology is required, some 

background in basic general science will be beneficial. 

Mass Spectrometry Instrumentation & High Throughput Analysis Room B2 

Nadja Cech 

University of North Carolina 

Greensboro, North Carolina 

nbcech@uncg.edu 

Mike Greig 



michael.greig@pfizer.com 

Gary Siuzdak 



siuzdak@scripps.edu 

This course is designed to acquaint the student with many of the mass spectrometry systems now available 

providing real world applications of different types of instruments as well as giving critical comparisons. 

Discussion will include a wide range of topics in the automation and application of mass spectrometry, including 

high throughput analysis, liquid chromatography MS, high resolution MS, data management, tandem mass 

spectrometry, and unknown identification. 

SHORT COURSES


Microarrays & Their Applications Room J4 

Claus Bo Vöge Christensen 

Danish Technical University 

Lyngby, Denmark 

cbc@mic.dtu.dk 

Martin Dufva 



mdu@mic.dtu.dk 

The course will illustrate the fundamental operating principles, fabrication possibilities and applications of DNAprotein- 

and small molecule arrays. Issues that will be covered include immobilization chemistries, choice of 

substrates, detection strategies, commercially available technologies and considerations for do-it-yourself systems. 

Migrating From VB6 to VB.Net Room B4 

Steven Hoffman 



steven.hoffman@bms.com 

Mike Hudock 


Urbana, Illinois 

hudock@uiuc.edu 

This course is a primer on VB.Net for those programmers already familiar with VB6. The course will cover the major 

differences between the two development platforms and will focus on areas where common VB6 methodologies 

will cause problems in VB.Net code. This course is recommended for those individuals who are either planning to 

or who are starting to transition from VB6 to VB.Net. 

Sunday, February 1 and Monday February 2 

Getting Started With Excel and VBA in the Laboratory Room C2 

William Neil 



william.neil@bms.com 

Erik Rubin 


New Brunswick, New Jersey 

erik.rubin@bms.com 

Microsoft Excel is an indispensable tool for scientific calculations and laboratory data management and is 

ubiquitous in the scientific community. Further expanding the power of Excel is its support for the Visual Basic for 

Applications (VBA) programming language and a built-in integrated development environment. This two-day short 

course will introduce the fundamentals of the VBA core language, examine the interaction of VBA with Microsoft 

Excel, and explore the use of Excel and VBA programming to address basic laboratory automation challenges. 

Microfluidics I/II Room J1 

Jörg P. Kutter 



jku@mic.dtu.dk 

R. Scott Martin 

Saint Louis University 

St. Louis, Missouri 

martinrs@slu.edu 

300 

Johan Nilsson 


Lund, Sweden 

johan.nilsson@elmat.lth.se 

The course will present an introduction to microliquid handling, discussing aspects of basic microfluidics, fluidic 

handling elements, microfabrication, integration and detection. An overview of the most important applications on 

these bio/chemical microdevices, from sample preparation and separation techniques to integrated biomedical 

processors, will be given.


Biostatistics Room C1 

David Lansky 

Lansky Consulting, LLC 

Burlington, Vermont 

David@LanskyConsulting.com 

This course will introduce a collection of statistical ideas and show how they are used in assay design, 

development, and validation. The core concepts include: randomization, independence, distributions, models, 

residual plots, transformations, weights, outliers, experimental units, blocks, factorial designs, and variance 

components. 

Introduction to Databases in the Laboratory Room B1 

Steven Hoffman 



steven.hoffman@bms.com 

Mike Hudock 


Urbana, Illinois 

hudock@uiuc.edu 

This hands-on course teaches database fundamentals as they pertain to a laboratory setting. The course will cover 

the differences between databases and other applications, most notably spreadsheets; the basic operations of 

tables, records, and fields; and an introduction to structured query language (SQL). This course is intended for 

individuals who are familiar with spreadsheets and who may want to migrate to a database and for individuals 

involved in the purchase of database driven systems who want a quick primer on the technology. 

Introduction to Laboratory Automation Room J2 

This is a repeat of the Sunday, February 1 course. See page 299 for the description. 

LIMS in the Organization Room B4 

Robert D. McDowall 

McDowall Consulting 

Bromley, Kent, United Kingdom 

R_D_McDowall@compuserve.com 

Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) are used to administer sample information and collate the 

results from laboratory analyses to deliver reports of the work. The course will give a high level introduction to 

implementing a system in a laboratory and will focus on the areas where many projects fail. Topics include defining 

the system scope, writing the user requirements for the system, involving the users, testing the system and project 

risk management. 

301 

SHORT COURSES


Mass Spectrometry in Proteomics & Drug Discovery Room B2 

Mike Greig 



michael.greig@pfizer.com 

Gary Siuzdak 



siuzdak@scripps.edu 

302 

Tom Hollenbeck 

Genomics Institute of the Novartis 

Research Foundation 


thollenb@gnf.org 

Our course will focus on the present state of the art for mass spectrometry of proteins, small biomolecules and 

drug analysis. The ease with which mass spectrometry can be automated has brought it to the forefront as an 

analytical tool for protein characterization, drug discovery, pharmacokinetics and even disease diagnosis. 

Mathematica Room C4 

Paul Wellin 

Wolfram Research 

Champaign, Illinois 

wellin@wolfram.com 

This short course provides direct, hands-on experience with all of the basic features of /Mathematica/, including 

data analysis and manipulation. The course is designed primarily for people who are interested in becoming 

proficient /Mathematica/ users but who currently have little or no experience with the system. For additional 

information, go to www.wolfram.com/weg/courses/m100.html. 

Molecular Diagnostic Automation Room J4 

Patrick Merel 

Bordeaux University Hospital 

Bordeaux, France 

patrick.merel@chu-bordeaux.fr 

This course will review the most serious options of today for Nucleic Acid Extraction, Amplification Setup and 

Post-Amplification Detection Steps automation. New alternatives and new technologies will be reviewed, as well as 

low cost procedures for middle to high throughput molecular testing. 

Patent Law Room F 

John Wetherell 

Pillsbury Winthrop LLP 


jwetherell@pillsburywinthrop.com 

This short course will provide critical information for creating and maintaining a proprietary position for 

commercialization. The course will survey the various areas in intellectual property, such as patents and trade 

secrets and provide a fundamental background on the criteria which must be met in order to obtain a patent. 

Additional topics relate to various aspects of strategic planning, such as pursuing protection in foreign jurisdictions, 

and determining inventorship. This course does not require a technical background or prior experience with 

intellectual property.

Pharmacogenomic Automation Room J3 

Thomas Hartmann 

Amgen, Inc. 

Thousand Oaks, California 

thomash@amgen.com 

Paul Kayne 



paul.kayne@bms.com 

This course is designed to introduce the theory and practice of pharmacogenomics. Pharmacogenetics is the 

study of genetic variation underlying differential response to pharmacological agents. The course will cover 

three aspects: the biology relevant to pharmacogenomics, assays used in pharmacogenomics, and methods of 

automating pharmacogenomics. 

Trajectory of Clinical Laboratory Automation Room B3 

Rodney Markin 

University of Nebraska Medical Center 

Omaha, Nebraska 

rmarkin@unmc.edu 

Mary Newcomb 

Lab-Interlink 

Omaha, Nebraska 

Today’s clinical laboratory operation will be unlikely to be successful without implementing clinical laboratory 

automation technology to improve laboratory productivity, manage resources, and maintain quality. Knowledgeable 

planning and implementation are key to successful automation applications. This introductory course is aimed at 

those considering automating their clinical laboratory operations and at those managing increasingly automated 

laboratories. 

303 

SHORT COURSES

NOTES 

304

INDEX 

3M Bioanalytical 249 

A 

Aarhaug, Thor Anders 27, 146 

AB Controls 249 

ABgene 249 

ABS, Inc. 249 

Adams, John A. 18, 85 

Adams, Monica 27, 146 

Adam, Shiraz 27, 152 

Adept Technology, Inc. 249 

Adhesives Research, Inc. 250 

Advion BioSciences, Inc. 250 

Aerotech, Inc. 250 

Affordable Automation Ltd 250 

Aflatooni, Nima 78 

AID-CORP 250 

Alanine, Alexander 23, 56 

Alderman, Edward 27, 147 

Alexander, John 142 

ALIO Industries 250 

Allegro Technologies 251 

Allen, Jeffrey 20, 113 

Allwardt, Arne 93 

Altekar, Maneessha 20, 65 

American Linear Manufacturers 251 

Amersham Biosciences Corp. 251 

Amur, Shashi 97 

Andersen, Peter E. 32, 183 

Anderson, Marcy 22, 116 

Andersson, Helene 19, 74 

Applied Biosystems 251 

Applied Mechatronics 251 

Applied Robotics, Inc. 252 

Applied Scientific Instrumentation 252 

Apricot Designs, Inc. 252 

Armstrong, Jason 20, 128 

Arnold, Don 48 

Arnstein, Larry 23, 139 

ARTEL 252 

Arumugam, Prabhu U. 20, 128 

Asensio, Francisco 38, 221 

Ashman, Keith 17, 108 

Association for Laboratory 

Automation 252, 316, 317, 320 

Astech Projects Ltd. 252 

Aurora Discovery, Inc. 253 

Axygen Scientific 253 

Azzaoui, Kamal 65 

B 

Backhouse, C. J. 71 

Baechler, Guido 20, 112 

Bagwell, Hunter 22, 116, 117 

Baker, Jill 17, 69 

Baird, Cheryl 129 

Bal Seal Engineering 253 

Balch, Gina 33, 190 

Bagallo, Chris 27, 34, 147, 192 

Barnstead International/STEM 253 

Baron, Gino 70 

Batalov, Sergei 118 

Batchelor, James 28, 34, 156, 200 

Bauer, H. 31, 179 

Bayer, Travis S. 103 

BD Biosciences 253 

Becker, Michael 17 

Beckman Coulter, Inc. 242, 253 

Beech, Sarah 38, 126, 223 

Behnke, James 78 

Belgoviskiy, Alexander 66 

Belgrader, Phillip 23, 78 

Belson, Adam 28, 157 

Beneke, Ralph 37, 213 

Benes, Vladimir 40, 234 

Benn, Neil 21, 54 

Bergholtz, Stine 29, 36, 161, 205 

Berhitu, Alex 27, 29, 34, 148, 161, 

192 

Berlin, Emily 27, 34, 148, 193, 201 

Bernard, Christopher 27, 149 

Betgovargez, Edna 38, 220 

Betz, Stefan 27, 150 

Beugelsdijk, Tony J. 16 

Bevan, Chris 18, 48 

Bharadwaj, Rajiv 17, 70 

Bhat, Naryan K. 32, 184 

Biagioli, Chris 36, 208 

Bialy, Laurent 28, 157 

Bier, Frank F. 22, 88, 105 

Big Bear Automation 254 

Binnie, Alastair 27, 149 

Bio-Tek Instruments, Inc. 254 

Bio Integrated Solutions 254 

Biomation 254 

BioMedTech Laboratories, Inc. 254 

305 

BioMicroLab, Inc. 254 

Biondi, Sherri 79 

Biosero 255 

Biotage 255 

BioTX Automation, Inc. 255 

Bischoff, Rainer 32, 180 

Bishop, Richard 87 

Bishop-Wisecarver Corporation 255 

Blaga, Iuliu 77 

Blake, Julie 97 

Blake, T. M. 83 

Blanchard, Mary M. 33, 190 

Blodgett, Jason 27, 147 

Blyth, Jeff 44 

BMG Labtechnologies, Inc. 255 

Boge, Annegret 27, 37, 151, 211 

Boillat, Marc 30, 31, 167, 173 

Bolanos, Ben 134 

Bologa, Cristian 53 

Bölstler, Frank 140 

Bonanno, Jeffrey B. 86 

Bonner, M. Roxane 120 

Boone, Travis 21, 89 

Boorman, Gary A. 56 

Borgen, Tine 29, 36, 161, 205 

Bornhop, Darryl J. 20, 32, 183 

Boston Biomedica, Inc. 255 

Bouhelal, Rochdi 65 

Boulin, Christian 40, 234 

Bowen, Wayne 27, 33, 34, 37, 39, 

151, 187, 193, 217, 230 

Bowlby, Evelyn E. 40, 232 

Boyd, Brian 39, 229 

Boyer, Scott 31, 36, 37, 40, 99, 177, 

210, 212, 234 

Bradley, Mark 19, 20, 27, 28, 51, 

150, 157 

Bradshaw, John 24, 141 

Brand, Randall 82 

Brandel 256 

Brauner, Erik 53 

Bray, Terry 66 

Brideau, Christine 27, 152 

Briggs, Erica 22, 136, 137 

Brinkmann Instruments Inc. 256 

Brinkman, Steve 35, 199 

Brook, Carlton 69 

Brooks Automation, Inc., Life 

Sciences Group 256 

INDEX

Brounstein, Kevin 78 

Brown, Clifford 63 

Brown, Mike 39, 226 

Brown, Sven 124 

Browning, Brent 63 

Brueggman, Richard M. 299 

Bruner, Jimmy 28, 38, 68, 152, 221 

Buckler, David 35, 203 

Budd, John 34, 39, 193, 230 

Buehrer, Lenore 30, 168 

Bullen, Andrew 27, 149 

Burdett, Laurie 127 

Burgess, Kevin 16, 45 

Burke, Julian F. 37, 125, 216 

Burley, Stephen K. 86 

Burns, Christine 39, 227 

Burns, Norman 77 

Cai, Hong 100 

C 

Cai, Sui Xiong 126 

Calamunci, Rob 35, 202 


242, 256 

Callamaras, Nick 124 

Campbell, Dana 99 

Campbell, Jesse 28, 153 

Carlo, Anthony 20, 64 

Carr, Robin 299 

Carreira, Erick 16, 45 

Cary, Robert B. 19, 22, 100 

Cathey, Cheryl 33, 188 

Cech, Nadja 299 

The Center for Biophysical Sciences 

and Engineering 256 

Chait, Arnon 66 

Chan, Daniel W. 17, 108 

Chan-Hui, Po-Ying 89 

Chang, Julie 28, 153 

Chatrathi, Madhu Prakash 28, 154 

Chatterjee, Moneesh 27 149 

Che, Jian 104 

Cheetham, Janet 135 

Chen, Lilly 89 

Chen, Wensheng 28, 157 

Cherry, James M. 32, 184 

Cheu, Melissa 28, 154 

Cheung, Peter 87 

Chipman, Stewart 18, 135 

Chiu, Daniel 19, 73 

Chiu, Mark 36, 209 

Choi, Bernard 21, 53 

Chow, Andrea 79 

Chow, Eva Y. W. 40, 232 

Christensen, Claus Bo Vöge 129, 

300 

Christensen, Louise Dahl 129 

Christmann, Alexander 105 

Chromagen, Inc. 257 

Chu, Chi-Tai 29, 164 

Chudyk, Jon 22, 104 

Chui, Buena 120 

Chun, Lawrence 28, 155 

Ciumasu, Ioan M. 35, 203 

Clark, Kelly M. 35, 200 

Clark, Liz 65 

Clark, Robin 28, 155 

Clarke, Glenn 38, 221 

Clicq, David 70 

Cliffel, David 20, 74 

Cloutier, Normand 21, 67 

Code Refinery 257 

Cohen, Michael J. 28, 153 

Cole, Kate 29, 163 

Colehan, James 125 

Collett, Jim 103 

Collingsworth, Michael 34, 194 

Coma, Isabel 65 

Comita, Paul B. 124 

Computype, Inc. 257 

Cong, Mei 27, 147 

Conner, Denise 28, 155 

Cook, Matthew 19, 27, 28, 127, 

151, 155 

Cooke, Michael 118 

Cooks, R. G. 83 

Cooper, David 68 

Cope, Tristan 27, 151 

Cornett, Mary 85 

Corning Incorporated 257 

Corso, Thomas 24, 81 

Cosenza, Larry 66 

Cosic, Janja 35, 203 

Costa, Jose 82 

Costantin, James 18, 124 

Cotter, Robert 17, 95 

Cowan, Chris 27, 28, 35, 147, 156, 

202 

Cox, J. Colin 22, 29, 31, 103, 164, 

165, 176 

Crabtree, H. John 18, 71 

Crittenden, Carole 28, 34, 156, 194 

Cromwell, Evan 18, 124 

Crosby, Renae 38, 221 

Cu, Matthew 38, 220 

306 

Cumme, G. A. 37, 215 

Cunningham, Brian 20, 129 

Cunningham, Michael L. 56 

Curtis, Richard H. 141 

CyBio AG 257 

Cyr, Doug 48 

D 

Daffertshofer, Martin 18, 62 

Dains, Katherine 28, 157 

Dandekar, Samir 39, 226 

Danker, Timm 60 

Dapprich, Johannes 19, 127 

Davies, Merrill L. 94 

Davidson, Colin 44 

Davis, Jim 18, 98 

Davis, Ronald W. 101 

Davisson, V. J. 83 

Dawson, Philip E. 21, 89 

deCODE genetics 258 

Dedeo, Anja 34, 196 

Del-Tron Precision Inc. 258 

Delaney, Edward 94 

DeLucas, Larry 21, 66 

Denoyer, Eric 90 

Dery, Olivier 28, 127, 155 

Desai, Sattu 84 

Desai, Tejal A. 31, 32, 178, 186 

Desmet, Gert 70 

Dettloff, Roger 135 

DeVoe, Don L. 22, 77 

Dextras, Philip 98 

Diamond, Scott L. 91 

Diaz-Mochon, Juan Jose 28, 157 

DiCesare, Joseph 36, 90, 204 

Dick, Lawrence 33, 73, 188 

Dickinson, William 104 

Digital Bio Technology, Inc. 258 

DigitalVAR, Inc. 258 

Dill, Killian 104 

Dillon, Deborah 82 

Dionex Corporation 258 

Discovery Partners International 259 

Dixon, James 28, 158 

Doktycz, Mitchel J. 104 

Döring, Klaus 37 

Dorner, Johann 29, 107, 140, 159 

Dorsett, David 17, 123 

Dotson, Crystal 119 

Drake, Doug 29, 34, 158, 194 

DRD Diluter Corporation 259 

Dreiss, Philipp 29, 107, 159

Dressendorfer, Paul 22 

Dressler, Sigmar 65 

Drewe, John 126 

Drews, Jürgen 12, 16, 23, 43 

Drug Discovery & Development 259 

Drug Discovery World 259 

Du, Ping 21, 29, 54, 159 

Du, Yi 92 

Dufresne, Claude 38, 221 

Dufva, Martin 20, 129, 300 

Dulle, Steve 33, 190 

Dumaual, Carmen 119 

Duncan, Wayne 29, 159 

Dunka, Louis 18, 111 

Dunne, Jude 39, 232 

Dunphy, Katherine 17, 68 

E 

E&K Scientific Products 260 

Eason, Paula Denney 39, 226 

Eastern Plastics Inc. 259 

Eberle, Klaus Günther 40, 234 

EDC Biosystems 260 

Ediger, Richard 90 

Edwards, Todd 29, 160 

Eendhuizen, Steven 29, 34, 161, 192 

Egeberg, Morten 29, 34, 161, 195 

Ehrentreich-Foerster, Eva 88 

Eidelberg, Boaz 34, 195 

Eklund, Sven 74 

Eksigent Technologies 260 

Ekström, Simon 80 

Elands, Jack 34, 194 

Elkin, Chris 35, 198 

Elling, John 20, 66 

Ellington, Andrew D. 29, 31, 32, 

103, 164, 165, 176, 183 

Ellman, Jonathan A. 20, 52, 91 

Ellson, Richard 19, 63 

ELMO Motion Control, Inc. 260 

Elseveir 260 

Emili, Andrew 31, 176 

Emptage, Mike 68 

Encynova 260 

Endress, Gregory A. 29, 160 

Engelstein, Marcy 34, 196 

Entzian, Kristin 33, 191, 39, 225 

Essen Instruments 261 

Everitt, Elizabeth 23 

Evotec Technologies 261 

Exatron Corporation 261 

F 

Faham, Malek 101 

Fang, Francine 28, 155 

Fang, Xiangming 91 

Fang, Xingwang 19, 34, 39, 162, 

196, 231 

Fanger, Neil 139 

Farinas, Javier 33, 39, 188, 232 

Farmen, Mark 119 

Farre, Cecilia 73 

Farrow, Roger 48 

Fathollahi, Bahram 79 

Feitelson, Jerry 91 

Feng, I-wei 135 

Ferentinos, Jerry 27, 152 

Fernandez, Jose A. 89 

Fernandez-Vina, Marcello 127 

Ferrari, Mauro 32, 182 

FIBERLite Centrifuge 261 

Fieweger, Kim 104 

Fillers, W. Steven 20, 29, 162 

Finlay, Cathy 28, 38, 68, 152, 221 

Finlay, Judith 21, 88 

Fisher Scientific 261 

Fitzgerald, Robert 30, 170 

Flynn, Julie 33, 189 

Fortin, Louis Jacques 27, 152 

Foshee, Melissa 37, 213 

Fragiadakis, Cheryl 22 

Frank, Michael 27, 150 

Frankenberger, Casey 37, 214 

Frechet, Jean 31, 174 

Frese, Ines 35, 203 

Friedlander, Thomas 29, 163 

Fritsch, Ingrid 128 

Fuchs, R. 31, 179 

Fung, Eric 19, 86 

G 

G&L Precision Die Cutting, Inc. 261 

Gabriel, Daniela 65 

Gaitan, Michael 79 

Gajovic-Eichelmann, Nenad 21, 

88, 105 

Gallagher, Sean 29, 163 

Ganjei, J. Kelly 30, 169 

Gao, Alice 29, 34, 164, 197 

Gao, Xia 19, 86 

Garcia, Carlos 29, 164 

Gardner, Ben D. 95 

Garner, Mark 86 

Garner, Toni 27, 148 

307 

Garyentes, Tina 17 

Gasior, Carlton 88 

Gaskin, Michael 120 

Gazzillo, Lisa 33, 186 

Geierstanger, Bernard 17 

General Data Company, Inc. 262 

Genetic Engineering News/Modern 

Drug & Discovery 262 

Genetix 238, 262 

Genmark Automation 262, 263 

Genomic Solutions 262 

GenoVision Inc. 264 

GenVault Corporation 264 

Gerlach, A. 30, 165 

Ghindilis, Andrey 22, 104 

Gibbs, Richard A. 27, 148 

Gil, Sonia 35, 38. 201, 219 

Gill, James 23, 61, 67 

Gillooly, David 36, 205 

Gilson, Inc. 264 

Girardi, Michael 37, 215 

Girod, Michel 65 

Glas-Col, LLC 264 

Godsey, James 17, 96 

Goertz, Patrick 29, 165 

Gold, Larry 17, 109 

Goldenberg, Andrew A. 31, 176 

Goldstein, Marc 37, 214 

Gologan, B. 83 

Gombocz, Erich A. 18, 60 

Goodacre, Roy 13 

Goode, Kate 35, 199 

Goodlett, David R. 22, 35, 90, 200 

Gordon, Steven 18, 97 

Gosalia, Dhaval N. 22, 91 

Gottschlich, Norbert 30, 165 

Gradl, Gabriele 20, 130 

Granchelli, Joseph 30, 166 

Grandsard, Peter 16, 24, 135, 142 

Gregg, Jeffrey 33, 189 

Greig, Michael 134, 299, 302 

Greiner Bio-One, Inc. 238, 264 

Griebel, Ralf 40, 234 

Griffin, David 30, 166 

Griffin, John H. 89 

Grigg, Ronald 32, 181 

Grimes, Craig 31, 178 

Gripenberg-Lerche, Christel 38, 39, 

220, 228 

Grossi, Erin 35, 202 

Grove, Geoffrey N. 27, 147 

Grunst, Terri 30, 35, 167, 202 

Guber, A. E. 30, 165 

INDEX

Gubler, Hanspeter 20, 65 

Guggenheimer, Kurtis 18, 98 

Gunic, Javorka 32, 38, 185, 224 

Gurevitch, Douglas 298 

Gurske, William 77 

Guss, Jeffrey 27, 149 

Gustafsson, Omar 76 

Gwynne, Penny 120 

H 

Haab, Brian 17, 82 

Haan, Nick 18, 61 

Habenbacher, Gerald 30, 171 

Haber, Carsten 30, 167 

Hahn, Mathew 17, 122 

Hahnenberger, Karen 48 

Halcome, Jennifer 30, 35, 168, 200 

Halley, George R. 30, 35, 168, 200 

Halloran, Stephen 39, 230 

Hamdan, Hasnah 20, 112 

Hamilton Company 264 

Hamilton, Steven D. 299 

Hamrick, David 66 

Hamstra, Alan 37, 214, 216 

Handran, Shawn 124 

Hardenbol, Paul 101 

Harper, Gavin 65 

Harrer, Bruce 22, 138 

Harris, David 63 

Hartmann, Michelle 86 

Hartmann, Thomas 303 

Hatcher, Sandra 33, 189 

Hawker, Charles 22, 24, 116 

Haynes, Paul A. 22 

Hayos, Jill 33, 189 

He, Qing 81 

Heineman, William 35, 199 

Heinitz, Wof-Dieter 38, 222 

Heinloth, Alexandra 23, 56 

Held, Paul 30, 168 

Helde, Paavo 62 

Helenius, Joni 38, 220 

Helfrich, John 30, 169 

HEMCO Corporation 265 

Hemmilä, Ilkka 39, 228 

Hencken, Ken 48 

Henkel, Joerg 88, 105 

Hensley, Joseph A. 35, 200 

Hensley, Paul 20, 130 

Herich, John 126 

Hermann, Terry 30, 34, 169, 197 

Herold, Chris 19 

Herold, David 30, 170, 172 

Herranz, Jesus 65 

Hessel, Volker 35, 203 

Hettich 265 

Heynen, Susanne 125 

Hilder, Emily 31, 174 

Hilhorst, Martijn 29, 161 

Hill, W. Adam 22, 67 

Hillegonds, Darren 30, 170 

Hilt, Lynn 30, 171 

Hines, Craig 35, 199 

Hird, Nicholas 20 

Hitti, Joseph 34, 192 

Hoang, Quoc 29, 34, 162, 196 

Hobbs, Steve 13, 33, 71, 187 

Hockett, Richard 23, 119 

Hoffman, John K. 85 

Hoffman, Randall 30, 171 

Hoffman, Steven 300, 301 

Hoffmann, W. 30, 165 

Hofmann, Glenn 65 

Hofstadler, Steven 17, 19, 96 

Hogenesch, John 118 

Hollenbeck, Tom 302 

Hölzel, Ralph 105 

Homon, Carol A. 37, 142, 215, 298 

Honisch, Ulrike 34, 198 

Hoover, Debra 29, 34, 164, 197 

Horn, A. 37, 215 

Howland, John 131 

Hrusovsky, E. Kevin 24 

Hsieh, Charles 106 

Hu, Tao 34, 193 

Huang, Lei 91 

Huber, David 21, 132 

Hudock, Mike 300, 301 

Hudson Control Group, Inc. 265 

Huitt, Gerry 30, 168 

Humphries, David 35, 198 

Hunike-Smith, Scott 18 

Hunkapiller, Kathryn 97 

Hunter, Joel 27, 152 

Hurd, Douglas 31, 175 

Hurskainen, Pertti 39, 228 

IDBS Inc. 239, 265 

IKO Intenational, Inc. 265 

ILS Innovative Labor Systeme 266 

INA Linear Technik, a division of INA 

USA Corp. 266 

Innovadyne Technologies, Inc. 266 

Innovative Microplate 266 

I 

308 

Invetech Instrument Development 

and Manufacture 266 

Irwin, Richard D. 56 

ISC BioExpress 266 

Ito, Ralph K. 29, 160 

J-Kem Scientific, Inc. 267 

Jacobs, Michael 28, 154 

Jacobson, Dawn Marie 30, 172 

Jaffe, Syrus 98 

Jahn, Andreas 79 

J 

Jain, Maneesh 101 

Jain, Suresh 73 

James, Anthony 44 

Jannetto, Paul 121 

Jardemark, Kent 73 

Jehle, Heinrich 62 

Jencons Scientific, Inc. 267 

Jensen, Klavs 19, 50 

Jewell, David W. 85 

Jiang, Lihua 92 

Jiang, Sky 37, 125, 216 

Jiang, Zhiming 99 

Johnson, Bruce 78 

Johnson, Diane 35, 199 

Johnson, Jason 36, 208 

Johnson, Kent 35, 36, 202, 208 

Jones, Eric 23, 139 

Jones, Jay Burton 22, 116, 117 

Jones, Mike 35, 199 

Jones, Sarah 127 

Jordan, Lynn 35, 200 

Joshi, Sanjaya 21, 35, 133, 200 

Jouan Robotics 267 

Journal of the Association for 

Laboratory Automation 

(JALA) 242, 260 

Jovanovich, Stevan 22, 77 

Julabo USA, Inc. 267 

Jun-Air, USA 267 

K 

Kabilan, Satyamoorthy 44 

Kane, Jeff 35, 201 

Karcher, Brent 24, 94 

Karg, Jeffrey 20, 21, 131 

Karlin-Neumann, George 101 

Karlsruhe, Forschungszentrum 30, 

165 

Karlsson, Mattias 73 

Karnik, R. 68

Kashem, Mohammed 142 

Kasibhatla, Shailaja 126 

Kath, Gary 38, 221 

Kaur, Jaskiran 33, 190 

Kayne, Paul 21, 303 

Kazan, Greg 27, 36, 147, 206 

Kellard, Libby 27, 34, 38, 147, 201, 

219 

Kelleher, Neil 23, 92 

Kelley, Brian P. 66 

Kelly, Michele 35, 199 

Kendro Laboratory Products 267 

Kephart, Dan 30, 35, 167, 202 

Khovananth, Kevin 36, 208 

Kiechle, Frederick 18, 111 

Kim, Hidong 84 

Kim, Joong Hyun 39, 172 

King, Greg 38, 221 

Kirkwood, Sandra 119 

Kishbaugh, Alan 35, 36, 202, 208 

Kloehn Company 268 

KMC Systems, Inc. 268 

Knaide, Tanya R. 141 

Knebel, Günther 30, 34, 62, 165, 197 

Knight, Benjamin 73 

Knoll, Gerald 23, 140 

Knott, Thomas 60 

Kochins, John 18 

Koehler, Jeffrey 33, 187 

Kolb, Gunther 35, 203 

Kolossov, Evgueni 29, 158 

Kopacz, Kristopher 35, 203 

Kopf-Sill, Anne 24, 69 

Köprunner, M. 31, 179 

Korytko, Andrew 28, 153 

Koster, Emile 27, 34, 148, 192 

Kotturi, Paul 135 

Kovanen, Satu 38, 220 

Kramer, Gary W. 32, 182, 299 

Krämer, Petra M. 35, 203 

Kratochwil, K. 31, 179 

Kreil, G. 31, 179 

Kricka, Larry 17, 109 

Kubischta, Duane 35, 204 

Kumar, Akhauri P. 29, 107, 159 

Kumar, Mohit 32, 185 

Kumar, Tharun 53 

Kuoni, Andreas 31, 173 

Kuranda, Michael 73 

Kureshy, Fareed 99 

Kutter, Jörg P. 18, 22, 76, 300 

Kuzdzal, Scott 36, 204 

Kymäläinen, Virpi 36, 205 

LABCON North America 268 

Labcyte 268 

LabVantage Solutions, Inc. 268 

L 

Lacher, Nathan A. 76 

Lachnit, Wilhelm 124 

Laffite, Bryan 28, 152 

Lage, Michelle 39, 224 

Lake, Steve 22, 136 

Laleli-Sahin, Elvan 24, 121 

Lam, Kit S. 46 

Lamberg, Arja 36, 205 

Lange, Fred 31, 36, 173, 205 

Lansing, Manfred 37, 213 

Lansky, David 301 

Laris, Casey 27, 147 

Larsen, Niels B. 32, 183 

Lathrop Engineering, Inc. 269 

Laurell, Thomas 80 

Lawrence, Nathan 22, 78 

Lawrence Berkeley National 

Laboratory 269 

Laycock, John D. 33, 40, 189, 233 

Le, Thomas 33, 190 

Le Gall, Annick 28, 155 

LEAP Technologies 269, 270 

Lebl, Michael 16 

Ledesma, Annalee 120 

Lee, Hookeun 35, 200 

Lee, Ka Wah 32, 186 

Lee, Mei-Ching 44 

Lee, Stephen C. 32, 182 

Lee, Terry D. 24, 81 

Leeker, Russell 133 

Lehman, Alan 46 

Leinen, Kyle 106 

Lekin, Tim 85 

Lemon, Andrew 29, 158 

Lennon, Mark 65 

Lewis, Rob 33, 187 

Leytner, Svetlana 35, 202 

Li, Chunqin 78 

Li, Ella 40, 232 

Li, Leping 56 

Li, Michelle W. 76 

Li, Peter 129 

Li, Zheng 139 

Liacos, Jim 28, 38, 152, 221 

Liao, Jinfang 38, 223 

Liconic Instruments 269 

Lilleberg, Stan 24, 121 

Lillehaug, Dag 29, 161 

Lima, Eduardo 74 

309 

Limbach, Patrick A. 31, 175 

Lin, Bo 129 

Lin, Zhili 20, 39, 113, 224 

Lindsey, Jonathan S. 28, 158 

Liu, Ruiwu 46 

Lizardi, Paul 82 

Locascio, Laurie 20, 79 

Lock, Chris 108 

Loken, Michael R. 133 

Lomax, Paul 40, 234 

Long, Tracey 98 

Loo, Joseph 23, 93 

Loo, Rachel R. Ogorzalek 93 

Lopez, Mary F. 22, 36, 90, 204 

Los Alamos National Laboratory 269 

Lowe, Christopher R. 12, 16, 44 

Löwe, Holger 35, 203 

Lubeley, Mike 32, 186 

Luminex Corporation 271 

Lund, Kurt 36, 206 

Lunte, Susan M. 76 

Luttrell, Deirdre 68 

Ly, Jenny 39, 226 

M 

Mabuchi, Masaharu 34, 192 

Machamer, Joseph 31, 36, 174, 206 

Macherey-Nagel 271 

Madrigal-Gonzalez, Blanca 44 

Mahant, Vijay 99 

Maher, Julio 27, 152 

Mair, Dieudonne 31, 174 

Majumdar, A. 68 

Mäkinen, Maija-Liisa 38, 220 

Malone, Kirk 31, 175 

Manchester, Marianne 299 

Mancini, Michael A. 125 

Mandagere, Arun 23, 55 

Manger, Ingrid 29, 161 

Mann, Chris 37, 125, 216 

Manz, Andreas 24 

Marik, Jan 16, 46 

Markin, Rodney 303 

Marko-Varga, György 80 

Marrero, Jorge 82 

Marsh, Curtis 86 

Marshall, Alex 44 

Martel, Christine 73 

Martin, Donald S. 38, 80, 218 

Martin, Kelly T. 32, 184 

Martin, R. Scott 20, 76, 300 

Marziali, Andre 98 

Mast, Luke 27, 148 

INDEX

Masui, Colin 36, 207 

MATECH 271 

Mathes, Chris 17, 59 

Mathew, Anu 33, 186 

Mathies, Richard A. 16, 24, 44 

Mathrubutham, Mahesh 36, 207 

Matlick, Renee 33, 190 

MatriCal, Inc. 271 

Matrix Technologies Corporation 271 

Matus, Kim 35, 199 

Matuszak, Ken 23, 55 

McCauley, Timothy 36, 207 

McComb, Joel 85 

McCombs, Debbie 66 

McCoy, Mike 36, 209 

McDowall, Robert D. 301 

McGown, Evelyn 38, 223 

McGrath, Sara 95 

McIntosh, Roger 21, 77, 102 

McIntyre, Douglas 29, 160 

McKie, Jennifer 28, 34, 156, 194 

McRavey, Colin 135 

Mcree, Duncan 18 

MDL Information Systems 243, 272 

MeCour Temperature Control 272 

Mecomber, Justin 31, 175 

Mehto, Merja 36, 205 

Meinhart, Carl 17, 69 

Merel, Patrick 20, 302 

Merlin BioProducts BV 272 

Mettler-Toledo Autochem 272 

Metzker, Michael L. 27, 148 

Meutermans, Wim 16, 46 

Miao, Yunan 81 

Mickley, Mandel W. 85 

Micralyne, Inc. 272 

MicroGroup 273 

Micronic Systems 273, 276 

Micropump, Inc. 273 

Microscan Systems, Inc. 273 

Mihm, Gerhard 37, 215 

Mikesell, Bradley 21, 134 

Mikic, Ivana 125 

Mikkelsen, Jim 79 

Mikkelsen, Per Jensen 129 

Mikulskis, Alvydas 90 

Miller, Derek 141 

Miller, Krys J. 33, 40, 189, 233 

Millipore Corporation 239, 273 

Millis, Sherri Z. 36, 207 

Mineyev, Irina 135 

Mixon, Mark 84 

MJ Research, Inc. 273 

Modern Drug Discovery/Chemical & 

Engineering News 274 

Mogensen, Klaus B. 76 

Molecular BioProducts 274 

Molecular Devices Corporation 274 

Monahan, William 27, 149 

Montero, Felix 88 

Moore, Thomas 37, 215 

Mor, Gopal 31, 178 

Moran, Tim 125 

Morgan, Aric G. 36, 207 

Morganelli, Lee A. 135 

Morikis, Dimitrios 30, 172 

Mossman, Donald 21, 134 

Motoman, Inc. 274 

Motz, Gwendolyn M. 31, 176 

Muck, Alexander 28, 154 

Muckenhirn, R. 23, 29, 107, 159 

Mulder, Patty 32, 180 

Multi-Contact USA 274 

Munroe, David 32, 37, 184, 214 

Muntianu, Alexandrina 28, 84, 155 

Murphy, Colleen 127 

Murphy, Nancy 127 

Murray, Carl 17 

Murray, David 28, 152 

Mutz, Mitchell 63 

MWG Biotech, Inc. 275 

Myers, Ruth H. 36, 208 

Myslik, James 27, 149 

N 

Nagy, Kalman 27, 146 

Nagy, Lisa 66 

Najmabadi, Peyman 31, 176 

Nakagiri, Brent T. 28, 154 

Nakhai, Bita 78 

Namsaraev, Eugeni 101 

Nanostream 275, Back Cover 

National Instruments 275 

Naylor, Edwin W. 39, 224 

NB Corp of America 275 

Neeley, William 21, 115 

Neil, William 300 

Nelson, Richard M. 142, 298 

Nelson, Zachary 299 

Nettesheim, Paul 56 

New England Small Tube 

Corporation 275 

Newcomb, Mary 303 

Newman, Janet M. 85 

Neyer, David 48 

Nguyen, Jeannie 27, 37, 151, 211 

310 

Nichols, James 18, 110 

Nicklin, Paul 38, 126, 223 

Niederlaender, Harm 32, 180 

Niederreiter, Mateja 37, 213 

Nikolajsen, Rikke P. H. 76 

Nilsson, Johan 24, 80, 300 

Nirschl, David 21 

Nissum, Mikkel 34, 196 

Nordstrom, Greg 103 

Northrup, M. Allen 78 

NSK Precision America, Inc. 277 

NuGenesis Technologies 277 

NUNC Brand Products 277 

Nundkumar, Neelesh 39, 229 

Nunn, Gary 23 

Nutzhorn, Christa 17, 60 

O 

Oberoi, Pankaj 36, 208 

O’Connell, Jonathan 67 

Okinaka, Richard T. 100 

Okwuonu, Geoffrey 27, 148 

Olah, Marius 53 

Oliver, J. C. 83 

Ollikainen, Olavi 62 

Olofsson, Jessica 73 

Olson, Gwyneth 28, 155 

Olson, Jeff 36, 209 

Olson, Sheri 23, 106 

Onofrey, Tom 36, 206 

Ooms, Bert 27, 34, 148, 192 

Oprea, Tudor 21, 53 

Opticon, Inc. 277 

Organ, Andrew 18 

Oriental Motor USA Corp. 277 

Orochem Technologies, Inc. 278 

Oroskar, Asha 33, 190 

Orwar, Owe 73 

Osechinskiy, Sergey 39, 227 

Osmanagic, Emir 21, 133 

Ottl, Johannes 65 

Ouyang, Zheng 17, 83 

Oyster Bay Pump Works, Inc. 278 

Ozkan, Cengiz S. 20, 32, 36, 75, 

179, 209 

Ozkan, Mihrimah 30, 177, 179 

P 

Padmanabha, Ramesh 18, 61 

Pajak, Laura 31, 36, 37, 40, 99, 

177, 210, 212, 234 

Pall Life Sciences 278

Palma, John 23 

Pan, Jeff 36, 209 

Pande, Rajiv 39, 227 

Pantoliano, Michael 33, 73, 188 

Papen, Roeland 63 

Papp, Audrey 24, 119 

Pappaert, Kris 70 

Paramban, Rosanto 135 

Pardington, Paige E. 100 

Park, Charles 33, 188 

Park, Sabrina 135 

Parker, Geoff 36, 210 

Parker Hannifin Corporation 278 

Parsons, Thomas 73 

Partanen, Maija 36, 205 

Patel, Paren 19, 33, 39, 63, 187, 227 

Patel, Riddhi 28, 154 

Patrie, Steven 92 

Paul, Philip 48 

Paules, Richard S. 56 

Payne, Fiona 36, 211 

PerkinElmer Life and Analytical 

Sciences 278, 279 

Petersen, Jim 135 

Petersen, Jonathan 27, 37, 151, 211 

PharmaGenomics Magazine 280 

Phiengsai, Ma 63 

Phillips, Chris 33, 187 

Pierce Biotechnology, Inc. 280 

Piggott, Carolyn 39, 230 

Pihl, Johan 73 

Pilarski, L. M. 71 

Pittman, Chad 31, 36, 37, 40, 88, 

99, 177, 210, 212, 234 

Place, Ileana 37, 212 

Pneutronics Division of Parker 

Hannifin Corporation 280 

Poetter, Thorsten 37, 215 

Poetz, Dominik 31, 178 

Point Technologies, Inc. 271 

Pole, David 37, 217 

Pollard, Martin 35, 198 

Pollard, Mike 19, 49 

Pombo-Villar, Esteban 23, 57 

Popat, Ketul C. 31, 178 

Popp, Dieter 37, 213 

Popper & Sons, Inc. 281 

Porvair Sciences Ltd. 281 

Posch, Johannes 31, 37, 179, 213 

Pourahmadi, Farzad 78 

Prasad, Shalini 32, 179 

Predki, Paul 17, 82 

Price, Jeffrey 19, 125 

Prince, Amie 92 

Pritchard, Fred 23, 57 

Probst, Gerald 31, 37, 179, 213 

Process Analysis and Automation 281 

Proefke, Mark 39, 229 

Profit, Rachael 38, 126, 223 

Promega Corporation 281 

Protedyne Corporation 281 

Q 

Quarles, Jason 29, 160 

Quenzer, Terri 134 

R 

Rad, Hosssein Fakhrai 101 

Raine, Paul 37, 216 

Rakestraw, Dave 18, 48 

Rank, David 77 

Rapiejko, Peter 34, 192 

RAPP POLYERE GmbH 282 

Rasmussen, Lynn 37, 214 

Razvi, Enal 19, 87 

Reardon, Holly 39, 232 

Reed, Kirby 32, 37, 180, 214 

Reeves, Scott 37, 215 

Rehm, Jason 48 

REMP AG 282 

Renard, Simon 37, 215 

Renger, Thomas 36, 205 

ReTiSoft, Inc. 282 

Reynes, Julie A. 86 

Rheodyne LLC 282 

Rhode, Heidrun 37, 215 

Rhodes, John D. 12, 16, 43 

Richard Scientific, Inc./ Sepiatec 

GmbH 282 

Richmond, Steve 19, 37, 125, 216 

Richter, Hans-Thomas 28, 155 

Rieux, Laurent 32, 180 

Rigaku 282 

Riling, Dave 21, 103 

Ringeling, Peter 27, 34, 148, 192 

Rivrud, Tommy 29, 34, 161, 195 

Rixan Associates 283 

Roberts, Simon 23, 105 

Robinson, Dana 92 

RoboDesign International, Inc. 283 

Roby, Keith 19, 32, 38, 99, 185, 224 

Roche Applied Science 283 

Roche Instrument Center Ltd. 283 

Rodrigues, George 141 

Roenneburg, Luke 37, 216 

Rogers, Alex L. 141 

311 

Ronaghi, Mostafa 101 

Rönnmark, Sanna 38, 220 

Roque-Biewer, Maria 97 

Ross, Alfred 47 

Ross, Kate 32,181 

Roth, Michael 92 

Rouzer, Melissa 88 

Roy, Randall 18, 110 

RSF Electronics, Inc. 283 

RTS Life Science International 283 

Rubin, Erik 24, 300 

Rubin, Kara 24, 94 

Rudlof, Stephan 32, 181 

Ruff, David 97 

Rule, Geoffrey 92 

Rulison, Aaron 69 

Rupp, Bernhard 85 

Rusch, Terry L. 104 

Russo, Mark F. 299 

S 

Sadée, Wolfgang 119 

SAGE Publications 284 

Sakthivel, P. 32, 184 

Salimi-Moosavi, Hossein 89 

Salisbury, Cleo M. 91 

Salka, Leana 111 

Salvatore, Michael J. 38, 221 

Sanghera, Jas 37, 217 

Santiago, Juan G. 17, 19, 70, 72, 

132 

Santos, Laura 138 

Sanyo Scientific 284 

Sapp, Lisa 36, 204 

Sartain, Felicity 44 

Sauder, Michael 86 

Saulenas, John 21, 114 

Sawyer, Jaymie 21, 135 

Saxinger, Carl 37, 214 

Scammell, Russell 18, 47 

Schaefer, Burkhard 32, 182, 298 

Schäfer, Reinhold 17, 122 

Schaefer, Timothy 33, 186 

Schlotterbeck, Götz 18, 47 

Schmidt, Eric 38, 217 

Schmidt, Peter M. 88 

Schneemann, Anette 299 

Schonning, Michael 28, 154 

Schoot, Bart van der 30, 31, 167, 173 

Schotanus, Mark 82 

Schroen, Dan 30, 166 

Schübel, Ullrich 40, 234 

Schultz, Gary 23, 92 

INDEX

Schultz, Henry 24, 142 

Schulz, Stephen 129 

Schulze, M. 37, 215 

Schumacher, Richard T. 78 

Schwalbe, Thomas 19, 50 

Schwartz, Donald 24, 38, 80, 218 

Schwarzkopf, Kevin 104 

Schwinn, Ken 86 

SCIENCE/AAAS 284 

Scientific Specialties, Inc. 284 

Scinomix, Inc. 284 

Scivex 284 

Seeley, Kevin 34, 35, 193, 201 

Seet, Henrietta 33, 189 

Segelke, Brent 18, 85 

Seidelmann, Joachim 140 

Seidenman, Pam 137 

Seligmann, Bruce 21, 132 

Semin, David 21, 132, 135 

Senn, Hans 47 

Serrano, Leo 21, 114 

Seyfert-Margolis, Vicky 97 

Seyonic SA 285 

SGE, Inc. 285 

Shannon, Mark 17, 97 

Shapiro, John 32, 182 

Sharma, Sadhana 32, 182 

Shaw, Gerri 106 

Shaw, Jim 106 

Sheridan, Steven D. 35, 38, 201, 219 

Shi, Yining 89 

Shih, Jason 81 

Shiina, Toshiyuki 24, 141 

Shimadzu Biotech 285 

Shumate, Chris 124 

Siano, Michael A 29, 34, 39, 162, 

196, 231 

Sias 285 

Sidler, Rick 24, 95 

Sigal, George 35, 202 

Siguenza, Patricia Y. 28, 154 

Silbergleit, Arkadiy 120 

Silex Microsystems AB 286 

Silicon Valley Scientific, Inc. 285 

Silva, Christopher 38, 219 

Simonian, Michael H. 32, 38, 185, 

220, 224 

Sinclair, Jon 73 

Singh, Onkar 103 

Singh, Sharat 89 

Sinville, Rondedrick 72 

Sippola, Katja 38, 220 

Siu, Amy 22, 28, 38, 68, 152, 221 

Siuzdak, Gary 299, 302 

SKF USA Inc. 286 

Skwish, Stephen 38, 221 

SLR Systems 286 

SMAC 286 

Smallmon, Terrence 21, 30, 101, 

169 

Smith, Ginger 28, 38, 152, 221 

Smith, Janet 34, 192 

Smith, Malcolm 33, 186 

Smith, Thomas 20, 51 

Sneader, Walter 23, 58 

Song, Aimin 46 

Sooter, Letha 32, 183 

Soper, Steven A. 18, 22, 72 

Sørensen, Henrik Schiøtt 32, 183 

Sorenson BioScience 286, 287 

Spaid, Michael 19, 79 

Spark Holland, Inc. 288 

Sparton Medical Solutions 288 

Spence, Dana M. 76 

SPEX CertiPrep 288 

Spieles, Gisbert 35, 202 

Spillman, Scott 28, 154 

Sportsman, Richard 27, 151 

Sridharan, Duraisamy 32, 184 

Sridharan, Gautham 28, 154 

Srivatsa, S. K. 32, 184 

Staab, Torsten A. 141, 298 

Stachowiak, Timothy 31, 174 

Stanaitis, Michael L. 36, 207 

Stangegaard, Michael 129 

Stanley, Robert A. 123 

Stappert, Jorg 19, 62 

Staubli Corporation 288 

Stearns, Richard 63 

Stephen, Sarah 37, 125, 216 

Stephens, Jared 30, 172 

Stephens, Kathryn 89 

Sterling, Craig 84 

Stett, Alfred 60 

Stevens, Richard 35, 199 

Stevenson, Jay 27, 149 

Stevenson, Robert L. 17, 123 

Stewart, Claudia 32, 184 

Stewart, David 36, 208 

Stewart, Frances 65 

Stewart, Lance 18, 28, 84, 155 

Stiller, Hans-Joachim 38, 222 

Stilz, Hans-Ulrich 39, 228 

Stock, David 67 

Stoll, Norbert 24, 32, 38, 93, 185, 

222 

312 

Stoll, Regina 31, 32, 36, 38, 173, 

185, 205, 222 

Stoops, Brad 66 

Strachar, Michelle L. 69 

Stringer, Rowan 19, 38, 126, 223 

Strom, Christian 27, 149 

Strulovici, Berta 37, 215 

Su, Andrew 118 

Su, Michael 38, 223 

Suarez, Miryam Fernandez 19, 49 

Suen, Yu 32, 38, 185, 224 

Suontausta, Jari 38, 220 

Sutton, Shelby 72 

Suzow, Joseph G. 39, 224 

Svec, Frantisek 31, 174 

Swanson, Barbara 28, 153 

Swartz, Ken 69 

Tai, Yu-Chong 81 

Takats, Z. 83 

Tallarico, John 53 

Tan, Yuping 89 

T 

Tangkilisan, Anny 39, 225 

Tao, Feng 78 

Tao, Sarah 32, 186 

Tarlov, Michael J. 64 

Taylor, Paul 21, 24, 142 

Tecan/Tecan Systems Inc. 240, 243, 

289, 290 

Technical Manufacturing 

Corporation 290 

Teixeira, Gayle 27, 37, 151, 211 

TekCel, Inc. 241, 244, 290 

TEKnova 290 

Telechem Int/Arrayit.com 290 

Tennant, Raymond W. 56 

Tessier, Stephen 36, 208 

The Automation Partnership 238, 291 

The Lee Company 291 

Thermo Electron 241, 244, 291 

THK America 291 

Thomas, Gloria 72 

Thorbjornsen, Tine 127 

Threadgill, Graham 32, 38, 88, 185, 

220 

Thurow, Kerstin 33, 38, 39, 93, 

191, 222, 225 

Tian, Tina 89 

Tiemann, David 35, 203 

Timpone, Joe 34, 195 

Tischler, Jeff 87 

Titertek Instruments 291

Titian Software Ltd. 291 

Tom, Warren 106 

Tomtec 292 

Toppani, Dominique 85 

Torcon Instruments, Inc. 292 

TradeWinds Direct, Inc. 292 

Tran, Diem 36, 205 

Tricontinent 292 

Trout, Melissa 39, 226 

Tseng, Ben 19, 126 

Tsipouras, Athanasios 53 

Tsu, Christopher 19, 33, 73, 188 

TTP LabTech 292 

Turecek, Frantisek 20, 52 

Turino, Cynthia 127 

Turner, Nicholas J. 31, 175 

Turpin, Pierre 28, 155 

Tuzmen, Pinar 78 

U 

Umek, Robert 33, 39, 186, 226 

Union Biometrica, Inc. 292 

United Chemical 

Technologies, Inc. 293 

Unver, Hakki 20, 131 

USA Scientific, Inc. 293 

Usmani, Kamran 27, 148 

V 

V&P Scientific, Inc, 293 

Vairavan, Ram 18, 99 

Vajjhala, Surekha 33, 39, 187, 227 

Vakhshoori, Daryoosh 38, 217 

Van Arsdell, Scott 39, 227 

Van Pelt, Colleen K. 81, 92 

Vanderhoeven, Johan 18, 70 

Vankrunkelsven, Sarah 70 

Vaudin, Mark 33, 190 

Vasserot, Alain P. 28, 153 

Veeco Instruments Inc. 293 

Velasco, Jennifer 78 

Velasquez, David 21, 115 

Velocity11 293 

Venit, Jack 94 

Ventura, Manuel 134 

Verner, Andrei 21, 102 

Verpoorte, Elisabeth 32, 180 

VICI Valco Instruments 293 

Vielmetter, Jost 19, 87 

Vijayendren, Ravi 79 

Vikstrom, Sofia 39, 228 

Vilbrandt, Reinhard 31, 173 

Vogel, John S. 30, 170 

Von Delft, Frank 18, 84 

von Nickisch-Rosenegk, Markus 105 

von Roedern, Erich 39, 228 

Vreeland, Wyatt 79 

Vy-Trinh, Thi Ngoc 39, 232 

W 

Wachsman, William 23 

Wagner, Peter 17, 83 

Walker, John 23, 118 

Walkinshaw, Malocolm 31, 175 

Wallace, John 29,163 

Wallman, Lars 80 

Waluszko, Alex 29, 163 

Wang, Kena 91 

Wang, Joseph 28, 154 

Wang, Wei 39, 229 

Wang, Xiaobing 46 

Warrington, Brian H. 49 

Wartenberg, Niels 298 

Waters Corporation 294 

Watson-Marlow Bredel Pumps 294 

Weber, Angelika 39, 228 

Weber, James L. 104 

Weeks, Terry 30, 171 

Weimer, Wayne 20, 75 

Weiss, Alan 27, 147 

Wellin, Paul 302 

Wendel, Gregory 131 

Wetherell, John 302 

Whatman 294 

Wheeler, Mike 39, 230 

White Carbon 294 

Whitehall, Ian 33, 39, 187, 230 

Wikswo, John 74 

Wilcox, Sheri 21 

Wildey, Mary Jo 131 

Willis, Chris 39, 231 

Willis, Roy C. 29, 34, 162, 196 

Willis, Tom 19, 101 

Willmott, Elizabeth 38, 223 

Wilson, Dave 29, 160 

Wilson, Steven 39, 231 

Winick, Jeffrey 120 

Winner, Florian 62 

Winoto, Adrian 23, 79 

Wiseman, J. M. 83 

Wittel, Andrew 124 

Wogan, Lewis T. F. 106 

313 

Wohlstadter, Jacob N. 33, 35, 36, 

39, 186, 202, 208, 226 

Wong, Lester S. Y. 40, 232 

Wong, Stephanie Y. F. 49 

Wong, Steven H. 121 

Worley, Jennings 17, 58 

Wu, Hayley 33, 39, 188, 232 

Wu, Hongkai 33, 188 

Wu, John T. Y. 40, 232 

Wu, Qi-Long 35, 203 

Wylie, Paul 33, 39, 187, 230 

X 

Xiao, Ming 19, 100 

Xie, Jun 81 

Xu, Jia 17, 59 

Xu, Weiwei 34, 196 

Y 

Yamashiro, Carl 24, 120 

Yang, Mo 32, 179 

Yang, Qinghong 33, 189 

Yang, Wendy 33, 189 

Yang, Xiao-Ping 44 

Yavilevich, Michael 40, 233 

Yegneswaran, Subramanian 89 

Yesionek, Gary 33, 189 

Yingling, Jeff 142 

Yingyongnarongkul, Boon-ek 28, 157 

Yost, David 37, 213 

Yu, Adong 104 

Yurkovetsky, Yevgeny 69 

Zangmeister, Rebecca 19, 64 

Z 

Zare, Richard N. 33, 188 

Zhang, Hui 29, 163 

Zhang, Ji-Hu 20 

Zhang, Jie 118 

Zhang, Li 33, 39, 187, 227 

Zhang, Lilly 33, 40, 189, 227, 233 

Zhang, Ruth 40, 234 

Zhang, Sheng 81, 92 

Zhang, Xuan 32, 179 

Zhang, Yan 28, 34, 156, 194 

Zhellohang, Wei-Wei 22, 91 

Zhou, Heping 82 

Zhu, Li 72 

Zhu, Shirley 97 

Ziegert, Tillmann 36, 204 

INDEX

Zimmermann, Juergen 40, 234 

Zimmermann, Peter 37, 215 

Zinn, Thomas 40, 234 

Zinsser Analytic GmbH 294 

Zinsser, Werner 36, 211 

Zosel, Andrew 298 

Zymark Corporation 294 

314

NOTES 

315

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