Applied Biosystems Helps Drive Life Sciences Innovation In China With Asia Pacific Application Support Center Opening

State-of-the-Art Facility Hosts Full Complement of Tools and Applications for Pharmaceutical, Proteomics & Biomarker Research, Forensics, Environment and Food Safety Testing

Shanghai, China - Applied Biosystems, an Applera Corporation business, announced the official opening of its Asia Pacific Application Support Center in the heart of Shanghai, China. The Center is expected to help drive China's life sciences industry by providing a facility where researchers will have access to one of the region's most comprehensive displays of life science tools under one roof.

The 5,400 square-foot facility houses five demonstration laboratories, featuring state-of-the-art instruments and applications. The key applications span the life science continuum, including pharmaceutical and biotech research, health care and clinical research, forensic analysis to aid criminal investigations, and environmental and food safety testing.

"We are extremely pleased to be opening our Asia Pacific Application Support Center in China, one of the world's most vibrant and growing markets," said Tony L. White, chairman, president and CEO of Applera Corporation. "Not only should we be able to better serve our customers in Asia Pacific and China, we should also be able to enhance collaboration on government initiatives such as our association with China's Ministry of Public Security for the health and welfare of the Chinese community. Additionally, with the continued support of our customers and partners, Applied Biosystems looks forward to continuing to provide innovative technologies to help advance China's life sciences revolution."

The Asia Pacific Application Support Center offers a one-stop facility for China and Asia Pacific, providing Applied Biosystems' complete portfolio of instrument systems in a functional setting. The center offers a range of application and training experts and comprehensive customer support programs. Its main functions include sample analysis, instrument and workflow demonstrations for specific applications in life sciences and applied markets, comprehensive training programs, region-specific applications development, and on-site and remote customer support. Applied Biosystems also intends to make the new facility available for scientific collaborations with research leaders in a variety of life sciences disciplines.

"Applied Biosystems is committed to providing researchers in the life sciences industry with the most advanced tools and technology as well as training and knowledge not only in China but across the region," said Zhang Rui Nian, general manager for Applied Biosystems China. "Today, our customers range across a variety of sectors that include academia, government, non-governmental organizations, health and technology. As the life sciences industry continues to grow, Applied Biosystems looks forward to helping to develop the industry in China even further."

Applied Biosystems has a long history in China, having first established a representative office in 1986. It has made significant investments in China during that time to support customers in the life sciences industry.

Some of Applied Biosystems' current collaborations in China include:

• National Standardization of Food Safety Testing Method Project

- In cooperation with the China Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Applied Biosystems is helping to establish China's first standardized methods to test hundreds of pesticide residues in food using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. This project is expected to help China in its effort to improve food safety for the domestic and international food markets.

Ministry of Public Security

– In cooperation with the Ministry of Public Security, Applied Biosystems is helping to establish China's first forensic database as well as provide technical support. In addition, Applied Biosystems launched its first human identity university training program to provide technical expertise for China's leading forensic scientists in DNA testing for criminal investigations.

China Proteome Project

– Applied Biosystems collaborated with the Beijing Proteomic Research Center (BPRC) to establish a state-of-the-art proteomics collaboration laboratory, equipped with the latest instruments and technology for the study of proteins and peptides. The laboratory is expected to improve the proteomics and disease biomarker research capability of the BPRC.

SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome)

– In areas of public health, Applied Biosystems donated three of its model 7000 real-time PCR instrument systems to the Chinese Center for Disease Control, Ministry of Health to detect the virus during the SARS outbreak in 2003. Real-time PCR is a laboratory method used to simultaneously detect and determine the amount of nucleic acids present in laboratory samples.

Applied Biosystems' Application Support Center is an important strategic initiative that is expected to help increase the adoption of the company's technologies throughout the region. The Asia Pacific Application Support Center will serve customers in China – one of the company's fastest-growing markets – in addition to Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and South East Asia. The facility will also complement a state-of-the-art demonstration lab in Tokyo to provide comprehensive pre- and post- sale support programs.

SOURCE: Applied Biosystems