2D-Gel Reproducibility Study in Phase Two

Date: 
2009-02-26

Bio-Rad Coordinates Proteomics Initiative Focused on Standardization of Methods

Hercules, CA — February 26, 2009 — Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc, (NYSE: BIO and BIOb), a multinational manufacturer and distributor of life science research and clinical diagnostic products, today announced the company, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research and Nonlinear Dynamics are coordinating the proteomics community's efforts to develop standards and validated protocols that will ensure reproducibility in 2-D gel electrophoresis applications. A component of the "Fixing Proteomics Campaign" (www.fixingproteomics.org) initiated during the 6th HUPO Annual World Congress in Korea in October 2007, the goal is to restore credibility to the field by pushing for greater reproducibility of 2-D gel experiments.

"The proteomics community needs confidence that the results of their 2-D gels, a core tool for proteomics and biomarker discovery, are reproducible and thus reflect biologically significant phenomena," said Kumar Bala, marketing manager, Bio-Rad. "By helping to coordinate the 2-D gel reproducibility project, Bio-Rad hopes to do its part in restoring credibility to proteomics research."

At the 7th HUPO Annual World Congress in Amsterdam in August 2008, Dr. Hans Voshol, Senior Scientist Protein Sciences at the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, presented Phase I results of the 2-D Gel Reproducibility Project. He demonstrated that protein expression analysis based on 2D-PAGE was reproducible across five independent labs despite using three different isoelectric focusing instruments. Initial results from this study have been posted on www.fixingproteomics.org together with 2D-PAGE protocols from the labs of Voshol and colleague Sjouke Hoving.

"The data from Phase I was convincing in showing that with some level of standardization, one can take full advantage of the inherent reproducibility of 2-D gels," said Dr. Voshol. "With the help of Bio-Rad, we are now expanding the study to additional labs around the globe to provide a validated protocol and a reference sample to go with it."

A total of 15 labs from seven different countries have now volunteered to participate in Phase II of the Reproducibility Project. The object is to standardize a 2-D gel protocol using a common sample and demonstrate lab-to-lab reproducibility regardless of platform. The ultimate goal is to work with HUPO to define a standard sample and a method for validating the performance and reproducibility of their 2-D process as well as to encourage global education of these protocols to ensure inter-lab reproducibility with 2-D results. As part of its global campaign for 2009, Bio-Rad plans on conducting wet lab clinics for its customers to point out potential pitfalls and recommended solutions for reproducible results.

Bio-Rad, a leading provider of tools and technologies for 2-D gel-based expression proteomics, is coordinating the participants' involvement in Phase II, including qualifying and enrolling labs and supplying reagents to conduct the 2-D gel experiments. The labs have completed their 2-D gel experiments on their own platforms using Bio-Rad's or their own reagents and a common reference HeLa cell sample supplied by CILBiotech. Nonlinear Dynamics, developers of the leading software for reproducible quantitative proteomics, is providing the groundbreaking technology that makes this project possible and performing the analysis of the participants' 2-D gels. Success will be achieved if the 2-D gel images of the 15 labs match the standard image. Phase II results will be presented at the 8th HUPO Annual World Congress in Toronto on September 26-30, 2009 and will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal thereafter.

About Bio-Rad
Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: BIO and BIOb) has remained at the center of scientific discovery for more than 50 years manufacturing and distributing a broad range of products for the life science research and clinical diagnostic markets. The company is renowned worldwide among hospitals, universities, major research institutions, as well as biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies for its commitment to quality and customer service. Founded in 1952, Bio-Rad is headquartered in Hercules, California, and serves more than 85,000 research and industry customers worldwide through its global network of operations. The company employs approximately 6,300 people globally and had revenues approaching $1.5 billion in 2007. For more information, visit www.bio-rad.com.

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For more information, contact:
Kumar Bala
Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
Phone: 510-314-3399
Kumar_Bala@bio-rad.com

Ken Li
Chempetitive Group
Phone: 312-997-2436
kli@chempetitive.com