Gene Logic to Provide EPA Access to Software and Databases to Explore Strategies for Chemical Toxicity Screening
GAITHERSBURG, Md. & HYDERABAD, India–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Gene Logic, an Ocimum Biosolutions company, announced today that it has entered into an agreement with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Center for Computational Toxicology (NCCT) providing access to Gene Logic’s proprietary Genesis Enterprise System® and GX® Connect software and relevant portions of the ToxExpress® System and BioExpress® System. The NCCT will use the data and software to assist in development of the agency’s ToxCastTM program, exploring strategies and methods to screen large numbers of chemicals for potential toxicity.
The ToxCast program was initiated by the NCCT to address the need of EPA Program Offices to screen and prioritize large numbers of chemicals for potential risk to human health and the environment. The agency has expressed an interest in applying the experience of the pharmaceutical industry in the use of advanced molecular biology and computational chemistry tools for development of new drugs, with appropriate adjustment to the needs and desires of environmental toxicology.
Gene Logic is well known in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry as a pioneer and quality leader in obtaining and analyzing genomic data, having assembled one of the world’s largest and most detailed knowledge bases of gene expression profiles from human and animal tissues and cells. The ToxExpress system contains gene expression data and classical toxicology information from animal tissues and cells. The BioExpress system primarily comprises genomic and clinical data from normal and diseased human samples. For the generation of these databases and as part of its service offerings, Gene Logic has processed more than 200,000 microarrays and has developed proprietary methods and software to ensure data accuracy.
Donna Mendrick, Ph.D., Scientific Fellow and Vice President of Pharmacogenomics for Gene Logic, said, “This agreement and our ongoing collaboration with the FDA are part of a strategic effort to apply our knowledge, expertise and products to assist government efforts in employing cutting-edge techniques in their mandated functions. The agency will have access to relevant portions of Gene Logic’s databases to assist in their development of more effective and efficient screening assays. Incorporating Gene Logic’s high-quality data and advanced methods fit in well with the aims and methodology of the ToxCast program.”
Dr. Robert J. Kavlock, Director of the NCCT, said, “Gene Logic is providing EPA access to a unique toxicogenomic resource that will help us move forward with the incorporation of new technologies to improve predictive toxicology as envisioned by the recent reports of the National Research Council on a vision for toxicology in 21st century and for the application of toxicogenomics in risk assessment. We are very pleased to be able to work with Gene Logic in our expanding ToxCast research program.”
Genesis Enterprise System®, GX Connect®, ToxExpress® and BioExpress® are all registered trademarks of Gene Logic Inc.
ToxCastTM is a trademark of the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Gene Logic (An Ocimum Biosolutions Company) Overview
Gene Logic, headquartered in Gaithersburg, Maryland, has developed proprietary genomics databases and services to enable customers worldwide to discover and prioritize drug targets, identify biomarkers, predict toxicity, understand mechanisms of toxicity, and obtain insights into the efficacy of specific compounds. As a service, we offer high throughput genomics data generation using validated protocols under GLP compliance on a variety of platforms for Clinical Trials. After being acquired by Ocimum last year, the global team is now 250 people strong. Ocimum’s BioIT division provides e-lab information management solutions for life sciences, niche bioinformatics services and products for genomic research such as gene expression analysis, advanced statistical analysis, gene function analysis and genome annotation. The BioMolecules division provides essential molecular biology commodities like DNA oligonucleotides and flexible custom (and catalog) microarrays. All labs and software facilities at Ocimum Biosolutions are ISO 9001:2000 certified.
Visit www.genelogic.com, www.ocimumbio.com or call toll-free – 1/800/GENELOGIC.
