• arrayWoRx Automates Collection and Analysis of DNA, Helps Narrow Molecular Causes of Cancer
• "Precisionware" Solution Purchased as Part of $4.1 Million Grant From National Cancer Institute
  

ISSAQUAH, WASH. - Oct. 20, 1999 - Cancer researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are counting on innovative DNA microarray technologies to speed gene analysis. As part of technology enhancements funded by the National Cancer Institute, MIT scientists are using Applied Precision Inc.'s arrayWoRx™ microarray scanner to study DNA in live cancer cells and help narrow the molecular causes of cancer.

The arrayWoRx™ scanner - a patented blend of mechanics, electronics and software Applied Precision dubs "precisionware" - automates imaging and analysis of microarray slides, allowing scientists to streamline research from slide loading to report generation.

"The more resources scientists can devote to learning from data, rather than to capturing data, the more discoveries they can make and the faster they are likely to unlock the secrets of cancer cell reproduction," said Rich Fisler, Applied Precision's biotechnology product manager. "Success in gene research is driven by many factors, but one of the most important is the ability to maximize the amount of information extracted from a single cell in a given period of time, partly due to the short life span of each cell. The speed and accuracy of arrayWoRx enables more precise images in less time than other methods, aiding discovery overall."

A portion of a $4.1 million grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) helped fund the purchase of the arrayWoRx scanner, along with other technology improvements at MIT and 23 other U.S. cancer research facilities. The NCI grant funds microarray centers to assess large subsets of the 100,000 human genes in a cell or tissue. Microarray centers also support NCI's five-year initiative to define tumor cells based on unique molecular changes, information that promises to improve cancer diagnosis and treatment.

About arrayWoRx Microarray Scanners

Applied Precision's arrayWoRx microarray scanners feature a widefield scanning system, combining precise illumination and image capture with accurate three-dimensional positioning of the slide stage. Illumination is simple and flexible; researchers select wavelengths and choose dyes by changing filters in the arrayWoRx light path, rather than adding lasers to the system. The white-light, charge-coupled device (CCD) camera solution offers higher sensitivity than traditional laser-PMT solutions as well. The system delivers captured images from up to 40 slides as TIFF files, along with complete ratio analyses, via intranet Web pages, and it notifies researchers by email and page when the process is complete. Automated data analysis results are wholly transferable into standard genetics database systems.

Pricing and Availability

Applied Precision's arrayWoRx microarray scanners are available immediately. Contact Applied Precision for pricing and delivery of a customized arrayWoRx solution. For additional information, click here for more information on arrayWoRx or call (425) 557-1000 (North America) or +44-1-672 518 350 (Europe).

About Applied Precision

Applied Precision Inc. develops best-of-breed technologies for measurement and analysis in highly precise, accuracy-critical applications. This "precisionware" represents a convergence of software, electronics and mechanics, creating unique opportunities in biotechnology research, semiconductor metrology test, photonics, digital flow control and micropositioning. Applied Precision was founded in 1986 by engineers from three disciplines - mechanics, electronics and physics - and now employs over 100 engineers, technicians, managers, and sales and marketing professionals at its Seattle-area headquarters and European sales and service center.