Agilent Technologies Inc. and the Agilent Foundation today announced that Professor Pauline Rudd has received an Agilent Thought Leader Award in support of her emerging glycomics research.
The award includes a grant of funding and instruments to the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT) in Dublin, Ireland. The goals of the research are to develop novel approaches to analyze protein glycosylation which will assist in the characterization of recombinant protein drugs, and to study potential glycan biomarkers associated with disease using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry.
As leading experts in glycomics research, Professor Rudd's group members have developed a new technology for high-throughput, detailed, quantitative glycan analysis at NIBRT's Glycobiology Group Laboratory.
"Our partnership with Agilent will focus on multidimensional nanoscale LC-MS/MS separations for the comprehensive analysis of released oligosaccharides," said Maurice N. Treacy, CEO of NIRBT. "The research will leverage the expertise of Agilent in separation sciences and NIBRT's expertise in glycobiology to allow the development of novel technologies and complete solutions for rapid glycan analysis for use by the bio-pharmaceutical sector and in academia."
The NIBRT Glycobiology Lab is at the forefront of fully automating technologies for glycan release and labelling, HPLC analysis, and exoglycosidase sequencing. Dedicated software and experimental databases enable computer assisted data analysis. The platform is allied to MS technologies to obtain further structural characterization and to provide a service that supports the drug development pipeline of leading pharmaceutical companies.
"Agilent is uniquely positioned to provide comprehensive analytical solutions for glycoprotein characterization and oligosaccharide analysis," said Gustavo Salem, vice president and general manager of the Biological Systems Division at Agilent. "We are very eager to begin working with leading glycomics scientists at NIRBT to continue to drive research and discovery in this emerging field."
Rudi Grimm, Ph.D., director of science and technology for Agilent's Life Science Group, will work closely with Professor Rudd to provide technical expertise and serving as the primary contact with Agilent. Dr. Grimm created the opportunity for the grant by working with Agilent's University Relations Program and Life Sciences Group to secure funding and instrumentation.
This is the first award from Agilent's new Thought Leader Program, which promotes fundamental advances in the life sciences by contributing financial support, products and/or expertise to the research of influential thought leaders.
NIBRT - National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training, Dublin Ireland is a centre of excellence that supports the biopharma sector by offering research platform solutions for bio-manufacturing, provides tailored accredited industrial training and academic educational programmes to students in purpose-built flexible and modern bioprocessing facilities, that will facilitate the expansion of the bio-pharma sector in Ireland. For further information please refer to http://www.nibrt.ie.
The Agilent Technologies Foundation funds university research at the frontiers of measurement in electronics, chemical and bio sciences. It also supports initiatives that advance science education in Agilent communities around the world.
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is the world's premier measurement company and a technology leader in chemical analysis, life sciences, electronics and communications. The company's 19,000 employees serve customers in more than 110 countries. Agilent had net revenues of $4.5 billion in fiscal 2009. Information about Agilent is available on the Web at http://www.agilent.com.
