Oct 22 2008
National Cancer Institute contractor SAIC-Frederick, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Science Applications International Corporation, and Silicon Kinetics, Inc., a San Diego-based biotechnology company with research laboratories in Maui, Hawaii, announced a research and development agreement in proteomics to better understand how proteins interact in cancer and AIDS and how drug interventions affect protein interactions.
The Protein Chemistry Laboratory at SAIC-Frederick will employ a research plan to study extracellular binding domains of proteins involved in cancer and AIDS disease progression, utilizing Silicon Kinetics’ 3-Dimensional, label-free SKi Pro™ Biomolecular Interaction Analysis Platform. The platform is the world’s first label-free system of its kind, employing an innovative combination of nano-porous silicon and precision optical interferometry to enable highly sensitive and versatile studies of proteins on 3-D biosensor surfaces.
Biomolecular Interaction Analysis on 3-dimensional biosensor surfaces is a highly innovative, new step forward in proteomics, which has the potential to provide new insights into cancer disease processes and the development of targeted therapeutics for cancer and infectious diseases.
“SAIC-Frederick values the opportunity to work in partnership with Silicon Kinetics on this exciting and enabling technology platform. We look forward to significant advancements in our proteomics technology and cancer and AIDS R&D programs through this collaboration, “said Dr. Robert Fisher, Head of Protein and Proteomics SuperGroup, and Director, Protein Chemistry Laboratory at SAIC-Frederick. “Silicon Kinetics is pleased to join efforts with SAIC-Frederick, which has some of the most experienced researchers in biomolecular interaction analysis,” said Hus Tigli, President and CEO of Silicon Kinetics. “We are looking forward to making joint contributions to cancer and AIDS research.”
The partnership was formed under the National Cancer Institute’s Advanced Technology Partnerships Initiative (ATPI), which aims to further NCI’s mission by speeding the translation of research discoveries into new treatments for patients with cancer and AIDS. SAIC-Frederick, as prime contractor at the National Cancer Institute at Frederick, is facilitating ATPI partnerships for the government.