(BW)(MD-BIOSERVE) BioServe公司与哈佛大学及密歇根大学成为合作伙伴，共同致力于具有里程碑意义的公共卫生研究项目

为了理解铅接触与孩子智力发展间的联系，在印度地区进行了一次基因研究；此次研究可能成为更深入进行基因/环境/卫生研究的模型

Business Editors/Medical Editors

美国商业资讯2007年1月19日马里兰州LAUREL消息——

BioServe 公司是领先的提供商，能对从生物样品中获得的基因内容进行迅速的、经济的处理和分析。该公司被选定与哈佛大学、密歇根大学公共卫生学院的科学家们合作，进行一次具有里程碑意义的研究。该研究的目的是理解基因与环境中的铅污染是怎样相互作用，从而影响孩子的智力和行为功能的。根据协议条款，BioServe 公司将对从印度Chennai （以前叫马德拉斯）地区750所在校儿童处收集来的组织样本进行DNA提取和分型。印度地区的人们都遭受着铅污染。此次研究的目标是帮助调查者决定基因因素是否预先决定了孩子会受到有毒物质的影响——或者是基因因素保护他们不受有毒物质的影响。

众所周知，人体内铅含量高可能对智力造成负面影响，但是此次研究是在印度进行的、来测量这种影响到底有多大的首次研究。这次研究独具特色因为（1）其还测量了铅接触是怎样影响视觉――空间――运动技能以及攻击行为（aggressive behavior）的（2）其还是首次研究个人基因组成是怎样更改铅接触对神经行为所造成的影响的。

BioServe公司之所以被选定从事基因工作，是因为公司的良好声誉，在印度其拥有极为先进的基因分析能力、业界经验以及最先进的设施。

主要调查者、科学博士、公共卫生硕士（MPH）以及医学博士Howard Hu 说：“此次研究代表了最前沿的研究协作，其将为全球环境的卫生问题获得洞察力。Hu是密歇根大学公共卫生学院环境卫生科学系的教授、哈佛大学公共卫生学院职业与环境医学系的副教授。”

Hu 解释说：“印度和其他国家正迅速走向都市化、人们涌向城市、正在实现工业化，能源与运输行业使用化石燃料急剧增加——但是人们面临的、更新型的污染灾害依旧处于研究当中。理解环境灾害、基因以及卫生之间的关系将可以提供进行下列事宜时所需的信息：制定规范政策、优先考虑公共卫生控制、培训医疗团体及公共机构怎样最有效的减少特殊的环境问题。如果没有公共/私营合作伙伴（如哈佛大学、密歇根大学和Bioserve公司）的参与，在这些前沿性议题方面取得进步将是很慢的或者是不可能的。”

目前的这次研究将成为未来研究基因与其他环境灾害和疾病间关系的模型。Hu博士的实验室也正在研究铅接触与此类疾病（如阿氏痴呆症(Alzheimer)和糖尿病）间的关系，以及其他金属污染对健康的影响。

BioServe 公司的首席执行官Rama Modali表示：“能在这次具有里程碑意义的卫生研究中担当重要角色，我们感到十分兴奋。我们的基因分型研究将使得印度和国际生物医学团体进一步理解铅接触与慢性疾病间所产生的动力学以及基因多态现象，基因多态现象会增加环境诱发疾病的风险。”

整个研究为期三年，目前是第三年。该研究通过约翰?E?福格迪国际中心(John E. Fogarty International Center) ——美国国立卫生研究院（National Institutes of Health-）的国际成员——赠予的基金来实施。约翰?E?福格迪国际中心通过革新、协作研究和培训计划来应对全球的卫生挑战。研究结果有望在一年后披露。

关于BioServe公司

BioServe公司交付完整的‘生物材料到有效数据’基因解决方案。BioServe公司能对从生物样品中获得的基因内容进行迅速的、经济的处理和分析，这种能力帮助世界范围内的研究者获得临床前基因结果，这些结果都是在研究、药物发现以及分子诊断方面实现重大突破所必需的。BioServe公司的技术、产品和服务为实现最佳的临床前工作流提供了基础，这些工作流涉及：处理核酸、DNA合成、大规模定序和分型、多基因定位和基因表达分析所需的革新方法。BioServe公司的客户包括领先的制药和生物技术公司、政府以及学术研究机构。 BioServe公司总部设在马里兰州的Laurel和印度的Hyderabad。欲知更多信息，请访问网站：www.bioserve.com 或致电：301-470-3362。

联系方式：BioServe 公司

Vipin Adhlakha, 301-470-3362

Vipin@bioserve.com

或者

波士顿通信部：

Constantine Theodoropulos, 617-619-9801

constantine@prboston.com

(BW)(MD-BIOSERVE) BioServe Partners with Harvard and University of Michigan on Landmark Public Health Study

Genetic Study to Understand Linkage Between Lead Exposure and Children's Intellectual Development in India; Possible Model for Broader Gene/Environment/Health Research

Business Editors/Medical Editors

LAUREL, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 19, 2007—

BioServe, a leading provider of rapid, economical processing and analyses of genomic content from biological samples, has been selected to work with scientists from the Harvard and University of Michigan Schools of Public Health on a landmark study aimed at understanding how genetics and environmental lead pollution interact to affect children's intellectual and behavioral functioning. Under terms of the agreement, BioServe will perform DNA purification and genotyping on tissue samples collected from 750 school children in Chennai (formerly Madras), India who have been exposed to lead pollutants. The goal is to help the investigators determine whether genetic factors predispose children to--or protect them from--certain toxic effects.

Although it is well-known that high lead levels in the body can negatively affect intelligence, this is the first study in India to measure that effect. The study is unusual in that (1) it will also measure how lead exposure affects both visual-spatial-motor skills and aggressive behavior and (2) it is one of the first studies to research how individual genetic makeup may modify the neurobehavioral impact of lead exposure.

BioServe was chosen to perform the genetic work because of the company's reputation for highly advanced genomic analysis, industry experience, and its state-of-the-art facilities in India.

"This study represents a cutting edge research collaboration that will gain insights into a global environmental health problem," said Howard Hu M.D., M.P.H., Sc.D, the principle investigator. Hu is Chair and Professor in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at the University of Michigan School of Public Health and Adjunct Professor of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at the Harvard School of Public Health.

"India and other countries are undergoing rapid urbanization, population shifts to cities, industrialization and a steep increase in the use of fossil fuels for energy and transportation --but population exposures to newer pollution hazards remain understudied," Hu explained. "Understanding the interrelationship of environmental hazards, genetics, and health will provide the information that is needed to formulate regulatory policies, prioritize public health controls, and educate the medical community and the public on how best to mitigate particular environmental exposures. Progress on these fronts would be slow or impossible without public/private partnerships like the one involving Harvard, the University of Michigan, and Bioserve."

The current study could serve as a model for future investigation into the relationship of genetics to other environmental hazards and diseases. Dr. Hu's lab is also studying the relationship of lead exposure to such diseases as Alzheimers and diabetes, and the health impacts of other metallic pollutants.

According to Rama Modali, Chief Executive Officer of BioServe, "We are excited to play an important role in this landmark health study. Our genotyping studies will contribute to the Indian and international biomedical communities' further understanding of the dynamics between lead exposure and chronic diseases, as well as genetic polymorphisms that increase the risk of environmentally induced disease."

The overall study, now in the third of three years, is funded with a grant from The John E. Fogarty International Center-- the international component of the National Institutes of Health-- which addresses global health challenges through innovative and collaborative research and training programs. Results are expected in about a year.

About BioServe

BioServe delivers a complete 'biomaterial to validated data' genomics solution. BioServe's rapid, economical processing and analyses of genomic content from biological samples helps researchers worldwide to gain the pre-clinical genomic results required to achieve breakthroughs in research, drug discovery and molecular diagnostics. BioServe's technology, products and services form the foundation for optimal pre-clinical workflows spanning innovative methodologies for processing nucleic acids, DNA synthesis, high throughput sequencing and genotyping, genome wide-scans and gene expression analyses. BioServe's customers include leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and government and academic research institutions. BioServe has headquarters in Laurel, MD and Hyderabad, India. For more information please visit www.bioserve.com or call 301-470-3362.

CONTACT: BioServe

Vipin Adhlakha, 301-470-3362

Vipin@bioserve.com

or

Boston Communications

Constantine Theodoropulos, 617-619-9801

constantine@prboston.com