Ohio Supercomputer Center Licenses LabBookÕs XML-Life Sciences Solution For the State Of Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio (May 3, 2001) — 

LabBook, Inc., and OSC (Ohio Supercomputer Center) announced today that they have entered into an agreement that will provide LabBook’s XML-Life Sciences Solution to Ohio’s academic community. Terms and financing of the agreement were not disclosed.

The LabBook technology allows academic users direct access to The Ohio State University (OSU) Human Genome Database using LabBook’s proprietary Genome Query Engine and Genomic XML Browser. The OSU Human Genome Database is a fully integrated and annotated resource offered exclusively by LabBook at www.labbook.com

"It is a privilege to have Ohio as the first state to license our informatics solutions," commented Dr. Adel Mikhail, vice-president for LabBook.

Academic scientists in Ohio will use LabBook’s Genomic XML Browser and Query search engine to mine the Human Genome database.

According to Al Stutz, director of OSC’s High Performance Computing division, "The opportunities created by OSC’s agreement with LabBook, Inc. will be extremely important for Ohio’s academic and research community. This collaboration will help foster the use of high-quality, time-saving bioinformatics software for our higher education institutions."

About eLabBook, XML-Genomic Browser, and OSU Human Genome Database
eLabBook is a research information and project management tool that integrates local data and documents with web-based research through a ‘discovery desktop’ that provides contextual access to scientific tools, content and services. eLabBook includes the Librarian, which provides storage, retrieval, and the ability to search all of the diverse collections of research documents and data.

Genomic XML Browser is a powerful graphic interface for visualizing and accessing genomic information in meaningful and interactive ways. It is built around the industry standard XML data format (BSML) developed by LabBook. Combining BSML with an interactive, easy-to-use Browser creates the ideal "front end’ for bioinformatics. This solution enables dynamic integration and annotation of diverse data. The Genomic XML Browser is part of LabBook’s information layer for discovery that includes XML-aware tools for management, analysis, and communication of research data in the life sciences.

The OSU Human Genome Database is based on the compilation and integration of multiple independent maps including UniGene, dbEST, and the draft human genome sequence. The gene index is based on assembled and mapped transcripts rather than gene prediction. This accurate map is coupled with LabBook’s Query Engine, an hypothesis-driven interface that allows users to query the richly annotated database in a meaningful fashion and deliver results in an interactive visual environment.

About OSC
OSC is Ohio’s flagship center for high performance computing, networking, educational outreach, and information technology. OSC empowers our academic, industrial, and government partners to make Ohio the education and technology state of the future. More information about OSC’s statewide software licensing program is available at http://oscinfo.osc.edu/software/ssd.html.

About LabBook, Inc.
LabBook, Inc. is an XML-based life science informatics provider for the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and academic life science researcher. LabBook will accelerate the drug discovery process by providing enabling software solutions and targeted information and services to the scientific community. LabBook is a strategic partner of IBM, John Wiley & Sons, NERAC, and the National Foundation for Cancer Research. LabBook, Inc. offices are located in McLean, Virginia and Columbus, Ohio. To learn more, contact us at www.labbook.com.

Certain statements contained in this release may be forward-looking statements and are thus prospective. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied.

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