UK Biobank Implements Nautilus LIMS by Thermo Electron Tracking Data from One of Largest Medical Research Studies Ever


Philadelphia, PA (August 2, 2006) - Thermo Electron Corporation, the leading provider of analytical instrumentation and laboratory information management systems (LIMS), has implemented its Nautilus LIMS(TM) at the UK Biobank to track, store, manage and report on the biological data of 500,000 people as part of one of the largest medical research projects ever conducted.

UK Biobank is a long-term national project to build the world's most detailed information resource for medical researchers. It will follow the health of 500,000 volunteers aged 40-69 in the UK for up to 30 years. Following consent, each participant will be asked to donate a blood and urine sample, have some standard measurements (such as blood pressure) and complete a confidential lifestyle questionnaire. Over the next 20 to 30 years, UK Biobank will allow fully approved researchers to use these resources to study the progression of illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. From this they hope to develop new and better ways of preventing, diagnosing and treating such problems. Data and samples will only be used for ethically and scientifically approved research.

"Thermo's experience serving the health sciences and pharmaceutical industries combined with the flexibility and adaptability of Nautilus made Nautilus the obvious choice for the data management of this massive project," said Hemal Rajani, LIMS manager for UK Biobank. "The Biobank is expected to grow from one clinic to 15 by the end of 2007, with all sites feeding biological samples that will be entered into and tracked by the LIMS. Several decision-makers on the LIMS selection team had previous experience with Nautilus and feel confident it's the best tool for this project."

The UK Biobank participates in a LIMS user group with two other biobank organizations using Nautilus - the Hunt Biobank in Norway and the Singapore Tissue Network. Rajani said the three organizations are doing similar work, using the many of the same tools and are collaborating on methods involving Nautilus.

Though Nautilus offers flexibility in workflows required by R&D organizations, the UK Biobank has configured the LIMS to follow certain and fixed workflows so all samples follow the same protocols for testing and storage. The collected data will be made available to researchers studying the impact of genetics, lifestyle and environment on health.

To appropriately archive the vast amount of data generated by the UK Biobank study, Nautilus is part of an automated system that receives samples, fractions them into appropriate vessels for testing, analysis and storage, and then tracks and stores all data relative to the sample. The LIMS will be used to provide daily updates and management reports.

For further press information please contact: Kath Darlington on email pr@scottmail.co.uk

Please send all leads from this editorial FAO: Kathleen Beaulieu on e-mail marketing.informatics@thermo.com

For more information please call Thermo Electron on 866-463-6522 or e-mail marketing.informatics@thermo.com

About Informatics
Thermo is the worldwide leader in laboratory software and related services, providing enterprise-wide, multi-laboratory solutions that have become the corporate standard at leading organizations. Our LIMS and CDS are facilitating laboratory data in the world's leading pharmaceutical companies, petrochemical and chemical plants, food and beverage manufacturers, and other major industries. To support our global installations, Thermo provides implementation, validation, training, maintenance and support from the industry's largest worldwide informatics services network.

About Thermo Electron Corporation
Thermo Electron Corporation is the world leader in analytical instruments. Our instrument solutions enable our customers to make the world a healthier, cleaner and safer place. Thermo's Life and Laboratory Sciences segment provides analytical instruments, scientific equipment, services and software solutions for life science, drug discovery, clinical, environmental and industrial laboratories. Thermo's Measurement and Control segment is dedicated to providing analytical instruments used in a variety of manufacturing processes and in-the-field applications, including those associated with safety and homeland security. For more information, visit www.thermo.com

For further press information please contact:
Kath Darlington,
PR Director,
The Scott Partnership,
The Old Barn, Holly House Estate,
CRANAGE, Middlewich, Cheshire CW10 9LT,
United Kingdom
Tel: + 44 1606 837787
Fax: +44 1606 837757
E-mail: pr@scottmail.co.uk

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