Ceres Nanosciences and SAIC-Frederick Collaborate On Cancer Steroid Hormone Studies
FREDERICK, Md., April 22, 2009 — Ceres Nanosciences, LLLP, and National Cancer Institute
contractor SAIC-Frederick, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Science Applications
International Corporation (NYSE: SAI), have signed a collaboration agreement to
assess Ceres’ nanotechnology-based system that can isolate scant amounts of substances
in body fluids, with an eye toward developing tools for diagnosing cancer at the
earliest possible stage when treatments are most effective.
Under the agreement, SAIC-Frederick laboratories will begin by assessing Ceres’
Nanotrap™ technology in an effort to identify from body fluids extremely low concentrations
of steroid hormones.
The agreement was formed under the National Cancer Institute’s Advanced Technology
Partnerships Initiative (ATPI), which aims to further NCI’s mission by rapidly translating
the results of basic research into new tests and treatments for cancer patients.
SAIC-Frederick, as prime contractor at the National Cancer Institute at Frederick,
is facilitating ATPI partnerships for the government.
“The role that steroid hormones play in cancer continues to be a research area of
great interest,” said Timothy Veenstra, Ph.D., Head of Laboratory Proteomics Analytical
Technologies at SAIC-F. “Our intent in developing the Ceres Nanotrap™ is to increase
the speed and accuracy with which samples can be processed and analyzed. This will
lead to a better understanding of the role that steroid hormones play in cancer.”
“This collaboration with SAIC-F is an ideal match for Ceres,” said Ross Dunlap,
Chief Operating Officer of Ceres Nanosciences. “It is aligned with our mission to
develop an integral technology for more efficient and effective sample processing
and disease diagnosis. We are very excited to partner with Dr. Veenstra’s team in
support of the cancer research programs at SAIC-F.”
Ceres’ Nanotrap™ technology is a nanoparticle platform developed to better capture
low-abundance biomarkers and protect them from degradation. The Nanotrap™ collection
process, coupled with existing clinical diagnostic platforms, has the potential
of significantly improving efficiency, reliability, sensitivity and accuracy of
a wide range of critical diagnostic processes. This may improve diagnosis of diseases,
including cancer, at their earliest stages.
About Ceres Nanosciences, LLLP
Ceres Nanosciences, LLLP is a privately held company focused on the development
of diagnostic products using its unique and proprietary Nanotrap™ capture particle
technology. Ceres’ business goals are to develop a number of commercial applications
of the Nanotrap™ for high-demand diagnostics and other needs in the life science
industry.
About SAIC-Frederick
SAIC-Frederick, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Science Applications International
Corporation (SAIC), a Fortune 500® company, is the operations and technical support
contractor for the National Cancer Institute’s research and development center in
Frederick, Md. This is a national laboratory dedicated to rapidly translating basic
research into new technologies for diagnosing, treating, and preventing cancer and
AIDS. SAIC-Frederick maintains a full suite of advanced technologies in areas such
as nanotechnology, genomics and imaging; operates the federal government’s only
drug and vaccine manufacturing facilities; operates the high-performance Advanced
Biomedical Computing Center; and supports more than 300 clinical trials for patients
in the United States and around the world.
Information about the NCI’s Advanced Technology Partnerships Initiative can be found
at ATPIhome.com
Contacts:
Frank Blanchard
SAIC-Frederick, Inc.
(301) 846-1893
blanchardf@mail.nih.gov
Ross M. Dunlap
Ceres Nanosciences, LLLP
1-800-615-0418 ext.202
rdunlap@ceresnano.com