HUPO Educational Forum Promotes Biological Research Technology; North American Tour Aimed at Advancing Worldwide Proteome Mapping Effort.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

BIOWIRE 2K

PISCATAWAY, N.J.--(BW HealthWire)--June 3, 2002

The Human Proteome Organization (HUPO) in conjunction with leading biotechnology company, Amersham Biosciences, today launched an educational forum aimed at informing scientists throughout North America of the cutting edge advances in the field of proteomics, and inspiring interest and discussion on the far-reaching implications of proteomics research for basic and clinical science and drug discovery.

The proteomics tour will take place from June 3 to 14 in the following North American cities: New Haven, CT; Piscataway, NJ; Quebec City, Canada; Montreal, Canada; Toronto, Canada; Ann Arbor, MI; Minneapolis, MN; Denver, CO; Salt Lake City, UT; San Francisco, CA. The tour will continue in Europe during June.

Global initiatives to identify and characterize human proteins are being formulated. The production of too much, too little or an abnormal form of one or more proteins causes many human diseases. Understanding the relationship between proteins and disease will not only accelerate the discovery of more effective and safer drugs, but will also improve the ability to detect and diagnose diseases at an earlier, more treatable stage.

"The launch of this educational tour marks a very exciting development for HUPO and represents a unique and valuable opportunity for scientists at the leading edge of proteomics research," said Dr. Sam Hanash, Inaugural President of HUPO and Professor of Pediatrics-Hematology/Oncology, University of Michigan School of Medicine.

"In spearheading this important educational forum for proteomics researchers throughout North America, Amersham Biosciences hopes to take proteomics research to the next level by exploring novel techniques and applications, as well as opportunities to exploit today's technology," says Lars Eric Utterman, Vice President of Proteomics at Amersham Biosciences. "By brainstorming with leading researchers in the proteomics community, we can better identify the needs of tomorrow and conceive of the technologies and tools that will drive scientific discovery into the future."

The educational tour will emphasize the latest technical developments in the exciting field of biological research called "proteomics," and disseminate information about the "proteome" (the protein make-up) of humans and other organisms. The tour will promote this rapidly expanding field and facilitate interaction between proteomics research groups worldwide under the HUPO umbrella. Key goals of the tour include stimulating discussion and debate about future directions for proteomics technology development, illustrating the significant contribution proteomics will make to defining the molecular cause disease and identifying powerful new drug targets disease treatment.

Amersham Biosciences, the life sciences business of Amersham plc (LSE: NYSE: OSE: AHM), is a world leader in developing and providing integrated systems and solutions for disease research, drug development and manufacture. Its systems are used to uncover the function of genes and proteins, for the discovery and development of drugs and for the manufacture of biopharmaceuticals. The customers for Amersham Biosciences' products and technologies are pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and research and academic institutions, principally in North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia. More information about Amersham Biosciences is available at www.amershambiosciences.com.

Amersham Biosciences--enabling molecular medicine