QIAGEN N.V. Annual Report 2001

— Cellomics
QIAGEN — Focusing the Power of Life Sciences
Genomic studies are yielding vast amounts of
information and providing insights into the
functions and interactions of individual genes —
knowledge essential for detailed understanding of
human diseases and development of biopharmaceutical
drugs. Reliable methods for purification of
high-quality nucleic acids are a prerequisite for
genomic analyses and studies, and QIAGEN’s
core technologies are dedicated to answering this
need. In 2001, QIAGEN expanded its position in
the genomics market by forming strategic alliances
with companies such as KREATECH Biotechnology
B.V. and Genicon Sciences Corporation, developing
key enabling technologies for genomics to create
and commercialize new multi-analyte detection
technologies.
Gene functions are mediated by proteins, whose
properties, biological functions, and roles in
disease must be characterized and understood.
This understanding is being achieved through studies
of protein-protein interaction and complexes to
characterize entire proteomes. Accurate and
complete protein characterization is based on
detailed genomic information that must be verified
by confirming the identity of the encoding gene
sequence. Proteomic studies will be a major
challenge for biomedical research in the next
decade, complementing and linking with disciplines
such as genetics, cell and molecular biology, protein
chemistry, structural biology, and bioinformatics.
QIAGEN produces a wide range of leading
products for expression, purification, separation,
and analysis of recombinant proteins, all of
which are important tools for proteomics, and
many of which are today setting the standard for
research in these fields. In addition, QIAGEN’s core
technologies for nucleic acid purification, separation,
and handling are the basic tools for the genetic
analyses that are integral to proteomic studies.
Both genomics and proteomics have led to
dramatic progress in our understanding of the
chemistry of life and the study of disease processes
to develop new drugs. They focus on studying
genes and proteins in vitro, while diseases develop
in living cells. Cellomics is the study of chemical
and molecular interactions of cellular components,
or the ”cellome”, and focuses on understanding the
effect of drugs on the entire cell. This highly
complex information must be verified by supporting
proteomic and genomic analyses. QIAGEN
recently introduced its first products linking cell
separation with nucleic acid purification.
QIAGEN’s core technologies are essential tools for
genomic, proteomic, and cellomic studies, and we
look forward to continuing to provide technology
leadership and the highest quality support to the
life sciences in the future.
QIAGEN provides
high-quality products for
modern drug development
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