QIAGEN N.V. Annual Report 2001

QIAGEN — Focusing the Power of Life Sciences
Now that the human genome has been deciphered,
scientists have a new challenge — to describe the
functions of the identified genes. Researchers all over
the world are racing to understand how our genes
influence the development of a wide range of human
diseases, and are seeking to use this knowledge
to develop strategies for more effective diagnostics
and disease treatment, and ultimately for disease
prevention.
Opportunities for QIAGEN are constantly expanding
as the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries
compete to make use of the wealth of genetic
information now available. New applications for
genetic analysis are being developed as fields
of research such as genomics, proteomics, and
cellomics accelerate the pace of discovery in
diagnostics and therapeutics. As speed in innovation
is becoming more and more critical, fast, accurate,
and reliable tools for these applications are essential
for success.
QIAGEN is a leading provider of high-quality
products and services needed to collect, purify, and
handle nucleic acids for a wide range of applications.
Our products allow nucleic acids to be efficiently
purified for subsequent use in a wide range of
applications, such as cloning, transfection, RT-PCR,
sequencing, high-throughput PCR, SNP detection,
and microarray analysis. Our core expertise is a
requirement in almost any application involving
analysis or modification of nucleic acids. In 2001,
QIAGEN further broadened its impressive technology
portfolio and expanded its range of products for
many exciting new applications and markets.
in DNA and RNA. The demand for highly pure
nucleic acid starting materials increases as
molecular applications become more sophisticated
and sensitive, using techniques such as microarrays
or advanced microfluidics for quantitative and
qualitative genetic analyses. Proteomic and cellomic
studies, for example, heavily rely on nucleic acid
purification tools to confirm their results by
identification of the underlying genes. As the
world’s leading supplier of products and services
for purifying and handling nucleic acids, QIAGEN
is very well positioned to continue its major role in
providing the tools for success in the life sciences.
The need for QIAGEN technologies in these new
markets and applications will continue to grow.
QIAGEN expects to add even more strength to its
core activities and expand its presence in the
molecular biology research market — the birthplace
of new applications — as we continue to develop
and supply a wide range of new technologies for
emerging applications in the exciting new fields of
research in the life sciences.
QIAGEN’s leading technologies
provide integrated solutions
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These exciting developments in the life sciences
require a deep understanding of the functions and
interactions of genes and proteins, and detailed
knowledge about the genetic information encoded