SIRS-Lab: Expert Service for Gene Expression Studies

After only five years, SIRS-Lab has successfully established
itself as the commercial provider of gene expression studies. In this
fast-paced field, SIRS-Lab counts on the know how of an
interdisciplinary team which possesses more than one hundred man-years
of expertises in biochip technology. The specific strengths of the
company domiciled at the BioInstrumentation Centre in Jena, Germany,
lie in the fields of biostatics and sample preparation. Furthermore,
SIRS-Lab uses an Illumina(R) system, the currently most reliable
pan-genomic microarray platform, and understands exactly the needs and
thoughts of the clinical researcher.

The multifaceted range of services convinces renowned researcher
groups in Germany and abroad. For example, the William Harvey Research
Institute, London, has chosen SIRS-Lab as service partner for several
gene expression studies. Professor Chris Thiemermann, Head of the
Centre for Translational Medicine at the William Harvey Research (WHR)
Institute and CEO of WHR Limited, emphasizes: "We are enthusiastic
about SIRS-Labs professionalism in planning and performing biochip
analyses as well as their long experience in the bio-statistical
evaluation of highly complex multi-dimensional datasets". SIRS-Labs
expertise also appealed to Dr. Didier Keh from the Charite Berlin. The
analysis of several hundred individual samples within the HYPRESS
study promoted by the German Federal Ministry of Education and
Research will allow for a better understanding of the impact of low
dosed hydrocortisone in patients with severe infections.

SIRS-Lab offers its partners a range of comprehensive and flexible
services at three different performance levels. At the "Expression
Level", the customers are supported on the individual planning of
their gene expression studies and SIRS-Lab assumes sample preparation
as well as performing the microarray experiments.

Furthermore, the "Investigator Level" includes the quality control
of the resulting gene activity patterns and their bio-statistical
primary analysis. At the "Publication Level," the experimental results
are subject to an extensive bio-statistical evaluation and are
developed up to their publication in close cooperation with the
customer.

About SIRS-Lab GmbH

Located in Jena (Germany), SIRS-Lab is a diagnostic company
developing unique and innovative products to identify and monitor
life-threatening infections, one of the major causes of death in
hospitals across the world. SIRS-Lab was founded in 2000 by S.
Russwurm, K. Reinhart, E. Straube and H.-P. Saluz, and employs today
30 people. Affentranger Associates SA based in Geneva/ Switzerland
acts as the lead investor.