For Immediate Release
July 12, 2007

BUFFALO, NY – In a strategic exercise that will help commercialize Roswell Park Cancer Institute’s genetic and diagnostic technology and help maintain and further solidify ties with Western New York on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, RPCI and Empire Genomics, LLC, (EG) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding.

Under the terms of the agreement, Roswell Park will provide Empire Genomics with a license to its proprietary genomic libraries, as well as access to laboratory space, equipment and expertise within the RPCI campus.

 “This agreement to provide access to Roswell Park’s equipment, space and expertise will not only enhance the ability of Empire Genomics to commercialize Roswell Park’s technology but will advance economic development of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus as a premier biotechnology center,” said Donald L. Trump, MD, President & CEO, RPCI.

As a leader in the field of cancer genetics, RPCI has developed and maintains certain libraries of genomic bacterial artificial chromosomes (BAC) and P-1 based artificial chromosomes (PAC), and has developed certain expertise in running and analyzing comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) arrays for identifying numerical differences in DNA between tumor and normal cells and cells from individuals with inherited disorders.

Norma Nowak, PhD, Director of the Microarray and Genomics Facility at RPCI and Founder & Chief Scientific Officer of Empire Genomics, conducted research at RPCI that contributed directly to the Human Genome Project and developed microarray-based approaches to understanding inheritable disorders and cancer.  “My scientific career has been devoted to understanding the human genome in order to make advances in cancer research and elucidate the genetic basis for developmental disorders. Empire Genomics will help translate that research into economic benefit for the local environment,” she noted.

Empire Genomics, LLC, a new firm in the field of molecular diagnostics and genomic-based testing, offers a wide range of products and services on its molecular karyotyping platform technology that is used to identify and quantify chromosomal abnormalities. Empire Genomics hopes this technology will lead to an exciting new era of personalized medicine.

“Roswell Park is committed to creating an environment which is stimulating the emergence of new start-up companies such as this one,” said Richard Matner, PhD, MBA Director of Technology Transfer and Commercial Development, RPCI. “This licensing agreement with Empire Genomics moves publicly sponsored research closer to commercial development with the goal of providing innovative scientific resources to researchers from both academic and commercial organizations.”

Roswell Park Cancer Institute, founded in 1898, is the nation’s first cancer research, treatment and education center and is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in Upstate New York. RPCI is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers. Roswell Park has affiliate sites and collaborative programs in New York, Pennsylvania, and in China. For more information, visit RPCI’s website at http://www.roswellpark.org, call 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724) or e-mail askrpci@roswellpark.org.

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