Agilent Technologies, Shanghai Institute of Biological Sciences and Chinese Academy of Sciences Open Center for Systems Biology

As a leading provider of bio-analytical instruments, Agilent is very proud to be collaborating with world-class life science researchers who are contributing to breakthrough research in China, said Nick Roelofs, president of Agilent's Life Sciences Group. China has demonstrated tremendous progress in recent years in technological advancement and research capabilities and is a key focus area for Agilent's Life Sciences Group.

SIBS and Agilent signed an agreement in 2008 to establish the joint SIBS-Agilent Center for System Biology. Initial work of SIBS researchers involved using Agilent chromatin immunoprecipitation-on-chip (ChIP-on-chip) and gene expression microarrays to study molecules known as Yamanaka factors. The research achieved new insight into how adult cells can be induced to act like embryonic stem cells (ESC), with the ability to form any type of tissue known as pluripotency. The findings were published in an article titled Yamanaka factors critically regulate the developmental signaling network in mouse embryonic stem cells (Cell Research, 2008 18:1177-1189).

This is more than a simple technical collaboration. It is an opportunity for scientists in China to work together with a company providing advanced technologies, said Prof. Wu Jiarui, vice president of SIBS and director of Key Laboratory of Systems Biology. Agilent not only provides us with the technology tools, but we also look forward to close interaction with their scientists and the life science community in China. I am confident this collaboration will be a tremendous success.

The center is equipped with the latest products in Agilent's portfolio including the Q-TOF, LC/QQQ, Chip-LC, GC/MS, HPLC, bioanalyzer and microarray platforms.

This is the first system biology joint laboratory with Agilent in China, backed with a broad scope of scientific talents and a comprehensive portfolio of genomics, proteomics, metabolomics and bioinformatics tools, said Yiping Mu, general manager of Greater China for Agilent. This is a perfect marriage of the strengths from both organizations. We are looking forward to a long-term and productive collaboration that will strengthen Agilent's presence in China.