Seattle, WA - July 12, 2004 - VizX Labs today announced the release of the GeneSifter Core Edition microarray analysis system for microarray core facilities. The Core Edition builds upon VizX’s existing GeneSifter system, now renamed GeneSifter Lab Edition by adding flexible administrative tools that allow core facilities to provide and manage GeneSifter accounts for their clients. The program’s web-based structure and minimal learning curve will reduce the amount of time core staff spend on system maintenance and routine assistance.

“We’re very pleased to offer core facilities a way to provide their researchers with crucial microarray data analysis tools, without having to spend valuable time maintaining and updating hardware and software,” said VizX Labs CEO Tom Ranken.

The Core Edition provides core facilities with computing and storage resources on off-site secure servers. The facility staff can then assign these resources to multiple GeneSifter user accounts to be used by the researchers they support. GeneSifter Core Edition is the only system that provides core facilities with these hosting and administrative services.

“We routinely use GeneSifter university-wide and it has been very well received,” said Jaideep Chaudhary, Ph.D., Assistant Director of the Center for Reproductive Biology at Washington State University. “The user-friendly nature of the system, and the fact that researchers can retrieve their data and analyze it anywhere, has made everyone’s life easier.”

GeneSifter Core Edition gives core facility staff more flexibility in other ways as well. Because the entire system is securely hosted off-site, all technical oversight of the system’s hardware is handled by VizX Labs, with no need for a database administrator to oversee it. It is web-based, allowing both core facility staff and researchers to access the system from anywhere, without using the core’s resources. It is designed to be accessible, and scientists at any level of experience can utilize many powerful analysis features with minimal training.

About GeneSifter
GeneSifter is the accessible, Web-based microarray data analysis system for research scientists. Available in Lab or Core Editions, GeneSifter helps researchers understand the biology underlying gene expression patterns as it helps them determine the statistical and biological significance of their data. It features over 30 types of validated analysis techniques including clustering, pathways analysis and Gene Ontology operations, MIAME-compliant protocols and “R” platform biostatistics. GeneSifter’s clean, logical Web-based interface instantly makes sense to scientists and speeds discovery. According to University of Washington’s Gary Vanasse, M.D., “Using GeneSifter, what would have taken weeks was accomplished in days.” Additional customer comments are available online at www.genesifter.net/product-info_testimonials.php. Downloadable graphics, including screenshots of GeneSifter Lab Edition and GeneSifter Core Edition, may be viewed online at www.vizxlabs.com/downloadable_images.html.

About VizX Labs
VizX Labs’ products enable scientists to incorporate sophisticated data management and computer analysis into gene research for improved quality and productivity. Selected as a Northwest Venture All-Star company and named by Bio-IT World as one of six “bioinformatics youngbloods” remaking that field, VizX was most recently listed by Washington CEO as one of the state’s top 25 biotechnology and biomedical companies. To view the VizX Labs newsroom, please visit www.vizxlabs.com/newsroom.html.

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