At a ceremony officiated by Minister Sean Sherlock TD, Irish Minister for Research and Innovation, Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation, Waters Corporation (NYSE:WAT) welcomed the Irish National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT) into its Centers of Innovation Program. Waters acknowledged NIBRT and the research team under the direction of Prof. Pauline Rudd, Principal Investigator, for her pioneering contribution to the field of glycobiology, a science of growing importance to both biotherapeutics manufacturers and disease research.

"I am honored to be a part of the Centers of Innovation Program and for what it means to us as we conduct leading-edge research. I regard Waters as more than just an instrument vendor; they are a research partner," said Prof. Rudd.

Prof. Rudd and her team are working with Waters® mass spectrometry based systems to take challenging glycan characterization to the next level. By improving understanding of glycan chemical and molecular structure, scientists can better understand safety and efficacy profiles for a potential molecule, leading directly to novel biotherapeutic options. 

 "It's truly exciting to announce and confirm our collaboration with Pauline and NIBRT," said Mike Harrington, PhD, Vice President European and Asia Pacific Operations, Waters Division. "At Waters we believe in the science of what's possible, that there are no problems that science cannot solve. We're lucky to be working with a dedicated partner like NIBRT which believes in the power of science and the importance of research and training.

Biopharmaceuticals are increasingly important to patients and drug manufacturers. By 2014, it is expected that 50% of the top 100 prescribed medications will be biopharmaceuticals, including four of the top five selling drugs. Ireland's exports of pharmaceuticals valued at approximately 55 billion Euros now accounts for more than 50% of the country's GDP.

"In the future most new pharmaceuticals coming on line will be glycoproteins, very large and complex molecules and very challenging to analyze to ensure their safety and efficacy. We're now moving to a new phase of technical development not only for glycan analysis but for full product characterization. So these wonderful instruments from Waters will help us move the field forward and train the next generation of scientists in glycobiology," Prof. Rudd said.

In other news, Waters and NIBRT have established the Complete Product and Processing Characterization Facility (CPPCF) for hands-on laboratory based scientific training and retraining of ‘fit-for-purpose' biopharmaceutical analysis, including protein and peptide characterization. The CPPCF's goal is to provide comprehensive training of industry and governmental technicians and scientists to help the burgeoning industry develop advanced biotherapeutic characterization. The new facility will also educate scientists on existing and upcoming U.S. and European drug regulations. 

"The combination of Pauline Rudd's expertise in glycan analysis and Waters technology for analysis of complex biological samples provides a unique combination of capabilities that can help underpin Ireland's continued reputation as a centre of excellence for the very highest quality standards in biopharmaceutical manufacturing," commented Minister Sherlock. "I'm truly delighted to announce this collaboration as it will surely assist both NIBRT and Waters in further cementing their reputation as providers of choice for the biopharmaceutical industry and Ireland's reputation as a world leading location for biotech manufacturing." He added, "It's a privilege for me to acknowledge this collaboration, to congratulate Pauline and to see that the collaboration between NIBRT and Waters continues to flourish."

Waters is the leader in biopharmaceutical analytical technology, which is fundamental to the advancement of biopharmaceuticals. The company offers a comprehensive technology solution that gives biopharmaceutical manufacturers the analytics they need from discovery to development to commercialization and everything in between.

Waters' effort with NIBRT is the latest demonstration of the company's commitment to creating partnerships that enable it to multiply its impact on critical public health issues, including food safety, safe drugs and clean water.

About Waters Centers of Innovation Program

Waters Centers of Innovation Program recognizes and supports the efforts of scientists facilitating breakthroughs in health and life science research, food safety, environmental protection, sports medicine and many other areas.

Prof. Rudd joins 19 others researchers and research centers recognized by Waters' Centers of Innovation Program. The others include Professor Jeremy Nicholson, Imperial College London; Professor John Engen, Northeastern University, Boston, Mass.; Professor James Scrivens, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK; Professor David Cowan of Kings College London; Professor Arthur Moseley of Duke University, Durham, North Carolina; Professor Julie Leary of the University of California - Davis; and Professor Albert J. Fornace, Jr., Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Washington, D.C.; Professor Marcos Eberlin, University of Campinas, Brazil; Dr. Chang Hsu, Future Fuels Institute, Tallahassee, Florida; Professor Ganesh Anand, National University of Singapore; Dr. Konstantinos Petritis, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, Arizona; Professor Vladimir Shulaev, University of North Texas Department of Biological Sciences, Denton, Texas; Dr. Joseph Dalluge, University of Minnesota: Prof. Sarah Trimpin, Wayne State University; Dr. Frank Gonzalez, National Cancer Institute; Dr. Devin Peterson, University of Minnesota, Caroline West and Eric Lesselier, Universite d'Orleans; and Professor Burt van Bavel, Orebro University.

These leading scientists, in partnership with Waters, are using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry to take research down new paths and help unlock the mysteries of science.

For more information on Waters Centers of Innovation Program click here .
 

About NIBRT

The National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training, Dublin, Ireland is a centre of excellence that supports the biopharma sector by offering research platform solutions for bio-manufacturing and provides tailored accredited industrial training and academic educational programmes to students in purpose-built flexible and modern bioprocessing facilities that will facilitate the expansion of the biopharma sector in Ireland.


About Waters Corporation

For over 50 years, Waters Corporation (NYSE:WAT) has created business advantages for laboratory-dependent organizations by delivering practical and sustainable innovation to enable significant advancements in such areas as healthcare delivery, environmental management, food safety, and water quality worldwide.

Pioneering a connected portfolio of separations science, laboratory information management, mass spectrometry and thermal analysis, Waters technology breakthroughs and laboratory solutions provide an enduring platform for customer success.

With revenue of $1.85 billion in 2011, Waters is driving scientific discovery and operational excellence for customers worldwide.

Waters is a trademark of Waters Corporation.