The National Library of Medicine (NLM), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is awarding 18 five-year grants, totaling more than $75million, for research training in biomedical informatics, the discipline that seeks to apply computer and communications technology to the field of health. For more than 30 years, NLM has been the primary sponsor of biomedical informatics research training in the United States. At its current group of 18 informatics programs, NLM supports nearly 300 pre-doctoral and post-doctoral trainees each year. Trainees come to these programs with a range of educational and professional backgrounds; the group includes physicians, biologists, computer scientists, and engineers. Read the press release.

Artemis Pharmaceuticals GmbH has signed a research agreement with Merck & Co. Inc. to construct a large number of shRNA interference ("shRNAi ") - genetically engineered mouse models for the in vivo functional analysis of selected disease related genes. The agreement represents a significant initiative to undertake a large-scale approach to gene function analysis using shRNA knock down in genetically engineered mice as models for human biology. Under the terms of the agreement, Artemis will generate genetically engineered shRNAi "knock down" mouse models for Merck using Artemis' proprietary, optimized and fully integrated vector construction, ES cell transfection and inducible RNAi technology. Merck will provide selected shRNA sequences that correspond to mouse genes that may also play a central role in human diseases. Artemis will use its technologies to achieve constitutive as well as inducible functional down-regulation of the expression of the gene targets provided by Merck. Read the press release.

Kendle, a Cincinnati-based clinical research organization, has appointed Sylva Collins as vice president of global biometrics. Collins formerly ran electronic data management for Novartis, managing more than 400 EDC studies approximately 130,000 patients worldwide. She will oversee Kendle’s global Biometrics services, including clinical data management, biostatistics and scientific programming. Website: www.kendle.com.

Agilent Technologies has launched a new product demonstration center at its Santa Clara, Calif., corporate headquarters, showcasing its life sciences and chemical analysis capabilities. The Center of Excellence launch follows the recent opening of a similar center in Bangalore, India, and recent expansions of Agilent product demonstration centers in Paris, France; Manchester, U.K.; and Waldbronn, Germany. Planned for late 2007 is yet another center in Little Falls, Delaware. Read the press release.