NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – GeneGo said today that Millipore has sponsored academic groups from the Universities of Queensland, Sheffield, and Southern California to become members of GeneGo's collaborative MetaMiner stem cells project.
Millipore's sponsorship will allow researchers from the three institutions to take part in a scientific initiative to develop biological pathways specific to their areas of interest.
GeneGo, based in St. Joseph, Mich., launched the MetaMiner stem cells project in the first quarter of this year with the goal of developing stem cell pathway maps and understanding commonalities and differences between different stem cell types.
According to GeneGo's website, the project is to run for 24 months and is directed by its members in a shared cost scenario. The project currently comprises seven members, including stem cell experts from undisclosed pharmaceutical companies, the University of Glasgow, and Chicago Children's Hospital, GeneGo said.
"In addition to Millipore's own dedicated team of stem cell scientists, the company has sponsored stem cell research programs around the world," Ruben Flores-Saaib, senior manager of scientific collaborations at Millipore, said in a statement. "Therefore, we decided to support GeneGo's effort in stem cells biology … through sponsorships to its MetaMiner Stem Cell project."
Julie Bryant, GeneGo's vice president of business development, added in a statement that Millipore is a "long-term partner" of GeneGo's in the area of pathway biology, and that GeneGo is "pleased that they see the value in this MetaMiner project and have sponsored membership of some of the world-leading stem cell scientists."