Vance Randal White

IRIS International, Inc. engages in the manufacture of surgical and medical instruments. Its products include in vitro diagnostic systems. The company was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Brea, CA.

Adnavance is a molecular diagnostic company focused on development of DNA-based tests using the Company's patented metalized DNA (M-DNA) platform. The Company is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia and also maintains a DNA development laboratory in San Diego, CA. M-DNA is based on the conducting properties of hybridized DNA. Under strict reaction conditions, certain metal ions can enter the central core of hybridized DNA and displace the hydrogen bonds forming the equivalent of a metal wire in the center of the DNA and making the DNA highly conductive. The Company uses a microarray of 10-micron electrodes to detect the M-DNA and the inherent ultra-sensitivity arises from the differential change in conductivity between hybridized DNA and metalized DNA. This change in conductivity is so large that it obviates the need for target amplification used in current molecular-based tests. Adnavance scientists were the first to discover the M-DNA phenomenon, and the Company believes its technology platform will open new molecular testing markets.

Ngen, Inc. advanced diagnostics provides physicians and patients worldwide with sophisticated information to predict, diagnose and treat disease. Research and clinical reference labs use the highly accurate and reliable NanoChip(R) Molecular Biology Workstation, NanoChip(R) Electronic Microarray and broad suite of analyte specific reagents to develop diagnostic tests for variety of diseases. Nanogen also offers a broad portfolio of patented nucleic acids chemistries and molecular tools that accelerate genomic analysis and are compatible with many systems. The SynX subsidiary offers a line of point-of-care diagnostic tests and is building expertise in cardiac related health conditions. Nanogen's ten years of pioneering research involving nanotechnology may also have future applications in medical diagnostics, biowarfare and other industries. The company is headquartered in San Diego, CA