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• DRUG DISCOVERY - The process by which a therapeutic agent is developed. This encompasses conceptual design, pre-clinical studies to substantiate the potential for clinical benefit, clinical trials to validate efficacy and safety, FDA approval, and drug production.

• GENE EXPRESSION - The amount of ribonucleic acid (RNA) and protein made in a cell from a given gene.

• GENOMICS - This technology is the study of genes, their function, expression, and regulation within various (normal or diseased) tissues of an organism. "Genomics" analyses are being used to identify targets for the development and validation of new therapeutic pharmaceuticals.

• MICROARRAY - A microarray (or gene chip) is an array of thousands of individual gene (DNA) sequences fixed in a known order onto a solid support. RNAs from different tissues are hybridized (bound) to the DNA on the chips. An RNA molecule will only bind to the DNA from which it was expressed (copied). Thus, the relative expression of thousands of genes in various tissues (or the same tissue treated with different drugs or drug amounts) can be compared in a single experiment. In this way, coordinated increases or decreases in the expression of a cluster of genes can be detected. Analogously, microarray chips containing protein (instead of DNA) sequences are being developed to test for protein to protein binding. These technologies are being used to identify drug targets, to validate drug efficacy, and to personalize drug therapies.

• PROTEOMICS - The analysis of protein sequence, structure, expression, activity, and interactions within the different normal and diseased tissues of an organism. Expression proteomics compares the levels of proteins in different tissue samples while functional proteomics elucidates how proteins interact with each other and diverse cellular components such as deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), RNA, and cell membranes.

• SINGLE NUCLEOTIDE POLYMORPHISM (SNP) - Variability among individuals of the DNA sequence at one specific base within a gene. Particular SNP sites within the coding regions of proteins are chosen for investigation because nucleotide changes (i.e. mutations) at these sites could lead to amino acid substitutions that will affect protein function. Each SNP is studied to determine if it is associated with a genetic disease.

• WET LABS - Wet labs are another name for biologic research facilities. They contain laboratory benches (set up with compressed air, water, vacuum, and natural gas services), space for heavy, high energy requiring equipment, and both chemical and biological safety cabinets.
  
  

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