Sigma® Life Science Joins AMDeC's Vendor Partnership Program, Further Enhancing Value to Academic Medical Research Centers

NEW YORK, March 29, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AMDeC, LLC today announced continued expansion of its Vendor Partnership Program to include products offered by Sigma® Life Science, the innovative biological products and services business of Sigma-Aldrich® (Nasdaq: SIAL).  AMDeC is a consortium of pre-eminent academic medical research institutions in the New York region that is focused on increasing efficiencies and encouraging collaboration in academic medical research.

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"The addition of Sigma Life Science as a Vendor Partner is in keeping with AMDeC's goal of creating opportunities that directly benefit our Members, bringing them the highest quality products and services on the cutting edge of life science research while also realizing savings – especially critical in this resource-constrained environment," said Maria K. Mitchell, Ph.D., President of AMDeC. "Working with Vendor Partners such as Sigma, we can facilitate access to the advanced products and technologies required for biological research today, with the goal of catalyzing innovation and expediting discovery."

Information on the Sigma products and preferred pricing available to AMDeC Members will be listed on the Vendor Partners portion of AMDeC F.I.R.S.T.™, a real-time, online registry of biomedical research technology and resources accessible to all Members.  Sigma products covered by the agreement will include the comprehensive custom oligo and peptide product portfolio (DNA, RNA, siRNA and peptide libraries), as well as core reagents that cater to the genomic and proteomic workflows.  It is anticipated that the number and type of products falling within the scope of the agreement will expand over time and will include promotions created specifically for AMDeC members.

"We are proud to join AMDeC in their continuous efforts to advance life science research in academia.  Our commitment and support to the life science community are unrivaled and proven by our dedication to continuously expand upon enabling technologies, such as our CompoZr® Zinc Finger Nuclease technology and SAGE Labs custom animal services,"  said David Smoller, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer, Sigma-Aldrich.  "Sigma-Aldrich recognizes the critical role of academic research in improving human health.  We are pleased at the opportunity to play an even more active role in this important endeavor."    

About the Vendor Partnership Program and AMDeC F.I.R.S.T.™

The Vendor Partnership Program is one of several efforts spearheaded by AMDeC to increase efficiencies.  The program enables AMDeC Member institutions to access advanced technologies and discounted pricing on a range of products and services. These valuable partnerships, negotiated by AMDeC on behalf of the entire consortium, leverage AMDeC's collective purchasing power and lead to greater cost efficiencies and economies of scale for all Members.  The program also provides early access to the newest biomedical technologies, as well as increased grant competitiveness for Member institutions.  Other Vendor Partners include such companies as Agilent Technologies, BioStorage Technologies, Inc., NuGEN, and RainDance Technologies.

Information related to the Vendor Partnership Program can be found on AMDeC F.I.R.S.T.™, a user-friendly, secure, online platform offering a single point of entry to real-time information on core facility services and instruments that are available for use across the entire consortium.  This includes information on available laboratories, instruments, resources, services and technologies, which can be accessed on a fee-for-service basis.  The Registry currently features information on hundreds of instruments and services. Access to AMDeC F.I.R.S.T. and information about the Vendor Partnerships are available to all AMDeC members.  For more information, log on to www.amdec.org

About AMDeC, LLC

AMDeC, LLC is a consortium of pre-eminent academic biomedical research institutions. In its 14-year history, AMDeC has led the way in team science, resource-sharing efforts, member services focused on cost savings and technology access, and private sector participation with academia.  AMDeC creates programs and services, such as AMDeC F.I.R.S.T.™, the Vendor Partnership Program, and the Technology Access Program, to facilitate collaboration and efficient use of resources.

About Sigma Life Science

Sigma Life Science is a Sigma-Aldrich business that represents the Company's leadership in innovative biological products and services for the global life science market and offers an array of biologically-rich products and reagents that researchers use in scientific investigation. Product areas include biomolecules, genomics and functional genomics, cells and cell-based assays, transgenics, protein assays, stem cell research, epigenetics and custom services/oligonucleotides. Sigma Life Science also provides an extensive range of critical bioessentials like biochemicals, antibiotics, buffers, carbohydrates, enzymes, forensic tools, hematology and histology, nucleotides, amino acids and their derivatives, and cell culture media.

About Sigma-Aldrich

Sigma-Aldrich is a leading Life Science and High Technology company committed to Enabling Science to Improve the Quality of Life. Its chemical and biochemical products and kits are used in scientific research, including genomic and proteomic research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development and as key components in pharmaceutical, diagnostic and other high technology manufacturing. The Company has customers in life science companies, university and government institutions, hospitals, and in industry. Over one million scientists and technologists use its products. Sigma-Aldrich operates in 40 countries and has 7,900 employees providing excellent service worldwide. For more information about Sigma-Aldrich, please visit its award-winning Web site at http://www.sigma-aldrich.com.

SOURCE AMDeC