Sigma(R) Life Science Joins EMBL Advanced Training Centre Corporate Partnership Programme

ST. LOUIS, March 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sigma® Life Science, the innovative biological products and services brand of Sigma-Aldrich® (Nasdaq: SIAL), today announced details of a corporate partnership with the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Advanced Training Centre, based in Heidelberg, Germany, that officially opened on March 9, 2010.  The partnership brings together EMBL's world-class advanced training program with Sigma Life Science Customer Education Programs, an initiative featuring custom-designed technical workshops and training courses for scientific researchers focused in key technology areas, such as zinc finger nuclease (ZFN) and RNAi technology.  

"Our partnership with EMBL provides scientists and researchers at all levels and from all around the world with a unique opportunity to train in key Sigma Life Science technology areas using state-of-the-art teaching laboratories and prerequisite tools," commented Helge Bastian, Vice President of Marketing, Sigma-Aldrich Research Biotech business unit, a Sigma Life Science initiative. "With the launch of this partnership in September 2009, we look forward to developing a compelling and comprehensive series of joint training courses designed not only to meet future challenges in modern science, but to facilitate the networking of young and established scientists, enabling the exchange of ideas to shape the future directions of research."

Joerg Fleckenstein, Senior Manager of Resource Development, EMBL, added: "We are glad to have Sigma Aldrich taking part in the EMBL Advanced Training Centre Corporate Partnership Programme.  The courses that are going to be jointly developed and implemented with Sigma Aldrich and other partners will represent a valuable addition to the existing programme of courses and conferences at EMBL."

Sigma Life Science's core mission is to enable researchers to unravel the complex biomolecular interactions within cells, tissues, organs and organisms. The recently launched 'Where Bio Begins' brand and website are generating awareness of the Company's strengths in providing products and technologies that are intended to facilitate scientists' understanding of how diseases develop and how molecules function, providing a single destination where researchers can access deep biological knowledge and market-leading products and technologies. The EMBL partnership enables Sigma Life Science to further support this mission and reinforces the Company's dedication to research and education in biology and molecular life sciences.  

For further information on Sigma Life Science's Customer Education programs, visit www.sigma.com/workshop or email [email protected].  To find out more about Where Bio Begins, check out www.wherebiobegins.com.

About the European Molecular Biology Laboratory: The European Molecular Biology Laboratory is a basic research institute funded by public research monies from 20 member states (Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom) and associate member state Australia. Research at EMBL is conducted by approximately 85 independent groups covering the spectrum of molecular biology. The Laboratory has five units: the main Laboratory in Heidelberg, and Outstations in Hinxton (the European Bioinformatics Institute), Grenoble, Hamburg, and Monterotondo near Rome. The cornerstones of EMBL's mission are: to perform basic research in molecular biology; to train scientists, students and visitors at all levels; to offer vital services to scientists in the member states; to develop new instruments and methods in the life sciences and to actively engage in technology transfer activities.

About Sigma Life Science: Sigma Life Science is a Sigma-Aldrich brand that represents Sigma'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 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. Its biochemical and organic chemical 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. Sigma-Aldrich 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 38 countries and has 7,700 employees providing excellent service worldwide. Sigma-Aldrich is committed to Accelerating Customer Success through Innovation and Leadership in Life Science, High Technology and Service. For more information about Sigma-Aldrich, please visit its award-winning website at http://www.sigma-aldrich.com.

Sigma-Aldrich, Sigma and Prestige Antibodies are trademarks of Sigma-Aldrich Biotechnology L.P. and Sigma-Aldrich Co.

SOURCE Sigma-Aldrich