The Society for Biomolecular Sciences and the Association for Laboratory Automation Announce Proposed Merger

Members to Vote on Uniting as Sections of the New

"Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening"

CHICAGO and DANBURY, Conn., March 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For the past 18 months, the Society for Biomolecular Sciences (SBS) and the Association for Laboratory Automation (ALA) have been strategizing a merger to unite their complementary missions within the context of one inclusive organization -- the Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS). The SBS-ALA merger awaits membership approval via a proxy voting process. If approved, SLAS will become the premier international community dedicated to advancing scientific research and discovery through laboratory technology.

"SBS and ALA are facing one of the most important steps forward in the evolution of our organizations. Despite serving uniquely different scientific niches, our members have very similar educational interests and member service priorities. The SLAS merger will capitalize on both to provide increased opportunities for success," says Jeff Paslay, Ph.D., SBS President. "We highly encourage our members to vote yes for the merger."

With member approval, SBS and ALA will unite as individual sections of SLAS, each retaining its individual identity and specialized educational focus. While they will also retain their individual missions as sections, they will collectively address the overall SLAS mission -- to provide forums for education and information exchange to encourage the study of and improve the science and practice of laboratory automation and screening. In addition, both SBS and ALA will benefit from the expanded scope, international influence, and enhanced program and service offerings that the unified umbrella organization, SLAS, will be able to provide.

"Our organizations have such complementary missions that coming together on a broader level will expand our global reach and influence," says Malcolm Crook, Ph.D., ALA President. "Through the alliance we can leverage each other's strengths to achieve international significance and attract new members who offer increased diversity of knowledge and experience."

Voting opens March 15 at www.SBS-ALAmerger.org and closes May 5. Upon SBS and ALA member approval, the merger will become official July 1, 2010. For more information on the SBS-ALA merger and how to vote, visit www.SBS-ALAmerger.org.

About SBS

Headquartered in Danbury, CT, the Society for Biomolecular Sciences (SBS) is the only international non-profit scientific society dedicated to drug discovery and its related disciplines. SBS was founded in 1994 to provide a forum for global education and information exchange among professionals in the chemical, pharmaceutical, biotech, and agrochemical industries. SBS members represent many of the largest and most influential research institutes, universities and pharmaceutical companies in the world.

About ALA

The Association for Laboratory Automation (ALA) is a worldwide organization representing leaders in all aspects of laboratory automation. ALA seeks to provide a greater understanding of the importance and value of automation strategies and technologies in the laboratory settings, to advance science and promote education related to laboratory automation.

About SLAS

The Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS) is a new non-profit scientific organization uniting the Society for Biomolecular Sciences (SBS) and the Association for Laboratory Automation (ALA). The SLAS mission is to be the preeminent global organization providing forums for education and information exchange to encourage the study of, and improve the science and practice of, laboratory automation and screening.

SOURCE Society for Biomolecular Sciences