Monrovia, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/28/2010 -- Daniel G. Sipes, Director of Advanced Automation Technologies at the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation (GNF), will give a presentation on “Cell-based Assay Miniaturization and Automation at GNF: Screening and More” at the 5th Assay and Drug Discovery Technologies Conference to be held this year in San Diego, CA Sept. 20-21, 2010 by GTCbio. GNF recently expanded the utilities of their proprietary automated platforms for cell-based screening more deeply into the drug discovery process. Sipe’s team has utilized GNF-built automation, as well as other commercially available technologies, to enable cost effective and rapid cell-based compound profiling. In addition, this approach has enabled scientists to run primary cell assays on a scale not otherwise practical.

Also presenting at the Assay and Drug Discovery Technologies are prestigious organizations including Burnham Medical Research Institute, Pfizer, UCSF, AstraZeneca, UCLA, Bristol Myers Squibb, Genentech, National Institute of Advanced Science and Technology, Johnson & Johnson, Nexigen GmbH, University of Pennsylvania, Roche, UCD, Abbott, Merck, Novartis (GNF), and other leaders in the Assay and Drug Discovery Technologies industry.

5th Assay and Drug Discovery Technologies Conference features a mixture of academic, industry and public sector experts in an intimate setting that favors the showcase of data, the exchanges of ideas and networking. Professionals in the drug discovery industry and academics to can get an update of exciting new developments in assay technologies and exchange ideas in developing creative approaches in the drug discovery and development process to improve the efficiency and output. For more information, visit http://www.gtcbio.com.