March 29, 2006

DMetrix, Inc., the only provider of ultra-rapid array-microscope whole glass slide digital imaging systems, announced today that it has teamed with BioImagene, the leading provider of image-management and image-analysis platforms, to integrate DMetrix’s DX-40 scanner with BioImagene’s Scientific Image Management System (SIMS™). DMetrix and BioImagene designed the first implementation of this complete solution in partnership with IBM, for the Arizona Cancer Center.

The DMetrix/BioImagene “Arizona” system is designed to accommodate up to 33 terabytes of image data and manage more than 100,000 high-resolution images. Images are produced at high throughput and at high resolution with DMetrix’s DX-40 automated slide scanner. Users can access image data and metadata through a secure website. The “Arizona” system is flexible and supports multiple use cases, e.g., remote consultations for projects focused on cancer prevention or sophisticated 3-D image analyses.
The “Arizona” system uses IBM eServer® xSeries® systems to operate all software and hardware components. IBM Tivoli® Storage Manager is included to automate data backup and archiving and to protect data from hardware failures and other errors.

Robert Gillies, PhD, Professor of Biochemistry, Physiology, and Radiology at the University of Arizona, who helped to design the Arizona system, says, “We are excited about the potential for this enabling technology. Data management is always a challenge when generating large amounts of large data sets, and the system we have designed in collaboration with DMetrix, BioImagene, and IBM is unprecedented in scope and integration. We expect that this system will enable cancer specimens to be evaluated at multiple sites across the country and this will go a long way towards making these data available to a wider audience. It will also allow us to observe and analyze tissues in their full 3-dimensional representations, which we expect will enable us to investigate spatially-specific gene expression patterns. We anticipate that will provide us with more profound insights into the mechanisms of normal tissue function and their pathologies.”

Michael R. Descour, PhD, President of DMetrix stated, “The configuration designed with and for the Arizona Cancer Center serves as an outstanding template for any research environment that relies extensively on digital imagery. This Arizona configuration covers state-of-the-art image acquisition, image management, and data storage and archiving. The configuration developed jointly with Arizona Cancer Center scientists is prepared to accommodate the inevitably large collection of images that productive research programs generate. We are very glad to work with BioImagene’s SIMSTM product, to bring DMetrix’s own revolutionary technology to a proven scientific imaging environment.”

“We are very enthusiastic about teaming with DMetrix because it allows us to bring a total solution to the customer who is looking to embark on digital pathology. By combining the best of image informatics from BioImagene with DMetrix’s highly innovative, ultra-rapid image capture, and with IBM’s excellence in computing power and middleware, storage, and display technologies, we are able to provide scientists at the Arizona Cancer Center and their collaborators with a state-of-the-art multi-functional system that meets their current and predicted needs,” said Mohan Uttarwar, President and CEO of BioImagene.

About DMetrix
DMetrix is a privately held company headquartered in Tucson, AZ, and the exclusive developer of array-microscope technology. At five to 60 times faster than any other system, the DMetrix DX-40 slide scanning system delivers ultra-rapid slide throughput, simple oneclick scanning® operation, and sophisticated walk-away slipstream® automation. DMetrix’s technology has been recognized as a breakthrough innovation by The Wall Street Journal. DMetrix’s first product, the DX-40 array-microscope system, received R&D Magazine’s 2005 R&D100 Award given to the 100 technologically most significant innovations of the past year. www.dmetrix.com

About BioImagene
BioImagene, Inc., based in Cupertino, California, is a leading provider of image informatics solutions for life sciences research, pharmaceutical development, and clinical pathology. BioImagene has developed a line of products derived from the flagship management platform SIMS™ (Scientific Image Management System), built on a Web-enabled platform. BioImagene’s products deliver a comprehensive and searchable image database while maintaining powerful analysis algorithms. Image informatics technology integrates valuable image and non-image data into SIMS, allowing scientists to search, mine, share, and analyze data. BioImagene now serves most of the top 15 global pharmaceutical companies and many academic institutions around the country.