IHorizons expands into bioinformatics through international R&D agreement

The three parties will collaborate on the development of innovative marketable solutions and services in the area of bioinformatics and related fields.

The combined focus will be on seeking to solve problems posed by the management and analysis of biological data through the creation and advancement of algorithms, computer science, artificial intelligence, informatics and statistics.

The software applications being developed will address industry professional's needs in mining, analyzing and serving data from many sources, including genome sequencing.

Mr. Mohamad Takriti, Chief Executive Officer of iHorizons commented on the signing of the agreement, "iHorizons' core competence in developing advanced software applications puts us in an ideal position to work with AREA and CBM in the development of highly complex bioinformatics solutions.".

"There is a great potential for Bioinformatics to enable major advances in medicine, agriculture and other fields and we are confident that this field will trigger considerable interest from research and academic institutions in the GCC as well as the Middle East. As an ambitious Qatari company we are pleased to be able to contribute to such advancement,"

he continued.

Located at Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP), iHorizons will take advantage of the park's R&D-focused culture to develop new technologies, including bioinformatics.

AREA Science Park Director General Mr Giuseppe Colpani added, "We place a special emphasis on the connection between scientific research and industry. It is this unique link that has led us to this collaborative arrangement with iHorizons. It is also this link combined with the unparalleled reputation of the Park's researchers that has contributed to the labeling of Trieste as a reference hub for science and technology by the G77. "

The cooperation is already fully operational. Following the signing of the MOU in December 2006 and the recent signing of the official agreement, the three entities are already detailing their first cooperative project, which is expected to commence shortly.

"The first joint pilot project has already been planned. Our first initiative is aimed at developing a software solution for the management of tissue biobanks. The solution will be fully integrated with generic hospital solutions as well as bioinformatics software tools," explained CBM Program Manager Mr Elia Stupka.

The tissue biobank solution will expand the range of solutions currently provided by iHorizons and it will further expand the international network in which the three institutions already operate, and boosting their economic potential in the Gulf market. This is the first in what is expected to be a host of projects the partners will collaborate on, with the common goal of linking IT to research activities in the fields of bioinformatics and genetics.

In addition to providing employment opportunities to people in Qatar, Jordan and UAE, iHorizons expects the collaboration to benefit to the Qatari population by developing advanced solutions for further improvement of the national health system.