Manitoba biotech firm founds scientific advisory board

Winnipeg, MB April 10, 2003 Miraculins, a biotechnology company engaged in proteomic research, today announced the establishment of an expert scientific advisory board. Dr Kenneth Standing and Dr Werner Ens have been named to the board as founding members.

Dr Standing is professor emeritus in the department of physics at the University of Manitoba and a key component of the University’s Time-of-Flight (TOF) Mass Spectrometry Laboratory. He received his BSc from the University of Manitoba before going to Princeton for his Phd. In 1998, he was awarded the Canadian Society for Mass Spectrometry Award for his distinguished contributions and technology application and improvements to mass spectrometers. Dr Standing is a much-in-demand lecturer and a member of several editorial boards including “Mass Spectrometry Reviews”, “Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry” and “Molecular and Cellular Proteomics”.

In addition to being a professor in the department of physics at the University of Manitoba, Dr Ens is the co-director of the Manitoba Centre for Proteomics. He received his PhD in physics from the University of Manitoba in 1984. Dr Ens holds many grants, has written numerous invited papers, and is an active member of many professional organizations. This includes acting as coordinator of the Time-of-Flight Interest Group for the American Society for Mass Spectrometry, and as chairman and organizer of workshops and seminars on high-throughput TOF, TOF instrumentation, and MALDI fundamentals for the American Society for Mass Spectrometry conferences on mass spectrometry and allied topics. Dr Ens is the co-inventor on two granted patents and three current patent applications.

Drs Standing and Ens’ inclusion on Miraculins’ SAB has grown from an initial collaboration for identifying biomarkers that correspond with disease states. Both scientists will continue in their role as collaborators with Miraculins.

Miraculins is focused on proteomics research and development for the identification of proteins related to diseases. Its scientific advisory board will be responsible for reviewing and evaluating research programs, and the company says it expects to announce further appointments to the board in the near future.