GeneData: Custom bioinformatics

When Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz merged to form Novartis, the new company set up Novartis Venture Fund to cushion the head count-cutting effects of the merger and help fund startup companies formed by former employees (see BioCentury, Feb. 23, 1998). The founders of GeneData have taken advantage of the opportunity to fund their two-year old bioinformatics company, which specializes in customized software and consulting support for the analysis of genomics and proteomics data.

GeneData targets global life science companies with customized software capable of integrating into a company's internal computer network. The company's partners receive additional expert scientific advice on how to best analyze their data, improve experimental design, and optimize resources...