Institute of Systems Biology Co-Founder Receives Prestigious Joint Appointment
Dr. Ruedi Aebersold to Lead Systems Biology Collaboration with Swiss Institution

Seattle – Wednesday, September 17, 2003 -- The Institute for Systems Biology (ISB) a non-profit research institute dedicated to the study and application of systems biology today announced that co-founder Dr. Ruedi Aebersold has accepted an appointment with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich). The appointment was formally approved today by the ETH Council.

“Earlier this year, ETH leadership extended to Ruedi an extraordinary offer in the context of an interdisciplinary “faculty cluster” focused on systems biology at ETH Zurich,” stated Dr. Leroy Hood, president of the ISB. “The position confers great prestige in Ruedi’s homeland and truly represents a once in a lifetime opportunity. In addition, it provides an exciting new opportunity for the ISB to partner with a world class institution – and one that is recognizing the important role that systems biology will play in transforming biology and medicine in the 21st century.”

For the next 18 months, Aebersold will continue to serve full-time at the ISB. At the end of 2004 or early 2005, he will move to Switzerland, serving simultaneously as Professor of Systems Biology at ETH, and as a member of the ISB’s faculty. Although he will commit most of his time to ETH, he will continue to spend 25% of his time at the ISB. Among other things, he will focus his efforts at the ISB on developing computational tools for proteomics, taking advantage of the ISB’s expertise in computational biology.

"I am delighted to welcome Ruedi Aebersold at ETH Zurich and I am happy he will continue his work in the very dynamic surroundings of Zurich,” stated Olaf Kubler, President of ETH Zurich. “Moreover, I am pleased that the presence of Ruedi Aebersold will enable the collaboration of ETH Zurich with the Institute of Systems Biology in Seattle."

“With the combined resources of the ISB and the resources that ETH will commit to systems biology, this emerging partnership will help to hasten the pace of technology development and thereby speed our efforts to study and understand the workings of diverse biological systems” stated Aebersold. “Together, collaboratively, the ISB and ETH Zurich will catalyze predictive, preventive and personalized medicine.”

The ISB has initiated a search for additional faculty to enhance the strength the ISB’s proteomics program.

“As co-founder of the ISB and a world leader in proteomics, Ruedi has played a critical role in building this organization and in the emerging field of systems biology, stated Hood. “I am confident that in his new role he will continue to do so in the years ahead.”

About the Institute for Systems Biology
The Institute for Systems Biology (ISB) is an internationally renowned non-profit research institute dedicated to the study and application of systems biology. ISB's goal is to unravel the mysteries of human biology and identify strategies for predicting and preventing diseases such as cancer, arthritis and AIDS. The driving force behind the innovative "systems" approach is the integration of biology, computation, and technology. This approach allows scientists to analyze all of the elements in a system rather than one gene or protein at a time. Located in Seattle, Washington, the Institute has grown to eight faculty and more than 170 staff members; has an annual operating budget of $25 million; and has an extensive network of academic and industrial partners.