Seattle, WA - Elon Gasper has joined the executive team of VizX Labs, LLC to direct consumer products research and marketing, including the second-quarter launch of an integrated suite of scientific software for researchers who desire ease-of-use and power in the laboratory while performing microarray experiments. Mr. Gasper, 49, joins VizX as senior vice president and will also contribute business development expertise as the company identifies corporate partners for strategic relationships.

In a career spanning more than 30 years and leveraging scientific training in biochemistry and computer science, Mr. Gasper has driven marketing, business and product development strategies for a wide range of software projects. Most recently he created the consumer software line "Generations" for Fortune Global 100 firm Vivendi Universal, achieving a #1-selling retail sales position and a ranking of U.S. Top Ten in the Personal Productivity segment within three years of initial launch.

His products have won awards that include the COMDEX Envision Award (1994) for "Berlitz for Business: Japanese"; a Codie (the retail software Oscar®) in 1996 for "The Lost Mind of Dr. Brain"; Traditional Game of the Year (1997) from Computer Games Magazine for "Power Chess"; and Best Genealogy Product of the Year (2000) from PC Magazine. Mr. Gasper holds 12 patents for his innovations in addressing software consumer needs, and has been a finalist for the Fluegelman Award, the only personal achievement award given by the national Software Publisher's Association.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Gasper was systems manager for a group of science labs and medical clinics at UCLA. He developed R&D prototypes at the advanced technology labs of Datapoint Corporation and as a lecturer taught computer science in the California State University system. His life sciences career includes research in enzymology, as well as development of the user interface and real-time data acquisition and analysis systems for the world's first computer-controlled analytic ultracentrifuge. He holds an M.S. in Computer Science and a B.S. in Biochemistry from Michigan State University.

"Elon joins VizX Labs at a time when we are keenly focused on the development of software tools that improve productivity decision-making processes and in our search for corporate partners with near-market products. Elon is a leader who can expedite introduction of these tools to researchers who need them," said Tom Ranken, president and CEO, VizX Labs. "Elon's unique blend of technical, business and marketing expertise and a demonstrable record of translating customer needs into successful products is precisely what we need to attain our goals. This includes the introduction of at least two products this year," he said.

VizX Labs develops software systems for the acquisition, management and analysis of molecular biology data and information. These products enable life scientists to readily incorporate sophisticated data management and computational analysis into their research efforts resulting in improved quality and productivity in experiment design and decision-making processes.

Editor's note: A graphic, "Steps in a Microarray Experiment," may be viewed online at: http://www.vizxlabs.com/microarraysteps.html. The VizX Labs newsroom is archived at: http://www.vizxlabs.com/newsroom.html