The Life Technologies Foundation, a non-profit arm of Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ:LIFE) and DNA — PROKIDS today announced that DNA samples will be collected in Haiti from parents who have reported their children missing in hopes of reconciling families and combating the trafficking of children. This effort is supported through the Foundation’s expanded relationship with DNA — PROKIDS, an international organization aimed at fighting human trafficking through the expanded use of DNA databases to help reunite abducted and homeless children with their families.
Approximately 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders each year, and 50 percent of these individuals are under the age of 17. These statistics suggest that human trafficking is becoming a significant crime worldwide. Programs such as DNA — PROKIDS are critical to helping prevent these individuals from experiencing physical or sexual violence, and forced labor, which are often associated with human trafficking.
To date, approximately 5,000 DNA collection kits and computers, digital cameras for photo documentation, database software and other supporting materials have been shipped to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic to help address the catastrophic situation in Haiti. In February, the Spanish Government agreed to manage and coordinate identification efforts processed by DNA — PROKIDS with the Haitian Government. The collection of samples will be done through the help of the International Red Cross and the United Nations UNICEF programs. At this time, more than 1,200 children and more than 3,000 relatives of missing children displaced by the earthquake have been located and are awaiting participation in the DNA — PROKIDS effort, which will hopefully reunite these individuals with their families.
The Life Technologies Foundation is supporting the US Pro-KIDS effort through a grant to the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification at the UNT Health Science Center. Arthur Eisenberg, Ph.D., professor and chairman of the department of forensic and investigative Genetics at UNT has been actively involved in establishing the DNA — PROKIDS program in developing countries. Dr. Eisenberg formed a professional relationship with Jose Lorente, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of legal and forensic medicine at the University of Granada-Spain to help establish a worldwide DNA database to help reunite children with their parents and deter the trafficking of children.
«It is our hope that a program such as DNA — PROKIDS will be a deterrent and prevent criminals from kidnapping and trafficking children, the most vulnerable of all victims,» said Dr. Eisenberg. «By making a difference in Haiti, perhaps all countries throughout the world will develop national databases that will link to an international repository of these DNA profiles.»
«We are proud to support an effort that will have a meaningful and direct impact in reuniting abducted and homeless children with their families,» said Greg Lucier, Chairman and CEO of Life Technologies. «As part of our commitment to improving the human condition, we believe these efforts can go a long way to bring some semblance of stability to families following the catastrophic situation in Haiti.»
About the Life Technologies Foundation
The Life Technologies Foundation(TM) is dedicated to advancing science education and key scientific discoveries that use the application of biology to address societal needs. In particular, the Foundation supports programs that accelerate the use of genomics to further healthcare, projects that advance medical education, and initiatives focused on providing biological solutions to some of society’s most pressing challenges. By teaming with educators and researchers, the Foundation also strives to demystify the world of life science and empower today’s children to become tomorrow’s scientific leaders. Launched in 2008, the Life Technologies Foundation has committed millions of dollars to causes that advance the understanding and applications of science. The Foundation is a non-profit arm of Life Technologies Corporation. For more information or to submit a grant proposal, please visit www.lifetechnologies.com/foundation.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release includes forward-looking statements about our anticipated results that involve risks and uncertainties. Some of the information contained in this press release, including, but not limited to, statements as to industry trends and Life Technologies’ plans, objectives, expectations and strategy for its business, contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. When used, the words «believe,» «plan,» «intend,» «anticipate,» «target,» «estimate,» «expect» and the like, and/or future tense or conditional constructions («will,» «may,» «could,» «should,» etc.), or similar expressions, identify certain of these forward-looking statements. Important factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are detailed in filings made by Life Technologies with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Life Technologies undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.
