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Abstract:

Open Source License for Leginon Software Will Make Automated Image Acquisition Available to Entire Scientific Community

FEI and Scripps Research Institute Provide Open Source Code

HILLSBORO, OR | Posted on August 2nd, 2007

FEI (Nasdaq: FEIC) and The Scripps Institute have announced that the Leginon™ software system, an advanced solution for automated control and image acquisition from a transmission electron microscope (TEM), will now be available to the global scientific community as open source code. The Leginon software was developed by Scripps with funding from the National Center for Research Resources, National Institutes of Health and has been marketed by FEI since 2003. It is most commonly used for Single Particle Analysis (SPA) applications, where three dimensional models of nanoscale particles are created.

The Leginon software enables TEM users to collect very large numbers of high quality images of macromolecules under low dose conditions. The automated system is integrated with a database that keeps track of all acquired images, the imaging parameters associated with them, as well as the relationship between images acquired from the same target at a variety of scales. The application helps improve throughput for single particle data acquisition, both by increasing the number of images acquired as well as the number of different specimens that can be imaged and analyzed.

"The relationship between FEI and our group at TSRI was critical to the initial development of Leginon as well as the subsequent rapid implementation of new features suggested by the user community," said Bridget Carragher, Director of the National Resource for Automated Molecular Microscopy, which is based at TSRI. Clint Potter, a Co- Director of the Resource added, "The generosity of FEI in releasing Leginon under an Open Source License ensures that the software can now continue to be developed by the scientific community for the benefit of everyone."

"We are pleased to have worked with the Scripps Research Institute for many years on the Leginon program and we are happy to make the Leginon software available under an open source license," commented Matt Harris, vice president of FEI's NanoBiology division. "The widespread availability of this proven and highly functional software will accelerate scientific discovery and development in life sciences for many years to come."

Leginon software is now available for download subject to the Apache Open Source License at: http://www.leginon.org

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About FEI Company
FEI (Nasdaq: FEIC) is a global leader in providing innovative instruments for nanoscale imaging, analysis and prototyping. FEI focuses on delivering solutions that provide groundbreaking results and accelerate research, development and manufacturing cycles for its customers in Semiconductor and Data Storage, Academic and Industrial R&D, and Life Sciences markets. With R&D centers in North America and Europe, and sales and service operations in more than 50 countries around the world, FEI’s Tools for Nanotech™ are bringing the nanoscale within the grasp of leading researchers and manufacturers.

About The Scripps Research Institute

The Scripps Research Institute is one of the world's largest independent, non-profit biomedical research organizations, at the forefront of basic biomedical science that seeks to comprehend the most fundamental processes of life. Scripps Research is internationally recognized for its discoveries in immunology, molecular and cellular biology, chemistry, neurosciences, autoimmune, cardiovascular, and infectious diseases, and synthetic vaccine development. Established in its current configuration in 1961, it employs approximately 3,000 scientists, postdoctoral fellows, scientific and other technicians, doctoral degree graduate students, and administrative and technical support personnel. Scripps Research is headquartered in La Jolla, California. It also includes Scripps Florida, whose researchers focus on basic biomedical science, drug discovery, and technology development.

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