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IRBM Expands Functional Genomics Platform to Strengthen Early Drug Discovery

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De-Risking Target Validation with Data-Driven Genomic Insights

ROME, April 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — IRBM, an integrated Contract Research Organization (CRO) specializing in preclinical drug discovery, has established a comprehensive Functional Genomics Platform to support genetic target identification and validation, and generation of disease-relevant cellular models. The platform integrates CRISPR-based methodologies, screening capabilities, cell engineering, and advanced molecular and cellular analysis to drive both target discovery and validation.

To further enhance target validation, IRBM is expanding its genome editing toolkit with CRISPR tiling to systematically map functional domains within coding and regulatory regions, along with base and prime editing to introduce precise nucleotide modifications. These next-generation approaches—combined with the platform’s high-throughput CRISPR screening, including stem cell engineering—are instrumental in building robust disease models and improving the reliability of target validation.

“Understanding which targets are truly viable for drug development is a complex challenge,” said Sara Tomaselli, PhD, Head of Functional Genomics at IRBM. “With this in-house platform, we’re strengthening our ability to systematically evaluate gene function, de-risk early discovery, and support our partners in making well-informed decisions.”

The platform’s screening capabilities include genome-wide and targeted CRISPR libraries for knockout (CRISPR KO), inhibition (CRISPRi), and activation (CRISPRa), enabling in-depth exploration of gene function and associated pathways. In parallel, IRBM’s cell engineering expertise—spanning patient-relevant models and iPSC-derived systems—supports disease modeling across oncology, neurodegeneration, and rare disorders. Multi-omics integration, including high-content imaging, single-cell transcriptomics, and proteomics, provides deeper functional characterization of drug targets.

IRBM’s Functional Genomics Platform is part of a broader, fully integrated drug discovery ecosystem, ensuring that genetic insights translate into meaningful preclinical models and drug development strategies. By combining functional genomics with expertise in medicinal chemistry, biomarker discovery, and preclinical pharmacology, IRBM enables biopharma innovators to approach target validation with greater confidence.

“We take a careful, methodical approach to functional genomics—one that integrates well with the complexities of drug discovery,” said Carlo Toniatti, MD, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer at IRBM. “Our goal is to help our partners uncover high-quality targets and generate data that can guide and inform decision making throughout the entire drug discovery process.”

IRBM’s collaborative approach allows biotech startups, pharmaceutical companies, and venture-backed teams to access functional genomics expertise without the need for in-house infrastructure. With customized solutions spanning genetic screening, engineered cell models, and mechanistic studies, IRBM provides practical, scientifically rigorous support at key points in drug discovery.

To learn more about IRBM’s Functional Genomics Platform and collaboration opportunities, visit www.irbm.com.

About IRBM

IRBM is a contract research organization (CRO) focused on early-stage drug discovery. With a track record of delivering preclinical candidates across oncology, neurodegeneration, and infectious diseases, IRBM partners with biotech and pharmaceutical innovators to advance therapeutic development with scientific precision and transparency.

 

SOURCE IRBM S.p.A.

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Trimble for Government Achieves ‘Initial Implementation’ Status for FedRAMP Class C (Moderate) Certification

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Milestone accelerates secure cloud adoption for federal, state and local entities managing infrastructure, spatial data and capital assets 

WESTMINSTER, Colo., Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Trimble today announced that Trimble for Government is listed as ‘Initial Implementation’ status for Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP®) Class C (Moderate) certification and is now listed on the FedRAMP Marketplace. In conjunction with seeking FedRAMP certification, Trimble is also pursuing GovRAMP authorization to support state, local and education (SLED) customers with reciprocal cybersecurity compliance standards.

This dual milestone marks a critical step forward in delivering a software as a service (SaaS) cloud environment built within a secure Government Community Cloud. Designed specifically for U.S. Federal Government departments, state and local agencies, and defense and civilian contractors, Trimble for Government provides a unified ecosystem for managing infrastructure, spatial data, capital projects, permitting and facility assets across their entire lifecycle.

Achieving FedRAMP Class C (Moderate) and GovRAMP alignment will enable public sector entities and Department of Defense (DoD) contractors to comply with stringent security mandates — including Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) alignment — while modernizing digital engineering and asset management.

“Federal, state and local agencies face the dual challenge of modernizing critical infrastructure while maintaining uncompromising cybersecurity standards,” said Mark Schwartz, group president, AECO at Trimble. “Achieving ‘Initial Assessment’ status reflects our commitment to delivering mission-critical spatial, capital project and asset management capabilities inside a secure, audit-ready cloud boundary across all levels of government.”

Integrated cloud solutions built for government operations

The in-scope environment brings together Trimble’s proven field execution, asset, project and permitting software into four modular packages designed to support specific public sector outcomes:

Trimble® Field Collaboration: Delivers field data services using foundational spatial database infrastructure and GIS integration to support high-security field operations, map assets, and enable seamless field-to-cloud workflows across Trimble’s core Field Systems portfolio.Trimble Project Management powered by Trimble ProjectSight® software: Connects design-to-build workflows in the field, providing precision data layout, project tracking, collaboration and quality assurance across construction projects.Trimble Asset Management powered by Trimble Unity™ Maintain software: Serves as a centralized facilities data core for federal, state, and local government agencies, military installations, and public infrastructure — such as public buildings, utilities, and transportation networks — to optimize maintenance and long-term capital planning.Trimble Permit Management powered by Trimble Unity Permit software: Streamlines end-to-end management of permitting, licensing, land use and infrastructure rights-of-way in a fully compliant cloud environment.

The unifying in-scope element across all four packages is the Trimble Connect® platform, providing collaboration and a common data environment (CDE) across the Trimble for Government platform.

With assessment processes underway, Trimble continues to advance toward full FedRAMP and GovRAMP authorizations to ensure public sector customers can innovate with confidence.

About Trimble
Trimble is a global technology company that connects the physical and digital worlds, transforming the ways work gets done. With relentless innovation in precise positioning, modeling and data analytics, Trimble enables essential industries including construction, geospatial and transportation. Whether it’s helping customers build and maintain infrastructure, design and construct buildings, optimize global supply chains or map the world, Trimble is at the forefront, driving productivity and progress. For more information about Trimble, visit: www.trimble.com.

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SOURCE Trimble

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Trimble for Government Achieves ‘Initial Implementation’ Status for FedRAMP Class C (Moderate) Certification

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Milestone accelerates secure cloud adoption for federal, state and local entities managing infrastructure, spatial data and capital assets 

WESTMINSTER, Colo., Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Trimble today announced that Trimble for Government is listed as ‘Initial Implementation’ status for Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP®) Class C (Moderate) certification and is now listed on the FedRAMP Marketplace. In conjunction with seeking FedRAMP certification, Trimble is also pursuing GovRAMP authorization to support state, local and education (SLED) customers with reciprocal cybersecurity compliance standards.

This dual milestone marks a critical step forward in delivering a software as a service (SaaS) cloud environment built within a secure Government Community Cloud. Designed specifically for U.S. Federal Government departments, state and local agencies, and defense and civilian contractors, Trimble for Government provides a unified ecosystem for managing infrastructure, spatial data, capital projects, permitting and facility assets across their entire lifecycle.

Achieving FedRAMP Class C (Moderate) and GovRAMP alignment will enable public sector entities and Department of Defense (DoD) contractors to comply with stringent security mandates — including Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) alignment — while modernizing digital engineering and asset management.

“Federal, state and local agencies face the dual challenge of modernizing critical infrastructure while maintaining uncompromising cybersecurity standards,” said Mark Schwartz, group president, AECO at Trimble. “Achieving ‘Initial Assessment’ status reflects our commitment to delivering mission-critical spatial, capital project and asset management capabilities inside a secure, audit-ready cloud boundary across all levels of government.”

Integrated cloud solutions built for government operations

The in-scope environment brings together Trimble’s proven field execution, asset, project and permitting software into four modular packages designed to support specific public sector outcomes:

Trimble® Field Collaboration: Delivers field data services using foundational spatial database infrastructure and GIS integration to support high-security field operations, map assets, and enable seamless field-to-cloud workflows across Trimble’s core Field Systems portfolio.Trimble Project Management powered by Trimble ProjectSight® software: Connects design-to-build workflows in the field, providing precision data layout, project tracking, collaboration and quality assurance across construction projects.Trimble Asset Management powered by Trimble Unity™ Maintain software: Serves as a centralized facilities data core for federal, state, and local government agencies, military installations, and public infrastructure — such as public buildings, utilities, and transportation networks — to optimize maintenance and long-term capital planning.Trimble Permit Management powered by Trimble Unity Permit software: Streamlines end-to-end management of permitting, licensing, land use and infrastructure rights-of-way in a fully compliant cloud environment.

The unifying in-scope element across all four packages is the Trimble Connect® platform, providing collaboration and a common data environment (CDE) across the Trimble for Government platform.

With assessment processes underway, Trimble continues to advance toward full FedRAMP and GovRAMP authorizations to ensure public sector customers can innovate with confidence.

About Trimble
Trimble is a global technology company that connects the physical and digital worlds, transforming the ways work gets done. With relentless innovation in precise positioning, modeling and data analytics, Trimble enables essential industries including construction, geospatial and transportation. Whether it’s helping customers build and maintain infrastructure, design and construct buildings, optimize global supply chains or map the world, Trimble is at the forefront, driving productivity and progress. For more information about Trimble, visit: www.trimble.com.

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View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/trimble-for-government-achieves-initial-implementation-status-for-fedramp-class-c-moderate-certification-302913499.html

SOURCE Trimble

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Delta Development Team and The Good Drone Company Awarded U.S. Army Contract for Aerial Blood Delivery

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TUCSON, Ariz., Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Delta Development Team (DDT), a leader in prehospital blood storage and cold chain technology, and The Good Drone Company (GDC) have been awarded a U.S. Army contract to develop a drone-based blood delivery capability for the Army Blood Link (ABL) program.

The program is part of the broader Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP), which supplies blood products to U.S. military forces worldwide. Army Blood Link is designed to support battlefield medical logistics through rapid, temperature-controlled delivery of lifesaving blood products to the field, providing an additional resupply option when traditional ground transportation is unavailable, delayed, or unsafe. Under the contract, The Good Drone Company will provide two U.S.-built prototypes of its hybrid vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) cargo drone, each designed to transport up to six units of blood, while DDT will provide the temperature-controlled storage capability through its Delta ICE 2L Smart Blood Cooler.

The companies are combining commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) technologies to create a U.S.-sourced aerial blood delivery system capable of transporting blood directly to the point of need.

To meet ABL program requirements, DDT will supply six Delta ICE 2L Smart Blood Coolers, each designed to maintain two units of blood within the required temperature range for three hours of aerial delivery in high-humidity environments with ambient temperatures ranging from 15°F to 120°F. Built-in temperature monitoring and data recording, along with Bluetooth and cellular connectivity, support cold-chain oversight and blood accountability. The program extends DDT’s blood storage and monitoring capabilities into aerial delivery.

“Getting blood to the point of need is only part of the challenge. It must also remain within the required temperature range throughout the journey,” said Montgomery Leija, CEO of Delta Development Team. “This program brings DDT’s experience in blood storage and cold chain management into a new operational environment, taking the blood supply chain from the ground to the air.”

The prototype system is designed to deliver blood within 10 meters of a designated target during both day and night operations. It will feature a communications range of up to 30 miles and semi-autonomous waypoint navigation. It is intended for single-person operation with minimal training and is built on GDC’s existing commercial cargo drone technology to accelerate development and fielding while meeting U.S.-sourcing requirements.

“We have seen strong interest in middle-mile drones in emerging markets for some time, from both public and private sector customers spanning healthcare to third-party logistics,” said Jake Vander Ploeg, CEO of The Good Drone Company. “This program is a great example of how the military is adopting commercial technology like our cargo drones to quickly test new ideas in the field without starting a full aircraft development program.”

The collaboration combines GDC’s expertise in commercial drone platforms and aerial delivery with DDT’s temperature-controlled blood storage and transport capabilities to support:

Rapid resupply: Delivering blood when conventional ground transportation is unavailable or unsafe.Cold chain protection: Maintaining required blood temperatures during aerial transport.U.S.-sourced capability: Supporting domestic defense supply chain objectives.Accelerated development: Combining GDC’s existing commercial cargo drone technology with DDT’s established blood storage solutions.

The ABL effort addresses the challenge of delivering critical medical supplies in contested and austere environments. When terrain, damaged infrastructure, or tactical conditions prevent conventional resupply, aerial delivery combined with temperature-controlled storage can expand options for getting lifesaving blood products to service members when and where they are needed.

About Delta Development Team

Delta Development Team (DDT) is a U.S.-based medical technology company headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, specializing in blood storage, transport, monitoring, and logistics solutions for military and prehospital environments. DDT develops technology designed to keep blood available, traceable, and mission-ready from the blood bank to the point of injury. Its portfolio includes the APRU 6L, Delta ICE 2L, TBS 40L, and BloodCOMM® blood management platform.

Media Contact: info@deltadevteam.com | www.deltadevteam.com

About The Good Drone Company

The Good Drone Company (GDC) is an aerospace company headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, that designs and builds autonomous hybrid VTOL cargo drones for middle-mile logistics. GDC’s aircraft take off and land vertically without a runway, carry up to 55 lb (25 kg) of payload, and fly more than 300 miles (500 km) at speeds up to 93 mph (150 km/h). GDC is deploying in Kenya to close the middle-mile transportation gap for public and private sector customers, working closely with its local partner ThatcherX and the Kenyan government to change how goods move around the country.

Media Contact: info@thegooddronecompany.com | www.thegooddronecompany.com

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SOURCE Delta Development Team

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