On June 25 2003, the IBM Life Sciences Division and the Center for Cardiovascular Bioinformatics and Modeling (CCBM) signed a Strategic Relationship and Master Joint Projects Agreement . This agreement establishes the legal basis by which IBM and CCBM scientists will collaborate to develop new algorithms and software for the representation, storage, analysis and modeling of biological data. IBM scientists are Industrial Affiliates of the CCBM, and work on collaborative projects that include development of genomic databases and methods for life sciences database federation. Subsequently, on June 26 2003, IBM Corporation announced that The Johns Hopkins University Center for Cardiovascular Bioinformatics & Modeling has been named an IBM Life Sciences Institute of Innovation . This global initiative recognizes academic research institutions that are making outstanding contributions to life sciences research and fosters knowledge and technology transfer in the life sciences community. As an Institute of Innovation, researchers at the CCBM will collaborate with IBM on life sciences research projects of mutual interest. In addition, the CCBM will be eligible for a range of benefits to support this research, including early access to next-generation IBM technologies, post-doctoral and research associate opportunities, software through the IBM Scholars university product portal, and participation in the competition for IBM's university award programs.