The University of Minnesota said it has licensed software that analyzes human tissue samples to an Arizona-based business.

Flagstaff, Ariz.-based Flagship Biosciences agreed to offer to its customers the U's IHC Map, a software that identifies proteins in human tissue samples that are potentially diseased.

The U said its software can provide faster analysis of slides and compute data that may help researchers discover characteristics of diseases.

Flagship also agreed to partner with BioNet, a research lab at the U that collects and analyzes tissue, blood and fluid samples. If BioNet has services that Flagship does not offer, Flagship will refer its clients to the U's lab.

The technology was invented by BioNet's director Dr. Steve Schmechel and IT specialist Jonathan Henriksen, as well as the U's Department of Radiology associate professor Dr. Greg Metzger and software programmer Stephen Dankbar.