GNS nabs investment and partnership from health plan provider; PerkinElmer touts integrated set of informatics tools;

> After a string of informatics acquisitions, PerkinElmer ($PKI) unveiled an integrated set of informatics tools under the name Ensemble for Biology platform. Release

> Certara released an updated version of its PK/PD modeling software called Phoenix for the drug R&D market. Release

> A team from the University of Missouri has developed an algorithm that could help light the way to new drugs and detection of drug side effects. Article

> GNS Healthcare, a Big Data analytics provider for pharma and healthcare companies, has landed a partnership with health plan provider Cambia Health Solutions that includes an investment and a collaboration. Announcement

> Comprehend Systems says that it has released the latest version of its visualization and analytics software for clinical trials data. Item

> Accelrys ($ACCL) believes that its scientific lifecycle platform helps address the well-trodden productivity failures in biopharma and other science-based industries. Article

And Finally… GenomeWeb reports that the National Cancer Institute has axed some programs from its troubled informatics effort known as caBIG. Report (sub. req.)