Document:

<PAGE>   1
                                              * Confidential Treatment Requested

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.15

                               RESEARCH AGREEMENT

     THIS RESEARCH AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made this 31st day of August,
1998, by and between Third Wave Technologies, Inc. ("Institution"); and
Warner-Lambert Company, a Delaware corporation, with its principal place of
business at 201 Tabor Road, Morris Plains, New Jersey, 07950 ("Company").

                                    RECITALS

1. Institution has developed substantial expertise in the area of assay
development for gene expression profiling and polymorphism and mutation analysis
(the "Field").

2. Company desires to obtain the services of Institution in directing certain
research in the Field relating to the development of certain assays. Such
research is hereinafter referred to as the "Development Program". Institution is
willing to direct the Development Program, all on the terms and conditions set
forth herein and in accordance with the protocol attached hereto as Exhibit A
and incorporated herein by reference (the "Protocol").

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and premises herein
contained, the parties agree as follows:

     Section 1. The Development Program. Promptly following receipt of the
amount set forth in Section 2 below, Institution shall use diligent efforts to
develop the Invader(R) assay for the five (5) analytes as described in the
Protocol, subject to Company providing Institution the materials described in
Exhibit B (collectively, the "Company Materials"). Upon completion of the
Development Program with respect to each analyte, Institution agrees to provide
enzyme buffer and Invader probes reasonably sufficient for Company to perform
five hundred (500) assays for such analyte (collectively, the "Institution
Materials"). Accordingly, Institution shall, after consultation with Company,
direct and perform the Development Program in a professional and diligent
manner, all in accordance with the Protocol and the terms of this Agreement.

     Section 2. Payment. In consideration for the performance of the Development
Program by Institution, Company shall pay Institution a non-refundable amount of
[****] (the "Research Amount") within five (5) days of the date of Company's
execution of this Agreement.

     Section 3. Reporting. Company designates Stephen Hunt or his or her
successor to function as its research and development contact (the "Contact").
Institution shall inform the Contact of the progress of the Development Program
in the following manner:

a. By informal verbal reports, from time to time;

b. By response to all of Company's reasonable inquiries regarding the status of
the Development Program;

c. By arrangements to periodically meet and discuss the progress of the
Development Program with the Contact at Institution's facilities; and

d. By submission of a detailed written report thirty (30) days following the
conclusion of the Development Program (the "Final Report").

     Section 4. Ownership of Data: Publication. Subject to Company's rights in
the Company's Materials, all right, title and interest in and to all information
disclosed by Institution hereunder and to all

<PAGE>   2
Institution Materials transferred hereunder shall remain vested in Institution.
Except as otherwise provided in this Section 4 below, Company shall own all
right, title and interest in and to Inventions (collectively, "Company
Inventions") and Institution hereby assigns all such right, title and interest
to Company. Furthermore, Institution hereby agrees to only use its personnel in
connection with the Development Program. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Company
hereby agrees that Institution shall own all right, title and interest in and to
Inventions directed to subject matter comprising improvements to the Invader
assay technology, including without limitation methods of performing Invader
assays (collectively, "Improvements") and Company hereby assigns all such right,
title and interest to Institution. In addition, to the extent that it has the
right to do so Company hereby grants to Institution an exclusive, worldwide,
royalty-free, fully paid-up, irrevocable right and license, under any and all
Company Inventions, to make, have made, use, import, offer for sale and sell
products and components, solely for diagnostic applications including for tests
or assays used to guide, prescribe or direct therapeutic regimens, treatments or
drugs. For purposes of this Agreement, "Invention" shall mean any and all
discoveries, inventions and other subject matter (whether patentable or not)
made in the course of performing the Evaluation or otherwise in connection with
using the Institution Materials as permitted hereunder and all intellectual
property rights therein. Nothing in this Agreement is to be construed as
granting a license to Company to utilize any information received from
Institution or Institution Materials except as expressly provided herein, under
any patent or other intellectual property rights owned by Institution, unless a
separate agreement for such rights is executed by Company and Institution.
Company and Institution further agree to perform such acts and provide such
documents as are reasonably requested by the other party to effect the foregoing
assignments.

Section 5. Confidentiality.

          (a) Confidential Information. The parties may from time to time
disclose to each other Confidential Information. "Confidential Information"
shall mean and information disclosed by one party to the other party hereto
which if disclosed in tangible form is marked "confidential" or with other
similar designation to indicate it's confidential or proprietary nature or if
disclosed orally is indicated orally to be confidential or proprietary by the
party disclosing such information at the time of such disclosure and is
confirmed in writing as confidential or proprietary by the disclosing party
within a reasonable period after such disclosure; provided, however, all
Improvements shall be deemed to be Confidential Information of the Institution
and all Company Inventions (except to the extent that such Company Inventions
related to diagnostic applications) shall be deemed to be Confidential
Information of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything herein to
the contrary, Confidential Information shall not include any information that,
in each case as demonstrated by written documentation: (i) was already known to
the receiving party or its affiliates, other than under an obligation of
confidentiality, at the time of disclosure; (ii) was generally available to the
public or otherwise part of the public domain at the time of its disclosure to
the receiving party; (iii) became generally available to the public or otherwise
part of the public domain after its disclosure and other than through any act or
omission of the receiving party in breach of this Agreement; or (iv) was
subsequently lawfully disclosed to the receiving party or its affiliates by a
third party which is not in violation of any contractual or legal obligation to
the disclosing party with respect to such Confidential Information.

          (b) Confidentiality. Each party agrees to hold and maintain in strict
confidence all Confidential Information of the other party. Without limiting the
foregoing, neither party shall use or disclose the Confidential Information of
the other party, except as otherwise permitted by this Agreement or as may be
necessary or useful to exercise its rights or perform its obligations under this
Agreement. Nothing contained in this Section 5 shall prevent either party from
disclosing any Confidential Information of the other party (1) to accountants,
lawyers or other professional advisors to the extent reasonably necessary to
accomplish the purposes of this Agreement or to prospective lenders, investment
bankers or other financial institutions in connection with a merger, acquisition
or securities offering, subject in each case to the recipient entering into an
agreement to protect such Confidential Information from disclosure; or (ii) to
the extent is required by law or regulation to be disclosed; provided, however,
that the party subject to such disclosure requirement has provided written
notice to the other party

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promptly upon receiving notice of such requirement in order to enable the other
party to seek a protective order or otherwise prevent disclosure of such
Confidential Information. Upon any termination of this Agreement, Company and
Institution shall promptly return to the other party all Confidential
Information received from the other party (except one copy of which may be
retained for purposes of monitoring compliance with the provisions of this
Section 5 and for archival purposes).

The foregoing provisions of this Section 5 shall survive expiration or
termination of this Agreement for a period of seven (7) years after such
expiration or termination.

     Section 6. Compliance with Applicable Laws. Institution agrees to conduct
the Development Program and maintain records and data during and after the term
of this Agreement in compliance with all applicable legal and regulatory
requirements, including without limitation any applicable requirements of the
United States Food and Drug Administration and the United States Federal Drug
Enforcement Administration.

     Section 7. Materials

          (a) Company agrees that all Institution Materials obtained from
Institution pursuant to this Agreement shall be used solely for the purpose of
evaluating whether or not Company desires to enter into a licensing and other
business arrangements with Institution, all on terms and conditions as mutually
determined by Company and Institution and not for any commercial purposes (the
"Evaluation"). Institution agrees that all Company Materials obtained from
Company pursuant to this Agreement shall be used solely for the purpose of
evaluating whether or not Institution desires to enter into a licensing and
other business arrangements with Company, all on terms and conditions as
mutually determined by Company and Institution and not for any commercial
purposes other than the Development Program and commercial diagnostic
applications. Company agrees at all times to use the Institution Materials, and
Institution agrees at all times to use the Company Materials, in compliance with
all state, federal and other applicable laws, rules and regulation pertaining to
use thereof. The Institution Materials and the Company Materials shall include
the original materials transferred to Company or Institution, respectively, as
well as any derivatives or improvements developed by the receiving party
therefrom. INSTITUTION SUPPLIES THE INSTITUTION MATERIALS AND COMPANY SUPPLIES
THE COMPANY MATERIALS WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY, REPRESENTATION OR UNDERTAKING
WHATSOEVER, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY WARRANTY
RESPECTING THE EFFICIENCY, PERFORMANCE, WORKMANSHIP, CONDITION, MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR NONINFRINGEMENT.

          (b) During the term of this Agreement and for five (5) years
thereafter Institution agrees to make available to Company for its own internal
research and development purposes enzyme buffer and Invader probes developed
hereunder pursuant Institution's standard terms and conditions therefor,
including standard pricing and minimum order requirement of at least quantities
to perform one thousand (1,000) assays for any particular analyte.

     Section 8. Institution's Representations and Warranties. Institution hereby
represents, warrants and covenants to Company the following:

     a. It has the power and authority to undertake the contractual commitments
set forth in this Agreement.

     b. It is free to enter into this Agreement and carry out its obligations
hereunder without violating any obligation owed to a third party, including,
without limitation, any governmental or quasi-governmental agency, group or
department, or any other private or public institution, person or company. No
such third party currently has, or, except as expressly authorized herein, will
have, any option, license

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or other right of any kind with respect to any Study Drug or any data,
information, inventions or discoveries obtained or developed under this
Agreement.

        Section 9. Monitoring of Development Program. During the term of this
Agreement, Institution agrees to permit representative of Company to examine at
any reasonably time during normal business hours (i) the facilities where the
Development Program is being conducted, (ii) raw research data and (iii) any
other relevant information (and to make copies) necessary for Company to
confirm that the Development Program is being conducted in conformance with the
Protocol and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including
those of the United States Food and Drug Administration and the United States
Federal Drug Enforcement Administration.

        Section 10. Term. The term of this Agreement shall commence on the date
that it is made and continue for up to 90 days.

        Section 11. Termination. The Development Program may be terminated by
Company at any time in the exercise of its sole discretion upon fifteen (15)
days prior written notice to Institution. Upon receipt or giving of notice, as
the case may be, Institution agrees promptly to terminate conduct of the
Development Program.

        Section 12. Publicity. Neither party shall use the name of the other
party or its divisions, affiliates, personnel or products, as applicable, for
promotional purposes without the prior written consent of the party whose name
is proposed to be used, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld;
provided, however, that either party may (i) disclose the terms of this
Agreement to prospective lenders, investment bankers and other financial
institutions of its choice solely for the purposes of financing the business
operations of such party, either upon the written consent of the other party or
if the disclosing party obtains a signed confidentiality agreement with such
entity or financial institution with respect to such information, and (ii) make
disclosures to the extent required to comply with applicable securities law and
in the case of (ii), if possible, the non-disclosing party shall have consented
to such disclosure, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

        Section 13. Independent Contractor. Institution is acting in the
capacity of independent contractor hereunder and not as employee or agent of
Company.

        Section 14. Controlling Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the law of the State of Michigan (other than
provisions relating to conflicts of laws).

        Section 15. Agreement Modifications. This Agreement may not be altered,
amended or modified except by written document signed by all parties.

        Section 16. Inconsistencies. The terms and conditions of this Agreement
shall govern in the event of conflict between it and the Protocol.

        Section 17. Force Majeure. Any party's delay or failure in performing
its obligations under this Agreement shall be excused to the extent caused by
the occurrence of events beyond that party's reasonable control, including
without limitation, war, floods, earthquakes, other acts of God, industrial
disputes, civil disobedience, strikes, fire, mobilization, changes in
governmental regulation or interpretation, requisition, embargo, restriction
and shortage of transport facilities, fuel, energy or supplies. Each party
claiming the benefit of such an excuse shall notify the other party in writing
of any such delay or failure in performance, and shall resume performance as
soon as is reasonably practicable.

        Section 18. Notice. All notices given hereunder shall be in writing and
shall be delivered by hand or mailed by certified or registered mail, return
receipt requested, postage pre-paid, addressed to the parties as follows:

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To Company:

                  Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical Research
                  2800 Plymouth Road
                  Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105
                  Attn: Chairman

with a copy to:

                  Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical Research
                  2800 Plymouth Road
                  Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105
                  Attn: Assistant General Counsel

To:  Institution:

                  Third Wave Technologies, Inc.
                  502 South Rosa Road
                  Madison, Wisconsin 53719-1256
                  Attn: President

Notice shall be deemed given when received and the parties may change the
respective addresses where notice is to be given upon prior notice hereunder.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their duly authorized representatives as of the date first above
written.

WARNER-LAMBERT COMPANY

By: /s/ WENDELL WIERENGA, Ph.D.
    -----------------------------
Name: Wendell Wierenga, Ph.D.
     ----------------------------
Title: Senior Vice President, Worldwide
       Preclinical Research, Development and Technologies
       Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical Research

THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

By: /s/ MICHAEL TREBLE
    -----------------------------
Name: Michael Treble
Title: Chief Operating Officer
<PAGE>   6

                                   EXHIBIT A

                                    PROTOCOL

The Institution will develop five (5) discrete assays as follows:

     Three (3) Gene Expression Assays as defined in Exhibit B for each of three
     (3) unique mRNA targets as specified by the Company. The Gene Expression
     Assays will utilize the Institution's Primary Invader Technology and
     detection in the polymerase/streptavidin-coated microtiter plate format.

     Two (2) Polymorphism and Mutation Assays as defined in Exhibit B for each
     of two (2) unique single nucleotide polymorphisms as specified by the
     Company. The Polymorphism and Mutation Assays will utilize the
     Institution's Secondary Invader Technology and detection in the microtiter
     plate format using Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET).

A. The assay Development Program for each Gene Expression Assay will encompass
   the following:

     1. Prior to initiation of the Development Program, the Company will provide
        the Institution with the appropriate genetic sequence specifying the
        mRNA target of interest in Exhibit B.

     2. The Institution will design two target-specifying oligonucleotides (an
        "Invader" oligo and a "Signal" probe) for use in the Primary Invader
        reaction. The oligonucleotides will be designed to hybridize to the
        target such that 3'-end of the Invader oligo will overlap the 5'-most
        region of hybridization of the Signal probe. The Institution's
        proprietary Cleavase enzymes are designed to recognize the structure
        created by this overlapping region and cleave the 5' end of the Signal
        probe for subsequent detection.

     3. The melting temperature (T(m)) of the target-specific Signal probe will
        be estimated. In order to optimize signal generation, a temperature near
        the T(m) of the Signal probe will be utilized for the Primary Invader
        reaction such that the reaction cycle (hybridization of the Signal
        probe, cleavage of the 5' end of the Signal probe, release of the
        remaining 3' portion of the Signal probe) will occur rapidly under
        isothermal conditions. This rapid isothermal cycling allows each copy of
        target mRNA to serve as the substrate for multiple signal generation
        cleavage events during reaction incubation. The accumulation of signal
        (5' fragments of the Signal probe) is directly proportional to the
        number of target mRNA transcripts present in the test sample.

     4. The Institution will design a biotin labeled oligonucleotide for capture
        of accumulated Signal probe fragments on a streptavidin-coated
        microtiter plate. The complex formed by capture of the Signal probe
        fragments on the plate forms a primer-template substrate for DNA
        polymerase which is used to extend the Signal probe fragment with
        fluorescein-dUTP (FdUTP).

     5. The Institution will select an appropriate anti-fluorescein alkaline
        phosphatase-conjugated antibody and chemifluorescent substrate for
        detection of the FdUTP labeled fragments.

     6. The Institution will develop appropriate standards for use in the assay
        and will demonstrate assay proof-of-principle using this material. From
        time to time during the assay development program, the Company will
        provide the Institution with appropriate cellular material known to have
        the mRNA target of interest expressed at various levels. The Institution
        will use this material for further assay refinement and optimization.

     7. The Institution estimates that a minimum of 10 attomoles of the mRNA
        target will be required in each test sample for detection in the assay.

<PAGE>   7

B. The assay Development Program for each Polymorphism and Mutation Assay will
   encompass the following when the starting sample material is a PCR product or
   Genomic DNA:

     1. At the initiation of the Development Program, the Company will provide
        the Institution with the appropriate PCR product and Genomic DNA
        containing the target of interest.

     2. Primary Invader Reaction:

          - [****]  The oligonucleotides will be designed to hybridize to
            specific targets (wild-type or mutant respectively) such that 3'-end
            of the Invader oligo will overlap the 5'-most region of
            hybridization of either the wild-type or mutant probe. The
            Institution's proprietary Cleavase enzymes are designed to recognize
            the structure created by this overlapping region and cleave the 5'
            end of the wild-type and mutant probes for use in the Secondary
            Invader reaction.

          - The melting temperature (T(m)) of both the wild-type and mutant
            probes will be estimated. In order to optimize signal generation, a
            temperature near the T(m) of these probes will be utilized for the
            Primary Invader reaction such that the reaction cycle (hybridization
            of probes, cleavage of the 5' end of the probes, release of the
            remaining 3' portion of the probes) will occur rapidly under
            isothermal conditions. This rapid isothemal cycling allows each copy
            of PCR product or Genomic DNA target to serve as the substrate for
            multiple probe cleavage events during reaction incubation. The
            accumulation of wild-type arms (5' fragments of the wild-type probe)
            is directly proportional to the number of wild-type target molecules
            present in the test sample. The accumulation of mutant arms (5'
            fragments of the mutant probe) is directly proportional to the
            number of mutant target molecules present in the test sample.

     3. Secondary Invader Reaction:

          - [****] of the wild-type and mutant probes from the Primary Invader
            reaction are designed to act as Invader oligonucleotides in the
            Secondary Invader reaction. The oligonucleotides will be designed
            such that the 3'-end of the Invader oligos (from the Primary Invader
            reaction) will overlap the 5'-most region of hybridization of the
            Signal probe to the secondary target oligo. The Institution's
            proprietary Cleavase enzymes are designed to recognize the structure
            created by this overlapping region and cleave the 5' end of the
            Signal probe for subsequent detection. [****]

          - The melting temperature (T(m)) of the Signal probe will be
            estimated. In order to optimize signal generation, a temperature
            near the T(m) of the Signal probe will be utilized for the Secondary
            Invader reaction such that the reaction cycle (hybridization of
            Signal probe, cleavage of the 5' end of the Signal probe, release of
            the remaining 3' portion of the Signal probe) will occur rapidly
            under isothermal conditions. This rapid isothemal cycling allows
            each copy of secondary target to serve as the substrate for multiple
            signal generation cleavage events during reaction incubation. The
            accumulation of signal (5' fragments of the Signal probe) is
            directly proportional to the number of Secondary Invader oligos
            (from the Primary Invader reaction) present in the secondary
            reaction.

<PAGE>   8
4.  The Institution will determine appropriate assay cut-off values for
    assessment of genotype (wild-type homozygous, mutant homozygous,
    wild-type/mutant heterozygous) based on fluorescence signal.

5.  The Institution estimates that a minimum of 20ng of PCR product or 100ng of
    Genomic DNA will be required in each test sample for detection in the assay.

<PAGE>   9
                                                                       EXHIBIT B

DEVELOPMENT OF THREE (3) GENE EXPRESSION ASSAYS

Company has identified three unique mRNA targets for which Institution will
develop Gene Expression assays as specified below.

1) [****] The sequences are very similar. Invaders should be directed to regions
of identity to these sequences.)

LOCUS          [****]
DEFINITION     [****]
ACCESSION      [****]
NID            [****]
KEYWORDS       [****]
SOURCE         [****]
ORGANISM       [****]
     Eukaryotae; mitochondrial eukaryotes; Metazoa; Chordata;
     Vertebrata; Eutheria; Rodentia; Sciurognathi; Myomorpha; Muridae;
     Murinae; Rattus

REFERENCE 1    (bases 1 to 813)
AUTHORS        Unterman,R.D., Lynch,K.R., Nakhasi,H.L., Dolan,K.P.,
               Hamilton,J.W., Cohn,D.V. and Feigelson,P.
TITLE          "Cloning and sequence of several alpha-2u-globulin cDNAs"
JOURNAL        Proc Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 78, 3478-3482 (1981)
MEDLINE        81273082
COMMENT        Amino acid sequence encoded by bases 46 thru 135 was
               independently determined.
FEATURES       Location/Qualifiers
   source    1..813
         /organism="Rattus norvegicus"
         /db_xref="taxon:10116"
   mRNA   <1..813
         /note-"a-2u mRNA"
   CDS    <1..534
         /note="alpha-2u globulin precursor()"
         /codon_start=1
         /db_xref="PID:g204261"

/translation="LLLLCLGLTLVCGHAEEASSTSGNLDVAKLNGDWFSIVVASNKREKIEENGSMRVFM
QHIDVLENSLGFKFRIKENGECRELYLVAYKTPEDGEYFVEYDGGNTFTILKTDYDRYVMFHLINF
KNGETFQLMVLYGRTKDLSSDIKEKFAKLCEAHGITRDNIIDLTKTDRCLQARG"

   sig_peptide  4..45
             /note="alpha-2u globulin signal peptide"
   mat_peptide  46..531
             /note="alpha-2u globulin"
BASE COUNT         233 a  180 c  185 g  215 t
ORIGIN  38 bp upstream of BalI site.
   1 ctgctgctgc tgtgtctggg cctgacactg gtcgtggcc atgcagaaga agctagttcc
  61 acaagcggga accctcgatgt ggctaagctc aatggggatt ggttttctat tgtcgtggcc
 121 tctaacaaaa gagaaaagat agaagagaat ggcagcatga gagtttttat gcagcacatc
 181 gatgtcttgg agaattcctt aggcttcaag ttccgtatta aggaaaatgg agagtgcagg
<PAGE>   10
     241 gaactatatt tggttgccta caaaacgcca gaggatggcg aatattttgt tgagtatgac
     301 ggagggaata catttactat acttaagaca gactatgaca gatatgtcat gtttcatctc
     361 attaatttca agaacgggga aaccttccag ctgatggtgc tctacggcag aacaaaggat
     421 ctgagttcag acatcaagga aaagtttgca aaactatgtg aggcgcatgg aatcactagg
     481 gacaatatca ttgatctaac caagactgat cgctgtctcc aggcccgagg atgaagaaag
     541 gcctgagcct ccagtgctga gtggagaact tctcaccagg actctagcat caccatttcc
     601 tgtccatgga gcatcctgag acaaattctg cgatctgatt tccatcctct gtcacagaaa
     661 agtgcaatcc tggtctctcc agcatcttcc ctagttaccc aggacaacac atcgagaatt
     721 aaaagctttc ttaaatttct cttggcccca cccatgatca ttccgcacaa atatcttgct
     781 cttgcagttc aataaatgat taccttgca ctt

2) [****]

LOCUS          [****]
DEFINITION     [****]
               [****]
ACCESSION      [****]
NID            [****]
KEYWORDS
SOURCE         [****]
ORGANISM       [****]
     Eukaryotae; mitochondrial eukaryotes; Metazoa; Chordata;
     Vertebrata; Mammalia; Eutheria; Rodentia; Sciurognathi; Muridae;
     Murinae; Rattus.

REFERENCE 1    (bases 1 to 1182)
AUTHORS        Pataon, V.G., Shackelford, J.E. and Krisans, S.K.
TITLE          "Cloning and subcellular localization of hamster and rat
               isopentenyl diphosphate dimethylallyl disphosphate isomerase.
               A PTS1 motif targets the enzyme to peroxisomes
JOURNAL        J. Biol. Chem. 272, 18945-18950 (1997)

REFERENCE 2    (bases 1 to 1182)
AUTHORS        Paton, V.G., Shackelford, J.E. and Krisans, S.K.
TITLE          Direct Submission
JOURNAL        Submitted (12-MAY-1997) Biology, San Diego State University,
               5300 Campanile Dr., San Diego, CA 92182, USA
FEATURES       Location/Qualifiers
  source       1..1182
            /organism="Rattus norvegicus"
            /strain="Sprague-Dawley"
            /db_wref="taxon:10116"
  CDS          386..1069
            /EC_number="5.3.3.2"
            /note="IPP isomerase; localized in peroxisomes"
            /codon_start=1
            /product="isopentenyl diphosphate:dimethylallyl
            diphosphate isomerase"
            /db_xref="PID:g 2253701"

/translation="MPEINASNLDEKQVQLLAEMCILIDENDNKIGADTKKNCHLNENIDKGLIHRAFSVFL
FNTENKLLLQQRSDAKITFPGCFTNSCCSHPLNNPGELEENDAMGVKRAAQKRLKAELGIPLEEVD
LNEMNYLTRIYYKAQSDGIWGEHEIDYILFLRKNVTLNPDPNEIKSYCYVSKEELKEILKKEARGEI
KFTPWFKILADAFLFKWWDNLNHLSPFVDHEKIHRM"
BASE COUNT 341 a 237 c 295 g 309 t
<PAGE>   11
ORIGIN
      1 ggaagcttcc ccaccgcaaa gcagctagac gtgcgggcag tctcagctgt ccactgggag
     61 tcgccaacac catctcttgg gctccagggt cgcaatcact accggggatc tccagcaagt
    121 cttccggacc cacgcgtaga ggaggtggtg ccaccgcgcg caaacctggc gcggtcgtga
    181 cgtcaggact acgctagatt ggcaattggc tggaggcatg tggcgcggac gggcactggc
    241 aggagtgatt ggatcagctc ttaaggggcg gggtctggag gcggagcatg ctgccgagag
    301 cgttgaagta cggcgctccg cacagcttct cgacactcct gtctggaatc gctgtgttct
    361 aggtcagatc agacattctg tcacaatgcc tgaaatcaat gccagcaatc ttgatgaaaa
    421 acaggttcag cttctagcag agatgtgtat tcttattgat gaaaatgaca ataaaattgg
    481 ggctgacacc aagaaaaatt gtcacctgaa tgaaaacatt gacaaaggac taatacatcg
    541 agctttcagt gtcttcttgt ttaatactga aaacaagctc ctgttacagc agagatcgga
    601 tgctaaaatt acctttccag gttgtttcac caatagttgc tgtagtcatc cattaaataa
    661 ccccggggag ctggaagaaa atgatgccat gggtgtcaaa cgagcagcac agaagcgctt
    721 aaaggcggag ctggggatac ccttggaaga ggttgatcta aatgaaatga attatctaac
    781 aagaatttac tacaaggccc aatctgatgg tatctggggt gaacatgaaa ttgattacat
    841 tttgtttctg aggaagaatg taaccctgaa tccggatccc aacgagatta aaagctattg
    901 ctatgtatca aaggaagaac tcaaagaaat tttgaagaag gaagccaggg gcgaaattaa
    961 gtttactcca tggtttaaga ttattgcaga cgcttttctc tttaaatggt gggataactt
   1021 aaaccatttg agtccttttg ttgaccatga gaaaatacat agaatgtgaa tgtgtaaatg
   1081 atttgagatt tttttctacc tactaagaat ggtttgattt tgttttaaat tgggctccct
   1141 tgtatgacac atagatattt tacaaccaga atttgttttg ag

3) [****]

LOCUS         [****]
DEFINITION    [****]
ACCESSION     [****]
NID           [****]
KEYWORDS      [****]
SOURCE        [****]
ORGANISM      [****]
    Eukaryotae; [****]
    Vertebrata; [****]
    Murinae; Rattus.

REFERENCE 1   (base 1 to 3275)
AUTHORS       Hegardt,F.G.
TITLE         Direct Submission
JOURNAL       Submitted (17-APR-1990) Hegardt F.G., University of Barcelona,
              Unit of Biochemistry, School of Pharmacy, Placa Pius XII, s/n.
              08028, Barcelona, Spain
REMARK        (b 1-38,40,41-62,64-3275)

REFERENCE 2   (bases 1 to 3275)
AUTHORS       Ayte,J., Gil-Gomez,G. and Hegardt,F.G.
TITLE         "Nucleotide sequence of a rat liver cDNA encoding the cytosolic
              3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A synthase"
JOURNAL       Nucleic Acids Res. 18 (12), 3642 (1990)
MEDLINE       90301491
REMARK        (b 1-38,40,41-62,64-3275)

REFERENCE 3   (bases 1 to 3275)
AUTHORS       Haegardt,F.G.
TITLE         Direct Submission
JOURNAL       Submitted (30-JUL-1990) to the EMBL/GenBank/DDBJ database
<PAGE>   12
FEATURES       Location/Qualifiers
 source        1.3275
               /organism="Rattus norvegicus"
               /strain="Sprague Dawley"
               /db_xref="taxon:10116
               /tissue_type="liver"
               /clone="lambda-cCS1"
      precursor_RNA  1..3275
               /note="primary transcript"
      CDS        92..1654
               /note="cytosolic 3-hydroxy 3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A
               synthase (AA 1-520)"
               /codon_start=1
               /db_xref="PID:g55947"
               /db_xref="SWISS-PROT:P17425"

/translation="MPGSLPLNAEACWPKDVGIVALEIYFPSQYVDQAELEKYDGVDAGKYTIGLGQARM
GFCTDREDINSLCLTVVQKLMERNSLSYDCIGRLEVGTETIIDKSKSVKSNLMQLFEESGNTDIEGID
TTNACYGGTAAVFNAVNWIESSSWDGRYALVVAGDIAIYASGNARPTGGVGAVALLIGPNAPVIF
DRGLRGTHMQHAYDFYKPDPDMLSEYPVVDGKLSIQCYLSALDRCYSVYRKKIRAQWQKEGKDKDF
TLNDFGFMIFHSPYCKLVQKSLARMFLNDFLNDQNRDKNSIYSGLEAFGDVKLEDTYFDRDVEKA
FMKASAELFNQKTKASLLVSNQNGNMYTSSVYGSLASVLAQYSPQQLAGKRIGVFSYGSGLAATL
YSLKVTQDATPGSALDKITASLCDLKSRLDSRTCVAPDVFAENMKLREDTHHLANYIPQCSIDSLFE
GTWYLVRVDEKHRRTYARRPSTNDHSLDEGVGLVHSNTATEHIPSPAKKVPRLPATSGEPESAVIS
NGEH"
BASE COUNT   934a   634c   789 g   918 t
ORIGIN
     1 cccagggtcc gatcgcgttt ggtgcctgaa ggaggaaccg gtgacagacc tggagactac
    61 agttctctgt ccttcacaca gctctttcac catgcctggg tcacttcctt tgaatgcaga
   121 ggcttgctgg ccaaaagatg tgggaatcgt tgcccttgaa atctactttc cttctcagta
   181 tgttgatcaa gctgagttgg aaaaatacga tggtgtagat gctggaaagt ataccattgg
   241 cctgggccag gccaggatgg gcttctgcac ggatcgcgaa gacatcaact ctctctgcct
   301 gactgtggtt cagaaactga tggagagaaa tagcctttcc tatgactgca ttggcggct
   361 ggaagtcggg acagagacaa tcatcgacaa atcaaaatcc gtgaagtcta atttgatgca
   421 gctgtttgag gagtctggga atacagatat agaaggaata gatacaacta atgcatgcta
   481 tgggggcaca gccgcagtct tcaatgctgt gaactggatc gaatccagct cttgggatgg
   541 acgatacgct ttggtagttg caggagacat cgctatatat gcctcaggaa acgccaggcc
   601 tacaggtgga gttggagctg tggctctgct aattgggcca aatgctcctg taatttttga
   661 ccgagggctt cgtgggacac acatgcagca tgcctacgac ttttacaagc ctgacatgct
   721 ctctgaatac cctgtggtag atggaaaact ctccatacag tgctacctca gcgcattgga
   781 ccgctgctat tctgtctacc gcaaaaagat ccgggcccag tggcagaaag agggaaagga
   841 taaagatttt accctgaatg attttggctt catgatcttt cactcgccat actgtaaact
   901 ggtgcagaaa tctctagcta ggatgttcct gaatgacttt cttaacgatc aaaacagaga
   961 caaaaacagt atttacagtg ggctggaagc ctttggggat gtgaaattag aagatactta
   1021 cttcgacaga gatgtggaaa aggcatttat gaaggctagt gctgagctat tcaaccagaa
   1081 aacaaaggca tctttgcttg tatcgaatca aaatggaaac atgtacacat cctctgtata
   1141 cggttccctt gcttctgttc tggcacagta ctcacctcaa cagttggccg ggaagaggat
   1201 tggagtgttc tcttacggtt ctggcttggc tgccacactc tactccctta aagtcacaca
   1261 agatgccaca ccaggatctg ctcttgacaa aataacagca agtttatgtg accttaagtc
   1321 aaggcttgac tcaagaacgt gtgtggcacc agacgtcttt gctgaaaaca tgaagctcag
   1381 agaggacaca catcacttag ccaactatat tccccagtgt tcaatagatt cactcttcga
   1441 aggaacatgg tatctagtca gagtggatga aaagcacaga agaacttacg cccggcgtcc
   1501 ctccacaaat gaccacagtt tggatgaagg agtgggactt gtgcattcaa acacagctac
   1561 agagcatatt ccaagcccgg ctaagaaagt gccaagactt cctgcgacct cgggcgaacc

<PAGE>   13
   1621 tgagtcggct gtcatcagta acggggagca ctgagagccg tggccttcac agaggctcgg
   1681 ggctggatgg ggtatgggaa acgttagagg aatggatgtc ttgggacaat tttacagatt
   1741 acgtgttgct taaaaatgta atgtaactga cacagagccc agaaaactgt tgtgtttttg
   1801 gagaagtctc gctgagctcc taacacactt cctgctgtgg gctggccaat ggtgaatgta
   1861 ctgcgatggt gttaagggct ctgcagaacg tcatacctcg ctgcatgttt acacgcatgc
   1921 gggttaggct tcaaactcgg tctgaactga gtgcttctga ctgcaaaggc agaggtactg
   1981 ctgtccagtt taaaaaattg tttttttttt ttttaatgtg taagaatttt tatacttaaa
   2041 taaaaaaaag tacctgtagc ttttggggga aaaaaaaaaa cctttttcta ggttggggat
   2101 tgtggaattt aaatgttaca cataaactct gcttaatggc aaggcaaaca tttatctttt
   2161 tcgaagattt ataaatcctg aagagaaaaa aagagggtat ggttctagga tctggatgaa
   2221 ccatcagtga gaaaggttag tcataatcaa gtgagcagaa ggatgctggc gttgagcagg
   2281 cctctgtcac agcaaccagg gctctgtggg cacagctgag ggaactttct ggccaggtgc
   2341 ccgtgactgc tgctcagctg cactgagatg cagtggagct gctgcacgga agcttgctgt
   2401 ggtgctgaac gccttacctg cggataaagt gtaaagtagg agggatgggc agggcactat
   2461 taggttacag tgttacagac ccaggttata gacttgacag ctcaaactca ccagacacct
   2521 ttttcccttt gtggtttgtg tattttttgt gttttgtttg ttttttttta tattgttcaa
   2581 tttaaaaaat ttagaaaatt ttaaccttac gttttcacat agtgtgatta gccaaaagga
   2641 atttcacttc aagatctaga aatagaattc ataacatttt ttcctaaact ttgactttta
   2701 aaacaacgaa aattaccaca tgagatgaac aagaaaattc attagaaagt tctctgggtg
   2761 atttttggtg ctgaactgac atgagcctca tagactgtaa aacagaggta gttgaaacta
   2821 atgtacagaa ctacattttt taattttatt tgcatttaat tctgtgaagt ttcagttatc
   2881 taaaataaac acataaacgt gtaatgtttc agattgcaag gtgagatgta atgtagcatt
   2941 tgtaagatat tcttgtcaat attaactggt aggattttga tttgtacagt tttaattggt
   3001 taaaatgatc tcattttaac atccactgct atagatgaat gatgtaagct cagatttaat
   3061 gaatggtggg gaaatggtgc atgtaatttt ttcgcaagta tcgagagttc tgtatgtttt
   3121 gaaaagaata atttaacgtt tgggttgcca ggaagggggc tttcccagag tccattgcca
   3181 ggcgttgggc aagcctcgca atgttggcac ggagcgttaa ccacacctta ctaatagcaa
   3241 ggggaataac tttgaaataa agttttagac aaata

Company will provide cellular material, known to contain mRNA targets of
interest, as necessary for refinement and optimization of the assays. If
available, Company will provide Institution with 1) cDNA clones for the above
three gene expression assay targets for use as controls, 2) information about
any closely related mRNA species that might be expected to exhibit cross
reactivity. Following evaluation of the Invader assays, Company may share with
Institution certain information about relevant mRNA levels of these genes as
determined by the Company or a third party using other mRNA quantitation
technologies.

Development of Two (2) Polymorphism and Mutation Assays

Company has identified two single nucleotide polymorphisms which Institution
will develop Polymorphism and Mutation detection assays as specified below.

1) [****]

For reference, the sequence from nt3301 to 3720, with the wt allele of the
polymorphic site shown large and bolded, is included below:

cctgggcaag aagtcgctgg agcagtgggt gaccgaggag gccgcctgcc tttgtgccgc cttcgccaac
cactccggtg ggtgatgggc agaagggcac aaagcgggaa ctgggaaggc gggggacggg gaaggcgacc
ccttacccgc atctcccacc cccaggacgc ccctttcgcc ccaacggtct cttggacaaa gccgtgagca
acgtgatcgc ctccctcacc tgcgggcgcc gcttcgagta cgacgaccct cgcttcctca ggctgctgga
cctagctcag gagggactgaaggaggagtc gggctttctg cgcgaggtgc ggagcgagag accgaggagt
ctctgcaggg cgagctcccg agaggtgccg gggctggact ggggcctcgg aagagcagga tttgcataga
<PAGE>   14
[****]

2) [****] The polymorphism changes the NAT1 poly adenylation signal from taataaa
to taaaaaa.

Company can provide 20 human genomic DNA samples for evaluation. Company does
not currently have an assay for this polymorphism, and cannot develop a
high-throughput Taqman assay for this SNP due to high AT content in the region
and the presence of a 9 unit trinucleotide repeat just upstream of the
polyadenylation signal. Based on the literature available Company expects to
detect a reasonably high frequency of heterozygotes at the targeted locus.
Company may be able to provide additional genomic DNA samples for evaluation,
if deemed necessary.

EVALUATION OF P450 EXPRESSION INVADER ASSAYS

In order to test Institution's assays for quantitating P450 induction, Company
will provide 24 blind-coded samples of rat liver RNA. Company can provide total
RNA, mRNA, or both and non-proprietary information about such samples such as
tissue source, time of induction and inducing agent if deemed necessary or
desirable by Institution or Company. Samples will include negative controls and
positive controls for induction of several rat liver cytochrome P450 isoforms.
Ideally, Company would like all 24 samples to be analyzed for expression of ALL
rat cytochromes P450 for which Institution has developed assays; at the minimum,
Company needs data on the 2B and 3A families.<PAGE>   1
                                               *Confidential Treatment Requested

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.16

                               RESEARCH AGREEMENT

    THIS RESEARCH AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made this 20th day of August, 1999,
by and between Third Wave Technologies, Inc. ("Institution"); and Warner-Lambert
Company, a Delaware corporation, with its principal place of business at 201
Tabor Road, Morris Plains, New Jersey, 07950 ("Company").

                                    RECITALS

A. Institution has developed substantial expertise in the area of assay
development for gene expression profiling and polymorphism and mutation analysis
(the "Field").

B. Company desires to obtain the services of Institution in directing certain
research in the Field relating to the development of certain assays. Such
research is hereinafter referred to as the "Development Program". Institution is
willing to direct the Development Program, all on the terms and conditions set
forth herein and in accordance with the protocol attached hereto as Exhibit A
and incorporated herein by reference (the "Protocol").

    NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and premises herein
contained, the parties agree as follows:

1. The Development Program. Promptly following receipt of the amount set forth
in Section 2 below, Institution shall use diligent efforts to develop Invader(R)
polymorphism and mRNA transcript assays described in the Protocol, subject to
Company providing Institution the materials described in Exhibit B
(collectively, the "Company Materials"). Upon completion of the Development
Program with respect to each such particular assay, Institution agrees to
provide Company with the number of assay determinations set forth in the
Protocol for such particular assay, including enzyme, buffer and Invader probes
for such analyte (collectively, the "Institution Materials"). Accordingly,
Institution shall, after consultation with Company, direct and perform the
Development Program in a professional and diligent manner, all in accordance
with the Protocol and the terms of this Agreement.

2. Payment. In consideration for the performance of the Development Program by
Institution, Company shall pay Institution a non-refundable amount of [****]
(the "Research Amount") within five (5) days of the date of Company's execution
of this Agreement.

3. Reporting. Company designates Stephen Hunt or his or her successor to
function as its research and development contact (the "Contact"). Institution
shall inform the Contact of the progress of the Development Program in the
following manner:

        (a) By informal verbal reports, from time to time;

        (b) By response to all of Company's reasonable inquiries regarding the
status of the Development Program;

        (c) By arrangements to periodically meet and discuss the progress of the
Development Program with the Contact at Institution's facilities; and

                                       1
<PAGE>   2

        (d) By submission of a detailed written report thirty (30) days
following the conclusion of the Development Program (the "Final Report").

4. Ownership of Data; Publication. Subject to Company's rights in the Company
Materials, all right, title and interest in and to all information disclosed by
Institution hereunder and to all Institution Materials transferred hereunder
shall remain vested in Institution. Except as otherwise provided in this Section
4 below, Company shall own all right, title and interest in and to Inventions
(collectively, "Company Inventions") and Institution hereby assigns all such
right, title and interest in the Company Inventions to Company. Furthermore,
Institution hereby agrees to only use its personnel in connection with the
Development Program. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Company hereby agrees that
Institution shall own all right, title and interest in and to Inventions
directed to subject matter comprising improvements to the Invader assay
technology, including without limitation methods of sample preparation, probe
design or production, or assay development, performance or analysis
(collectively, "Improvements") and Company hereby assigns all such right, title
and interest in the Improvements to Institution. In addition, Company hereby
grants to Institution, to the extent it has the right to do so, an exclusive,
worldwide, royalty-free, fully paid-up, irrevocable right and license, with the
right to grant and authorize sublicenses, under any and all Company Inventions,
to make, have made, use, import, offer for sale and sell products and
components, solely for diagnostic applications including for tests or assays
used to guide, prescribe or direct therapeutic regimens, treatments or drugs.
For purposes of this Agreement, "Invention" shall mean any and all discoveries,
inventions and other subject matter (whether patentable or not) made in the
course of performing the Evaluation (as defined below) or otherwise in
connection with using the Institution Materials as permitted hereunder and all
intellectual property rights therein. Nothing in this Agreement is to be
construed as granting a license to Company to utilize any information received
from Institution or Institution Materials except as expressly provided herein,
under any patent or other intellectual property rights owned by Institution,
unless a separate agreement for such rights is executed by Company and
Institution. Company and Institution further agree to perform such acts and
provide such documents as are reasonably requested by the other party to effect
the foregoing assignments.

5. Confidentiality. Institution and Company hereby confirm the validity of and
agree to be bound by the Mutual Confidentiality Agreement effective March 24,
1998 by and between the parties which continues in effect (the "Confidentiality
Agreement").

        (a) Confidential Information. The parties may from time to time disclose
to each other Confidential Information. "Confidential Information" shall mean
any information disclosed by one party to the other party hereto which if
disclosed in tangible form is marked "confidential" or with other similar
designation to indicate its confidential or proprietary nature or if disclosed
orally is indicated orally to be confidential or proprietary by the party
disclosing such information at the time of such disclosure and is confirmed in
writing as confidential or proprietary by the disclosing party within a
reasonable period after such disclosure; provided, however, all Improvements
shall be deemed to be Confidential Information of the Institution and all
Company Inventions (except to the extent that such Company Inventions relate to
diagnostic applications) shall be deemed to be Confidential Information of the
Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything herein to the contrary,
Confidential Information shall not include any information that, in each case as
demonstrated by written documentation: (i) was already known to the receiving
party or its affiliates, other than under an obligation of confidentiality, at
the time of disclosure; (ii) was generally available to the public or otherwise
part of the public domain at the time of its disclosure to the receiving party;
(iii) became generally available to the

                                       2
<PAGE>   3

public or otherwise part of the public domain after its disclosure and other
than through any act or omission of the receiving party in breach of this
Agreement; or (iv) was subsequently lawfully disclosed to the receiving party or
its affiliates by a third party which is not in violation of any contractual or
legal obligation to the disclosing party with respect to such Confidential
Information.

        (b) Confidentiality. Each party agrees to hold and maintain in strict
confidence all Confidential Information of the other party. Without limiting the
foregoing, neither party shall use or disclose the Confidential Information of
the other party, except as otherwise permitted by this Agreement or as may be
necessary or useful to exercise its rights or perform its obligations under this
Agreement. Nothing contained in this Section 5 shall prevent either party from
disclosing any Confidential Information of the other party (i) to accountants,
lawyers or other professional advisors to the extent reasonably necessary to
accomplish the purposes of this Agreement or to prospective lenders, investment
bankers or other financial institutions in connection with a merger, acquisition
or securities offering, subject in each case to the recipient entering into an
agreement to protect such Confidential Information from disclosure; or (ii) to
the extent is required by law or regulation to be disclosed; provided, however,
that the party subject to such disclosure requirement has provided written
notice to the other party promptly upon receiving notice of such requirement in
order to enable the other party to seek a protective order or otherwise prevent
disclosure of such Confidential Information. Upon any termination of this
Agreement, Company and Institution shall promptly return to the other party all
Confidential Information received from the other party (except one copy of which
may be retained for purposes of monitoring compliance with the provisions of
this Section 5 and for archival purposes). The foregoing provisions of this
Section 5 shall survive expiration or termination of this Agreement for a period
of seven (7) years after such expiration or termination.

6. Compliance with Applicable Laws. Institution agrees to conduct the
Development Program and maintain records and data during and after the term of
this Agreement in compliance with all applicable legal and regulatory
requirements, including without limitation any applicable requirements of the
United States Food and Drug Administration and the United States Federal Drug
Enforcement Administration.

7. Materials.

        (a) Company agrees that all Institution Materials obtained from
Institution pursuant to this Agreement shall be used solely for the purpose of
evaluating whether or not Company desires to enter into a licensing and other
business arrangements with Institution, all on terms and conditions as mutually
determined by Company and Institution and not for any commercial purposes (the
"Evaluation"). Institution agrees that all Company Materials obtained from
Company pursuant to this Agreement shall be used solely for the purpose of
evaluating whether or not Institution desires to enter into a licensing and
other business arrangements with Company, all on terms and conditions as
mutually determined by Company and Institution and not for any commercial
purposes other than the Development Program and commercial diagnostic
applications. Company agrees at all times to use the Institution Materials, and
Institution agrees at all times to use the Company Materials, in compliance with
all state, federal and other applicable laws, rules and regulation pertaining to
use thereof. The Institution Materials and the Company Materials shall include
the original materials transferred to Company or Institution, respectively, as
well as any derivatives or improvements developed by the receiving party
therefrom. INSTITUTION SUPPLIES THE INSTITUTION MATERIALS AND

                                       3
<PAGE>   4
COMPANY SUPPLIES THE COMPANY MATERIALS WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY, REPRESENTATION OR
UNDERTAKING WHATSOEVER, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY
WARRANTY RESPECTING THE EFFICIENCY, PERFORMANCE, WORKMANSHIP, CONDITION,
MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR NONINFRINGEMENT.

        (b) During the term of this Agreement and for five (5) years thereafter
Institution agrees to make available to Company for its own internal research
and development purposes enzyme, buffer and Invader probes developed hereunder
pursuant Institution's standard terms and conditions therefor, including
standard pricing and minimum order requirement of at least quantities to perform
one thousand (1,000) determinations for any particular polymorphism or mRNA
transcript, as applicable.

8. Institution's Representations and Warranties. Institution hereby represents,
warrants and covenants to Company the following:

        (a) It has the power and authority to undertake the contractual
commitments set forth in this Agreement; and

        (b) It is free to enter into this Agreement and carry out its
obligations hereunder without violating any obligation owed to a third party,
including, without limitation, any governmental or quasi-governmental agency,
group or department, or any other private or public institution, person or
company. No such third party currently has, or, except as expressly authorized
herein, will have, any option, license or other right of any kind with respect
to any Institution Materials or any data, information, inventions or discoveries
obtained or developed under this Agreement.

9. Monitoring of Development Program. During the term of this Agreement,
Institution agrees to permit representatives of Company to examine at any
reasonable time during normal business hours (i) the facilities where the
Development Program is being conducted, (ii) raw research data and (iii) any
other relevant information (and to make copies) necessary for Company to confirm
that the Development Program is being conducted in conformance with the Protocol
and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including those of the
United States Food and Drug Administration and the United States Federal Drug
Enforcement Administration.

10. Term. The term of this Agreement shall commence on the date that it is made
and continue for up to 180 days.

11. Termination. The Development Program may be terminated by Company at any
time in the exercise of its sole discretion upon fifteen (15) days prior written
notice to Institution. Upon receipt or giving of notice, as the case may be,
Institution agrees promptly to terminate conduct of the Development Program.

12. Publicity. Neither party shall use the name of the other party or its
divisions, affiliates, personnel or products, as applicable, for promotional
purposes without the prior written consent of the party whose name is proposed
to be used, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided, however,
that either party may (i) disclose the terms of this Agreement to prospective
lenders, investment bankers and other financial institutions of its choice
solely for the purposes of financing the business operations of such party,
either upon the written consent of the other party or if the disclosing party
obtains a signed confidentiality agreement with such

                                       4
<PAGE>   5

entity or financial institution with respect to such information, and (ii) make
disclosures to the extent required to comply with applicable securities law and
in the case of (ii), if possible, the non-disclosing party shall have consented
to such disclosure, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. Without
limiting the foregoing, the parties shall agree, within fifteen (15) days of
executing this Agreement, upon a press release to announce the execution of this
Agreement; thereafter, each party may each disclose to third parties the
information contained in such press release without the need for further
approval by the other.

13. Independent Contractor. Institution is acting in the capacity of independent
contractor hereunder and not as employee or agent of Company.

14. Controlling Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the law of the State of Michigan (other than provisions relating
to conflicts of laws).

15. Agreement Modifications. This Agreement may not be altered, amended or
modified except by written document signed by all parties.

16. Inconsistencies. The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall govern in
the event of conflict between it and the Protocol.

17. Force Majeure. Any party's delay or failure in performing its obligations
under this Agreement shall be excused to the extent caused by the occurrence of
events beyond that party's reasonable control, including without limitation,
war, floods, earthquakes, other acts of God, industrial disputes, civil
disobedience, strikes, fire, mobilization, changes in governmental regulation or
interpretation, requisition, embargo, restriction and shortage of transport
facilities, fuel, energy or supplies. Each party claiming the benefit of such an
excuse shall notify the other party in writing of any such delay or failure in
performance, and shall resume performance as soon as is reasonably practicable.

18. Notice. All notices given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be
delivered by hand or mailed by certified or registered mail, return receipt
requested, postage pre-paid, addressed to the parties as follows:

<TABLE>
<S>                                <C>
    (a) To Company:                Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical Research
                                   2800 Plymouth Road
                                   Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105
                                   Attn: Chairman

        with a copy to:            Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical Research
                                   2800 Plymouth Road
                                   Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105
                                   Attn: Assistant General Counsel

    (b) To Institution:            Third Wave Technologies, Inc.
                                   502 South Rosa Road
                                   Madison, Wisconsin 53719-1256
                                   Attn: President
</TABLE>

                                       5
<PAGE>   6

Notice shall be deemed given when received and the parties may change the
respective addresses where notice is to be given upon prior notice hereunder.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their duly authorized representatives as of the date first above
written.

WARNER-LAMBERT COMPANY

By: /s/ PETER B. CORR
   -------------------------------
Name:  Peter B. Corr
      ----------------------------
Title: President, R&D
      ----------------------------

THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

By: /s/ LANCE FORS
   -------------------------------
Name:  Lance Fors
      ----------------------------
Title: Chief Executive Officer
      ----------------------------

                                       6
<PAGE>   7

                                    EXHIBIT A

                                    PROTOCOL

The Institution will develop one hundred and eighty-one (181) discrete
Invader(TM) Assays and supply the indicated number of determinations as detailed
below; all assays will be supplied For Research Use Only and are not for use in
diagnostic procedures with humans:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                           NUMBER OF             NUMBER OF             TOTAL NUMBER
                           DIFFERENT          DETERMINATIONS                OF
        ASSAYS               ASSAYS               PER ASSAY            DETERMINATIONS
     --------------      ------------        ---------------          ----------------
<S>                         <C>                 <C>                    <C>
Mouse SNPs for                  100              1,000(3)               100,000
PDLMG(1)
P450 SNPs for                    25              1,000(3)                25,000
REACH Study(1)
NAT(1) SNP for                    1              4,000(3)                 4,000
REACH Study(1)
P450 mRNA Isoforms                5               1,000                   5,000
for expression
profiling(2)
mRNAs for                        50               1,000                  50,000
expression profiling 2
        TOTALS                  181                  --                 184,000

</TABLE>

(1) Each Invader(TM) Assay for Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) detection
consists of an assay or assay components which will permit the Company to detect
each allele of interest. Each Invader SNP Assay will incorporate oligonucleotide
probes for detection of the polymorphism of interest, the appropriate
Cleavase(R) enzyme and other reagents including buffers and standards needed for
the performance of such assay together with a 96 or 384-well microtiter plate.
Complete instructions will be provided for each Invader SNP Assay.

(2) Each Invader(TM) Assay for mRNA quantification consists of an assay or assay
components which will permit the Company to quantify a mRNA of interest. Each
Invader mRNA Assay will incorporate oligonucleotide probes, the appropriate
Cleavase(R) enzyme and other reagents including buffers and standards needed for
the performance of such assay together with a 96 or 384-well microtiter plate.
Each Invader mRNA assay will include control standard set to establish a
standard quantification curve. Complete instructions will be provided for each
Invader mRNA Assay.

(3) Each determination for an Invader Assays for Single Nucleotide Polymorphism
(SNP) detection include a determination for each allele, which is done in 2
separate microtiter wells in the current assay configuration.

                                       i
<PAGE>   8

A. The Development Program for each Invader Assay for Single Nucleotide
Polymorphism detection assay will encompass the following when the starting
sample material is a PCR product or genomic DNA:

        1. At the initiation of the Development Program, the Company shall
           provide the Institution with the appropriate PCR product and/or
           genomic DNA containing the target sequence of interest as set forth
           on Exhibit B.

        2. Primary Invader Reaction:

                -       The Institution will design three (3) target-specific
                        oligonucleotide probes for use in the Primary Invader
                        Reaction: (i) an "Invader" probe (a probe designed
                        hybridize to the 3' portion of the target sequence, and
                        form a region that overlaps the duplex formed by the
                        appropriate Signal probe and target by at least a single
                        nucleotide base); (ii) a "Signal" probe for the major
                        allele ("wild-type") sequence and (iii) a "Signal" probe
                        for the mutant or minor allele ("mutant") sequence. Each
                        Signal probe will comprise a probe designed to hybridize
                        to the 5' portion of the appropriate target sequence and
                        overlap with the Invader probe. The Institution's
                        proprietary Cleavase enzymes will recognize the
                        structure created by this overlapping region and cleave
                        the 5' end of the wild-type and mutant probes for use in
                        the Secondary Invader Reaction (described below).

                -       The melting temperature (T(m)) of both the wild-type and
                        mutant Signal probes will be estimated. In order to
                        optimize signal generation, a temperature near the T(m)
                        of these probes will be utilized for the both the
                        Primary and Secondary Invader Reactions such that the
                        reaction cycle (hybridization of a Signal probe,
                        cleavage of its 5' end, and release of the remaining 3'
                        portion) will occur rapidly under isothermal conditions.

                The rapid isothemal cycling of the Signal probes allows each
                copy of PCR product or genomic DNA target to serve as the
                substrate for multiple Signal probe cleavage events during
                reaction incubation. The accumulation of 5' fragments of the
                wild-type Signal probe is directly proportional to the number of
                wild-type target molecules present in the test sample. Likewise,
                the accumulation of 5' fragments of the mutant Signal probe is
                directly proportional to the number of mutant target molecules
                present in the test sample. Since the Primary and Secondary
                Invader Reactions will take place simultaneously, the Primary
                and Secondary Reaction temperature optima will be designed to be
                compatible.

        3. Secondary Invader Reaction:

                -       The Institution will design an oligonucleotide that will
                        function as both a Secondary target and a "Secondary
                        Signal" probe in the Secondary Invader Reaction. After
                        cleavage in the Primary Invader Reaction the 5' end of
                        the wild-type and mutant Signal probes from the Primary
                        Invader Reaction will be designed to act as "Secondary
                        Invader" probes in the Secondary Invader Reaction (i.e.,
                        the Secondary Signal probe will be designed such that
                        the 3'

                                       ii
<PAGE>   9

                        end of the Secondary Invader probe (5' of the Signal
                        probe from the Primary Invader Reaction) will overlap
                        the 5' most region of hybridization of the Secondary
                        Signal probe/Secondary target complex). The
                        Institution's proprietary Cleavase enzymes will
                        recognize the structure created by this overlapping
                        region and cleave the 5' end of the Signal probe for
                        subsequent detection. The Secondary Signal probe will be
                        designed to include a quencher dye and a
                        fluorescein-phosoramadite label. Due to the proximity of
                        these dyes in the uncleaved Secondary Signal probe, the
                        fluorescein label is quenched by the quencher dye via a
                        Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) mechanism.
                        Cleavage of the 5' end of the Secondary Signal probe
                        between the labels enables spacial separation of the
                        quencher dye and fluorescein, thus enabling fluorescence
                        detection using FRET technology.

                -       The melting temperature (T(m)) of the Secondary Invader
                        probe will be estimated and sequence optimized in order
                        to optimize signal generation, a temperature near the
                        T(m) of the Secondary Invader probe will be utilized for
                        the Invader reaction such that the reaction cycle
                        (hybridization of Secondary Invader probe, cleavage of
                        the 5' end of the Signal probe, release of the Secondary
                        Invader probe) will occur rapidly under isothermal
                        conditions.

                As a result of the Secondary Signal/Secondary target complex
                being present in excess and the rapid isothemal cycling of the
                Secondary Invader probe allowing each copy of Secondary Invader
                probe to cause multiple signal generation cleavage events during
                reaction incubation, the accumulation of 5' fragments of the
                Secondary Signal probe is directly proportional to the number of
                Secondary Invader probe molecules generated in the Primary
                Invader Reaction.

        4.  The Institution will determine appropriate assay cut-off values for
            assessment of genotype (wild-type homozygous, mutant homozygous,
            wild-type/mutant heterozygous) based on fluorescence signal.

        5.  The Institution estimates that a minimum of 20pg of PCR product or
            100ng of genomic DNA will be required in each test sample for
            detection in the assay.

B. The development program for each Invader mRNA quantification assay will
   encompass the following:

        1.  At the initiation of the Development Program, the Company will
            provide the Institution with the appropriate genetic sequence
            specifying the mRNA target of interest as set forth on Exhibit B.
            Additionally, the Company will provide the Institution with total
            cellular RNA material known to contain the mRNA target of interest
            at a minimal expression level, and secondarily, at a maximal
            expression level. The Institution estimates that >/=10 micrometer
            (g) of total cellular RNA material will be required.

        2.  Primary Invader Reaction:

                                      iii
<PAGE>   10

                -       The Institution will design two (2) target-specific
                        oligonucleotide probes (an "Invader" probe and a
                        "Primary" probe) for use in the Primary Invader
                        Reaction. The Invader probe will be designed to
                        hybridize to the 3' portion of the target sequence, and
                        form a region that overlaps the duplex formed by the
                        Primary probe and target by at least a single nucleotide
                        base. The Institution's proprietary Cleavase enzymes
                        will recognize the structure created by this overlapping
                        region and cleave the 5' end of the Primary probe for
                        use in the Secondary Invader Reaction.

                -       The melting temperature (T(m)) of the target-specific
                        Primary probe will be estimated. In order to optimize
                        signal generation, a temperature near the T(m) of the
                        Primary probe will be utilized for the Primary Invader
                        Reaction such that the reaction cycle (hybridization of
                        Primary probe, cleavage of the 5' end of the Primary
                        probe, release of the remaining 3' portion of the
                        Primary probe) will occur rapidly under such conditions.

        The rapid cycling of the Primary probes allows each copy of mRNA target
        to serve as the substrate for multiple Primary probe cleavage events
        during reaction incubation. The accumulation of 5' fragments of the
        Primary probe is directly proportional to the number of mRNA target
        present in the test sample.

3. Secondary Invader Reaction:

                -       The Institution will design oligonucleotides that will
                        function as a Secondary target and a "Signal" probe in
                        the Secondary Invader Reaction. The cleaved 5' end of
                        the Primary probe from the Primary Invader Reaction is
                        designed to act as a "Secondary Invader" probe in the
                        Secondary Invader Reaction (i.e., the Signal probe will
                        be designed such that the 3' end of the Secondary
                        Invader probe (5' of the Primary probe from the Primary
                        Invader Reaction) will overlap the 5' most region of
                        hybridization of the Signal probe/Secondary target
                        complex). The Institution's proprietary Cleavase enzymes
                        will recognize the structure created by this overlapping
                        region and cleave the 5' end of the Signal probe for
                        subsequent detection. The Signal probe will include a
                        quencher dye and a fluorescein-phosoramadite label. Due
                        to the proximity of these dyes in the uncleaved Signal
                        probe, the fluorescein label is quenched by the quencher
                        dye via a Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)
                        mechanism. Cleavage of the 5' end of the Signal probe
                        between the labels enables spacial separation of the
                        quencher dye and fluorescein, thus enabling fluorescence
                        detection using FRET technology.

                -       The melting temperature (T(m)) of the Signal probe will
                        be estimated. In order to optimize signal generation, a
                        temperature near the T(m) of the Signal probe will be
                        utilized for the Secondary Invader Reaction such that
                        the reaction cycle (hybridization of Signal probe,
                        cleavage of the 5' end of the Signal probe, release of
                        the remaining 3' portion of the Signal probe) will occur
                        rapidly under such conditions.

        This rapid cycling allows multiple Signal probes to be cleaved during
        reaction

                                       iv
<PAGE>   11

        incubation. The accumulation of signal (5' fragments of the Signal
        probe) is directly proportional to the number of Secondary Invader
        probes (from the Primary Invader reaction) generated in the Primary
        Invader Reaction.

4.  The Institution will develop appropriate standards (in vitro RNA
    transcripts) for use in the assay and will demonstrate assay
    proof-of-principle using this material. From time to time during the assay
    Development Program, the Company will provide the Institution with
    appropriate cellular material known to have the mRNA target of interest
    expressed at various levels. The Institution will use this material for
    further assay refinement and optimization.

 5. The Institution estimates that a minimum of 1 attomole of the mRNA target
    will be required in each test sample for detection in the assay.

                                       v

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