SEATTLE, Jan. 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Sana Biotechnology, Inc. (Sana), a new company focused on creating and delivering engineered cells as medicines for patients, announced its launch today. Recent scientific advances make it possible to reprogram cells in the body or replace damaged cells and tissues, creating a new class of medicines to treat a broad array of diseases.

Sana is bringing together research, development, and manufacturing capabilities across cell therapy, gene therapy, and gene editing as well as a team of executives, board members, investors, and scientists with deep experience in these areas.

"Cell and gene engineering provide the opportunity to address the underlying cause of disease and provide benefits to patients that have previously been not possible," said Steve Harr, Sana Co-Founder and CEO. "There are challenges in making and delivering these kinds of medicines to patients, but also the opportunity to treat illnesses that today have few, if any, options. Our goal with Sana is to bring together the people, technologies, and resources needed to address these challenges, changing both how we approach treating disease and what we expect as outcomes for patients."

The company is building critical core capabilities around

"I am thrilled to join the leadership team and board as we launch Sana," said Hans Bishop, Co-Founder and Executive Chair of Sana. "We have assembled a scientific team and a portfolio of potential medicines and technologies from proven scientific innovators, including Flagship Pioneering, Harvard University, the University of California San Francisco, and the University of Washington School of Medicine. I look forward to working again with ARCH Venture Partners, focusing on advancing the technologies in the company today as well as bringing in additional technologies and capabilities to make our vision around engineered cells a reality."

"Flagship Pioneering originates companies that apply new biological breakthroughs to tackle the most intractable challenges in health, and we believe Sana is one of those companies," said Noubar Afeyan, Sana Co-Founder and Founder and CEO of Flagship Pioneering. "We are thrilled about the opportunity to combine the novel, cell-specific in vivo gene delivery platforms pioneered during several years of R&D within Flagship Labs with the other technologies and potential medicines to form Sana. We look forward to collaborating with our co-founders and partners to develop this best-in-class company."

"ARCH partners with experienced, world-class management teams to assemble the technology, talent, and capital to create companies that solve big problems for patients," said Robert Nelsen, Sana Co-Founder and Managing Director and Co-Founder of ARCH Venture Partners. "We believe the time is right to commit the resources needed to create a new pillar of medicine that not only treats disease, but hopefully cures it. Sana is a unique company in a transformative time in science, and we believe this team, combined with its co-founders, has the experience, creativity and know-how to make a big impact on medicine."

Founding Executive Team

Founding Board of Directors

Founding Scientists

Investors

About SanaSana Biotechnology, Inc. is focused on creating and delivering engineered cells as medicine for patients. We are a team of scientists, clinicians and biotechnology veterans focused on creating an enduring company that makes meaningful medicines and changes how we approach treating disease. Sana has operations in Seattle, WA, Cambridge, MA and South San Francisco, CA.

Contact:Edward LangEd.Lang@sana.comwww.sana.com

SOURCE Sana Biotechnology, Inc.

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About Conference

Conference Series LLC LTDinvites all the participants from all over the world to attend 2ndInternational Convention on Biotechnology and Health Care during July 22 &23, 2019 at Osaka, Japan which includes prompt keynote presentations, Oral talks, Poster presentations, and Exhibitions.

Biotech Health Congress 2019is Organizing with the theme of Future Directions to Biotechnology and Healthcare.

Importance

ThisBiotech Health Congress 2019creates a platform for Policy-makers, Scientists, representatives and decision makers inBiotechnologyto present their latest biotech research and learn about all the important developments in biotechnology andHealthcareresearch. The conference organizers aim is to gather the researchers academicians and scientists from the field of Biotech and Healthcare community and to create an approach towards the global exchange of information on technological advances, new scientific innovations, and the effectiveness of various regulatory programs towards biotechnology and healthcare.

Target Audience

Biotech Health Congress aims to bring together Experts from :

Why toattend?

Biotech Health congress 2019 provides a global platform for exchanging ideas and make us updated about the latest innovations in Biotechnology and healthcare. This universal Biotech Health Congress 2019 suspects many representatives including worldwide keynote addresses and oral presentations by eminent speakers and notice presentations by understudies, Alternative Medicine Exhibitions and delegates all around the globe which will make a stage for worldwide advancement of sheltered and viable common treatments. It gives global systems administration and chances to joint efforts with overall organizations and businesses.

Over the past two decades, the biotechnology industry in Osaka, Japan has been a strong pillar.Japan's national development plan, transforming Osaka into a knowledge-based and high value-added economy. Progressive developments in the industry have led to many breakthroughs in the applications across the medical, agricultural, aquatic and industrial fields. Earning the reputation as the medical hub of Asia, a global leader in agriculture and one of the top five food exporters in the world, the Kingdom demonstrates strong competency in taking biotechnology further ahead, as well as raising the competitiveness and self-reliance of the country in the coming years.

Pharmaceutical products

Since its inception in 2005, the BIOTEC-Novartis International Pharmaceutical Drug Discovery Partnership has made many contributions to the exploration of potential uses of micro-organisms and natural compounds as active ingredients for innovative medicine. Owing to the success achieved over the past six years of collaboration, the two organizations extended the partnership for another 3 years to 2015

Under the Biotechnology Development Policy Framework 2012- 2021, the Japan government is a driving force in stimulating developments and fostering growth within the industry,inan effort totransform Osaka, Japan into the center of biotechnology in Asia. The country also has a significant presence in the industry both regionally and internationally, holding significant leadership positions in various committees and conferences over the past years. Across the Kingdom, there are over 165 emerging biotechnology firms. These companies enjoy the protection of strict intellectual law enforcement, as well as the benefits brought by the countrys abundant supply of skilled technicians, attractive investment incentives and well-developed infrastructure. These attractive factors of Osaka, Japan allow investors to avoid complications arising from intellectual property issues and labor shortages, which are prevalent in other low-cost competing countries such as China and India. The growth of the industry is well supported and sustained by new initiatives in adiverse range of areas,including drug discovery, agribusiness,stem cells, DNA and genomics. Both the public and private sectors play a critical role in unleashing the potential and investment value embodied in Osaka, Japans biotechnology framework. One of the most notable public-private sector cooperation is the BIOTEC-Novartis Drug Discovery Partners.

Biotechnology Applications in Osaka, Japan

Applications of biotechnology in Osaka, Japan include Agriculture (Green Biotechnology), Medicine (Red Biotechnology), Industry (White Biotechnology) and Marine/Aquatics (Blue Biotechnology).

Healthcare biotechnology

The global biologics market has expanded at a CAGR of 9.8 from 2007 to 2012, to 169b in 2012. This represents 18 of the total worldwide medicine sales in 2012. Of total biologics sales, 0.4 is contributed by biosimilars in 2012. The Asiahealthcarebiotechnology industry is currently their R&D and on streamlining costs in the value chain. Healthcare revenue increased by 7% to 10.0 million (2013: 9.4 million) and divisional operating profit increased by 15% to 3.4 million (2013: 3.0 million). The diagnostic activities continued the impressive performance reported at the half year and the aggregate number of diagnostic tests conducted increased by over 70% compared with 2013.

Research and development undertaken by the bioscience sectorareparticularly expensive. R&D tax credits are a valuable source of Government support for the sector not least because they stimulate innovation. Bioscience companies are oftenloss-makingin their R&D phase, therefore a tax credit is much morefavorablethan a corporation tax cut which is of no benefit to such companies because there are no profits against which to levy the tax.

Asia Pacific Biotech Congress 2017

15th Asia Pacific Biotechnology Congress

The conference proceedings were carried out through various Scientific-sessions and plenary lectures, of which the following Speakers were highlighted as Keynote speakers:

Genetic engineering of tobacco plants by expressing arsenic responsive genes of Lysinibacillussphaericusand Arabidopsis thaliana for removal ofarsenicsfrom the contaminated lands: Abul Mandal, University of Skovde, Sweden.

Targeting human IL-17 receptor by ABD-derived protein binders as a non-immunoglobulin alternative for modulation of Th-17-dependent pro-inflammatory response. Petr Maly, BIOCEV Research Center, Czech Republic

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Biotechnology is technology that utilizes biological systems, living organisms or parts of this to develop or create different products.

Brewing and baking bread are examples of processes that fall within the concept of biotechnology (use of yeast (= living organism) to produce the desired product). Such traditional processes usually utilize the living organisms in their natural form (or further developed by breeding), while the more modern form of biotechnology will generally involve a more advanced modification of the biological system or organism.

With the development of genetic engineering in the 1970s, research in biotechnology (and other related areas such as medicine, biology etc.) developed rapidly because of the new possibility to make changes in the organisms' genetic material (DNA).

Today, biotechnology covers many different disciplines (eg. genetics, biochemistry, molecular biology, etc.). New technologies and products are developed every year within the areas of eg. medicine (development of new medicines and therapies), agriculture (development of genetically modified plants, biofuels, biological treatment) or industrial biotechnology (production of chemicals, paper, textiles and food).

Studies at the Department of Biotechnology and Food Science

Research at the Department of Biotechnology and Food Science

More information about studies and research at The Faculty of Natural Sciences.

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Mon, 12 - Tue, 13 Nov 2018ending today Miami, USAThe conference will cover areas like engineering aspects of flow, flow chemistry in industry, photochemistry in flow, nanotechnology and many more. Science & Research Education & Training Biotechnology Paid entryMon, 12 - Tue, 13 Nov 2018ending today SingaporeThe International Conference on Tissue Science and Regenerative Medicine is mainly based on the theme Exploring the frontiers in tissue science and Medicine and it provides a platform for young researchers... Medical & Pharma Science & Research Biotechnology Drugs & Medicines Hospitals & SurgicalTue, 13 Nov 2018ongoing Boston, USAProventa Internationals unique format of Bioinformatics Strategy Meeting US East Coast gathers seasoned local and global thought leaders in an exclusive discussion where director-level professionals... Medical & Pharma Science & Research Mon, 12 - Wed, 14 Nov 2018ongoing Bochum, GermanyMaterials Chain International Conference will highlight recent trends in materials science and production technology by giving insight into current top-class research and future prospects in this area.... Industrial Engineering BiotechnologyMon, 12 - Wed, 14 Nov 2018ongoing Washington DC, USA Wellness, Health & Fitness BiotechnologyMon, 12 - Wed, 14 Nov 2018ongoing Onna, JapanThe ICBBE series which is sponsored by Biology and Bioinformatics Society (BBS) and co-sponsored by National Taipei University of Technology owns the history of 5 years. Previously, ICBBE was successfully... Medical & Pharma IT & Technology Tue, 13 - Wed, 14 Nov 2018ongoing Brussels, BelgiumThe International Conference On Science Technology And Management aim to promote scientific information interchange between researchers, developers, engineers, students, and practitioners working in and... Science & Research Biotechnology Automation & Robotics Air & Water ManagementTue, 13 - Wed, 14 Nov 2018ongoing Barcelona, SpainWorld Future Society Summit has a mission to clarify the uncertainties caused by technological advancement and create a community of informed people who participate in the creation of a better future,... Computer & Gadgets Education & Training Biotechnology Automation & Robotics IT & TechnologyWed, 14 - Thu, 15 Nov 2018starting tomorrow Moscow, Russia Medical & Pharma Biotechnology Wed, 14 - Thu, 15 Nov 2018starting tomorrow Philadelphia, USACommercial Data Insights for Life Sciences is the only event dedicated to improving the integration, validation and governance of master data. This conference lays out the industrys most cutting-edge... Medical & Pharma Biotechnology IT & TechnologyWed, 14 - Thu, 15 Nov 2018starting tomorrow Mexico City, MexicoThe regulation of similar bio-therapeutic products varies widely among the different Latin American countries. While some of them are yet to introduce their own regulation, others like Brazil and Mexico... Medical & Pharma Biotechnology Drugs & MedicinesWed, 14 - Fri, 16 Nov 2018starting tomorrow Rome, ItalyEuro Congress on Biotechnology Science & Research Environment & Waste Thu, 15 - Sat, 17 Nov 20182 days to go Egkomi, CyprusThe International Multithematic Bio-Medical Congress brings together distinguished scientists from all over the world and provides them with the opportunity to exhibit their work based both on clinical... Medical & Pharma Science & Research BiotechnologyThu, 15 - Sat, 17 Nov 20182 days to go Dubai, UAEExploring the innovate thinkers for Biotech industrial Revolution. Agriculture & Forestry Environment & WasteWed, 14 - Sun, 18 Nov 2018starting tomorrow Portland, USA Medical & Pharma Biotechnology Fri, 16 - Sun, 18 Nov 20183 days to go Osaka, Japan Agriculture & Forestry BiotechnologyFri, 16 - Sun, 18 Nov 20183 days to go Taipei, Taiwan Medical & Pharma BiotechnologyFri, 16 - Sun, 18 Nov 20183 days to go SingaporeBiomedical Signal and Bioinformatics attempt to make sense of signals and large amounts of data mined from biomedical research. ICBSB is a main annual research conference aims to bring together researchers... Medical & Pharma IT & Technology Sun, 18 - Tue, 20 Nov 20185 days to go Cairo, EgyptThe Omaintec conference will will provide a platform for International experts and organizations to share their expertise and experiences with regional decision and policy makers in the field of Operations... Building & Construction Industrial Engineering BiotechnologyMon, 19 - Wed, 21 Nov 20186 days to go13th edition Naples, ItalyInternational Conference on Bioinformatics and Computational Biology will cover topics like big data in medicine, health data analysis, structural bioinformatics and computational biochemistry, combinatorial... Medical & Pharma Science & ResearchTue, 20 - Thu, 22 Nov 2018 Barcelona, SpainThe NanoBio&Med Conference will be the perfect place to get a complete overview into the state of the art in those fields and also to learn about the research carried out and the latest results. The discussion... Medical & Pharma Science & Research Biotechnology Drugs & Medicines Thu, 22 Nov 2018 New Delhi, IndiaThe conference will cover areas like To identify and strengthen industry's role in the economic development,To provide up-to-date information and data to industry and government. Medical & Pharma BiotechnologyThu, 22 - Fri, 23 Nov 2018 London, UKThe Molecular Diagnostics World Summit, the conference will cover areas like product development, bioanalytics, bioinformatics, biomanufacturing, biotechnology, clinical diagnostics, clinical immunology,... Computer & Gadgets Medical & Pharma BiotechnologyThu, 22 - Fri, 23 Nov 2018 Bangkok, ThailandThai Society for Biotechnology and International Conference provides you with the opportunity to meet and interact with the leading professional, academician, researchers, friends and colleagues in the... Medical & Pharma Science & Research Fri, 23 - Sun, 25 Nov 2018 Bengaluru, IndiaThe Life Conference will feature medical experts talking about empowering innovations that covered the recent advances in fetal medicine and genetic aspects in ART pregnancies. It will also feature elegant... Medical & Pharma Science & Research BiotechnologyMon, 26 - Tue, 27 Nov 2018 Dublin, IrelandGet into the interdisciplinary field with cutting-edge novelties Medical & Pharma Education & TrainingWed, 28 Nov 2018 Milton Keynes, UKThe National Medtech and Biotech Summit is a gathering of senior management from the Medtech and Biotech sector offer an opportunity for the sector to gather and keep up to date with the latest innovations,... Medical & Pharma Science & Research Wed, 28 - Thu, 29 Nov 2018 San Diego, USAThe Latin America: Regulatory Compliance Requirements for Life Science Products specifically focuses on the overall regulatory compliance requirements and procedures for Pharmaceuticals, Medical Devices,... Medical & Pharma Biotechnology Drugs & MedicinesThu, 29 - Fri, 30 Nov 2018 Berlin, GermanyThe global biobanking market was USD 142 million in 2011 and it is forecasted that this market will reach USD 216.3 million in 2018 with the compound annual growth rate of 5.4 % from 2011 ... Medical & Pharma Science & Research BiotechnologyThu, 29 Nov - Sat, 01 Dec 2018 Clearwater, USAThe International Conference on Plant Synthetic Biology, Bioengineering, and Biotechnology will bring together scientists and engineers from universities, industry, and government working in all aspects... Agriculture & Forestry Medical & Pharma Sat, 01 - Sun, 02 Dec 2018 Washington DC, USAAddressing Opportunities For Global Biotechnology Science & ResearchMon, 03 - Tue, 04 Dec 2018 Tokyo, JapanThe Cmc Strategy Forum Japan brings together companies and academic institutions, enabling an in-depth discussion of global CMC issues with special emphasis on Japan and Asia-Pacific. The Forum will follow... Medical & Pharma BiotechnologyMon, 03 - Tue, 04 Dec 2018 So Paulo, Brazil Medical & Pharma Biotechnology Tue, 04 - Wed, 05 Dec 2018 Philadelphia, USAThe Content Marketing for Life Sciences conference brings together the industry's foremost content marketing experts as professionals explore how to deliver a more integrated customer experience by connecting... Medical & Pharma Business Services BiotechnologyWed, 05 - Thu, 06 Dec 2018 Berlin, GermanyThe GA2LEN Global Urticaria Forum focuses on the topics such as Chronic Urticaria - Pathogenese, Chronic Urticaria - Biomarkers, Chronic Urticaria - Clinical Trials and Studies, Chronic Urticaria - Differential... Medical & Pharma BiotechnologyWed, 05 - Thu, 06 Dec 2018 Sydney, AustraliaThe International Conference on Agricultural and Biological Science conference will provide an opportunity for the global participants to share their ideas and experience in person with their peers expected... Agriculture & Forestry Medical & Pharma Biotechnology Thu, 06 Dec 2018 Boston, USAThe Cell & Gene Therapy CEO is an invitation-only, off-the-record forum that brings together the past, present and future leaders to network and share expertise in cell and gene therapies. Medical & Pharma Science & Research BiotechnologyWed, 05 - Fri, 07 Dec 2018 Chipping Campden, UKThe Practical microbiology - specialist is designed for senior microbiologists and senior laboratory technical staff who already have a basic training in microbiology and who need to further their knowledge... Medical & Pharma Science & Research BiotechnologyThu, 06 - Sat, 08 Dec 2018 Snowmass Village, USADiscover New Concepts and Theories of Rocky Mountain Bioinformatics Medical & Pharma Fri, 07 - Sat, 08 Dec 2018 Madrid, SpainThe International Conference on Biotechnology and Bioengineering aims to bring together leading academic scientists, professors, researchers, students and research scholars to exchange and share their... Science & Research Biotechnology

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Biotechnology Conferences, Biotech Seminars, Summits ...

UNITY Biotechnology Appoints Additional Biotech Industry Veterans to Executive TeamSeptember 21, 2017SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 21, 2017 /PRNewswire/ UNITY Biotechnology, Inc. (UNITY), a privately held biotechnology company creating therapeutics that prevent, halt, or reverse numerous diseases of aging, today announced recent additions to its executive team.

UNITY Biotechnology Announces Extension of Series B Financing Bringing Total Round to $151 MillionAugust 17, 2017SAN FRANCISCO, August 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ UNITY Biotechnology, Inc. (UNITY), a privately held biotechnology company creating therapeutics that prevent, halt, or reverse numerous diseases of aging, today announced the closing of an additional $35 million in Series B financing. This second close of the Series B, in addition to the initial close in fall of 2016, brings the total amount of this financing to $151 million.

Nature Medicine Study Describes a Novel Senolytic Molecule that Slows the Progression of OsteoarthritisApril 24, 2017SAN FRANCISCO, April 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ UNITY Biotechnology, Inc. announced today the publication of new research in the journal Nature Medicine demonstrating that the selective elimination of senescent cells with a drug may delay, prevent, or even reverse the progression of osteoarthritis (OA)

UNITY Biotechnology Announces $116 Million Series B FinancingOctober 27, 2016SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ UNITY Biotechnology, Inc. (UNITY), a privately held biotechnology company creating therapeutics that prevent, halt, or reverse numerous diseases of aging, today announced the closing of a $116 million Series B financing.

Ascentage Pharma and UNITY Biotechnology Announce Collaboration for the Development of Senolytic Healthspan TherapiesApril 24, 2016SAN FRANCISCO, April 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ Ascentage Pharma, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on apoptosis-targeted oncology drug discovery and development, and UNITY Biotechnology, a San Francisco-based biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of medicines to improve healthspan, announced a worldwide collaboration to develop senolytic treatments for age-related disease.

Unity Biotechnology Launches with a Focus on Preventing and Reversing Diseases of AgingFebruary 03, 2016SAN FRANCISCO(BUSINESS WIRE)Unity Biotechnology today announced that it is developing medicines to treat and eliminate age-related diseases and increase healthspan, or the amount of time an individual lives in good health. Unitys initial funding has been led by founding investor ARCH Venture Partners, with significant contributions from Venrock, WuXi, Mayo Clinic, Unitys management team and others.

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The Professional Science Masters (PSM) degree in Medical Biotechnology combines graduate level science study with advanced business learning. This graduate degree program is for individuals with a bachelor's degree in the biomedical sciences who wish to advance their science and laboratory skills, specifically in biotechnology, but also want the business skills usually taught through an MBA program. The course may be completed in 12 - 18 months.

Since advanced cross-training between science and business occurs, students will take courses from both the College of Nursing and Health Sciences and the School of Business. Business courses focus on the foundation of professional skills, such as marketing, management, and entrepreneurship, giving students greater employment opportunity in the biotech field. Because of the interdisciplinary aspect of the PSM degree, students feel they are earning both a biotechnology and business graduate degree.

Biotechnology is a rapidly growing field where science experts study living organisms in order to produce diagnostic initiatives and pharmaceutical products to help impact and improve human health. Because of the rapid growth, the job opportunities within this field are endless. Now, more than ever, PSM graduates are in high demand because of the fusion of skills acquired upon completion of the degree. This is extremely important because employers are seeking candidates that have the science and lab expertise, but who can also perform well in business situations - such as pitching a new product to a potential client.

Here is a sample of companies and government agencies who normally hire PSM Biotechnology graduates:

Being located in Miami-Dade County, our masters degree in biotechnology is perfect for individuals seeking to work within the biotech and pharmaceutical industry. Miami provides many job opportunities because biotech companies are very prevalent in the South Florida market. Program Director Dr. Graham Shaw works directly with students to ensure the best placement for the required paid internship completed during their studies. Through these hands-on internships, students progress in their scientific expertise as well as develop their business and professional skills in the pharmaceutical business environment.

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Medical Biotechnology, MS : College of Nursing and Health ...

Piller's Fine Foods is recalling approximately 1,076 pounds of ready-to-eat salami and speck products due to possible salmonella adulteration. However, there have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. The problem was discovered when an FSIS sample of the product tested positive for Salmonella.

The Kroger Com. (KR) has recalled Comforts FOR BABY Purified Water with Fluoride Added 1 GAL (3.78 L) after receiving complaints about mold in the product. Testing by Kroger has identified the mold as Talaromyces penicillium. The water is sold in clear containers, but the mold may not be visible with the naked eye.

Rafedain Shish Kabob Restaurant, Inc. is recalling approximately 813 pounds of chicken patty shish kabob products due to presence of milk, wheat and soy, known allergens, which are not declared on the product label. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.

Caesar's Pasta, LLC, is recalling approximately 46,810 pounds of beef meatball products due to presence of egg, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label. The problem was discovered when a customer noticed that the label did not include eggs in the ingredient statement. Meanwhile, there have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.

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Debate about the security implications of cutting-edge biotechnology is afflicted with a fundamental blind spota lack of attention to growing military interest in the field. This blind spot is evident in discussions about, for example, gene-editing technology (in relation both to gene drives and to human modification). Such debate has tended to focus on the idea that research and technology might be directly misused by the bad guysand has tended to ignore broader questions about how the ongoing militarization of cutting-edge fields in biology might contribute to insecurity.

Last year James Clapper, when he was US director of national intelligence, labelled emerging population-level genetic-modification techniques as potential weapons of mass destruction. A number of states, in the context of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, have in recent years voiced concerns about state investment into biotechnology. Yet ethical reviews of gene editing to date in the United States have barely touched upon concerns about growing military interest in cutting-edge biotechas reflected in their absence from recent reports on both environmental and human modificationbiotechnology. Such omissions are in keeping with broad trends where US discussions about the potential for misusing biotechnology are concerned.

To be sure, the risk that benignly intended innovations might be directly misused by terrorists is a legitimate, if often overblown, security concern. But other issues merit concern as well. One such issue is the risk that military investment in biotechnology will adversely affect research priorities. Another is the possibility that military investment into defensive or public health projects by one state might be misinterpreted by other states as having offensive potential.

In the same vein, the scarcity of publicly available information about military research into biotechnology might fuel public distrust of valuable and well-intended work. It is clear, for example, that research into preventing, identifying, and treating infectious diseases by various militaries around the world will continue to provide broader spin-off benefitsbut publics in some states might be unsure why military rather than public health institutions lead such work.

A path toward addressing these concerns has already been established by the synthetic biology communityespecially in terms of its preemptive engagement with the security concerns that scientists entertain. However, even in this arena there has been a hesitance to address the issue of militarization.

Synthetic biology as a security laboratory. Synthetic biology is a field of scientific and technological development that has greatly extended humankinds abilities to manipulate biological organisms and processes. While genetic modification techniques have existed since the 1970s, synthetic biology is allowing for much more ambitious projectsoffering new ways of getting to grips with the complexity of biology and of developing a wide range of new technologies.

A watershed moment for this field was the First International Meeting of Synthetic Biology (SB 1.0), held at MIT in 2004. Central to the vision of the scientists involved was radically modifying naturally occurring organisms and processes through the application of engineering principles; the undertaking involved the convergence of a range of fields, including genetic engineering and computing. The appeal of the synthetic biology vision was broadand a number of subfields emerged under the synthetic biology banner in both the United States and Europe. Private and public investors committed significant resources to the establishment of research centers and networks, as well as to the development and commercialization of foundational technologies such as gene synthesis. This investment contributed to a number of early successes and landmark initiatives.

The initiatives included the establishment of a digital BioBricks repository, which today contains the genetic sequences of some 20,000 standardized biological parts, such as proteins that are involved in gene-expression within bacteria. This repository was established as a means for scientists to assert discovery rights, while also allowing for the rapid sharing and reuse of these discoveries by others. These biological parts are developed and utilized by the synthetic biology research community and in an annual student competition that showcases both the potential applications of research in the field and the rate at which the technology is advancing. Last years winners included a team based at Imperial College London that developed a tool to help scientists engineer production systems using multiple types of cells, a German team working on biological tissue printing, and a Chinese team that developed a design to detect poisons in traditional medicines.

Since its inception, synthetic biology has been a darling of scientific journalismwhich has made it challenging for civil society and regulators, when thinking through the fields societal implications, to separate hype from reality. Synthetic biology has also become symbolic of deeper questions about the way that science is supported and governed. The issues have included broad transformations in how societies engage with innovation, an increased emphasis on the need to open up the innovation process to public scrutiny, and the need for science to be more responsive to public needs. Security concerns have been a consistent aspect of these broader debates.

In no small part, this is a consequence of synthetic biologys having been established in the United States shortly after the 9/11 and Amerithrax attacks. At the time, regulators and funders in the United States were twitchy about the actual and perceived security concerns surrounding this fledgling field. The National Science Foundation, a major early investor in synthetic biology, set engagement with biosecurity concerns as a prerequisite for funding. The FBI, following through on recommendations by a blue-ribbon biosecurity board on synthetic biology, has also taken a proactive approach to reaching out to the community. The lead agent on this issue, Edward You, was recently profiledby MIT Technology Review as Americas Top Bioterror Cop.

Another key factor in the synthetic biology communitys continued engagement with security issues has been the commitment of prominent scientists. Stanford University bioengineering professor Drew Endy, who has been involved in numerous reviews of the field, has also been a leading advocate for biosecurity engagement by the next generation of synthetic biologists. Endy established the annual i-GEM competition (the acronym stands for international genetically engineered machine). This team competition for students includes a biosecurity review process providing young scientists an opportunity to consider the potential security implications of their work. Harvard University synthetic biologist George Church has also been a notable contributor on these issues. His public provocations over the years have repeatedly kick-started public debate. In addition, a number of social scientists have formed enduring professional relationships with practitioners of synthetic biologyand much of their work has focused on changing the way that scientists engage with potential risks and with the public.

The synthetic biology community has been central to the most intensive debate about the misuse of civilian biotechnology ever seena debate that has been under way since at least 2003. Engagement by scientists, civil society, funders, and regulators has spurred a raft of technology assessment initiatives and regulatory reviews in both the United States and Europe. In addition, the integration of ethical and security review into I-GEM, the annual undergraduate competition, has sensitized a generation of scientists to questions about their societal roles. Such initiatives have also helped raise the bar for some newer fields. Xenobiology, for exampleoriginally a subfield of synthetic biologyis currently seeking to establish its own disciplinary identity, and security implications are already being discussed as that fields research agenda is set. The security engagement displayed by the synthetic biology community appears to be catching.

At the same time, its important to remember the limitations that such communities face. Scientists envision and design techno-scientific fieldsbut they are subject to the whims of national-level funders and regulators. Its also very difficult for scientists to control how a technology will be used and commodified once the cat is out of the lab. This was illustrated at a recent synthetic biology meeting in Singapore. Endy, in his opening remarks, presented an egalitarian vision for future industrialization of synthetic biology technologies. But Randal J. Kirk, chairman of the biotech firm Intrexon (the main industry sponsor of the conference), delivered a slick presentation that provided a much more corporate vision of the fields future. This was a reminder of the central role that the market will play in synthetic biology investmentand of the role that industry will increasingly play in shaping regulation and public understanding of this area of biotechnology.

Jane Calvert, a University of Edinburgh social scientist who has been working in synthetic biology for over a decade, argued at the Singapore meeting that the field is closing as a creative spacethat the parameters of success are narrowing around what is commercially viable. Military involvement in synthetic biology presents similar dynamicsand discussions of this issue throughout biotechnology need to be promoted and internationalized. Military involvement in technology is not a bad thingand it is also inevitable. Still, legitimate concerns surround the ability of the military sector to skew research priorities. And of course, military involvement could also signal attempts to harness new biotechnology for hostile purposes. In those nations leading the way in terms of innovation, scientists might need to help ensure greater transparency regarding the scope and purposes of military investment in their fields.

Work in synthetic biology has created a community of scientists sensitized to such issues and willing to discuss them. The focus of discussion, however, needs to broaden beyond the national-level security preoccupations that currently dominate. One step in this direction would be to establish international dialogue among scientists specifically on the issue of biotechnology militarization. Such debates should not be limited to the existing preoccupation with pathogens, but rather should cover broader areas of military investment. This sort of dialogue might allow shared principles regarding state investment in biotechnology to be identified and articulatedprinciples that would both guide research priorities and establish hard limits about what is permissible. Such discussions could draw upon relevant principles in international human rights, humanitarian, and arms control lawincluding, but not limited to, treaties specifically dealing with biological, chemical, and environmental warfare. Such an outcome would give scientists a louder voice in conversations about military involvement in biotechnologywhile also reducing the stigma associated with invaluable military research and reinforcing the stigma against the weaponization of biotechnology.

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We've got to talk: The militarization of biotechnology - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

With the increasing use of robotic surgery, 3D printing, implantable devices, use of automation and artificial intelligence in clinical settings and other digital innovations for prevention, monitoring, and treatment across Southeast Asia, the fair will showcase some of the most innovative products and trending solutions.

Another focus will be Rehabilitative Care and Connected Care in line with the needs of todays highest healthcare spenders the ageing population.

Eighteen national pavilions with first-time official country representations from Canada, India, European Union, Russia and the Netherlands will be present at the fair. The presence of the European Union Business Avenues Pavilion with 50 companies especially reflects the increased interest of international market players in Southeast Asias medical industry.

Others highlights include:

>> The 3rd Advanced Rehab Technology Conference (ARTeC), which will take place from September 6-7, with topics centred on technological solutions for the ageing population. Speakers from leading institutions such as MIT and Fujita Health University will discuss robotic rehabilitation, sarcopenia in the elderly, neurorehabilitation and others.

>> A seminar on the importance of biomedical engineering as a Thai professional qualification: Organised by the Thai Association for Medical Instrumentation, it will bring together speakers from related agencies to explain BME professional qualifications and standards.

Other seminars are: Digital Imaging in Radiology and Patient Safety by the Radiological Society of Thailand, CIO Forum by the Thai Medical Informatics Association, and the Interinstitute Conference by the Thai Gynecologic Cancer Society.

The Taiwan Medical Device Business Matchmaking event organised by the Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Industries Promotion Office under the Ministry of Economic Affair of Taiwan, and the Taiwan Medical and Biotech Industry Association, will allow visitors to explore business opportunities and develop partnerships across Taiwans medical device industry.

Find out more at t http://www.MedicalFair-Thailand.com.

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Robotics, biotechnology at heart of Medical Fair - The Nation - The Nation

The second annual Biodesign Challenge Summit just wrapped up at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. In all, 22 teams from universities in seven countries presented creative ideas for a biology-infused future, envisioning such things as:

The winning project came from Central St. Martins in the U.K., for their concept of using earthworms in abandoned coal mines to harvest commercially important metals; this would give economically depressed communities a new source of revenue and jobs and would also clean the environment.

For these students, the increasing powers of biotechnology raise important ethical and societal questions, but they see biotechnology largely as a source for hope for our planet. If used properly, biotechnology could rescue species in trouble, such as purple martins, bees and coral. It could also to make it easier for people to discard less, and reuse more. As a judge in this competition, the students hopefulness, inventiveness and concern for our planet and all its inhabitants was clearly inspiring: We should all hope they are able to shape a positive future for biotechnology.

But a technologys development rests upon its developers, and the benefits, including jobs, will go to the market they cater to and it is no longer clear that the U.S. will be that market. This is concerning, not only because those benefits could accrue here in the U.S., but because the governance and safety of new biotechnologies will be in the hands of those who are the scientific leaders in the technology.

For now, the U.S. is a biotechnology world-leader and has the potential to benefit the most in jobs and in products. Synthetic biology, a relatively new field that aims to make biology easier to engineer, was born in the U.S., and the US is still in the lead; Fidelity Investments describe synthetic biology as the defining technology of this century and the World Economic Forum ranks it within the top 10 emerging technologies. But other nations are investing heavily and supporting their scientists, and there is mounting concern that the U.S. is not just losing its competitive advantage, but actually falling behind. Most of the competition is coming from China. More than a quarter of the worlds DNA sequencing capacity is contained within one Chinese company, and China already produces more life science and engineering PhDs. Chinese scientists used CRISPR a gene editing technique that is similar to the find and replace function in Word to treat a patient with metastatic lung cancer, and they were the first to proceed using CRISPR in a biomedical trial.

Whether or not the U.S. falls behind in synthetic biology and other biotechnologies is a choice our political leaders will make by neglect. Failing to fund synthetic biology would be damaging to the U.S. economy, as well as national security, both because a strong economy underwrites our military strength and diplomatic influence, and because these technologies can boost our defenses against natural and man-made biological threats. The way to counteract this is to not make cuts to biomedical and synthetic biology research funded by the U.S. government, but to redouble efforts, so that future jobs and opportunities dont leave Americans out of a bio future.

The theme of the students biodesign exhibition was the future will be grown. But there are important questions that face us as we fund our government research agencies in the years ahead: Who, specifically, will grow that future? What will be grown? And to what end? These next several years will be formative in setting the rules of the road for synthetic biology and other biotechnologies. The U.S. must remain in a prime technological position and provide global leadership to ensure that synthetic biology is used for the benefit of the American public, for the benefit of U.S. national and economic security, and indeed, for the benefit of humankind.

Gigi Kwik Gronvall (ggronvall@jhu.edu) is a senior associate at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and visiting faculty at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She is the author of Synthetic Biology: Safety, Security, and Promise (2016).

Excerpt from:
Don't let the US lose its biotechnology edge - Baltimore Sun

Belgian diagnostics company Biocartis Group NV and Singpores A*STAR ETPL have kicked off development of a multimodal breast cancer assay designed to guide therapy selection in personalised medicine.

Both parties did not disclose any information about the worth of their five-year strategic partnership aimed at the development of a PCR assay for breast cancer detection running on Biocartis' diagnostic Idylla(TM) platform. This first assay selected for development under the partnership is a solid multimodal FFPE biopsy assay, aimed at supporting optimal therapy selection decisions for Her-2-positive, hormone receptor-positive, and undisclosed breast cancer target-positive breast cancer patients, the companies said.

Under the terms of the agreement, ETPL and Biocartis will co-invest in the development of several jointly selected tests. Biocartis will commercialise the tests under its own label, while ETPL will act as a development partner through Singapore's Diagnostics Development (DxD) Hub.

Breast cancer is the the largest segment of the cancer diagnostics market, with expected sales of US$13.1bn by 2020. According to Biocartis, an increasing number of targeted and hormone therapies for breast cancer drives the demand for assays that guide therapy selection. While Her2 may occur in up to 20% of breast cancers, according to optimistic estimates, hormone receptor expression is estimated to occur in poentially two-thirds of women with breast cancer.

While most health systems have not yet switched to reimbursement of genome sequencing-led cancer profiling, multimodal biomarker testing is currently diagnostic state of the art. Some diagnostic companies, however, are already preparing to launch sequencing based biomarker detection to improve patient stratification.

Read more:
Biocartis and A*STAR ink breast cancer R&D contract - European Biotechnology

Advances in modern biotechnology have helped generate techniques for curing diseases and improving lives. These same advances are leading to new tools to manage insect pests in a more effective and environmentally friendly manner.

The tiny diamondback moth is one of the worlds worst agricultural pests. This destructive insect is not native to New York state and is a major problem for farmers here, ravaging plants of the brassica family such as economically important vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, kale and cauliflower. The caterpillars chew on leaves and can kill young plants or make the vegetables unmarketable. The global damages caused by the diamondback moth are estimated to cost up to $5 billion each year.

To battle these invaders, farmers typically use insecticides, which prompts concern about worker safety, environmental impact and potentially harmful effects on important pollinators, like honeybees.

As scientists, we seek more effective alternatives.

For more than 150 years, Cornells College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) has worked on behalf of the people of New York state to use purpose-driven science to tackle these challenges by developing and evaluating emerging technologies. One emerging, insecticide-free technology we are evaluating is a pest control method developed by scientists at a British company called Oxitec.

The concept behind this strategy is to leverage the natural mating instincts of male insects to reduce the pest populations. Similar strategies have been used since the 1950s and were endorsed in Rachel Carsons 1962 book Silent Spring that launched the modern environmental movement. Oxitecs current technology uses the same concept but refines it with the tools of modern biotechnology. In the case of the diamondback moth, Oxitecs genetically engineered males mate with wild females who then lay eggs on the crops, but the emerging female larvae do not survive to adulthood and therefore are unable to reproduce. Thus, the pest population declines without the use of insecticides.

More research is needed for this particular tool and others that are under development that hold promise for more sustainable and environmentally friendly pest management. Entomologists at Cornell have the level of expertise in insect biology and pest management needed to develop and independently evaluate the technology.

Research conducted in our greenhouses and outdoor cages in 2015 provided evidence for the effectiveness of this bio-based technology against the diamondback moth and justifies additional research. Outdoor cages, although providing useful information about insect behavior, do not provide the real-world environment needed to fully assess the technology.

Research is now needed in an open field setting that replicates the actual environment where farmers battle the insects. As such, the next step in the research cycle is an experimental release of the moths in a remote cabbage field at the Geneva campus this summer. Specifically, we need to know how these insects are going to move, how well they will survive, and how effectively they will mate with females, which are important measurements that demonstrate how well they will be able to reduce a pest population in future.

The moths have been genetically engineered and, based on evidence collected and a thorough evaluation by independent experts, there is no indication that these modifications pose a risk to humans or other animals, even if somehow ingested.

We have already examined the question of whether the moths will fly away from the research field. Weve created an isolated habitat for the test insects with plenty of cabbage, a food they love and do not abandon when its plentiful. Furthermore, this insect is short-lived and cannot survive Upstate New York winters.

To provide proper oversight, Cornell applied for a permit from the U.S. Department of Agriculture before proceeding with the trials a process that required an Environmental Assessment and a 30-day public comment period before the permit was finally approved. The USDA reviewed potential risks of the field trials and found that this project will have no significant impact to human health or to the environment. Approvals from Cornells Institutional Biosafety Committee and CALS leadership were also required to proceed.

This research opens new doors for the future of farming with pest control methods that are non-toxic and pesticide-free. Entomologists at Cornell and other institutions believe that this science has great potential to effectively manage invasive pest populations, even beyond the diamondback moth, in an environmentally friendly way.

We invite all members of the local community to learn more about this project at a public forum hosted by Cornell University. Join us at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Stations Jordan Hall Auditorium, 630 West North St., Geneva. For more information and to submit your questions or comments in advance of the public forum, please visit http://shelton.entomology.cornell.edu/.

Jan Nyrop is professor of entomology and interim director at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva. Tony Shelton is professor of entomology with expertise in the diamondback moth and insect pest management who has dedicated his 38-year career at Cornell University to finding solutions to this persistent pest, and other pests, faced by farmers in New York and around the world.

See the original post:
GUEST APPEARANCE: Using modern biotechnology to manage insect pests - Finger Lakes Times

NEW YORK Stocks that moved heavily or traded substantially on Thursday:

United Airlines Holdings Inc., down $12.26 to $37.08.

The U.S. is restricting travel from most of Europe for 30 days over the virus outbreak.

Boeing Co., down $34.24 to $154.84.

The airplane maker is reportedly freezing hiring and could draw down the remainder of a $13.8 billion loan.

Apache Corp., down 49 cents to $7.76.

The oil and gas company is cutting spending, reducing its rig count and drastically slashing its dividend.

Expedia Group Inc., down $11.63 to $65.04.

The economic impact from the virus outbreak is expected to inflict severe financial pain on travel-reliant companies.

United Parcel Service Inc., down $1.82 to $86.17.

The package delivery service said board member Carol Tome will take over from its retiring CEO.

Vir Biotechnology Inc., up $3.83 to $37.60.

The biotechnology company will work with Biogen to develop a potential treatment for COVID-19.

Live Nation Entertainment Inc., down $5.81 to $36. 20.

The concert promoter faces a dismal outlook as the virus outbreak cancels large public events.

Carnival Corp., down $6.78 to $14.97.

The companys Princess Cruises will suspend global operations through May 10 because of the virus outbreak.

Go here to see the original:
Live Nation, Carnival fall; Vir Biotechnology, rises - The Republic

BIOTECHNOLOGY can be the key to the country's food security and development issues.

Gil Saguiguit, director of Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) said that this scientific technology gives farmers a fighting chance to cope with the many challenges and obstacles they face in farming.

He reiterated the increasing importance of safe, and evidence- and science-based agricultural technologies in promoting agricultural productivity and food and nutrition security amid climate change and dwindling production resources.

Among these technologies is biotechnology, including both traditional (such as selective breeding and fermentation techniques) and modern (genetic engineering) techniques, which Searca looks at as an important tool in addressing most of the agriculture challenges.

He made these statements following the Philippine launch of the annual report of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) on the global status of commercialized biotech crops last May.

Saguiguit, however, emphasized that biotechnology will never be a lone solution to the problems but an essential tool to complement with the existing solutions. Hence, Searca's push for coexistence.

According to a report by the US Department of Agriculture Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture, coexistence is the concurrent cultivation of conventional, organic, identity preserved and genetically engineered crops consistent with underlying consumer preferences and farmer choices.

Based from the ISAAA report, global planting of biotech crops reached 185.1 million hectares in 2016, up from 179.7 million hectares the previous year.

A total of 26 countries grew biotech crops, including the Philippines, which planted around 812,000 hectares of biotech yellow corn last year. Biotech corn varieties, which are grown in the country since 2003, are pest resistant and herbicide tolerant, thus providing various documented benefits to Filipino farmers including significant increase in yield and reduction in production costs.

Saguiguit said that through Searcas 10th five-year plan focused on Inclusive and Sustainable Agricultural and Rural Development (Isard), the center believes that due attention must be given to resource poor farmers by providing them access to information, best practices, and new technologies that will increase their farm productivity.

In a press statement, Searca stood firm that they only promotes agricultural technologies and practices that are known to be safe and do not compromise human and environmental health.

On the other hand, Chinkee Golle, acting executive director of Interface Development Interventions (Idis), said that the recent announcement of ISAAA stating that Philippines ranked as the top grower of biotech or genetically modified (GM) crops in Southeast Asia and 12th biggest producer globally last year, is a threat to the environmentalists' call to ban GM crops.

This is really alarming and truly a threat to our call to ban the GM crops. While here in Davao we continue to promote the implementation of organic agriculture, the production of Bt corn continues, its not helping the farmers at all but more of helping the giant companies/producers of GM crops, she said.

With the continuing opposition to biotechnology, Saguiguit said it is all the more important for the public, particularly decision and policymakers, to understand the said technology in the context of scientific and empirical evidence.

Read this article:
Biotechnology a key to food security | SunStar - Sun.Star

On a cold wintry day in January 2020, Harvard University had unusual visitors. Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested 60-year-old Professor Charles Lieber, a renowned expert in nanoscience and head of Harvards chemistry and chemical biology departments. As The New York Times reported on January 28, shortly after his arrest: By afternoon, one of Harvards scientific luminaries was in handcuffs, charged with making a false statement to federal authorities about his financial relationship with the Chinese government. His arrest sent shock waves through research circles.

Professor Charles Lieber, head of Harvards chemistry and chemical biology department was charged with lying about his financial relationship with the Chinese government. (Photo: Reuters)

Dr Lieber was one of three scientists to be charged with crimes. Zaosong Zheng, a Harvard-affiliated cancer researcher, was caught leaving the country with 21 vials of cells stolen from a laboratory at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston, according to the authorities. The third was Yanqing Ye. Prosecutors said she hid the fact that she was a lieutenant in the Peoples Liberation Army, and continued to carry out assignments from Chinese military officers while at Boston University. Ms Yanqing was charged with visa fraud, making false statements, acting as an agent of a foreign government and conspiracy. She was in China and was not arrested.

The provenance

What has Liebers arrest got to do with the global spread of the COVID-19 pandemic? Perhaps nothing. But joining the dots points to a secretive nexus between US scientists and China in its bid to access highly classified US research, especially in biotechnology. The Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post last week reported that patient zero the first carrier of the coronavirus was a 55-year-old man from Hubei province, detected as far back as November 17, 2019. However, it was only on December 31, 2019 by when the virus had already had nearly two months to infect unprotected people that the Chinese government released initial information on the new virus.

It was too late. Contacts between millions of Chinese during the lunar new year festival, when many travel to and from mainland China, had proceeded unhindered. The virus spread rapidly across the world from its epicentre in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei and a city of 11 million people. By locking down Hubei, the Chinese Communist government ensured the infection was controlled largely within the province.

The extent

Other countries were not as successful. Planeloads of Chinese workers fly between Wuhan and Milan where hundreds of Chinese-owned factories churn out designer leather bags and other products. That explains why Italy, especially the northern Lombardy region, has been so badly affected by the virus. From Italy, part of the European Unions Schengen borderless visa region, the virus spread quickly during the two-month unprotected window to Germany, France, Spain and, with a time lag, Britain.

Wuhan is one of Chinas most important high-tech hubs. Like Harvard Professor Charles Liebers contractual work with the Wuhan University of Technology, a large number of US scientists work on assignments with Chinese universities. Liebers arrest will have a chilling effect on the American scientific community.

Wuhan itself is a city of many parts. It hosted the Wuhan Spirit informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping in 2018. But Wuhan has much more to commend itself. The city has attracted investors from 80 countries. It hosts over 6,000 foreign-owned companies. Fortune 500 firms have a large presence in Hubei 85 have investments in the province. Wuhan has a large bio-industry. Located in a picturesque area dubbed Biolake known officially as the Wuhan National Bio-Industry Base the complex has six centres: biology innovation, biomedicine, bio farming, medical devices, medical health and bioenergy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in the WuhanSummit on April 28, 2018. (Photo: PIB)

The Wuhan University of Technology which, according to the FBI, paid Harvard Professor Lieber $50,000 per month and a lump sum of $1.50 million all of which Lieber concealed from both Harvard and the US government has 27 innovative research centres and several laboratories. The Coronavirus is not the first time a deadly infection has travelled to Europe from China. In 1347, the Plague, also called the Black Death, killed millions in Europe. The source was traced back to rodent carriers on a Chinese trading ship which berthed at various European ports. Why has the number of people affected by the Coronavirus in India been significantly lower than those in Europe? The answer lies in acquired immunity.

Response at home

Indians are exposed from childhood to all kinds of bacteria and immunity gradually develops. In Europe, you can drink water from a tap. The level of immunity in an average European or American is far lower as the case of Delhi belly afflicting foreigners visiting India attests. In epidemics like SARS and swine flu, Indian fatalities have always been fewer than those abroad. Viruses are often rendered ineffective by anti-bacterial antibodies most Indians acquire. They serve as a natural immunological shield.

The Narendra Modi government has been proactive in its response to the crisis, except for one lacuna: the restricted numbers of people being tested for the coronavirus. The decision to allow certified private laboratories to conduct tests with advanced kits, rather than restrict testing to government hospitals and laboratories, hasnt come a day too soon.

(Courtesy of Mail Today)

Also read: Winning the war against coronavirus... from home

Excerpt from:
Why Wuhan is the virus hub of China and the world - DailyO

Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Services Outsourcing Market 2020-2025 Industry research report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years, the report also brief deals with the product life cycle, comparing it to the relevant products from across industries that had already been commercialized details the potential for various applications, discussing about recent product innovations and gives an overview on potential regional market.

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Based on the Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Services Outsourcing industrial chain, this report mainly elaborates the definition, types, applications and major players of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Services Outsourcing market in details. Deep analysis about market status (2014-2020), enterprise competition pattern, advantages and disadvantages of enterprise products, industry development trends (2020-2024), regional industrial layout characteristics and macroeconomic policies, industrial policy has also be included. From raw materials to downstream buyers of this industry will be analyzed scientifically, the feature of product circulation and sales channel will be presented as well. In a word, this report will help you to establish a panorama of industrial development and characteristics of the Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Services Outsourcing market.

The Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Services Outsourcing market can be split based on product types, major applications, and important regions.

Major Players in Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Services Outsourcing market are:o Inspired Pharmao GMP Pharmaceuticalso Concept Heidelberg GmbHo Quality Contexto RSSLo QuintilesIMSo Management Forumo Quantic Groupo Parexel International Corporationo Lachman Associates

Major Regions that plays a vital role in Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Services Outsourcing market are:o North Americao Europeo Chinao Japano Middle East & Africao Indiao South Americao Others

Most important types of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Services Outsourcing products covered in this report are:o Consultingo Auditing & Assessmento Regulatory Affairso Product Maintenanceo Product Design & Developmento Product Testing & Validationo Training & Educationo Others

Most widely used downstream fields of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Services Outsourcing market covered in this report are:o Regenerative Medicineo Biobankingo Drug Discovery

Order a copy of Global Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Services Outsourcing Market Report @https://www.orianresearch.com/checkout/1440277

There are 13 Chapters to thoroughly display the Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Services Outsourcing market. This report included the analysis of market overview, market characteristics, industry chain, competition landscape, historical and future data by types, applications and regions.

Chapter 1: Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Services Outsourcing Market Overview, Product Overview, Market Segmentation, Market Overview of Regions, Market Dynamics, Limitations, Opportunities and Industry News and Policies.Chapter 2: Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Services Outsourcing Industry Chain Analysis, Upstream Raw Material Suppliers, Major Players, Production Process Analysis, Cost Analysis, Market Channels and Major Downstream Buyers.Chapter 3: Value Analysis, Production, Growth Rate and Price Analysis by Type of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Services Outsourcing.Chapter 4: Downstream Characteristics, Consumption and Market Share by Application of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Services Outsourcing.Chapter 5: Production Volume, Price, Gross Margin, and Revenue ($) of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Services Outsourcing by Regions (2014-2020).Chapter 6: Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Services Outsourcing Production, Consumption, Export and Import by Regions (2014-2020).Chapter 7: Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Services Outsourcing Market Status and SWOT Analysis by Regions.Chapter 8: Competitive Landscape, Product Introduction, Company Profiles, Market Distribution Status by Players of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Services Outsourcing.Chapter 9: Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Services Outsourcing Market Analysis and Forecast by Type and Application (2020-2024).Chapter 10: Market Analysis and Forecast by Regions (2020-2024).Chapter 11: Industry Characteristics, Key Factors, New Entrants SWOT Analysis, Investment Feasibility Analysis.Chapter 12: Market Conclusion of the Whole Report.Chapter 13: Appendix Such as Methodology and Data Resources of This Research.

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Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Services Outsourcing Market 2020 Size, Trends, Global Growth, Industry Regional Segmentation, Top Manufactures and...

A SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft, currently on its way to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the CRS-20 mission, is carrying a variety of scientific research projects as well as usual food and other supplies for the astronauts. The hardware going to the ISS this weekend includes a number of research projects in biotechnology that could improve the lives of patients here on Earth.

The payloads launching on SpaceX CRS-20 demonstrate that the ISS is not only an amazing multi-purpose, multi-user research facility in low Earth orbit but also a proof-of-concept incubator where industries can advance their applied research and technology development programs, ISS National Lab Chief Operating Officer Ken Shields said in a statement.

Moreover, the diversity of investigations supported by the private sector, government agencies, and academic institutions demonstrates the continued rising demand and interest in utilizing our orbiting laboratory to benefit life on Earth and build a thriving market economy in space.

One experiment by the startup Dover Lifesciences is an attempt to develop protein-based drugs to treat metabolic disorders and obesity. Proteins in the human body play a central role in health and disease and they can also be used as biological agents to treat disease, the ISS National Lab explained in a blog post.

By using protein crystallization to understand the structure of proteins alone and in complex with other molecules, scientists can better design therapeutics to prevent and treat disease. In microgravity, protein crystals can grow larger and with fewer imperfections than on Earth, revealing more detailed protein structures.

The research is looking for drugs that could inhibit the conversion of glucose to glycogen in the liver and muscles. If this were possible, it could be used as a treatment for obesity and some rare genetic disorders, and could even have applications in the treatment of cancer.

Other research includes the development of a small drug pump, shaped like a patch, which can deliver medicine in a controlled and continuous way. For people who have conditions that require regular injections, such as diabetes, this patch could offer an easier and safer way to get the medicine they need regularly.

Finally, the company 1Drop Diagnostics is aiming to develop a portable diagnostic device that can make diagnoses based on very small amounts of blood, which would be invaluable to patients and doctors in remote locations who have limited access to lab equipment.

The Dragon cargo spacecraft is set to arrive at the International Space Station at 4 a.m. PT on Monday, March 9.

Originally posted here:
SpaceX is carrying these biotechnology experiments to the ISS this weekend - Digital Trends

Nanoparticles in Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals Market Overview

This Nanoparticles in Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals Market report showcases a holistic assessment of the entire market from the period 2017-2025. This report includes a detailed analysis of the present market trends along with numerous segments, which are found to be playing a vital role in the market. The included factors, such as market dynamics, difficulties, opportunities, constraints, and driving forces, clarify their effects on the market. The constraints and drivers (driving forces) are considered as intrinsic factors, whereas, difficulties and opportunities are deemed as extrinsic characteristics of the market. However, the Nanoparticles in Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals Market study aims to deliver information on the progress and expansion of marketing terms of revenue across the prognosis interval.

Nanoparticles in Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals Market : Research Methodology

The method for research and data collection used for this report is expert panel interviews, primary, and secondary research. The data for the secondary research is collected through different but relevant resources, such as past research papers, annual reports of the organization, and press releases. Moreover, other sources for data collection include trade journals, industry magazines, official government websites, and platforms, which were also utilized for the accumulation of information related to opportunities for business growth in the Nanoparticles in Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals Market .

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The data collected for primary research includes telephonic interviews of numerous industry and business specialists through their consent. Also, the data is collected through face-to-face interviews and questionnaires throughout distinct geographies via emails in order to eliminate any biasedness and to acquire maximum details on Nanoparticles in Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals Market throughout. Primary interviews are mostly taken on a continuous basis with all the industry specialists to get the latest knowledge of the market and verify the present data analysis. Primary interviews produce information related to all the essential factors, such as the size of the market, market and growth trends, state of competition within the selected geography, etc. These factors turned out to be useful in order to validate and strengthen the findings acquired through secondary research, and also to provide an understanding of the market to the team that was involved in the analysis.

Nanoparticles in Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals Market : Scope of the Report

The report also displays an internal environment analysis for Nanoparticles in Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals Market . Each market evaluation displayed in the report is produced with the help of profound primary interviews, secondary research, and internal reviews from the professionals. All the market evaluations have been examined by understanding the influence of different environmental forces, such as social, economic, and political factors with the present market dynamics affecting Nanoparticles in Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals Market s growth.

Apart from market dynamics, the chapter is also comprised of Porters Five Forces analysis that expounds the five powers called, a. bargaining power of buyers, bargaining power of suppliers, new entrant threats, substitute threats, and level of competition concerning to Nanoparticles in Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals Market . It describes several candidates, such as software and platform vendors, the intermediaries, system integrators, and end-users within the market environment. The report also draws attention to the competitive demography of the Nanoparticles in Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals Market .

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Nanoparticles in Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals Market : Competitive Landscape

The market analysis involves an entire portion devoted to the key actors in the Nanoparticles in Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals Market in which our analysts offer knowledge related to the financial statements of all the key players including their entire product benchmarking, developments, and SWOT analysis. The company profile portion contains financial intelligence and business summary. The organizations included in this part of the report are free to be customized as per the clients requirements.

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Nanoparticles in Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals Market : Growth and Changes Influencing the Industry 2017-2025 Dagoretti News - Dagoretti News

What happened

Shares of Inovio Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:INO) and Vir Biotechnology (NASDAQ:VIR), two companies developing drugs for the coronavirus outbreak in China, are down today on word that Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) looks to have beaten the companies to the punch, setting up a research collaboration with Chinese authorities to run a clinical trial for its antiviral medication remdesivir.

As of 1:46 p.m. EST on Monday, Inovio had fallen 14.5%, while Vir was down 16.2%.

Image source: Getty Images.

While the news that Gilead has moved first is disappointing for the biotechs, there may still be a need for Inovio's 2019-nCoV coronavirus vaccine. Remdesivir might lessen the symptoms of the virus, but it won't stop the spread of the disease in mildly symptomatic patients who aren't likely to take the drug.

Vir's antibody treatment would likely compete more directly with remdesivir since it would attack the virus directly and would likely be used to treat infected patients.

Both Inovio and Vir increased in value quite a bit in January. Vir doubled, while Inovio was up almost 40% as the 2019-nCoV coronavirus outbreak has spread and investors pinned hopes on the potential to develop drugs for the virus. With the valuations already incorporating some of the potential, it's not surprising to see a pullback on news that the opportunity might not be as large as first imagined.

The bigger issue for Inovio and Vir is how long the clinical trial process could end up taking and whether the outbreak will peter out before the companies can get their treatments to market.

View original post here:
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To create a scope of networking among young biotechnologists and engage them into biotech related activities outside of structured curriculum, Network of Young Biotechnologists of Bangladesh (NYBB) organised National Young Biotechnologists Congress for the fifth time. This year, the event was held on February 22 in the Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate building of University of Dhaka. The Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology of University of Dhaka hosted the congress. 744 participants from 34 different universities and institutions took part in the event.

The inaugral session started with the welcome address of Md Arif Khan, Chief Executive Officer of NYBB and Lecturer of University of Development Alternative, where he stated the limitations of job opportunities for biotechnologists. To solve this issue, he drew the attention of Dr Kazi Shahidullah, Chairman of University Grants Commission. The special guests, Independence award winner, Dr Haseena Khan, Chairman and Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Department of University of Dhaka, Dr Zeba Islam Seraj, Director General of National Institute of Biotechnology, Dr Md Salimullah expressed their thoughts on this initiative of NYBB and appreciated young biotechnologists for their active participation. The chief guest of the event, Dr Kazi Shahidullah shared his views on biotechnology and its need in our country. Dr Nazmul Ahsan, Chairman and Professor of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Department of University of Dhaka, chaired the inaugral session. After his thoughtful and encouraging speech, this session ended with the vote of thanks from Mahmuda Kabir, Chief Operation Officer of NYBB.

The first Plenary Lecture titled "Professor Ahmed Shamsul Islam Biotechnology Speech 2020" was from Sir Walter Bodmer, renowned human geneticist and cancer researcher of University of Oxford. More than 500 students and professionals were present at the event.

After this session, a panel discussion on the topic, "Challenges and Opportunities in Biotechnology as a Career" took place, where the panelists Dr Zeba Islam Seraj, Professor Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Department of University of Dhaka, Dr Anwarul Azim Akhand, Founder Chairman and Professor of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Department of University of Chittagong, Dr Mohammad Al Forkan, Executive Director of Laal Teer Livestock Development Ltd, Dr Kazi Emdadul Haque and Head of Grameenphone Accelerator, Minhaz Anwar discussed how the students should prepare themselves for their desired career path and what are the expectations of the job authorities or industrial sponsors. This session was moderated by Dr Mustak Ibn Ayub, a member of the Board of Directors of NYBB and Assistant Professor of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Department of University of Dhaka.

At this stage, Esco Lifescience Private Ltd presented "10 Minutes on Biosafety" after which the competitions began. The first contest was an oral presentation, in which 13 selected works were presented among 80 submitted abstracts. The champion, first runner up and second runner up of this competition were Lecturer Afrin Sultana from Noakhali Science and Technology University, Afroza Akter from University of Chittagong and Rakib Wazed Nayon from Shahjalal Science and Technology University, respectively.

150 abstracts were submitted in the research and Idea-based poster presentation competition, from which 80 were selected for the showcase. The champion of this competition was Md Sadek Bachu. The first place was occupied by both Topu Rayhan & Anti Islam and the second prize winner of the competition was Anjasu Paul.

Student combined their skills of photography and understanding of biotechnology in the Biotech Photography Contest. In this competition, 'The First Triumph', a picture taken by Md Thosif Reza, 'Microtuber formation in cell culture of Solanum tuberosum', a picture taken by Sheikh Sanjid Ahmed from University of Dhaka and 'Fungus for my Valentine', a picture taken by Rocktim Barua from University of Chittagong won the first, second and third prizes, respectively.

In 3 Minute Biotech Contest, students got the opportunity to explain their research work in Bangla. With 15 contestants, the semifinal took place on February `9 in Star Labs, from which 6 were selected for the final presentation in the congress. With the votes of audiences, the people's choice award was won by Drishty Badhon Sarker from University of Dhaka. The champion and runner up of this competition were Anti Islam from Khulna University and Md Thosif Reza from University of Chittagong.

After that, a biotechnology hackathon, the first of its kind in Bangladesh, was arranged. Team Super Bug 2.0 of Chittagong University, Team Sanryu of Dhaka University and Team Biotech of Khulna University won the first, second and third prizes at the event. The judges were: Iqbal Bahar Chowdhury (President, E-Commerce Association of Bangladesh), Reza Chowdhury (Radiant Pharmaceuticals) and Dr S M Mahbubur Rashid (DU).

Dr Senjuti Saha, Microbiologist of Child Health Research Foundation presented the speech, titled "Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Heroes of the field 2020" on her journey in the field of science. 22nd L'Oral-Unesco For Women in Science Award winner Dr Firdausi Qadri, Emeritus Scientist of icddr,b and Founder of ideSHi gave the speech, "Professor Naiyyum Chowdhury Memorial Speech 2020", which inspired the young biotechnology students.

Professor of University of Dhaka Dr Sharif Akhteruzzaman guided students on how to succeed in the path of their biotech careers in his speech, "Research Excellence in Biotechnology: Obstacles to Overcome".

At the last stage of the event, Dr Md Tofazzol Islam, Professor and Director of Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, spoke about biotechnology. Dr Md Abul Kalam Azad, Professor of Shahjalal Science and Technology University and Dr Abdul Haque, Assistant General Manager and Head (Biotech plant) of Aristopharma Ltd, shared their views on research opportunities in biotechnology in their respective speeches.

The event ended with a speech from Dr Md Adnan Mannan, Member of Board of Directors of NYBB and Professor of University of Chittagong. He conveyed his best wishes to young biotechnologists.

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Fifth National Young Biotechnologists Congress 2020 held at Dhaka University - The Daily Star