Bio-Buzz No5/2006

June 2006

IN THIS ISSUE

- BioApproaches Main June Event
- Expect a call!
- National and International events to look out for
- Less serious...More fun

We are always keen to have input from our members for the BioBuzz so if you have a bio related story, event, article of interest or joke please send it to jade@bioapproaches.co.uk and it will be incorporated into a newsletter that has a readership of 1500!

HEADLINE NEWS

- BioApproaches SW Recruitment Questionnaire - Following close discussions with the Health and Bio-Industry a key area of concern for many companies is recruitment. BioApproaches SW and the national organisation - Science Engineering Manufacturing Technologies Alliance (SEMTA) are working closely to improve the situation through specialist recruitment questionnaires addressed to 150 organisations across the South West. BioApproaches and SEMTA are working closely to reduce skills-gap issues relating to graduate recruitment, skills acquisition and retainment. BioApproaches SW will use the information to develop service provision to support needs. We will be contacting many South West companies this week. The questionnaire is very brief and we would appreciate your cooperation in mapping the skills gap.
 
- Final Call for BioApproaches SW next main event 10 places left! - Essential Business tools for today's international market:  strategic recruitment; knowledge management and improved presentation skills 28 and 29th June 2006, Taunton, Holiday Inn, M5, Jct. 25, Deane Gate Avenue, Taunton, TA1 2UA. Contact Jade Fulbrook-Smith for a brief update T: 0117 9008250 E: jade.fulbrook-smith@bioapproaches.co.uk    

- NHS Healthcare Technology co-operatives - call for outline proposals. The Department of Health is announcing a Call for a jointly-funded initiative between DH, DTI, EPSRC and MRC to pilot Healthcare Technology Co-operatives (HTCs). The closing date for submission of Outline Applications is 2nd October 2006 Contact: Jill Dhell, Innovation and Industry R&D Relations Manager, T: 020 7972 1265 E: Jill.Dhell@dh.gsi.gov.uk http://www.dh.gov.uk/ProcurementAndProposals/RDCallsForProposals/RDCallsForProposalsArticle/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4135943&chk=B3ZORl

- BioApproaches SW has complimentary tickets for the UKTI Awards Ceremony - UK Biotechnology Entrepreneur Awards 2006: celebratory awards event to be held in the historic Locarno rooms at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office on Wednesday 12th July 2006. If you would like to join us please e-mail or contact us.

- Vectura and Unilever Ventures announce the spin out of Pharmakodex, a new specialty pharmaceutical company: Vectura Group plc (LSE: VEC) ("Vectura") and Unilever Ventures Ltd announced that they have jointly established a new specialty pharmaceutical company, PharmaKodex Ltd, to develop a pipeline of pharmaceutical prescription and consumer health products utilising a range of proprietary oral and transdermal and enabling technologies from Vectura and Unilever. The management team includes Mr. Rod Richards as CEO and Prof. John Staniforth, as CSO.

UPDATE AND INDUSTRY CORNER

-  Expressions of interest are invited for the lease of lab space, either a small building or space within a building - Please contact Janet Heenan.
 
- Innovation in Health Conference and Exhibition on the 13 July at the Knowledge Spa, Royal Cornwall Hospital Truro. Creating new products or services in Cornwall for Healthcare use throughout the UK and even worldwide. The event will help to turn your innovative thinking into a valuable commercial reality, approved and ready to sell to the demanding health sector.  Please visit http://www.knowledgespa.co.uk/ or contact the booking office on 01872 256400 or e-mail kspa.reception@cornwall.nhs.uk

-  Biologics are forecast to be the strongest growing product technology type to 2010, driving sales growth for Pharma....  Please contact Gugs Lushai at BioApproaches SW (gugs.lushai@bioapproaches.co.uk ) for related opportunities in the South West
 
-  For detailed reports on senior-Pharma and or their product lines  (Abbott; Wyeth; Eli Lilly; Bristol-Myers Squibb; AstraZeneca; Pfizer; Johnson & Johnson; Novartis; Merck & Co; GlaxoSmithKline; Sanofi-Aventis etc.. strategy) contact Gugs Lushai at BioApproaches SW (gugs.lushai@bioapproaches.co.uk )

-  Novel myrosinase available for license. Imperial Innovations are seeking commercial interest in their novel patented myrosinase. It was isolated and cloned from an aphid and, unlike plant myrosinases, has the ability to catalyse transglycosylation but has no requirement for ascorbate.  Please contact Hugh Penfold at Imperial Innovations (h.penfold@imperial.ac.uk ) on 020 7594 1107.
 
-  Ongoing work with UK Universities have highlighted specific recurring problems that prevent an increase in sustainable spin-out activity and license income from their research assets. New HEIF3 funding has been allocated, it is important to maximise success. Please contact Evolution Life Science for further information on how they can increase success of your commercialisation activity T: 01355 272245 W:  www.evolutionlifescience.com

- IQ Capital was confirmed in the Chancellor's Budget as the first of the UK's Pathfinder Enterprise Capital Funds.  What some of you may not be aware of is that SWAIN (South West Angels Investment Network) is one of the four founding partners behind the IQ Capital fund. Full details can still be found in the original press release, but more information is now also available on the SWAIN website. http://www.swain.org.uk/news/news-read.asp?id=67

- With assets totaling more than $15 billion, the Indiana Public Employees Retirement Fund (PERF) has decided to place $100 million into higher-risk equity placements through its first Indiana Investment Fund. The fund will exclusively target venture capital deals within Indiana. The Indiana Investment Fund will be managed by Credit Suisse. Indiana business investment opportunities in the $1 million to $15 million range will be targeted. PERF's traditional investment decisions, for comparison, are typically in the $50 million to $100 million range. Please contact Gugs to develop US business development opportunities.

EVENTS

June Events Calendar

http://www.bioapproaches.co.uk/BIOBUZZEventslistJuno6.asp

Bio-Calendar for the year

http://www.bioapproaches.co.uk/bioevents/events.asp?month=all&year=all#results

If you have an event that you would like to add to the calendar please e-mail them to jade@bioapproaches.co.uk and they will be added.

AND FINALLY...

Less serious.

.More fun

Some genetic researchers were studying Acinonyx jubatus to find out why they had an abnormally high sperm count. They gave a group of these animals a histocompatibility (tissue-type) test.
"This is singular," observed one researcher to the other. "Every one of these cats gave the same answers."
"Aw damn it!" drawled the other, "they're all a bunch of cheetahs!"

Contact Us

For further information on any of these items, please visit our website: www.bioapproaches.co.uk or contact us directly.

Jade Fulbrook-Smith - BioBuzz Editor
Tel: 0117 9008250 Email: Jade@BioApproaches.co.uk

Dr. Pauline Lee - Network Manager
Tel: 0117 9008250 Email: Pauline.Lee@BioApproaches.co.uk

BioApproaches SW is funded by the South West of England Regional Development Agency to support the professional and business development of the South West of England Lifesciences and Biotechnology Industry.