Bio-Buzz No.10 / 2006
November 2006

IN THIS ISSUE

HEADLINE NEWS
INDUSTRY CORNER
EVENTS

HEADLINE NEWS

Bristol Zoo Two events in One!

Venue: Bristol Zoological Gardens Conference Centre, College Road, Bristol, BS8 3HH
Date: Tuesday 28th November 2006

1/ Bristol Enterprise Network (BEN) - BioScience meeting: The Future for Clinical Trials (co-sponsored by BioApproaches SW)

Focus: The implications of the TeGenero TGN1412 trial, (the 'Elephant Man' trial according to the press), are still being examined by the regulatory authorities and the pharmaceutical industry. This event will feature contributions from leading academic researchers, as well as experienced and successful biotech practitioners, all of whom have understanding of the clinical trials process. It's a must for researchers, entrepreneurs and investors active in this industry.

Programme:

17.00h Networking with complimentary drink & light buffet (Please note earlier than usual start time!)
17.55h Welcome and Introduction:
Paul Harrod, Enterprise Network Manager, Research & Enterprise Development, Bristol University
Guest Speakers (in alphabetical order):
Dr Jim Murray, President, Hunter-Fleming Ltd
Prof Stephen Smith, Principal of the Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College
Prof David Wraith, Chief Scientific Officer, Apitope Technology (Bristol) Ltd
19.00h Question and answer session
19.15h Event closes, additional networking opportunity
19.45h BEN event ends

For contact details and application form please see HERE

2/ ...followed by the BioApproaches SW BioGala Event

Focus: Dr Gugs Lushai's welcome address highlights the successes in the South West bioindustry from the past year and is followed by a supporting speach from Industry. We are inviting all our members and associates to a celebration of the excellence of the Biotech, Lifesciences and Medical Industries in the South West. This event is set to be a major networking opportunity with Light entertainment provided through the evening.

19.45h BioApproaches SW BioGala Dinner Reception Convenes
20.15h BioApproaches Gala Dinner
12.00h Close

Please note that spaces are at a premium, please E-mail Jade early to reserve a place.

NERC's BlueMicrobe Knowledge Transfer Network - Microbes and Aquatic Pollution meeting , Dartington Hall, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 6EL on Tuesday - Wednesday 19-20 December 2006.
The conference is sponsored and subsidised by the NERC's BlueMicrobe Knowledge Transfer Network, Bioscience for Business and IPM-Net (for integrated pollution management), Plymouth Marine Laboratory and BioApproaches SW. The topics will range from microbes as pollutants, through microbes for pollution detection and monitoring and the impact of pollution on biodiversity, to bioremediation of aquatic pollution, and will close with a session on Challenges and Actions and a panel discussion of future needs. The conference will be opened by Professor Howard Dalton FRS, Chief Scientific Adviser to Defra. A registration form is attached and on-line registration can also be made through the KTN web-sites.

Please reply HERE or contact Wendy Clay  for more information.

UPDATES

BioApproaches SW National Business promotion - Eli Lilly event

Chair: Dr Gugs Lushai, BioApproaches Network Director
Contact: Jade Fulbrook-Smith T: 0117 9008250

Key Speakers:
Dr Andrew Wood, Executive Director, Global External Research & Development, Eli Lilly
Dr Andrew Sandham, Venture Partner, Abingworth (Chairman of Syntaxin Ltd)
Mr Philip Tellwright, Network Director, South West Angels Investment Network  
Dr Christopher Barnett, PERA Public funding, R&D grants

Feedback to this business meeting has been extremely positive and strongly supported by the BioIndustry (Lifesciences and Healthcare) making up 54% of the total attendance. The day was deemed extremely useful with presentations covering Eli Lilly's BigPharama perspective through to industry and R&D support from private sources, Abingworth, South West Angels Investment Network and public sources, Pera.
The Lilly talk covered product history from its inception in 1876 with the development of commercial interests in Oncology, Neuroscience, Endocrinology, Cardiovascular through to a 'white area' of Bioproduct Discovery. A positive message emerged for the bioindustry indicating an increase in BigPharama partnering towards ever earlier stage product development in areas of commercial interest to maintain product pipelines. Abingworth's message was equally positive with increasing funds being invested in an European market, although appreciating that the investment required still lagged behind funding in the US with follow on funding being the weakest link. The Angel perspective brought to bear how innovator perspectives rarely met with the harsh reality of investor needs for multiple growth to investment. However, it was appreciable through the talks that this level of funding were key in the development of a lean product-driven commercial entities well placed to attract follow on funding. The final 'gap funding issues were reviewed by Pera whose presentation looked at a variety of public funded programmes. Key messages from this were that there were large amounts of money available from e.g. EU-Framework 7 (£750K - £5M), but required considerable time investment to achieve success.

INDUSTRY CORNER:

Framework Programme Seven - The Health Research Programme

Focus: In 2007 the European Commission will launch the new Health Research Programme. This programme builds on experience acquired from the activities of previous programmes, thus ensuring continuity, while taking account of major global health problems and recent advances in biomedical and health sciences. These free events are intended for an audience of future applicants from academia, companies both large and small and public authorities.

The programme will:

• Integrate genomics data to generate new knowledge and applications in medicine and biotechnology
• Foster translational health research
• Allow Europe to contribute to combating diseases of major importance
• Reinforce health policy-driven research at a European level

To promote the opportunities in the new programme, the FP6UK team in association with the Medical Research Council are organising three events at venues around the UK to discuss the opportunities for collaborative research and development in the forthcoming Health Programme. Selected events will cover Health - related activities in the Information and Communication Technology Programme (London, 30th November, Edinburgh 5th December) and the Nanotechnology programme (Nottingham, 1st December).

30th November: London, Imperial College, South Kensington Campus
1st December:  Nottingham, BioCity
5th December:  Edinburgh, Norton House Hotel

Please see the FP7UK events website for further information of the individual events, agendas and registration details CLICK HERE   

Event contact details : FP6UK Events Team, TUV-NEL Ltd, Napier Building, Scottish Enterprise Technology Park, East Kilbride, G75 0QE, United Kingdom, T: +44 (0)870 191 0119 E: eventsteam@tuvnel.com

US mission, co-ordinated by bioProcessUK Knowledge Transfer Network , visited over a dozen organisations across California, including Geron, Advanced Cell Technology (ACT) and Advanced BioHealing (formerly Smith & Nephew), widely regarded as three leaders in the field, and the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, which plans to fund $300 million (£160 million) of stem cell research in California each year for the next 10 years. For more information about technology transfer in cell-based therapies, visit the bioProcessUK KTN website HERE Or contact mission co-ordinator Malcolm Rhodes PhD , Technical Director, bioProcessUK

The Baltic state of Lithuania has a promising biotechnology sector , with growing numbers of spin-out companies and plans for a national stem cell centre. 'Biotechnology is clearly central to the continued growth of the 'Baltic Tiger' economy in Lithuania — this presents great opportunities for collaborations with UK-based life science companies, particularly in highly innovative areas such as stem cell research. To find out more about technology partnering opportunities in biotechnology in Lithuania, please contact Kieran Rooney , DTI International Technology Promoter, t: 01664 501551 or click HERE 

Oil and gas currently meet almost three-quarters of UK and nearly 60 percent of world energy needs. The UK's transport system relies almost totally on petroleum products, while gas plays a key role in electricity generation and heat provision. Even allowing for significant expansion in deployment of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies, and potential construction of a new generation of nuclear power stations, oil and gas will remain staples in the UK's energy mix for several decades. 'Step changes in technology are needed to maximise exploitation of global oil and gas resources and unlock the full potential of these vital commodities'. To find out more about technology partnering opportunities in the oil and gas sector, please contact, Philip Sharman DTI International Technology Promoter t: 01664 501551 or visit our website HERE

UPCOMING BIOAPPROACHES EVENTS:

Lifesciences (biotechnology) and Medical meetings can be found HERE

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

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.