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Bio-Buzz
No.2 / February 2009
IN THIS ISSUE
HEADLINE NEWS
INDUSTRY CORNER
EDITORIAL
EVENTS LISTINGS
Headline News
Secondment Opportunity
A senior secondment opportunity has arisen within BioApproaches SW for 6 months starting in April and ending in September. Terms are flexible and any members interested should contact Jade for more information regarding this exciting and challenging opportunity.
Another free of charge service from BioApproaches open to all members!
Recently we reviewed our website and discovered that one of the biggest words searched for was ‘Jobs’ followed closely by ‘employment’. In response to this interest we have launched a page on our website where our members can post vacancies free of charge.
The Jobs page can take jobs down automatically to prevent people applying for jobs where the deadline has past helping to keep the page totally up to date.
Please pass on this information to your HR department and any recruitment agencies that you use as this valuable tool will only be effective if it is used!
Neurological Disorders: From Molecules To Medicine – Incorporating the Promega UK Young Life Scientist Awards
14th May 2009, The Bristol Council Halls, College Green, Bristol, BS1 5TR
A one-day conference for up and coming young neuroscientists to present and discuss their research: Incorporating the Promega UK Young Life Scientist Awards with total prize fund of up to £7,000.
Supported by the Biochemical Society, the British Pharmacological Society, the Genetics Society and The Physiological Society.
Young Life Scientist 2009 aims to give scientists at the beginning of their careers the chance to present their work, discuss their research and meet others from a variety of disciplines within the field of neuroscience.
This event will be primarily for undergraduate, postgraduate and early career postdoctoral scientists who are to become the future generation of neuroscience leaders.
All delegates will be provided with the opportunity to present oral & poster communications and participate in discussion forums.
For more information click HERE
or e-mail HERE
Industry Corner
Small molecules for oncology (solid tumours and haematology), inflammation and autoimmune disorders
A Company based in South-East England is currently looking for small molecule assets in oncology (specifically solid tumours and haematology), inflammation and autoimmune disorders. The Company is seeking to in-license compounds and/or compound families that are less than 18 months from first human testing.
If you are interested in finding out more or about doing business in Europe please contact EEN HERE or call us on 0845 60 60 969 and quote Ref: 09 GB 40n6 3CM7
FRANCO BRITISH BUSINESS EXCHANGE ON ALZHEIMER & NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES
24-25 MARCH 2009 - PARIS (FRANCE)
UK Trade & Investment in France would like to invite UK companies with expertise in Alzheimer’s Disease and other Neurodegenerative diseases to take part in a business exchange with French companies.
The programme will take place over 2 days and include presentations by both the UK and French companies involved and on the Alzheimer and Neurodegenerative diseases market in France and the latest breakthroughs in Alzheimer Disease.
Location: Paris, France
Email: Laurent.Faye@fco.gov.uk
Full Programme HERE
Building Business on Bioscience; Sustainable Innovation
Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, 31st March & 1st April 2009
While it is recognised that biologically derived renewable and sustainable technologies are key to our future as an industrial society, there are many technical, financial and socio-economic barriers which need to be overcome to establish a successful and sustainable bioeconomy.
This conference we will be taking both a UK and International perspective on what is driving and hindering the large scale development and adoption of applied biotechnologies in the industrial sector.
Individual sessions will focus on the bottlenecks and how they have been overcome, training, finance models and newly emerging technologies.
Presenters will cover current policy, foresight planning and case studies. In addition there will be parallel sessions devoted to the current activities of the
Bioscience for Business Knowledge Transfer Network in Health & Wellbeing and Renewables & Sustainables.
The conference will be relevant to those involved in the biosciences through industry (large and small) and academia as well as to those involved in science policy and the economic and societal implications of the new bio-based economy.
For more information click HERE
BIO 2009 - UK Innovation Zone - Exhibit as part of the UK Pavilion at BIO
BIO 2009, May 18-21, 2009,Atlanta, GA, Georgia World Congress Center, www.bio2009.org
UK Innovation Zone – UK Pavilion
Following on from the success of the 2008 BIO convention event which saw over 25,000 biotech, life science professionals and top leaders from organizations around the world attend to discuss, network and collaborate the sector’s future. This year’s event will be taking place in Atlanta, GA and looks to build on the success of BIO 2008.
bioProcessUK together with UK Trade and Investment and the BIA would like to offer companies the opportunity to Exhibit as part of the UK Pavilion in the UK innovation Zone. The UK Innovation Zone is within the UK Pavilion and will host UK companies who have strong expertise in the life science area, companies can showcase their services and use the area to hold meetings and presentations.
For further information on this great opportunity please click HERE
Please contact Narpal Juttla, (njuttla@bioindustry.org) Marketing Manager, bioProcessUK, 0207 565 7142
There is limited spaces available in the Innovation Zone and companies and space is allocated on a first come basis
Editorial
What relevance does a group of gardening, recycling hippies have to do with the biotech industry?
is the question that pops into your head when I mention Transition Town Totnes. You can hardly have missed 'TTT' featuring in the Archers and River Cottage among others. Indeed, from a small group of Totnes environmentalists this movement has spread around the world. The aim of TTT is to work with the community to develop an 'Energy Descent Plan' for all aspects of life. A reduction in energy consumption is inevitable as we try to mitigate climate change and approach peak oil - when global demand massively outstrips a decreasing supply. The implications for health have recently been highlighted by the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention:
www.injurycontrol.com/Hank/reprints/EnergyFrumkin.pdf
I’m involved in TTT from the health point of view. While I have worked in biomedical research throughout my career, I realise there will need to be changes to the healthcare system to enable adaptation to a changing world. The current financial crisis is a wake-up call to these urgent issues and, I believe, is a sign of things to come. A powerful message from the news at the moment is that the huge multinationals are susceptible to economic instability. Small local business is better suited to adapt to economic changes and may be supported by the local community. Of course I haven’t got easy answers, but I’m sure by starting to work together, building up strong local networks between community and business we can develop resilience. The Peninsula Environment and Human Health Forum, sponsored by Bioapproaches, should be a great place for this interaction.
www.pms.ac.uk/pms/research/environment.php
An exciting TTT project is ‘Healthy Futures’. We hope to involve the whole community in creating a garden for growing food and herbs. Activity, open air and teamwork are all good for health and wellbeing, as well as eating the organic produce of course! The local GP surgery is planning on giving ‘green gym’ prescriptions to patients to come and enjoy the benefits; the Faculty of Health and Social Work, University of Plymouth will be measuring health outcomes for these people. This will be a great example of how action to mitigate climate change; growing our own food, can also have co-benefits for health.
totnes.transitionnetwork.org/wellbeinggarden/home
These health messages also apply to your employees. Health and wellbeing are essential for motivation; so including daily physical activity in green space would be ideal - how about creating an on-premises garden to grow food and enjoy at lunchtimes? Also driving to work is polluting and increasingly uneconomical; recruiting from the local population can reduce commuting. Support cycling, walking or running to work - for example provide changing rooms with showers - again mitigating climate change can have co-benefits for health and fitness.
Developing a positive attitude when facing these future huge challenges is for me the main message of TTT. In making the transition to adapt, we will find benefits for health, both personally and for the whole community.
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 – Project Coordinator, BioBuzz Editor
Tel: 07715 856262 Email: Jade@BioApproaches.co.uk
Dr Pauline Lee – Network Manager
Tel: 07710 779548 Email: pauline@BioApproaches.co.uk
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