Author Archive: AZBio

New UA Agriculture, Life Sciences Dean Chosen

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Shane Burgess

Mississippi State University’s Shane C. Burgess brings literally a world of experience in genetics and veterinary science with him to the UA.

Shane C. Burgess, director of the Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology at Mississippi State University, has been appointed the new dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at the University of Arizona.

Burgess succeeds Eugene G. Sander, who recently retired as dean and vice provost and will serve as UA president beginning Aug. 1, while the Arizona Board of Regents searches for a new chief executive.

A native of New Zealand, Burgess has worked around the world as a practicing veterinarian and scientist. Currently, he is the associate dean for strategic initiatives and economic development in MSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine and a professor in the department of basic sciences in the vet school.

His areas of expertise include cancer biology, virology, proteomics, immunology and bioinformatics. Since 1997 he has written 110 peer-reviewed publications.  Read more from the story by By Jeff Harrison, University Communications, July 18, 2011 (U of A NOW) at: http://uanews.org/node/40689

Advancing Science and taking a LEED position

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Dr. Jack Dean, Dr. Ken Wertman, Joan Koerber-Walker, and Mike Capaldi with Sanofi US LEED GOLD emblem. Photo courtesy of Sanofi US. All Rights ReservedOn Tuesday July 12, 2011, I traveled to Southern Arizona to join Dr. Ken Wertman and the team at Sanofi US as they celebrated another milestone. This time it is not for groundbreaking advancements in human and animal health. Instead we were recognizing the team’s achievement of  LEED Gold Certification at their home in Oro Valley, Arizona and congratulating the team that made it happen. Laboratories are very difficult to certify because of demands posed by air handling and other challenges in an environment where scientific experimentation is taking place. Sanofi-aventis U.S. strives to limit the environmental impact of their business and the team is proud of having achieved a Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) certification.

LEED is a building rating system that was developed by the US Green Building Council in 2000 and is a nationally accepted benchmark for design, construction and operations of high performance “green buildings”. The 110,350 square-foot site was constructed in Oro Valley Innovation Park with the grand opening held on January 13, 2010. Of all the buildings in the U.S. that are LEED certified, only two percent are laboratories. Sanofi  US  operates two of those laboratories, one in Cambridge, MA and the one here in Oro Valley just north of Tucson, Arizona.

Another highlight of the trip was getting to spend some time with Dr. Ken Wertman and learning more about his journey, why Sanofi  US chooses Arizona, and what they do here.

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AZBio News for July 2011

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UA Study Plays Key Role in International Lung Research – 30 year study points to new biomarkers for COPD and other lung diseases.

Dr. Cheryl Nickerson of ASU BiodesignFinal countdown: Space Shuttle Atlantis to carry next generation vaccine candidate on last space voyage:  Its final trip may open a new era of research into infectious diseases, thanks to space bound experiments conducted by Cheryl Nickerson, and Roy Curtiss III, along with their colleagues at Arizona State University’s Biodesign Institute.

Science Foundation Arizona ups jobs, investment through grants (Phoenix Business Journal)

$2.2M Grant awarded to Fund Heart Failure Study at University of Arizona

Nominations open for the 2011 AZBIO Awards

Phoenix Partnership to Strengthen UA Medical Education

We want to know your name

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Biotechnology is changing the way we live, how we think about health, how we combat disease, how we create a more sustainable planet and so much more.  It’s an exciting field in an exciting time and Arizona is a place where bioscience companies, research institutions, and the companies that support them come to  engage, connect, collaborate and grow.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztRcb7fLqGQ&feature=related]

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For Business and Bio there is new opportunity in the cloud

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There’s lots of talk of cloud computing these days.  From basic accounting to sales and from marketing/media to HR management companies are leveraging new resources to move forward faster.

But the cloud is not just for administrative applications.  Cloud computing is causing a major shift in how we tackle complex scientific opportunities.  Check out this video from IBM on how researchers from ETH Zurich, IBM and high-performance cloud computing are leading in the bioscience field across the cloud.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16bR8h1VXyg]

 

Arizona Resource Links

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BioIndustry Resources

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Online:

Beaker -Beaker is the online community for life sciences professionals.

OnBioVC – Provides timely coverage and comprehensive analysis of global bioscience venture capital  investment activity.  Bioscience venture capital data and information that can  be sorted by financing round, state and regional geography etc., a unique  feature provided is the ability to also sort by technology and clinical  indication, as well as by therapeutic, diagnostic or medical device company.  Click Here for OnBioVC’s May 2009 Trend Analysis.

LinkedIn – Join AZBio’s online group for discussions and
updates.

Funding:

CLICK HERE to search and access a comprehensive list of current and upcoming federal grant and funding opportunities.
  • CLICK HERE to view NIH Challenge Grants.
  • CLICK HERE to view the Omnibus of Broad Challenge Areas and
    Specific Grants

Arizona Organizations:

AzCI (Arizona Center for Innovation) – AzCI is a business incubator designed to meet the needs of developing technology companies, particularly in the areas of: aerospace, advanced composites and materials, information technology, environmental technology, life sciences and optics/photonics.

Arizona Nano Tech Cluster – The cluster works to share and promote technological advances in the fast-growing field of Nanotechnology.  To view their calendar of events, please CLICK HERE.

ASU Venture Catalysts – Helps to to spur innovation and transform the metro area’s knowledge economy.  CLICK HERE to view their event calendar.

The Flinn Foundation – The Foundation is committed to helping Arizona become a global competitor for research and commercialization in the biosciences and host to  Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap

NACET (Northern Arizona Center for Emerging Technologies) – NACET is a small-business assistance program founded to help entrepreneurs and startups succeed in northern Arizona.

Training Courses:

DIA (Drug Information Association) – DIA provides a neutral global forum for the exchange of information critical to the advancement of the drug discovery and lifecycle management processes.

MTLI (Medical Technology Learning Institute) – MTLI offers a variety of educational programs including regulatory, technical, and professional training courses covering all facets of the medical technology business lifecycle.

PERI (Pharmaceutical Education & Research Institute) – PERI is a not-for-profit organization that has been serving the pharmaceutical industry since 1989 providing the highest quality training available

RAPS (Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society) – RAPS supports the regulatory profession as a whole by providing education and training, certification, professional standards, research, knowledge-sharing, publications, networking and career development opportunities and other valuable resources.