Category Archives: BIO Buzz
BIO Buzz: Lifecycle Massachusetts BIO 2013 Recap
We had an exciting couple of days in Chicago at BIO 2013! From press announcements and patient celebrations to cutting edge panel discussions, and plenty of networking opportunities - The Massachusetts Pavilion did an outstanding job showcasing all that the state has to offer the life sciences industry.
In case you missed it, here’s a recap of Lifecycle Massachusetts’ presence at BIO:
Monday, April 22nd
Press Announcement
Massachusetts Life Sciences Center’s President and CEO, Dr. Susan Windham-Bannister, announced a new International Collaborative Industry Program (ICIP) with Victoria, Australia, Wallonia, Belgium, Quebec, Canada and Alsace, France. Read more about the program here.
Celebrate the Patient
We honored the people who are at the heart of what we do – the patients. Our featured panelists were Deb Beaudette (Pompe patient) and Ron Banks (MS patient) who shared their powerful stories. Deb had the audience laughing with her frank discussion of what it’s like to face a rare disease diagnosis, and Ron inspired everyone with his determination to be a motivator and advocate for additional research and clinical trials. The panel was moderated by Kathleen Coolidge, who works in patient advocacy at Genzyme. Read the rest of this entry
BIO Buzz: Don’t Miss Neuroscience & Manufacturing Sessions in the MA Pavilion!
As you finish planning your schedule for next week at the 2013 BIO International Convention be sure to take a break from the Convention and swing by Booth #0905 for MA Pavilion programs! Last week we highlighted a few of the programs, and today wanted to share a couple more!
Neuroscience & Neurodegenerative Research: The Next Big Thing
Tuesday, April 23rd at 4:00pm
Massachusetts is home to a number of companies and institutions attempting to solve some of the most challenging research questions of our time in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS and other neurodegenerative conditions. Where will the big advances and cures come from?
- Steve Arkinstall, Senior VP and Head of US Research and Global External Innovation, EMD Serono
- William Kohlbrenner, Director of Global External Research, AbbVie
- Ken Koblan, Sunovion Pharmaceuticals
- Moderator: Susan Windham-Bannister, President & CEO, Mass. Life Sciences Center
Leading the Way: BioPharma Manufacturing in Massachusetts
Wednesday, April 24th at 3:30pm
Learn how Massachusetts is particularly well positioned to meet biomanufacturing requirements in years ahead.
- Frank Fazio, Head of Manufacturing at MassBiologics/UMass Medical
- Chris Murphy, Vice Presidend of Operations, Genzyme
- Moderator: Bob Coughlin, President & CEO, MassBio
We hope to see you there! Click here for the full Pavilion Agenda.
Don’t forget to connect to Lifecycle Massachusetts and help us build the buzz around the 2013 BIO International Convention online! Tweet #MAPavilion, @MassBio and @MALifeSciences.
BIO Buzz: Two Massachusetts Students to Compete in 2013 BioGENEius Science Fair!
Congratulations to our two BioGENEius Challenge contestants, Adrian Haber and Rahi Punjabi!
The BioGENEius Challenges are national and international competitions for high school students that recognize excellence in original research in biotechnology. The Challenges, organized by the Biotechnology Institute, are prestigious science competitions with significant cash prizes awarded to the winners.
Selected winners of BioGENEius Challenges compete and present their research posters and oral presentations in front of a panel of biotech judges at the 2013 BIO International Convention. The students are evaluated on their scientific merit and creative ability, project execution, and poster/oral presentation.
Meet the Massachusetts Contestants:
Adrian Haber, is a tenth grade student of Boston Latin School. Haber’s biochemistry-based project is titled “Testing the Effectiveness of Liposomal Nanoparticle Delivery of Oxybutynin to Reduce Bladder Spasms.” Through a novel method of using isolated pig bladders, the project tests the effectiveness of using liposomal nanoparticles to direct the delivery of medications for the treatment of overactive bladder and reduce side effects. With more than 39 million adults in the U.S. suffering from overactive bladder, Haber’s project addresses a significant problem. He concluded that when oxybutynin is contained in liposomal nanoparticles it can diffuse into bladder tissue to reduce bladder spasms.
Rahi Punjabi, is an eleventh grade students studying at Advanced Math and Science Academy Charter School in Marlborough. Punjabi is a BioGENEius Challenge veteran, having represented Massachusetts in the 2012 Challenge with a project exploring the antibiotic potential of garlic. This year, Punjabi entered another biology-based project called “Engineering a Novel Fusion Protein Therapy for Meningococcal Infection.” The study looks at Neisseria meningitidis, a major and deadly cause of meningitis and sepsis worldwide. Punjabi concluded that fusion proteins show potential as a therapy for meningococcal infection.
BIO Buzz: Don’t Miss Lifecycle Massachusetts at BIO 2013!
The 2013 BIO International Convention is the largest global event for the biotechnology industry and attracts the biggest names in biotech, offers key networking and partnering opportunities, and provides insights and inspiration on the major trends affecting the industry.
We hope to see you in Chicago and wanted to share details on some of the exciting events we’re hosting in Lifecycle Massachusetts: The MA Pavilion!
What is Lifecycle Massachusetts?
Lifecycle Massachusetts is the theme for the Massachusetts Pavilion that debuted in 2012. Lifecycle MA is located in Booth #0905 and it’s where we will tell the story of Massachusetts’ continued success in the life sciences, all the way from the bench to the bedside.
Pavilion Program Highlights
Celebrate the Patient
Monday, April 22nd at 4 p.m.
We kick off convention by hearing from the folks at the heart of why we do what we do-the patients. We will welcome two patients and a patient advocate to talk about the hope that biotechnology promises.
Panelists: Deb Beaudette (Pompe patient), Ron Banks (MS patient)
Moderator: Carrie Burke, Director, US Alliance Development, Shire
Read the rest of this entry
BIO Buzz: MA Pavilion Day 3 Recap – Collaboration
Wednesday was another exciting day at the 2012 BIO International Convention! Check out our day 3 recap video:
10 a.m. Special announcement from Governor Patrick
We started the day with a special announcement from the Governor. Governor Deval Patrick, the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center and seven global biopharmaceutical companies announced the formation of the Massachusetts Neuroscience Consortium.
Participating companies include:
- Abbott
- Biogen Idec
- EMD Serono
- Janssen Research & Development, LLC
- Merck
- Pfizer
- Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.
The Consortium will fund pre-clinical neuroscience at Massachusetts academic and research institutions. Speakers at the event included Governor Patrick, Susan Windham-Bannister, Ph.D., President & CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, James Hoyes, President of EMD Serono, Jeffrey S. Flier, Dean of Harvard Medical School, and patients representative of those potentially impacted by the research to be conducted through the new collaboration.
Joann D’Amico Stone of Waltham, a patient with MS, shared her story with the audience and said, “My hope with this new collaboration is to some day dance at my son’s wedding.”
Allen Krieger of Lexington, an Alzheimer’s patient and distinguished astrophysicist also shared. He said, “Alzheimer’s has changed my life in a number of ways – I have difficulty finding things, making decisions, and remembering things that used to be routine. I’ve participated in clinical trials and other research to do what I can to help. This consortium is a new and promising approach to advancing Alzheimer’s research through collaboration between the companies and academic institutions that are leading the way in the search for a cure.”
