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Feasibility study on microarray-test
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(Source: Antoni's Berichten,
01-12-2003)
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Millions for White Biotechnology
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(Source: NWO/B-BASIC,
11-12-2003)
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Leiden University to offer new masters
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At the faculty of Mathematics
and Natural Science (W&N) at Leiden University the
masters programmes are being carried out for a while
now, all in English. Biologist prof. dr. Jan Kijne who
is responsible for education in the faculty board: "We
already had a five year education programme, consisting
of - roughly - three plus two. The only thing we had to
do was make a split. The last two years were already
focussed on research." However, this does not mean that
W&N doesn't offer new scienitific programmes, says
Kijne. Next to the traditional masters and the newer
ones such as Life, Science and Technology, we will offer
three new masters. In collaboration with Delft
University we will offer the masters Nanoscience,
Industrial Ecology and
Bioinformatics.
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(Source: Mare,
18-12-2003)
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New gene causes non-hereditary breast
cancer
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Breast and ovular cancer can
be the direct result of mutations on the BRCA1 and BRCA2
gene, in cases of hereditary forms of cancer. But, most
cases of breast cancer are non-hereditary. Now it
appears that the BRCA2 gene is also involved in
non-hereditary forms of breast and ovular cancer. This
is due to interaction with a new protein, called EMSY,
which was discovered recently by Ed Schuuring of the
Expression Profiling section of the Groningen genomics
Centre, in co-operation with British, Canadian and
French researchers. The researchers published their
results on 26 November 2003 in Cell (a paid-access
publication). EMSY produces a protein that specifically
binds to a BRCA2 gene and blocks the latter`s function.
BRCA2 is repairing damage to DNA. When this protein
looses its function, gene mutations will accumulate
which in turn raises the risk for cancer. The EMSY gene
is amplified in one in six women with non-hereditary
forms of ovular cancer and in one in eight women with
non-hereditary forms of breast cancer. Due to this, too
much EMSY protein is produced which blocks the function
of BRCA2. The Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC)
was also involved in the research project. Graduate
student Katja Jordanova analysed on which chromosome the
EMSY gene is located. EMSY appeared to be located on
chromosome 11, already having a reputation in
non-heredity breast cancer, since Cycline D1 that can be
amplified in non-hereditary forms of breast cancer is
located closely to EMSY.
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(Source: Mare / NRC Handelsblad,
18-12-2003 and 30/29-11-2003)
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What it takes to be successful in the life
sciences industry
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'If your idea concerns a
research tool, don`t be tempted to sell it as a drug
discovery company.' Noubar Afeyan warns the audience to
be taken on by the `business model of the day`. Five
years ago, nobody could raise money for a drug
development company because everyone invested in
platform technologies. Today, it`s completely the
opposite. That is why Dr. Afeyan stresses the importance
of being true to your initial idea. Trying to sell it as
something that it`s not is a guaranteed ticket to
failure, according to Afeyan. When it comes to failure,
Afeyan doesn`t beat around the bush: 'Most start-ups
fail, 9 out of 10 don`t make it. The problem is that the
few big success stories mask the high failure rate.' But
why is it that most start-ups are unable to become
full-grown companies? The answer is simple: 'because so
many things can go wrong'. Afeyan shows a list of the
minimum needs for success, which ranges from strong
leadership, new technology and sufficient capital, to
market acceptance, response to competitive threats and
good management on all aspects of the company. To unite
all the required abilities in a small enterprise is not
easy, to put it mildly. The fact that Afeyan compares a
start-up to a patient whose immune system has been
completely suppressed, says it all. 'If such a patient
ventures out into the open, it doesn`t really matter
what kind of infection comes along, it will surely kill
him.' Even with these gloomy prospects, Afeyan is very
optimistic on life science business. But that is no
surprise, because entrepreneurs are always optimists,
otherwise they would never even think about starting a
business. Optimism, patience and persistence are the
minimum requirements to make it in today`s industry. And
then there is always luck, hard to grasp but crucial to
all entrepreneurs. Afeyan describes an entrepreneur as a
paranoid optimist. Combining that with his view of
venture capitalists as sceptical optimists, makes the
combination of both paranoid sceptics. But Afeyan is
convinced that when both parties are open with each
other and really believe in the whole adventure, the
result will be a team of deliberate optimists and that
is probably the best starting point for any new company.
Noubar Afeyan is CEO of Flagship
Ventures.
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(Source: Netherlands Genomics
Initiative, January 2004) (http://www.genomics.nl)
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Crucell on themove with commercial
agreements
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Crucell and Aventis announced
that they have entered into a strategic agreement to
further develop and commercialize novel influenza
vaccine products based on Crucell`s proprietary PER.C6
cell line technology. The agreement covers both pandemic
and epidemic influenza vaccines, which up to now have
been part of Crucell`s in-house product development
program. Under the terms of the agreement, Aventis
Pasteur, the vaccines business of Aventis, receives an
exclusive license to research, develop, manufacture and
market cell-based influenza vaccines using Crucell`s
unique PER.C6 technology. Crucell also announced that it
has signed a non-exclusive PER.C6 technology research
and commercialization license agreement with Biogen
Idec, for the production of recombinant proteins to be
used in in-house antibody discovery programs. Biogen
Idec is one of the top three biotechnology companies in
the United States. In a commercially attractive month
for Crucell the company also granted U.S.-based Pfizer
an exclusive license to develop and commercialize
Crucell`s West Nile Virus veterinary vaccine for use in
horses. In June 2003 Crucell partnered with Israeli
Kimron Veterinary Institute to develop a West Nile virus
veterinary vaccine for use in geese in Israel. Crucell
and Kimron anticipate approval of the veterinary vaccine
in Israel in 2004. Pfizer will be responsible for the
development of the vaccine for use in horses. According
to sources within the industry, 8 million doses of the
vaccine have already been used in the U.S. and Canada
since approval of the first vaccine in 2001, at a cost
of $25 per dose, including veterinary fees. This
suggests a very attractive current US market of at least
tens of millions of dollars.
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(Source: Pharma Live/BioExchange,
15/13/07-01-2004)
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TechnoPartner takes action to improve
technostarter climate
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On Friday 9 January 2004,
Secretary of State Van Gennip and Minister Van der
Hoeven sent the action programme TechnoPartner "From
Knowledge to Prosperity" to the Parliament (Tweede
Kamer). The action progamme aims at enhancing the
climate for technology start-ups in The Netherlands. In
comparison with other countries the amount of spin-offs
from knowledge institutions is lagging behind. "The
quality of publicly financed knowledge is high, but this
knowledge is insufficiently used. Due to this, we are
not fully making use of the innovative power of techno
start-ups," according to Secretary of State, Van Gennip.
The ambition of the action programme is to transform The
Netherlands into a country where researchers and
(under)graduate students easily start up their own
company, where knowledge institutions and companies
support technostarters and venture capitalists invest in
them. To realise these ambitions, the TechnoPartner
action programme consists of a series of coherent and
concrete actions:
- TechnoPartner Seed
facility, to supply the capital needs of
technostarters.
- TechnoPartner Granting
Knowledge Exploitation (SKE) to enhance the use of
scientific knowledge by technostarters from within or
outside the knowledge institution.
- TechnoPartner-platform to
offer information and expertise and to put technostarter
bottle-necks on the agenda.
TechnoPartner will also take
actions to introduce entrepreneurship in education and
research. TechnoPartner comes in the place of Twinning,
Dreamstart and BioPartner.
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(Source: Ministry of Economic
Affairs, 09-01-2004)
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Project plan Centre for Society and
Genomics approved
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The supervisory board of the
Netherlands Genomics Initiative (NGI) gave its approval
to the project plan for the Centre for Society and
Genomics (CSG). Following this approval the centre which
is led by prof dr. Hub Zwart of Nijmegen University
officially kicked off on January 1, 2004. The CSG is the
fifth Genomics 'Zwaartepunt' that will be financed by
the NGI. The CSG's main objective is to carry out a
coherent and innovative research- and communicaction
programme focused at the societal aspects of genomics
research. The centre combines knowledge from current
research on this area with new research projects that
will inititated by the CSG. By bringing scientists from
different research areas together within the CSG, a
critical mass is created which can compete on an
international level. First, the CSG will carry out
2-year graduate projects in collaboration with the other
Genomics Zwaartepunten. The projects will focus on the
following themes: Screening and Prevention (social
impact of national public health screening programmes);
Transparance and Confidence (public opinion on GM food
and crops); Innovation and Imagination (public
perception of industrial innovation); After these
two-year projects the CSG will expand its activities and
strengthen co-operation and interaction with other
parties such as research groups, public institutions and
organisations.
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(Source: NGI, 20 December
2003) (http: //www.genomics.nl) (mailto:
waal@genomics.nl)
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Qiagen and Strathmann Biotec sign deal
with Corautus Genetics
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Qiagen NV and Strathmann
Biotech AG have signed a manufacturing agreement with
Corautus Genetics Inc. to produce VEGF-2 plasmid for
anticipated Phase III trials and future commercial use.
Corautus has in inventory the VEGF-2 plasmid required
for its upcoming Phase IIb clinical trial. The VEGF-2
plasmid will be produced at Strathmann`s newly-built
facility in Dengelsberg, Germany. The facility was
designed and built specifically for plasmid DNA
production. Corautus` therapy, which is considered
regenerative medicine, seeks to treat the underlying
causes of severe coronary artery disease through direct
injection of VEGF-2 into ischemic cardiac muscle. Based
on data from earlier clinical trials - Phase I and IIa
have been completed - Corautus believes that when VEGF-2
is introduced into ischemic cardiac muscle, it will
stimulate the growth of new blood vessels and improve
cardiac function. The VEGF-2 is delivered via a
non-viral vector system in which the naked DNA plasmid
is injected directly into the tissue where the gene
transfer occurs. Corautus believes that there are
several advantages to this over other gene transfer
delivery systems including minimal side effects and the
fact that the gene is not inserted into the genome.
Strathmann`s plasmid DNA manufacturing capabilities
combined with Qiagen`s expertise in nucleic acid
purification addresses plasmid DNA manufacturing for
gene therapy applications.
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(Source: Business Wire,
08-01-2004)
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LiveLists added to SRS
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The databank LiveLists has
been added to BioASP's SRS service. LiveLists functions
as a bridge between GenBank ID and accession number of a
nucleotide or protein sequence. You can use this
databank to easily look up a GenBank ID and find the
corresponding accession number. An accession number is a
unique code of a protein or nucleotide sequence. With
the accession number you can find more information about
the sequence in other database such as EMBL (for
nucleotide sequences or SwissProt (for protein
sequences). In the future our database manager will
create hyperlinks from the accession codes in LiveLists
to relevant databases to speed up database searching.
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(mailto: info@bioasp.nl )
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Starting
up BioRange
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BioRange is getting started.
Two things have to be done before the first research
projects can be launched: 1) setting up the organization
of the research program and 2) evaluation of the
proposals and adjust them - if necessary - to the
scientific facts of today.
This implies clustering of
projects within scientific themes. A Scientific
Committee is being appointed to evaluate the proposals
and to watch over the scientific themes. A
Proof-of-Concept stage will be developed to tune and
disseminate the different project results.
The result of these
activities will be a plan that describes the scientific
and organizational frame for projects that are part of
the BioRange program. Hopefully, the first projects can
start in April 2004. For more information, please
contact Bob Hertzberger. |
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(mailto: bob@science.uva.nl
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Collexis
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Searching literature: a
common and essential part of research. Thankfully, there
is Medline, but the quantity of information in Medline
is literally overwhelming. Enters Collexis - a concept
based retrieval application for Medline. Collexis®
creates a so-called fingerprint for each article, that
describes not only which concepts are represented, but
also and as importantly, what weight is given to each
concept.
Using Collexis, you also
build up a fingerprint with keywords, and with their
weights. Now a search becomes a matter of matching the
search fingerprint with the fingerprints in the Collexis
catalog: an extremely fast process. With Collexis®, an
information search that used to take months of searching
by a team of specialists, is done within a day. With no
loss of quality in the results!
Registered users of BioASP
can obtain an account for Collexis.
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(http://www.bioasp.nl )
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Enter
Protein World with Genome Quest
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Protein World is the largest
protein knowledge database based on rigid Smith-Waterman
sequence comparisons. The database currently covers
about 450,000 sequences derived from 106 species. Soon
this will be updated to 140 species!
Sophisticated clustering
together with querying using popular algorithms like
Blast, allows you to investigate proteins and their
relations at the inter- and intra species level. From
now on you can use the Genome Quest software to query
the Protein World data. With this software you can
search protein world clusters using the BLAST, Smith
& Waterman or Fragment Search algorithms. You can
also make selections within the clusters or browse
through them. Registered users of BioASP can obtain an
account for Protein World/Genome Quest.
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(http://www.bioasp.nl )
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Virtual
Reality Simulation and Technology
Seminar
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On Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 February 2004, Pro
Systems will organise a seminar aimed at the Dutch
Virtual Reality (VR) and Simulation market. During this
seminar existing VR and simulation tools as well as new
technologies will be demonstrated.
For this occasion an Immersive Theatre with a 'curved
screen' will be set up. With three beamers a virtual
world will be created on this screen. Also, a so-called
'Dome' will be presented in which vistors will
experience 180 degrees projection as an effect of a
special lense. This kind of projection is especially
suited for military or transport simulations as well as
for a 'Virtual Walkthrough' in a building plan. Next to
these features all kinds of VR tools, as well as
software and hardware, will be presented. Tuesday 17
February will focus on Simulation and Wednesday 18
February will be aimed at Virtual Reality. More
information on, and how to registrate for the seminar
can be found at the Pro Systems website. |
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(www.prosystems.nl) (www.virtuality.nl)
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