Distinguished Roster of Scientific and Executive Speakers from Harvard Stem Cell Institute and The National Stem Cell Centre Australia
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Cutting-edge scientific areas such as stem cells and biomarkers in clinical trials will be among the focus of discussion at the upcoming 3rd Annual Boston Bio-Relationships 2004 Conference, the region’s only American-Australian-New Zealand biopharmaceutical meeting, at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Cambridge, Massachusetts on Wednesday, June 2, 2004. Keynote speakers include senior management from the Harvard Stem Cell Institute and Jacky Vonderscher, Ph.D., Vice President and Global Head of Biomarker Development, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research.
“Not everyone is aware of the fact that remarkable scientific advances are being made ‘down under’ in some of the most promising areas of biotechnology, including stem cell and oncology research,” noted Ian Nisbet, Ph.D., Senior Director, Millennium Pharmaceuticals and Panel Chair. “This conference is a rare opportunity in the US to meet first hand senior management and to learn about the science underway in one of the leading biotechnology hubs in the world.”
Alan Watson, Ph.D., M.B.A., Chief Business Officer of Elixir Pharmaceuticals and a conference Co-Chairman added, “There is a highly favorable political and intellectual environment for rapidly advancing biotechnology and pharmaceutical product development in Australia and New Zealand. This has enabled the region’s academic institutions and entrepreneurial biotechnology companies to collaboratively approach many diseases with novel therapies in a non-conventional way.”
As evidence of the region’s commitment to biotechnology, the Australian Government announced on May 6, 2004 that it will provide additional funding of $55 million (AUD) to pursue research, development and commercialization of regenerative medicine. The funding will greatly enhance Australia’s ability to develop treatments for serious diseases using stem cells and related technologies, which will support Australia’s position at the forefront of a pioneering field of medicine.
“By highlighting in the United States the tremendous scientific advances resulting from the region’s collaborative approach to research coupled with strong government backing, we hope to see the creation of significant corporate alliances with the US-based biopharmaceutical community,” noted Alan Watson.
Such alliances could include those surrounding clinical trials. “Due to the huge and expanding costs of clinical development of new drugs in the United States, there’s also a growing trend to conduct Phase I trials in international markets,” observed Robert McBurney, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer and Senior Vice President at Beyond Genomics, and a conference Co- Chairman. “Australia and New Zealand are becoming the Phase I trial sites of choice, because of their favorable regulatory environment, familiarity of language and culture, as well as cost-effective resources.”
Conference presentations will address the benefits of conducting early stage clinical trials in Australia and New Zealand, as well as focus on the recent developments regarding the availability of hES cell lines, cellular treatments for cancer, hematopoietic stem cells, stem cell transformation, regenerative medicine and advances in diabetes.
Distinguished guest speakers at the conference will also include: Michael Thawley, the Australian Ambassador to the United States; John Wood, the New Zealand Ambassador to the United States; Stephen Livesey, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of The Australian National Stem Cell Centre; Richard Faull, Professor and Director, Neurological Foundation Brain Bank, University of Auckland; and Marcus Vowels, Ph.D., Professor and Head, Stem Cell Transplant Program and Director, Australian Cord Blood Bank.
Company speakers include senior management from Novotech Pty Ltd, Q-Pharm Pty Ltd, Beltas Ltd, The Brain Resource Company and Cambridge-based ViaCell.
For event details and registration, please visit www.biorelationships.com.
About Boston Bio-Relationships
Boston Bio-Relationships is a high-level biopharmaceutical business meeting that connects business executives from Australia, New Zealand and the USA. For more information and to register for the conference, please visit www.Biorelationships.com.
About ANZACC
The objective of ANZACC (The Australian New Zealand American Chamber of Commerce in New England) is to create networking and business opportunities between New England companies, entrepreneurs, investors, educators, service providers and their counterparts in Australia and New Zealand. ANZACC is the host of the Boston Bio-Relationships 2004 Conference.
Media Contact:
Barbara Askjaer
Feinstein Kean Healthcare
617 761-6759
Email: barbara.askjaer@fkhealth.com
ANZACC Contact:
Andrew Jeffery
President, ANZACC
617 522-6547 x 13
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Source: ANZACC
