Here are the highlights of stories and videos that surfaced over the weekend.  There should be a bit of something for everyone in the IAmBiotech world.  Let’s start with the videos:

  • CEOs on Biotech and Development – The Boston Globe had a very interesting video interview with some of the most prominent leaders of biotechnology, talking about the role that the science will play in the state of Massachusetts and the nation.  The video includes Dr. Josh Boger of Vertex Pharmaceuticals, James Foster of Charles River Laboratories, and Henri Termeer of Genzyme.
  • San Diego and Algae – The University of California Television has a nice 7-minute segment on energy security and the role that algae and biotech can play in addressing those concerns.  The piece focuses on the research center in San Diego.
  • Biotech 101 – TMW Media has put up on YouTube a series of videos that outline some of the basics … and primary benefits … of biotechnology.  This strikes us as a good series for school children.  We’d welcome others’ thoughts.
  • Biotech, Faith, and Ethics – Fox News did an interesting piece on the role of biotechnology in some of the most recent papers and directives from the Catholic Church.  The piece focuses on the thoughts of Christian Ethics professor Charles Camosy from Fordham University.
  • Farm and ag biotech – We also came across a series of 30-second spots put out by the Farm Bureau on farm and ag biotech.  Very well produced.
  • EuropaBIO and ag biotech – Finally, there’s another in EuropaBIO’s video series, this one by Willy deGreef on the role of biotech in agriculture.

PATENTS AND BIOTECH – We reported last week on stories surrounding the challenges faced by the USPTO on processing patents.  KPBS of San Diego did a short but interesting piece on how this issue is bedeviling San Diego biotech firms:

This means San Diego biotech companies are often forced to ask investors for money when they have no proof their innovative ideas actually belong to them.  Jeanne Loring, director of the stem cell center at the Scripps Research Institute, says this is one reason so many biotechs fail.  “They never actually get anywhere because they can’t obtain intellectual property,” said Loring. “So there are a lot of companies that we’ll never hear of that can’t go past the early stage.”

PERSONAL GENOMES AND BIOTECH – Another story we wrote about last week was that of a professor that sequenced his own genome in only a few months and for only thousands of dollars.  Luke Timmerman of Xconomy has a story out on Complete Genomics that is looking for funding to do just that … complete sequencing in four days for $5k.

U.S. REP JERRY MORAN AWARDED – The Kansas Bioscience Organization gave its first Legislative Leadership Award to U.S. Rep. Jerry Moran.  According to the Topeka-Capital Journal Online “the award is given to a Kansas public official who has demonstrated leadership on behalf of the bioscience industry.”