NZBIO News Update 18 Feb 2011

NZBIO NEWS UPDATE 18 FEBRUARY 2011

As we approach the latter half of February it only means one thing - the NZBIO conference is now only four weeks away! The conference is shaping up to be a terrific event with high levels of interest and registrations. The conference will also be an opportunity to meet NZBIO’s new CEO Michelle Sullivan, who takes up her new role on the first day of the conference.

Registrations remain open until 18 March, 2011, so do not delay in coming along to New Zealand’s largest and thought provoking bioscience events. For registrations and finding out the latest conference news, click through the Conference website.

LTC's Prof Bob Elliott takes out a World Class NZ Award
Congratulations to Living Cell Technologies Medical Director Professor Bob Elliott, who was recently honoured with the prestigious World Class New Zealand Award. Professor Elliot won the award for his treatment of type-1 diabetes. The annual awards, presented by Kea New Zealand and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, recognise extraordinary New Zealanders who have made significant contributions to the country’s growth and development.

Members News
Two international charitable foundations, New Zealand-based Cure Kids and U.S.-based Children with Diabetes Foundation, have each pledged to provide US$140,000 to fund the final two patients in a Phase II clinical trial in New Zealand that has the potential to transform the treatment of Type 1 diabetes, Living Cell Technologies announced this week. Read more at NZBIO.

Auckland clean technology company LanzaTech announced it is planning a public listing within the next two years.

A study, released by University of Auckland's Liggins Institute, found a link between sugars such as fructose and compromised foetal development. The study fround pregnant women who eat a lot of sugar-laden food could be compromising their babies' development. Read more at NZBIO.

ERMA recently gave n permission for ten species of Australian dung beetles to be brought over to New Zealand, to help farmers deal with agricultural runoff and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The beetles turn manure into a sawdust-like material which aids soil fertility, and can also help prevent manure leaching into waterways as well as increasing production.

On Wednesday 16 February IRL Chief Executive Shaun Coffey informed the Education and Science Select Committee that the company was performing well, and had good future prospects provided it maintained its current momentum.Read more at NZBIO.

Earlier this month AgResearch hosted a United Kingdom retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S) delegation to meet New Zealand producers and processors who supply lamb to their business. The visit organised by M&S will involve meeting relevant supply and processing partners. Read more at NZBIO.

Contract Scale-Up Manufacturing Workshop only one week to go!
Remember today marks only one week to go until NZBIO’s Contract Scale-Up Manufacturing Workshop. This workshop is not to be missed if you are interested in where to go, or what you might need, to scale up your manufacture beyond the lab bench!

Don’t forget US-based Quality Risk Management Consultant, Robert Chew will be flying into Auckland to exclusively present at the workshop taking place in Auckland, 24 February 2011. Robert has provided quality risk management consulting to some of the largest pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in the world. He has worked for organisations including Johnson & Johnson, Merck & Co, Immunex, Bayer and Genentech. Don’t delay in registering for this one-day workshop clicking here.

"Commercialising Technology through Licensing" workshop
Not only is NZBIO 2011 an exciting full-on 3-day conference, there is also a satellite "Commercialising Technology through Licensing" workshop taking place on Thursday 24 & Friday 24 March at the Langham Hotel, Auckland.

This workshop teaches you how to extract the best value from a technology product or process that your company is developing. The workshop covers what should be taken into account when formulating a licensing strategy for extracting value from innovation. Further information about the programme, or to register for this workshop please see the NZBIO website.

Farewell to a NZBIO team member
NZBIO's Corporate Affairs Manager Julie Buchanan leaves NZBIO this week to take on a new role in FMCG communications. Julie's biggest highlights while working with the NZBIO team was meeting the incredibly hard working NZBIO members and inspirational people across New Zealand who work tirelessly to make the world a healthier, safer, cleaner and better place through their amazing knowledge, research and ground breaking innovations.

NZBIO would like to thank its Premium Sponsors

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