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FROM
THE EDITOR
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Now that Bio Boston 2007 is done and dusted we are ramping
up activity for AusBiotech 2007. This year our national conference will be
held on 21-24 October – a perfect time of year to be in Brisbane.
We have had an overwhelming response to our exhibitor
loyalty offer which was recently sent out to last years exhibitors. The
Brisbane exhibition space has been specifically designed as a focal meeting
place and the floor-plan along with the conference activities maximises the
exposure of all exhibitors and provides ease of circulation, drawing
visitor throughout the entire exhibition hall. Over 50% of the exhibition
space is already sold and companies wishing to exhibit should check out the
remaining space available on the floor-plan
and reserve their space online,
or call our Events Manager, Hayley Johnson, on +61 3 9828 1406.
The program details are being finalised with many
interesting international and national speakers participating in sessions
on the current big issues in biotechnology. This year we raise the profile
of medical devices at the conference with sessions on Devicing the Future,
Medical Devices - the Challenge of Growth, and A World View of Device
Regulation. With the GM debate back on the agenda in many states around
Australia, there will be an increased interest in Ag and Environmental
biotechnology, including sessions on the hot topic of Biofuels. Our Asia
Pacific region comes into focus with sessions on Riding the Dragon -
Biotechnology in China and a stem cell session from a regional perspective.
There are also business sessions covering investment, licensing and
intellectual property.
The Business Matching Program was hugely successful last
year and this year's program will use a purpose built meeting centre within
the exhibition hall. On registration, each delegate will receive a user
name and password to access the biopartnering software to upload their
companies profile, search and view other profiles, and organise and book
meetings. This year big pharma and biotech companies attending the
conference such as Pfizer, Genzyme, Novartis, Amgen, Wyeth and Genentech
will directly access the business matching program, as well as send senior
representatives, provide session speakers and sponsor conference
activities.
The other strand to the conference is the Business
Partnering and Investment Forum which is free of charge to registered
corporate members seeking partnership and investment collaborations.
Early bird registration is now available until 17 August
and members can view more information on the exhibition and sponsorship
opportunities or register on line at www.ausbiotech2007.com.au
Read on…
Jennifer Cook
Editor, Australasian Biotechnology e-Newsletter (ABN)
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FROM THE
CEO
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Dr Anna Lavelle
CEO AusBiotech
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The Australian Pavilion
at Bangalore Bio won the award for creativity and content
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I have just returned from the Bangalore Bio conference where I
was invited to give an Australian industry perspective, as part of a panel
discussion at the CEO Conclave. The panel discussion centred on the direction
of the Indian health sector and was held in front of over 200 invited CEO's
from the Indian health and biotech sectors. Bangalore is an emerging force in
the biotech industry on the world stage and it was a great opportunity to
meet with reciprocal industry representatives as well as government and local
business members as we continue to promote Australian biotechnology in the
Asia Pacific region.
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Anna with Mahesh Rathod,
Invest Australia's representative in Mumbai
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Invest Victoria, Invest Australia, AusBiotech and the Victorian
Government led the 15 member Australian delegation where the Australian
Pavilion took out the award for creativity and content.
Kelvin Hopper, Executive Chairman of Innovation Dynamics said “The
Australian stand was very good, well placed and open to accommodate a lot of
visitors”.
To coincide with Bangalore Bio, Deakin University signed a
memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Biocon, the largest biotechnology
company in India and the 16 th largest in the world.
In Australian, the MOU will lead to collaboration between
Deakin and Biocon to develop a business case for a mammalian cell
bio-processing facility at the Geelong Technology Precinct (GTP) at Deakin
University's Geelong Campus.
In India, the MOU will facilitate the establishment of a Deakin
Research Institute in Bangalore which will also involve collaborative
research with Biocon.
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Biocon and Deakin MoU -
From left: Wayne Lewis (Victorian Trade Commissioner in Bangalore), Prof Sally
Walker (Vice Chancellor of Deakin Uni), Dr Kiran Muzumdar-Shaw (CEO of
Biocon) and Prof David de Kretser (Governor of Victoria)
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Signatories to the MOU were Professor Sally Walker, Vice Chancellor,
Deakin University, along with Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, the CEO of Biocon and
witnessed by Wayne Lewis the Bangalore based Commissioner to India, and the
Victorian Governor, Dr David De Kretser.
Professor Sally Walker said “In Victoria, it provides a huge
step towards the achievement of our vision for the growth of the GTP at
Deakin University's Geelong Campus, both through state of the art
biotechnology facility and the expansion of the University's research program
in areas which will have a positive impact on society.”
A number of Universities attended, including Victoria
University and Swinburne University who reported an overwhelming number of
inquires from student interested in their University courses.
Australia already had a strong profile in education in India
and both Dr Amanda Caples, Victorian Director of Biotechnology, DIRRD, and
myself were featured in the local media talking about the biotechnology
opportunities in Australia.
Bio Bangalore was a great opportunity to reach out to the Indian
biotech sector and promote partnerships between Indian & Australian
companies. As follow-on to my visit, and the success of the Australian
Pavilion, AusBiotech anticipates an increase in the number of delegates from
Bangalore attending our national conference, in October, in Brisbane.
Yesterday, 14 June, I joined a gathering of more than 250
people for the opening of the Biofutures Forum: New Challenges, New Thinking
by the Federal Minister for Industry, Ian Macfarlane. The forum included
parliamentarians, scientists, government officials and members of Australia
's growing biotechnology sector who came to Canberra to discuss how
biotechnology can help overcome future challenges such as drought, climate
change and pandemics and to highlight the best of Australian R&D.
At the Forum the minister officially launched BioNet Asia
Pacific, an AusBiotech initiative, linking 11 member countries of the Asia
Pacific region through a website portal, creating a virtual biotechnology
market place. Ausbiotech members can access BioNet Asia Pacific at www.bionetasiapacific.com
Dr Anna Lavelle
CEO AusBiotech
AusBioEVENTS
HIGHLIGHTS
A comprehensive events diary is available any time from our
website
www.ausbiotech.org.
26 June 2007
NSW AusBiotech MDN Business Seminar
NSW DSRD, Level 47, MLC Centre, 19 Martin Place, Sydney
AusBiotech NSW and the NSW Medical Device Network (MDN) invites you to a
special business seminar and networking function, to review what is hot in
biotechnolo...
More>>
28 June 2007
The Vision Systems Story 'From Start up to Billion Dollar Sale'
AusBiotech Level 1, 322 Glenferrie Road Malvern
AusBiotech Victorian Medical Device Network (MDN) presents… From Start up to
Billion Dollar Sale Come and hear the great Australian ...
More>>
Announcing ANZA's Fast Track To The US
Insert ANZA's Logo
FINAL ROUND
Free Biotech Briefing Session
Wednesday 11 July, 2007 – 4PM to 6PM
AusBiotech, Level 1, 322 Glenferrie Road, Malvern, VIC
Last chance for innovative Victorian companies seeking an accelerated path to
US market success to find out more about the Fast Track to the US Program
Register
for the briefing session today!
AusBioFOCUS
Important Survey on Pharmaceutical and Biotech Industry
Skills and Workforce Needs
The Pharmaceuticals Education Council invites biotech industry members to
participate in a survey about the skills gaps and workforce needs for the
pharmaceutical and biotech industry in Australia . The survey is being run to
a tight timetable. To date there has been no response from the biotech sector
and we encourage all members to participate to give the industry a voice. For
more information on the survey click here( insert link to our website).
Please complete the sections applicable to your role and submit the survey by
COB Tuesday 19th June . It would strengthen the survey's results if
members could forward this information to other individuals who may be able
to contribute. We appreciate your assistance in this regard.
If you have questions at any time about the survey or the procedures, you may
contact Karen Dado at 02 9619 1601 or by email at karen.dado@whkgreenwoods.com.au
ISRBP Congress, 2-4 Nov 2007, Powerhouse Museum, Sydney
The International Society for Rotary Blood Pumps (ISRBP) invites you to
participate in its 15 th Annual Congress. The Congress will deliver a
stimulating scientific program in the field of biomedical engineering and
medicines offering the opportunity to meet with scientists, clinicians,
researchers and members in the medical field.
This is will also be an excellent opportunity for marketing,
promotion and collaboration.
Calls for registration, abstracts, sponsorships and exhibitors is now
open.
For further information email the organisers: isrbp@iceaustralia.com or visit www.iceaustralia.com/isrbp2007
Invitation to be part of The Pharmaceuticals Education
Council
Nominations are sought from interested company personnel to become a
member of the Pharmaceuticals Education Council (PEC)
The PEC was set up to investigate pharmaceutical workforce needs, assess
skills gaps and work with governments and tertiary institutions to ensure
that the Australian education system produces the right skills for this
knowledge based industry.
To register your interest, or to find out more about the PEC, please contact
Sophie Dunstone 02-62826888, info@pharmacouncil.com.au
Shining light on ancient enemy:
NZ scientists & Australian Synchrotron fight TB
New Zealand researchers will use the Australian Synchrotron to study
tuberculosis proteins looking for weak points that drugs and vaccines could
target. TB kills more than two million people a year and a nasty new version
is stalking the globe—extreme drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB).
It's one example of the many ways that New Zealand scientists will be using
the Australian Synchrotron in the coming years. That's why a consortium of NZ
government and university research agencies have contributed $5 million to
the development of the synchrotron's beamlines – the experimental stations
where the synchrotron's intense light beams are put to useful work.
More>>
Call for Submissions
 The Small Scale
Technology Access Program – “STC Access”
The STC has available small grants and discounted
access (40% discounted on commercial rates) to MiniFAB's facilities.
STC invites proposalsfrom members to take advantage of these access regimes.
Applications will be reviewed and ranked by the STC Scientific Review Panel.
For more information please contact Clive Davenport, CEO, Small Technologies
Cluster at clive@stc-melbourne.com
Submissions accepted up until Friday July 6, 2007.
  Trade Mission
To ABIC and Canada September 2007
(Agricultural Biotechnology International Conference)
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN AGBIO YOU SHOULD BE AT ABIC 2007
– CALGARY, CANADA – SEPTEMBER 23-26, 2007
AusBiotech invites you to join us on a trade mission to Alberta , Canada
from September 19-26, 2007 (incorporating
ABIC 2007 in Calgary).
More>>
Nobel Prize winner joins international thinkers for
2007 Alfred Deakin Lecture Series
Nobel Prize winning biologist Sir Paul Nurse will reveal how simple
baker's yeast is helping in the fight against cancer when he joins other
leading international thinkers for the 2007 Alfred Deakin Innovation
Lectures.
The free lecture series will run from Monday 25 June to Friday 20 July.
Other speakers will include philanthropist and civic activist Robert Klein
(USA); researcher and founder of GlobeImmune, Dr Alex Franzusoff (USA);
science author Matt Ridley (UK); and John Wilbanks, Executive Director,
Science Commons (USA).
More>>
  Specialised short
courses for industry
BioSkills, The Specialist Centre in Biotechnology Training, and the BioSkills
Network are rolling out a number of short courses during June & July
2007.
More>>
Call for applications for the one-off $10 million grant
to support the establishment of a small-scale mammalian cell production
facility in Australia
The Australian Government is calling for applications for the above
grant. Background information covering the aim and objective of the
grant, the independent business case study, a sample funding agreement and
the financial model template are available at www.industry.gov.au/mammalian
Please note that applications close on 17 August 2007.
Further enquires contact Michael Schwager (General Manager, Pharmaceuticals
and Biotechnology Branch),
Ph: +61 2 6213 6058; Email: michael.schwager@industry.gov.au
or Nick Dowie (Manager, Pharmaceuticals Section)
Ph: +61 2 6213 6597; Email: nicholas.dowie@industry.gov.au
New study to examine the health of Australian biotech
A new study launched by Research Australia will take an in depth look at the
wellbeing of Australian biotechnology.
Attracting research and development funding, positioning in the market,
strategic development, management and prospects of future growth will be the
focus of the investigation.
Approximately 100 biotechnology companies will be approached to participate
in the study, which will report on large and small biotech companies from
across the health sector.
Please contact Dr Noel Chambers on 0412 357 893 if you wish to participate in
this study.
Australian Trade Mission to Hong Kong Medical Fair
16-20 August 2007
The New South Wales Department of State and Regional Development together
with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council will be organizing a Trade
Mission of companies to exhibit / visit at the upcoming Hong Kong Medical and
Health Care Fair on 16-20 August.
Deadline extended to end of June.
For further information visit www.business.nsw.gov.au
Or contact: Mr. Peter Bosevski, Assistant Marketing Manager, Hong Kong
Trade Development Council
peter.bosevski@tdc.org.hk,
Tel: +61 2 9261-8911
AusBioSTOCK
This
month,
Joanna Hill from Lands Kirwan Tong Stockbrokers has put the
spotlight on CollTech Australia Ltd (ASX: CAU) and Stem Cell Sciences PLC (ASX: STC).
SPOTLIGHT
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CollTech Australia Ltd (ASX: CAU)
Listed February 2004
$0.059 (month down 13%)
Market capitalisation $9.5M
Month H $0.075 – L $0.057 (vol 9.3 m on 214 transactions)
Cash 31 March 2007 $1.2 M
Issued Capital
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Major Shareholders:
- Top 20 43.00%
- JP Morgan Nominees
Aust Ltd 8.46%
- Dr & Mrs J
Snowden 4.93%
- IRSS Nominees (21)
Ltd 4.67%
- Life Science
Investment Group 4.64%
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CollTech is an Australian bio-industrial company specialising
in the development and commercialisation of ovine (sheep) collagen products.
The Australian-produced OVICOLL® ovine collagen is a safe and culturally
acceptable collagen source, which is fully traceable and unaffected by the
issue of Mad Cow Disease. The company currently markets OVICOLL® for cosmetic
applications and has several products in development for research and medical
applications. The past 3 years CollTech has refined the production process of
its ovine collagen, making it the only producer of ovine collagen in the
world. The Company's cosmetic range of collagen is set to start generating
sustainable revenue during the course of the next financial year (2007-8).
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Stem Cell Sciences PLC (ASX: STC)
Listed April 2007
$109.05
Market Capitalisation $33M
Month H $110.00 – L $101.00
Issued capital: 36M OFP
Cash Aus $10M
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Major shareholders:
TOP 20 62.00%
- Secure Sciences
Pty Ltd 14.80%
- Forest Nominees
Ltd 13.45%
- Biotech Capiutal
Ltd 10.78%
- Chase Nominees Ltd
4.62%
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Stem Cell Sciences is an international research and development
company focusing on the commercial application of stem cell biology technologies
for research and clinical applications. STC is at the forefront of stem cell
field, and it has an established track record of revenue generation through
the sale of products and through collaborative research and licensing deals
with international biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.
STC has a substantial portfolio of patents and patent
applications in both adult and embryonic stem cell fields. The Company now
has been active in the stem cell research field since 1994, principally
focused on technologies to grow, differentiate, and purify adult and
embryonic stem cells.
More»
AusBioTRIVIA
The
wine of the month is a Paradigm HillShiraz Col's Block 2004. To win this
bottle of wine, readers must submit their answer to the TRIVIA question by
COB Friday, 29 June. One winner will be selected from all the correct answers
received, and will be notified by phone and announced in next month's
newsletter.
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June Trivia Question
What are the following two letters in this sequence;
OTTFFSS ?
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Shiraz
“Col
's block” 2004
elegant and mellow, white pepper and spice together with aromas of dark
berries. Seamless on the palate yet rich and complex throughout the long
finish.
To order this
wine and for more information on Paradigm Hill visit www.paradigmhill.com.au
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Email your answer to newsletter@ausbiotech.org
no later than COB 29 June, 2007.
AusBioCAREERS
Intellectual Property Associate
IMBcom wishes to employ an exceptional individual to work within our
small, outcome-driven team to assist in the preparation and analysis of
opportunities for commercialisation arising from the IMB and preparation of
appropriate project plans, assisting in patent filing and prosecution, work with
scientists and outside parties to identify these opportunities, recommending
and pursuing processes for their development and coordinating projects
through to commercialisation.
Applicants should have graduate qualifications in an
appropriate biotechnology discipline with extensive industry experience or
post graduate scientific qualifications, able to analyse a range of complex
information and synthesise the key elements, communicate a range of technical
and commercial information to different audiences, expertise in intellectual
property management, preparation of patents and how these processes relates
to biotechnology.
Contact Kellie Broderick, at IMBcom Pty Ltd, The University of
Queensland, BRISBANE K.Broderick@IMBcom.com.au
and for further information visit www.imbcom.com.au
General Manager
International life sciences business
More>>
Reseach Officer / MR Physicist
Howard Florey Institute
More>>
Project Manager- Vaccines
Malaria Vaccine Pre-Clinical development
Australian International Health Institute
The PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative(MVI)
More>>
General Manager
Award Winning Healthcare CRM Company
More>>
For more listings of positions available in the Life Science
sector visit our website
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May AusBioTrivia winner
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Dr Nigel J Parker
Patent Attorney
Phillips Ormonde & Fitzpatrick
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Congratulations!
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Congratulations to Charles and Ingrid Lindall on the birth of
their daughter Emma Charlotte. Charles is a long time supporter of
AusBiotech and member of the NSW AusBiotech Branch Committee.
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CEO, 60
SECONDS
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Dr Michelle Miller
CEO Biotron
The most enjoyable part of my job is... working
with a fabulous multi-disciplined team and overseeing the transition of a
project that was a glimmer in a scientist's eye into a drug product that is
in clinical trials.
My colleagues would be surprised to hear this but at
work I often… sneak into the lab when everyone's gone for the day
and wander around straightening things up and turning off equipment and
lights.
When I was a child I wanted to be ... a
pathologist – I had no idea what they actually did but thought it sounded
exotic and fun.
At the moment I am reading ...
Slaughterhouse 5 by Vonnegut and Vikram Seth's Two Lives,
and listening to A Tale of Two Cities during the long weekly drive
to and from Canberra.
My favourite gadget is ... my BlackBerry
(indispensable but very dull…).
My question to the Federal Treasurer/ Minister for
Science would be ... why is the threshold for the R&D offset
limits set too low to be of benefit to the majority of biotech companies?
If I were a car I'd be ...
Toyota Prion – runs on two fuel types (science and finance/business), and is
practical and (relatively) efficient.
Our tribute to
“The Year of the Idea”
My greatest idea was…
leaving science to join the world of venture capital – working in the
finance markets opened my eyes to a whole new world.
My worst idea was…
thinking my husband and I could put up a ceiling with no mechanical
assistance. A broken window and an almost-divorce later we hired a hoist.
The idea I wished was mine…
the iPOD
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MARKET
MOVERS
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Month 30 April 2007 to 31 May 2007
Share price gains:
Medic Vision Ltd (MVH)
up 33 % @ $0.345
Market Cap $33 M
Issued capital: 93 m OFP shares
+ 10 m options
Month H $0.38 - L $0.245
Volume traded: 23 m on 1,063 transactions
ICS Global Ltd (ICS)
up 26% @ $0.29
Market Cap $28M
Issued capital: 97 m OFP shares
+ 14 m options
Month H $0.34 – L $0.21
Volume traded: 9.6 m on 438 transactions
Probiotec Ltd (PBP)
up 22% @ $1.16
Market Cap $53 M
Issued capital: 46.5 m
OFP shares
Month H $1.19 – L $0.90
Volume traded: 1.3 m on 142 transactions
Sunshine Heart (SHC)
up 19% @ $0.185
Market Cap $31 M
Issued capital: 174 m OFP shares + 53 m options + 3.2 m warrants
Month H $0.22 – L $0.15.5 Volume traded: 1.3 m on 66 transactions
Vision Group Hldgs (VGH)
up 17% @ $2.84
Market Cap $190 M
Issued capital: 65 m OFP shares
+ 7.3 m OFP non-voting shares
Month H$3.09 – L $2.45
Volume traded: 9.6 m on 2,949 transactions
Share price losses:
Prima Biomed Ltd (PRR)
down 40 % @ $0.025
Market Cap $6.7 m
Issued capital: 198 m OFP shares + 16 m options
Month H $ 0.045 – L $ 0.024
Volume traded: 23 m on 355 transactions
Medical Monitors (MDM)
down 35 % @ $0.10
Market Cap $11.43 M
Issued capital: 91 m OFP shares
+ 3 m options
Month H $0.155 – L $0.098
Volume traded: 2.4 m on 98 transactions
RiTract Ltd (RTL)
down 34% @ $0.057
Market Cap $6.7 M
Issued capital: 118 m OFP shares + 11 m options
Month H $0.088 – L $0.055
Volume traded: 4.8 m on 177 transactions
BrainZ Instruments Ltd (BZI)
down 29% @ $0.30
Market Cap $10.7 M
Issued capital : 35.6 m OFP shares + 24.4 OFP restricted + 6 m options
Month H $0.42 – L $0.25
Volume traded: 487,885 m on 36 transactions
SDI Ltd (SDI)
down 27.5% @ $0.58
Market Cap $59 M
Issued capital : 118 m OFP shares + 1 m options
Month H $0.87 – L $0.57
Volume traded: 3.4 m on 478 transactions
More»
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MEDIA
RELEASES
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Stirling set to acquire North American
Bioscience company
Biosignal: Dr Michael Ironside New Head of
Chemistry at Biosignal
Bionomics validates drug candidate for
anxiety
ChemGenex reports successful personalized
dosing of Quinamed at ASCO
Clinuvel: Phase III trial of CUV1647 begins
in Erythropoietic Protoporphyria
Phosphagenics awarded a A$2.1 million
AusIndustry grant
Prima Biomed Limited: CVac Data presented at
2007 American Society of Clinical Oncology
Annual Meeting
Pharmaxis’ Aridol gains European approval
QRx lists on ASXy
Ventracor: growing global momentum results
in strong revenue growth
More»
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CALENDAR
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2007
June 17-19
Genomics in Business conference
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Focus on innovating business and generating commercial value from genomic
applications in Agro –Food industry
More>>
June 17-20
International Society of Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) Annual Meeting
Cairns Convention centre, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Co sponsored by the Australian Stem Cell Centre the 5th ISSCR Annual
Meeting will be the first meeting outside of North America . Early
registration discount deadline April 17, 2007.
Register online at www.isscr.org
June 24 -27
International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) Annual Meeting
13 th Annual meeting to be held at the Sydney Convention Centre,
Darling Harbour, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
More>>
June 26-29
eResearch Australasia 2007 Conference
Queensland Government, DEST sponsored conference of interest to NCRIS
researchers to be held at University of Queensland.
More>>
July
23
Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Biotechnology Conference
Grand Hyatt Taipei Hotel, Taipei
More>>
September 12-14
BIO Korea 2007
Convention and Exhibition in Seoul
More>>
September 19-21
BIO Japan 2007
World Business Forum to held at the Pacifico Yokohama, City of Yokohama
More>>
September 23-26
Agricultural Biotechnology International Conference (ABIC) 2007
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Harnessing Science for the Evolving Customer:
The Fit of Agricultural Biotechnology
More>>
October 21-24
AusBiotech 2007
Smart Targeting into Global Markets
National Biotechnology Conference and Business Partnering & Investment
Forum
More>>
November 5-9
BioAsia 2007
Bangkok, Thailand
A ll roads lead to Bangkok as the National Center for Genetic Engineering
and Biotechnology (BIOTEC) and S.L.M. Management Co., Ltd. present BioAsia
2007 Thailand , the first International Trade Exhibition and Conference for
Biotechnology in Thailand.
More>>
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