RALPH W.F. HARDY, Ph.D.

Ralph W.F. Hardy is President and co-founder of the National Agricultural Biotechnology Council (NABC), a consortium of over 35 not-for-profit agricultural research and educational institutions in Canada and the United States that provides an open forum for discussion on the safe, efficacious, and equitable development of agricultural biotechnology. Previously, Hardy was President of BioTechnica International and President and CEO of the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Inc. He was with DuPont for 21 years, where he led the research-driven diversification into pharmaceuticals, agricultural products, and bio-based products. Today, he continues to be a leading spokesperson for the bio-based economy and public good.

ABSTRACT
The Bio-based Economy for Energy, Chemicals, and Materials: Why, How, What, Where, and When

The bio-based economy will contribute to national security, and will provide significant economic, environmental, and human-health benefits to society and sustainable industries. The bioeconomy is expected to produce 50% of liquid fuels and 90% of organic chemicals by 2050. Sources of biomass will be low-input perennials and trees grown on non-food-producing land and agricultural residues. Government policy will foster public and private investments for cost-competitive commercialization. The where and when will be dictated by nations and corporations that give timely priority to these major growth opportunities.

http://www.cals.cornell.edu/extension/nab

ANATOLE KRATTIGER, Ph.D.

Anatole Krattiger is Director of swiftt, the Strategic World Initiative for Technology Transfer at Cornell University. He is also founder and President of bioDevelopments LLC, an international consultancy based in Ithaca, NY. The firm works in areas related to biotechnology transfer for the benefit of the developing world, and serves the international development community, the private sector, and academia in public/private partnership building, development of IP management strategies, institution building, and management of institutional change. Krattiger has worked extensively in developing countries and was closely involved in the establishment of ISAAA in 1991, serving as its Executive Director from 1995 to 2000.

ABSTRACT
Building Public Trust: Six Principles and Myths of Public Perception and Persuasion

Our perception of food biotechnology is the sum of our comprehension coupled with our own value judgments, world view, and beliefs. Whereas rational discourse will lead to a better understanding in the long term, it generally affects little in terms of our values, ethics, or beliefs. Hence emotions are one of the two fundamental issues, along with rational dialogue, that need to be addressed when communicating food biotechnology and gaining the public's trust. How can the stewards of biotechnology inspire conviction in a technology when there is a lack of trust in the stewards themselves? Six principles - and myths - of public "perception" will be reviewed and discussed from the point of view of the "science of persuasion", namely liking, reciprocity, social proof, consistency, authority, and scarcity.

http://www.swiftt.cornell.edu

http://www.bioDevelopments.com

VIVIAN MOSES, Ph.D.

Educated first in Cambridge as a biochemist and then at University College London in microbiology, Vivian Moses worked in London before becoming research director at the University of California in Berkeley. He was appointed to the Chair of Microbiology at Queen Mary College, London (UK) in 1971, where he remained until formally retiring in 1993. Since retiring, Moses has researched the spread of information and helped people at large understand the promise and problems of biotechnology. He holds two visiting professorships at King's and University Colleges in London, is co-ordinator of an EU program on biotech education, Director of The Centre for Genetic Anthropology at UCL, and Chairman of the CropGen panel.

ABSTRACT
Educating The European Public For Biotechnology

Between April 2000 and April 2002, all EU Member States, together with Switzerland and the US, collaborated in a project to explore what is being done to help people generally understand the technology, issues, and problems of biotechnology. The main areas reviewed were activities by government, formal education in schools and universities, scientific organizations, the private sector (manufacturers, retailers, and trade associations), the media (print and broadcast), museums, and consumer and other special interest organizations. Also included was a review of the books readily available in libraries and bookshops.

v.moses@qmul.ac.uk

http;//www.cropgen.org

CHANNAPATNA S. PRAKASH, Ph.D.

C.S. Prakash is a Professor of Plant Molecular Genetics and Director of the Center for Plant Biotechnology Research at Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, Alabama, where he oversees research on food crops of importance to developing countries and training of scientists and students in plant biotechnology. Dr. Prakash's team of scientists has led development of the transgenic sweet potato, identification of DNA polymorphism in peanut, development of a genetic map of cultivated peanut, and most recently, enhanced the protein content of crops several-fold through genetic modification. He has authored or co-authored more than 50 scientific publications in refereed journals and presented more than 100 papers.

ABSTRACT
Agricultural Biotechnology and Food Security

Sustainable agricultural development is critical to meeting future world food needs, reducing poverty, and protecting the environment. Knowledge-based approaches, including the development of transgenic crops and genomics, can enhance food security by improving local crop productivity, reducing chemical inputs, insulating crops against pest and post-harvest losses, improving nutrition, increasing crop tolerance to stress, and by producing value-added products. Integrating biotechnology into agricultural research in the developing world requires consideration of many factors, including policy, financial, technical, intellectual property, biosafety, and trade-related issues.

prakash@agbioworld.org

http://www.agbioworld.org

HUBERT GEORGE ZANDSTRA, Ph.D.

Hubert George Zandstra is Director General of the International Potato Center (CIP). Prior to joining the CIP, he served as Deputy Director General for Research at the International Rice Research Institute and as Director and Associate Director in the Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Sciences Division at the International Development Research Centre. Dr. Zandstra holds a B.Sc. and M.Sc. from McGill University and a Ph.D. from Cornell University. He has authored or co-authored 38 scientific articles and 11 extension-conference papers. He is a member of numerous organizations including the World Potato Congress board and International Agricultural Development Committee, and is Chair emeritus of International Network for the Improvement of Banana and Plantain.

ABSTRACT
Global Stewardship, “Sharing the Wealth”

Future Harvest Centers hold, in trust, 60% of the accessible genetic resources for the world's major food crops. Benefits from biotechnology are constrained by access and trust. An overemphasis on appropriable technologies, an "anti-commons" of intellectual property rights, sovereignty limitations on germplasm, insufficient benefit sharing, and weak public research and regulation in developing countries, all contribute to these constraints. By better combining public and private sector biotechnology research, our genetic resources can give us crops that are more productive and resistant to pests and disease, and help reduce poverty and environmental damage, particularly in poor countries.

CIP-DG@cgiar.org

http://www.cipotato.org

PETER HACKETT, Ph.D.

As Vice-President of Research at the National Research Council of Canada, Dr. Peter Hackett is fascinated by the challenges of leading and managing the performance of a creative research organization. He is also one of Canada's most highly cited chemical physicists, having received the Noranda lecture award from the Chemical Society of Canada and the Rutherford Medal in Chemistry from the Royal Society of Canada. He was a member of the NRC-Lumonics team that received the Canada Awards of Excellence Gold Medal in Technology Transfer. Dr. Hackett has published 200 scientific papers and 10 patents, is a Fellow of the Chemical Institute of Canada, a Trustee of the Steacie Foundation, and an Adjunct Professor in Chemistry at the University of Toronto and the University of Saskatchewan.

ABSTRACT
NRC's role in Canadian Innovation

The National Research Council (NRC) is working to develop Canada's innovation system and support sustained economic growth in regions and communities across the nation. With a distributed presence across Canada, NRC's research institutes have a proven ability to integrate the different components of the national innovation systems (knowledge and information, strategic R&D, networks, technology transfer, support for firms, etc.), and to strengthen the systems' players and the linkages among them to develop world-class technology clusters.

Peter.Hackett@nrc.ca

http://www.nrc.ca/research/bio_e.html

GITANJALI ADLAKHA-HUTCHEON, Ph.D.

Gitanjali Adlakha-Hutcheon is a Biotechnology Officer in the Animal Biotechnology Unit at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. She earned a Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Therapeutics from the University of British Columbia in 1999, and joined the Food Inspection Agency in 2000 to help establish the Animal Biotechnology Unit. Since then, Dr. Adlakha-Hutcheon has been involved in identifying regulatory priorities, as well as evaluating submissions for conformance with current regulations. She is currently working with an interdepartmental team to develop a science-based regulatory program and to establish technical standards for regulation of animal biotechnology in Canada. She is a member of the Regulatory Affairs Professional Society.

ABSTRACT
Regulation of Animal Biotechnology within Canada

In Canada, regulatory control of animal biotechnology is shared among Environment Canada, Health Canada, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Transgenic animals are considered new substances under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act and the New Substances Notification Regulations.

www.inspection.gc.ca

MASOOD AKHTAR, Ph.D.

Masood Akhtar, CEO and Vice-President of BioPulping International, is recognized for his expertise in industrial applications of microorganisms in the pulp and paper industry. He holds 11 patents and has published several papers. He has also given many presentations and worked as a consultant both in the U.S. and abroad. In 1997, Dr. Akhtar was honoured with the USDA Honor Award (presented by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture for Environmental Protection) for developing biopulping technology. Other honours include the 1998 Federal Laboratory Consortium Award, 1998 U.S. Forest Service Chief's award for Excellence in Technology Transfer, and 2001 Wisconsin Small Business Innovation Award for Outstanding Achievements.

ABSTRACT
Biopulping: A New Technology for Papermaking

Biopulping, defined as the fungal pretreatment of lignocellulosic materials prior to pulping, saves 30% electrical energy, improves paper quality, and has the potential of saving $7.5 million/year to a mill processing 250 tons of chips/day.

makhtar@facstaff.wisc.edu

http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/FPPP/biopulp.htm

MARTIN L. ANDREAS

Martin L. Andreas is Assistant to the Chief Executive and the Director of Corporate Marketing for Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM), one of the largest processors of oilseeds, corn, wheat and cocoa. ADM leverages its versatile infrastructure and technological capabilities to add value to the crops it processes. Renewable fuel sources, animal feeds and industrial products are also part of the ADM product line. Mr. Andreas joined ADM in 1970 as Executive Vice President of Corn Sweeteners and served as President of the Corn Division from 1975 to 1986, at which time he was appointed to his current position. Mr. Andreas oversees marketing for ADM, paying particular attention to the sweeteners and ethanol product lines.

TOPIC
Biorefinery

The presentation will deal with the subject of fuel — ethanol in particular. The following issues will be addressed: California ethanol usage, ethanol sales in the Northeastern US, current and projected US ethanol capacities, US ethanol legislation, ethanol corn crop usage, and environmental benefits.

http://www.admworld.com

G. MICHAEL BANCROFT, Ph.D.

After graduating from the University of Manitoba with an M.Sc. in Chemistry, Michael Bancroft went on to earn his Ph.D. at the University of Cambridge. He also received an M.A. and Sc.D. from Cambridge, and spent three years teaching in the Chemistry Department. In 1970, Dr. Bancroft returned to Canada as Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the University of Western Ontario. Over the next 29 years, he became Professor, was Director of the Centre for Chemical Physics, Director of Surface Science Western, and Chair of the Department of Chemistry. He was also Scientific Director of the Canadian Synchrotron Radiation Facility in Wisconsin, President of the Canadian Institute of Synchrotron Radiation, and Director of the Canadian Light Source (CLS) in Saskatoon, where he is currently Associate Director of Science.

ABSTRACT
Canadian Light Source: Progress and Opportunity

The Canadian Light Source (CLS), Canada's $173-million national synchrotron light source, is currently on-time and on-budget. In early 2004, the CLS will have several very intense beams of infrared and x-rays available for research workers in a number of scientific disciplines. Research opportunities with these and other beamlines will be discussed.

gmbancro@uwo.ca

http://www.lightsource.ca

RENAUD BEAUCHESNE, M.B.A.

Renaud Beauchesne is Chief Executive Officer of Advitech Solutions inc., a nutraceutical company located in Quebec City, Canada. He is also president of AdvidiA, a company owned partly by Advitech and IngrediA, S.A. Beauchesne developed the actual concept of Advitech and has been responsible for developing and managing its alliance and partnership program. Prior to this, he was an associate of a major Canadian consulting firm specializing in marketing and strategic planning, with offices in Canada and France. Beauchesne holds an M.B.A. degree from Laval University in Quebec.

ABSTRACT
The Nutraceutical Dream: How to Sleep Well!

Since its incorporation in 1996, Advitech Solutions inc. has focussed on the development of dairy-based bioactive ingredients. After almost six years, the company is in a position to meet its objectives of being a recognized leader in the industry, achieving $20 million in sales, and becoming a publicly-traded company.

http://www.advitech.com

PREM L BHALLA, Ph.D.

Prior to joining the University of Melbourne, Australia as an Associate Professor, Prem Bhalla worked as Leading Research Scientist at ICI Australia. She is a leading plant biotechnologist in tissue culture and genetic engineering of pasture and vegetable crop plants, and current co-director of a research team of post-doctorates, research assistants, post-graduate students and visiting scholars. Dr. Bhalla is the inventor in ten patent applications, has published 96 research articles in international refereed journals, book chapters and conference proceedings, and regularly contributes to community awareness of scientific research through radio and TV interviews, newspaper and popular magazine articles. She was awarded the 2000 Royal Society of Victoria Research Medal.

ABSTRACT
Allergen Biotechnology: Removal of Allergens through Biotechnology

The incidence and severity of allergic disorders is increasing worldwide. Post-transcriptional gene silencing with antisense or RNAi based constructs offer unprecedented opportunities to remove allergen production. It is now feasible to silence all the isoforms of a target allergen by using an interfering construct that will have significant homology to common nucleotide sequences shared by all the isoforms. Our results provide proof of the principle for the concept of allergen removal through gene silencing. This principle is potentially applicable to removing inhalant or food allergens in plants amenable to genetic transformation.

www.landfood.unimelb.edu.au/research/Biotech

ROY BUTTON, M. Sc., P.AG.

Roy Button is Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission (SCDC), whose mandate is to enhance canola producers' competitiveness and profitability through research, market development and extension activities. Button holds a B.S.A. and Masters Degree from the University of Saskatchewan and has been providing recommendations on canola production for over 25 years. He was editor of the "Canola Producers' Perspective on Biotechnology" and has been a presenter at numerous producer meetings on topics such as biotechnology, cost of production, fertility, insect and disease concerns and weed control.

GUY A. CARDINEAU, Ph.D.

Guy Cardineau began his career in agricultural biotechnology more than 18 years ago. After serving as a scientist with a small start-up company, he moved to Agrigenetics and then to Mycogen. When Dow AgroSciences acquired Mycogen in 1998, Dr. Cardineau assumed the positions of Global Leader R&D, Output Agriculture Gene Discovery and Site Leader for the San Diego Research Facility. He recently assumed new responsibilities as Global Leader for Science and Technology. Dr. Cardineau has an A.B. in American Civilization, a B.S. in Microbiology and a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology. He is author of several scientific papers and inventor of issued and pending patent applications in plant sciences.

ABSTRACT
Plant Based Systems for the Production and Delivery of Vaccines: Rationale, Perspective, Issues and Challenges

In a review of world health, vaccines are seen as a medical success for both humans and animals. There are, however, basic underlying issues associated with production and delivery that impact the availability of vaccines. Plants offer an attractive, alternative option to current strategies. An examination of the rationale behind this developing technology, including a discussion of the hurdles and challenges to be faced, will be discussed.

TREVOR CHARLES, Ph.D.

Following a B.Sc. in microbiology from the University of British Columbia and a Ph.D. from McMaster University, Trevor Charles carried out post-doctoral studies at the University of Washington. His career has taken him from McGill University to the University of Waterloo, where he is presently an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology. Charles' research team uses the power of genetics and molecular biology to investigate the interactions of microorganisms with their environments. Current research focuses on bacterial intracellular carbon storage metabolism, and on accessing the vast genetic resources in the uncultured organisms within microbial communities.

ABSTRACT
Bioplastics from Uncultivated Bacteria

The efficiency of polyhydroxyalkanaote (PHA) synthesis and the structural range of product could be enhanced tremendously by taking advantage of genetic material that exists in the huge diversity of unknown and unculturable bacteria residing in complex microbial communities.

tcharles@uwaterloo.ca

DR. COLLEEN CHRISTENSEN

Dr. Colleen Christensen is a native of Saskatchewan. She was born and raised on a grain farm in Young, Saskatchewan. Following completion of her Ph.D. in animal biotechnology at the University of Saskatchewan (U of S), Dr. Christensen worked with the entity that became the College of Biotechnology at the Uof S. She then was the General Manager of the Saskatoon Colostrum Company, a spin-off company formed from research conducted at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine. In December 2001, Dr. Christensen joined the BioMedical Imaging Group, a consortium consisting of the Saskatoon Regional Health Authority, the University of Saskatchewan and the Canadian Light Source Inc. with the mandate to develop a BioMedical Beamline at the Canadian Light Source. Dr. Christensen is a Member of the College of Biotechnology and an Adjunct Professor in Veterinary Biosciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine.

 

DAVID CONN, Ph.D.

David Conn is a registered patent agent with Borden Ladner Gervais LLP Intellectual Property Practice Group specializing in the biotechnological and chemical fields. After obtaining a Ph.D. in insect genetics and ecology from the University of London (Imperial College) in 1972, he worked in university and government research laboratories, then went on to earn an MBA from Dalhousie University. Conn is a member of the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada and currently serves on the Institute's Biotechnology Legislation Committee. He also serves as a tutor for Patent Agent Trainee Tutorials and as a lecturer at McGill University.

ABSTRACT
Recent Changes in Patent Law and other Regulations Affecting Technology Transfer

Dr. Conn will explore changes in the areas of patent law, licensing and issues relating to national and international regulations.

dconn@blgcanada.com

www.bldgcanada.com

MIKE ELLISON, Ph.D.

Throughout his career, Mike Ellison has had a long-standing interest in formalizing biological processes within the framework of physical biochemistry. After earning a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto, he spent the next six years at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology developing accurate computationally based approaches for predicting structural transitions in DNA.

In 1990, Ellison moved to the University of Alberta, where he is presently professor of Biochemistry. He has served on the board of Genome Prairie as Chief Scientific Officer and is a board director of the Alberta Network of Proteomic Innovation. He founded the Institute for Biomolecular Design (IBD) in 1998, which continues to lead the development of proteomics in Alberta and the evolution of Project CyberCell.

ABSTRACT
Project CyberCell: Toward Life on a Computer

Project CyberCell is Canada's contribution to a growing international effort to simulate life computationally. Although these efforts have just begun, it may ultimately become possible to design, optimize, and test agriceuticals and GMOs in silico.

mike.ellison@ualberta.ca

http://www.projectcybercell.com

RICHARD E. FARRELL Ph.D.

Richard Farrell received a Ph.D. in Soil Chemistry from Iowa State University and is currently a research scientist in the Saskatchewan Centre for Soil Research and adjunct professor in the Department of Soil Science, University of Saskatchewan. He is also co-leader of the Strategic Research Program in Soil Biology & Conservation, an inter-disciplinary team carrying out applied and fundamental research in soil biology & chemistry and environmental agronomy. Prior to this, he was a research scientist with the NSF-Biodegradable Polymer Research Center at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell and adjunct professor in the Departments of Chemistry and Biology. He is author or co-author of five book chapters and 30 refereed journal articles.

richard.farrell@usask.ca

KELLEY C. FITZPATRICK, M.Sc.

Kelley Fitzpatrick, President of the Saskatchewan Nutraceutical Network (SNN) earned a Master of Science degree in Nutrition from the University of Manitoba. Since then, she has gained extensive experience in oilseed nutrition and served as an advisor to industry sectors involved in the marketing of canola, sunflower, flaxseed, and essential fatty acid supplements. Kelly has been an invited speaker at national and international events, and has written numerous articles in the areas of food processing, molecular genetic sciences, nutraceuticals, and functional foods. She is a member of the Canadian Dietetic Association, the Canadian Society for Nutritional Sciences, and the Expert Committee on Fats, Oils and Other Lipids.

ABSTRACT
Saskatchewan Success Stories: the Role of Innovative Science

Saskatchewan companies produce a wide range of nutraceutical and functional food products. This presentation will highlight the role of innovative research in the development of novel products and technologies from several Saskatchewan plants, including lignans from flaxseed, nutraceutical ingredients from fenugreek, antioxidants from herbs such as bearberry, and unique essential fatty acids from common oilseed sources.

kfitzpatrick@nutranet.sk.ca

http://www.nutranet.org

CECIL W. FORSBERG, Ph.D.

Cecil Forsberg and colleague John Phillips have spearheaded the development of the Enviropig™ at the University of Guelph. The environmentally friendly pig is able to efficiently digest all forms of phosphorus in cereal grains. Forsberg obtained his M.Sc. in Agriculture at the University of Saskatchewan and Ph.D. in Microbiology at McGill University. After Postdoctoral work at the National Institute for Medical Research in the United Kingdom, he joined the University of Guelph Department of Microbiology.

Forsberg has served as editor of Applied and Environmental Microbiology and section editor of the Canadian Journal of Microbiology. In 2000, he received the Canadian Society of Microbiology career award for outstanding research.

ABSTRACT
Enviropig™: The Leading Edge of Transgenic Opportunities to Solving Environmental Challenges of Animal Agriculture

The Enviropig is a transgenic pig that utilizes plant phosphorus more efficiently, circumventing the need for inclusion of supplemental phosphorus in the diet. This pig has the potential to reduce both feed cost and the pollution potential of manure spread on land. There are a variety of other opportunities for the application of transgenic technology to further reduce the environmental impact of animal agriculture.

http://www.micro.uoguelph.ca/micro/cf.htm

http://enviropig.uoguelph.ca

STEPHEN J. GARGER

Stephen Garger has over 22 years experience in agricultural biotechnology and is currently Senior Director, Product Development at Large Scale Biology Corporation. He has been involved in a wide range of R&D and manufacturing projects, including the development of melanin pigments, natural flavours compounds and GMP production of therapeutic proteins. Mr. Garger served on the editorial board of the Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology and received the inaugural SIM Schering-Plough Young Investigator award. He is the author of several scientific papers and an inventor with 20 issued U.S. patents. Mr. Garger earned a B.S. in Microbiology from San Jose State University in California.

ABSTRACT
Production of Therapeutic Proteins in Plants: Case Studies of Regulatory Issues

The development of plant virus-based protein expression systems as a biopharmaceutical production and manufacturing platform will be discussed. FDA and USDA regulatory issues and concerns pertaining to plant expression vectors, host plants, agronomics, cGMP manufacturing and product testing will be examined. A case study will illustrate how regulatory issues were addressed to support an Investigational New Drug filing.

http://www.lsbc.com

DAYAN GOODENOWE, Ph.D.

Dr. Dayan Goodenowe leads Phenomenome Discoveries Inc., a biological discovery company that will be introducing an innovative new platform technology called Comprehensive Metabolome Expression Analysis (Met-Ex) at the conference. Dr. Goodenowe comes from a farming background. He took a degree in Agricultural Chemistry at the University of Saskatchewan and is still actively involved in Saskatchewan agriculture. He went on to a Ph.D. in Medicine from the University of Alberta, where he studied the neurochemical effects of psychiatric drugs. He has been a research scientist in both pharmaceutical and agricultural chemical industries, and more recently an independent consultant specializing in biological mass spectrometry methods.

ABSTRACT
FTMS Techniques for Metabolic Profiling

Phenomenome Discoveries Inc. has been developing comprehensive metabolome analysis technology to be used side-by-side with gene expression arrays for functional genomics. Data describing the use of this technology in various applications will be presented.

http://www.phenomenome.com

CHARLES W. GREER, Ph.D.

Charles Greer is a senior research officer and group leader of the Environmental Microbiology group at the National Research Council of Canada's Biotechnology Research Institute. The group performs fundamental research in microbial ecology and molecular microbiology, and works with government agencies, regulatory bodies and industry. Dr. Greer received his Ph.D. in Microbiology from McGill University, and is currently an adjunct professor in the Department of Natural Resource Sciences as well as the Department of Civil Engineering at Royal Military College of Canada. He is a section editor for the Canadian Journal of Microbiology, has participated in selection committees for granting agencies and published more than 100 papers.

ABSTRACT
Enhancing Microbial Degradation Activity during the Bioremediation of Contaminated Soil and Sediment

Microbial degradation activity in contaminated soils and sediments is frequently limited by the availability of essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and oxygen. Monitoring microbial population levels and activity shows that fertilizer applications enhance both numbers and degradation activity, an approach that has been successfully applied in a variety of environments such as river sediments, urban soils, and the Arctic.

www.bri.nrc.ca

CLARE M. HASLER, Ph.D.

Clare M. Hasler is Assistant Professor of Nutrition in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition and a participating faculty member in the Division of Nutritional Sciences and the Environmental Toxicology Program at the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign campus), and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Pharmacognosy in the College of Pharmacy (Chicago campus).

Dr. Hasler has a dual Ph.D. in Environmental Toxicology and Human Nutrition from Michigan State University. She has written extensively on functional foods and is a widely requested speaker by the industry, academia and the media. She currently serves on the editorial/advisory boards of the several leading journals.

ABSTRACT
Active Molecules from Plants: Naturally Existing Phytochemicals

Overwhelming epidemiological evidence indicates that a plant-based diet affords protection against the development of certain chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, and age-related macular degeneration. In addition to the macro-and micronutrients necessary for normal metabolism, a plant-based diet contains numerous secondary metabolites referred to as phytochemicals. This presentation will provide a brief overview of several physiologically-active phytochemicals in optimal health, including isoflavones, lycopene, and lutein, with an emphasis on data from large-scale epidemiological studies and clinical intervention trials.

c-hasler@uiuc.edu

JOHN HELLIWELL, D.Phil.

Professor John Helliwell is Director of Synchrotron Radiation Science at the CLRC in the United Kingdom. He has more than 25 years experience in the field of protein crystallography using synchrotron radiation, and has published extensively in his field. His research interests include synchrotron radiation, neutrons, lectins, enzymes, structural chemistry/molecular biology/genomics, anomalous dispersion methods and Laue diffraction.

Professor Helliwell earned a D.Phil. in Molecular Biophysics at the University of Oxford in 1978 and was professor of Structural Chemistry at the University of Manchester from 1989 until his appointment to the CLRC. He continues his association with the university as Visiting Professor of Structural Chemistry.

ABSTRACT
Synchrotron radiation and its role in structural molecular biology at the agricultural biotechnology interface.

Basic science studies, using synchrotron radiation and crystallography, of biological macromolecules such as plant lectin proteins, colouration proteins in marine crustacea and viruses such as foot and mouth, indicate powerful potential for design and engineering at the molecular scale. A more systematic structures coverage is planned via current and upcoming structural genomics/proteomics programmes.

j.r.helliwell@dl.ac.uk

http://www.clrc.ac.uk

JENNIFER HILLARD

Jennifer Hillard is National Vice President for Issues and Policy of the Consumers' Association of Canada (CAC). She has been a member of the organization since 1971, and has served in various positions, including as Winnipeg president and Manitoba president. In recent years, Hillard has become involved in representing consumers in the development of standards. She has represented Canada, Canadian consumers and Consumers International at a number of meetings or consultations, particularly in the development of internationally acceptable standards for environmental labelling and other consumer issues involved in the ISO 14000 series.

jhillard@mb.sympatico.ca

http://www.consumer.ca

W. M. (MIKE) INGLEDEW, Ph.D.

Mike Ingledew specializes in research on fuel alcohol production, brewing, winery and distillery technology, ethanol tolerance, very high gravity fermentation technology, stuck and sluggish fermentations, contaminant bacteria, and losses in yield in the alcohol fermentation. He earned his Ph.D. in microbiology/biochemistry from the University of British Columbia and is currently professor of industrial microbiology at the University of Saskatchewan. He has consulted around the world, published in 141 refereed publications, and been the recipient of numerous honours, most recently the International Biotechnology Medal of Excellence for work advancing the biochemistry of yeast in alcohol production by Alltech Biotechnology Inc. (1999).

ABSTRACT
Very High Gravity Ethanol Fermentations: Yield and Productivity are the Keys to Success.

Fuel ethanol is a low value but high volume product unlike potable alcohol. Although fermentation ethanol could be considered a low-tech biotechnological process, VHG Technology is a process improvement developed here which allows the production of much higher concentrations of ethanol than is normal in the alcohol industry. This process, which is dependent on microbial physiology and nutrition rather than genetic techniques, leads to higher factory productivity. In the lab, in batch fermentation with all the carbohydrate present at zero time, commercial yeasts are able to produce as much as 23% v/v ethanol in a reasonable time frame without conditioning or genetic manipulation of the yeast. Coupled with measures to reduce yield losses, more economic production of ethanol is then possible.

ingledew@sask.usask.ca

DEREK LYDIATE

ABSTRACT
Genomics Overview

Genomics applies large scale and highly automated molecular biology to the simultaneous investigation of all the genes in an organism and the processes that control their expression and inheritances. It is accelerating gene discovery and encouraging an integrated, holistic appreciation of biological processes.

DAVID MAENZ, Ph.D.

Dr. Maenz is Director and Chief Scientific Officer, as well as one of the founders of MCN BioProducts Inc. He received his B.Sc. in nutrition and biochemistry from the University of Guelph and his Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Saskatchewan. His expertise is in the areas of nutrient utilization and the effects of antinutritional factors on animal physiology and performance. Dr. Maenz collaborated on the discovery and development of the basic technology for aqueous fraction and treatments of plant-based materials to create high value product streams. He has authored or co-authored two book chapters and 29 articles in peer-reviewed journals, and is a co-inventor on four patent applications.

ABSTRACT
Creating High Valued Products from Canola Meal

MCN BioProducts Inc. has developed an aqueous process that effectively fractionates low valued canola meal into a series of high valued products with characteristics suited for specific applications.

TERRY L. MEDLEY, J.D.

Terry Medley is Vice President of Global Regulatory Affairs for DuPont Agriculture and Nutrition Businesses, and also serves on the Board of Directors of DuPont Protein Technologies and DuPont Qualicon. Prior to joining DuPont, he was Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Under his leadership, APHIS became the first Federal Agency to adopt regulations for field-testing of genetically engineered plants and microorganisms. He is a recognized expert on biotechnology and environmental regulatory matters and has served on numerous international steering committees, advisory committees, and expert working groups. He received a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the University of Virginia.

ABSTRACT
Rational Regulations: A Key To Strengthening Public Trust

The ability to enhance, at the molecular level, agricultural crops promises to help meet existing and emerging needs for improved crop productivity and quality of food production. Although there is clear evidence to the contrary, some countries have adopted or are considering adopting regulatory systems that treat the technology - the process - as inherently risky. Science risk-based regulations, "rational regulations", provide the best opportunity for earning and keeping the public's trust. This talk will explore how such regulations can meet the challenge.

BIRGER LINDBERG MØLLER, D.Sc.

Copenhagen and Head of Center for Molecular Plant Physiology (PlaCe), the Danish "center of excellence" in plant biology. He is also co-founder and Chairman of BioLogic A/S, a biotechnology company working with natural products and biopolymers. Dr. M¿ller holds a Masters in natural product chemistry and biochemistry, a Ph.D. in plant biochemistry, and a Doctor of Science in photosynthesis. He has been an active participant in the GMO debate and future possibilities of improving food production, to the benefit of developing countries. He is a Member of the Royal Danish Academy of Science and Letters and Academy for Technical Sciences.

ABSTRACT
Engineering of Natural Product Synthesis in Plants to Obtain Insect Resistance

Plants are the organic chemists par excellence in nature. To protect themselves from attack by insects and other pests, they have the capacity to produce a multitude of chemicals that serve as natural pesticides. Thus plants protect themselves using a strategy that is not very different from general practice in modern agriculture. Biotechnology offers the promise of taking advantage of these natural defence systems to minimize the footprint of agricultural production on the environment.

blm@kvl.dk
http://www.place.kvl.dk
www.plbio.kvl.dk/plbio/
http://biobase.dk/P450/

SCOTT NAPPER, Ph.D.

SCOTT NAPPER, Ph.D. Scott Napper received his Ph.D. from the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Saskatchewan in 1999. Following completion of graduate training, he is accepting a faculty position within the same department. His research has focused on understanding the structural mechanisms of regulatory bacterial proteins, using site directed mutagenesis, x-ray crystallography, and mass spectrometry as the primary tools of investigation. In 2001 he was appointed to a joint position with the Department of Biochemistry and the Veterinary Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), where he continues these investigations, focussing on proteins involved in the establishment of virulence.

ABSTRACT
Structural Mechanisms of Protein

Proteins are vulnerable to spontaneous modifications that may result in alterations to structure and function. Asparagines are particularly labile, able to undergo deamidation through the formation of a succinimide intermediate to produce either aspartate or isoaspartate residues. Isoaspartyls are the principal product of succinimide hydrolysis, accounting for 65-85% of the emerging residues. The variability in the ratio of products emerging from succinimide hydrolysis suggests the ability of protein structure to influence succinimide outcome..

napper@sask.usask.ca

STEFFEN NOCK, Ph.D.
Zyomyx, Inc.

Steffen Nock is co-founder and Vice President of Biochemistry at Zyomyx. Following a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Bayreuth, Germany, he carried out research in protein kinetics and the discovery of signaling pathways at the Max-Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology. From 1996-98, he was a fellow in the Department of Biochemistry at Stanford University, where his research focused on molecular motors and cytokinesis in lower eukaryotes. Dr. Nock has published numerous articles on the structure and function analysis of proteins, as well as protein immobilization, and has authored several patents on protein arrays, microdevices and reversible immobilization of arginine-tagged moieties on a silicate surface.

ABSTRACT
Protein Microarrays

Novel high-throughput biological applications in the drug discovery process and disease diagnosis require highly parallel, miniaturized device technology applied to proteins and their biochemical pathways. While technological innovation has adapted the analysis of genetic material to a miniaturized format, the more delicate nature of protein structures has precluded the development of analogous devices for proteins. Protein microarrays have started to emerge recently based on new developments and integration efforts in advanced materials, protein engineering, and detection physics. The development as well as the uses of these protein microarrays will be discussed.

snock@zyomyx.com

http://www.zyomyx.com

PETER W.B. PHILLIPS, Ph.D.

Dr. Phillips is Professor of Agricultural Economics and newly appointed NSERC/SSHRC Chair in Managing Knowledge-based Agri-food Development at the University of Saskatchewan. His current research concentrates on issues related to intellectual property rights, market access and consumer acceptance. Results of a previous multidisciplinary research program are being published in a book on the role of biotechnology in the global agri-food system. Dr. Phillips is a member of the Canadian Biotechnology Advisory Committee, Director of the Canadian Agri-food Trade Research Consortium, founding member of the International Consortium on Ag-bio Research (Rome) and member of the International Association of Agricultural Economists.

ABSTRACT
Public Good and Private Greed: Strategies for realizing public benefits from a privatized global agri-food research effort.

In a headlong rush to spur innovation and growth in the agri-food sector, the primacy of the public interest has often been ignored and has frequently been lost. Twenty years after the first patent for an organism, the public sector should reconsider its role in developing and using the life sciences in the agri-food world.

Phillips@duke.usask.ca

ANDREW POTTER, Ph.D.

Andy Potter is Associate Director (Research) at the Veterinary Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), University of Saskatchewan. He has been active in the area of veterinary vaccine development for the past 17 years. Since earning his Ph.D. in microbiology at the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand in 1981, he has worked on molecular approaches to disease pathogenesis in both Canada and Southeast Asia. He has developed a number of vaccines for use in livestock, including the first licensed recombinant product used in animals. Potter has published numerous refereed papers and holds 49 patents dealing with the development of vaccines and therapeutics for use in animals.

ABSTRACT
Vaccines for Food and Water Safety

A large number of human infectious diseases are acquired through exposure to microbes of animal origin, either through direct contact, from the environment, or ingestion of contaminated food. Methods for reducing the risk of human infection by vaccination of animals will be discussed, using Escherichia coli O157:H7 as an example.

potter@sask.usask.ca

http://www.vido.org

DAPHNE PREUSS, Ph.D.

Daphne Preuss is a Professor in the Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology at the University of Chicago, an Assistant Investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and has appointments at the University's Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, and Committees on Genetics and Developmental Biology. She has served as Chair of the Advisory Committee for the Arabidopsis Genome Initiative - a multinational, multiagency project that recently announced complete DNA sequencing of the first plant genome. She was listed by Discover Magazine as one of twenty outstanding young American scientists (2000) and was this year's recipient of the American Society of Cell Biology - Promega Early Career Life Scientist Award. She serves on many scientific advisory boards and panels and has addressed the controversy surrounding the development of genetically modified foods. Preuss recently co-founded Chromatin, a biotechnology company focusing on engineering crop chromosomes.

ABSTRACT
Plant Chromosome Dynamics

Centromeres are specialized chromosomal structures that bind to spindle fibers and direct chromosome assortment during cell division. Using the plant Arabidopsis thaliana as the model system, the research is using DNA sequencing combined with genetic and molecular assays to unravel centromere function. Expanding the analysis of centromeres is determining the relationship between primary DNA sequence and secondary structure, as well as investigating the evolution of centromere DNA sequences in closely related species. Observations indicate unique mechanisms for regulating gene expression are likely in place in the centromeric regions. This work has practical implications - with centromere sequences in hand, it becomes possible to design chromosomes useful for manipulation plant genomes.

http://preuss.bsd.uchicago.edu

JOHN QUACKENBUSH, Ph.D.

John Quackenbush received his Ph.D. in theoretical particle physics from UCLA. In 1992, he received a Special Emphasis Research Career Award from the National Center for Human Genome Research (now the National Human Genome Research Institute) that lead to his working on physical mapping of human chromosome 11 at The Salk Institute. He then moved to the Stanford Human Genome Center to work on large-scale DNA sequencing of human chromosomes 21 and 4. In 1997, he joined the faculty of The Institute for Genomic Research, where he leads research projects in DNA microarray analysis and bioinformatics. He is active in several professional groups, including Microarray Gene Expression Data.

MARTIN J.T. REANEY, Ph.D.

Martin Reaney earned his B.Sc. in biochemistry from the University of British Columbia, followed by an M.Sc. and Ph.D. in biochemistry and plant physiology from the University of Saskatchewan. He is currently a Scientist in the Saskatoon Research Centre of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. He is working to develop new technology for processing oilseeds and producing commercial products, and has assisted Canadian manufacturers develop and implement new technology for adding value to crops and crop products. Dr. Reaney has published 26 papers in refereed journals as well as thirteen book chapters, and has five patents and eight transferred commercial technologies to his credit.

ABSTRACT
Biodiesel: A Profitable and Sustainable Business Opportunity!

Biofuels can be used in strategies to improve the environment, support agriculture, and stimulate sustainable production. With the current abundance of low priced fossil fuels, some have asserted that biofuel production is not economically viable, but creative new processes are being developed that produce less expensive biodiesel. Production is most profitable when linked with processes that derive maximum value from several process streams or use lower cost oil source materials. Industrial processes have been developed to convert waste oils, fats, and greases to biodiesel. Processes that divert solvent extracted oils from food vegetable oil production to industrial products are also economically advantageous. New crops being contemplated are specially suited to improve the economics and environmental impact of biodiesel production.

reaneym@em.agr.ca

JACK SADDLER, Ph.D.

Jack Saddler is Dean of the Faculty of Forestry at the University of British Columbia. After earning a Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of Glasgow in 1978, he joined U.B.C. in 1980 as a Professor in the Department of Wood Science. He became Head of the Department in1998, and Dean of Forestry in 2000. Saddler has produced over 200 research papers, primarily associated with biotechnology for the forest industry. Among his current projects, those most pertinent to agbiotechnology include bioconversion of wood to ethanol and substrate-enzyme interaction during cellulose hydrolysis.

ABSTRACT
The IEA Liquid Biofuels Network and Progress in the Commercialisation of Biomass-to-Ethanol.

This presentation will outline the current projections for ethanol demand, conclusions from recent studies on feedstock availability, the role of the International Energy Agency (IEA Bioenergy) in this field, and the current state of lignocellulosic feedstocks to ethanol processes.

saddler@interchange.ubc.ca

http://www.ieabioenergy.com

DIERK SCHEEL, Ph.D.

Dierk Scheel is Managing Director and Head of the Department of Stress and Developmental Biology at the Institute of Plant Biochemistry in Germany, as well as Professor of Developmental Biology at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany. He has a Ph.D. from the University of Freiburg and Habilitation from the University of Kšln, Department of Biochemistry. Since 1983, his main field of research has been mechanisms of plant defense against fungal pathogens. Dr. Scheel is on the editorial boards of Plant Science and Planta, and is a member of the German Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, German Society for Cell Biology, and Deutsch Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina.

ABSTRACT
Innate Immunity In Plant Defense

Innate immunity has been recognized as an ancient type of pathogen defense in vertebrates and insects. This system is based on host recognition of pathogen surface components. These pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) are of diverse structure and bind to host receptors, activating a defense response. The principle as well as individual elements of this ancient defense system have also been retained in plants. Examples of PAMPs from phytopathogenic microorganisms, their mode of perception, the plant's response, and possible biotechnological applications will be discussed.

dscheel@ipb-halle.de

http://www.ipb-halle.de

LAWRENCE B. SCHOOK, Ph.D.

Dr. Schook is President and Chief Scientific Officer of Pyxis Genomics, Inc., and currently serves as the Faculty Excellence Professor of Comparative Genomics, University of Illinois and a Faculty Fellow, National Center for Supercomputer Applications. Professional activities include Editor-in-Chief of Animal Biotechnology, Chair of the Research Deans of the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges, USDA Panel Manager for animal genomics, ABIC Foundation Board member, and Steering Committee Co-Chair of the Alliance for Animal Genomics. He has served on many national and international advisory committees, has over 150 publications and six edited books, and received over $20 million in sponsored research. He is a recipient of the Paul A. Funk Award for meritorious and outstanding research in agriculture and the Pfizer Award for animal health research excellence.

ABSTRACT
Commercial Applications of Food Animal Genomics

www.pyxisgenomics.com

KONRAD A. SECHLEY, Ph.D.

As a partner and patent agent with Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP in Ottawa, Dr. Konrad A. Sechley deals primarily with patent protection in the biotechnological, agricultural, pharmaceutical, and chemical sectors. He has a PhD in biochemistry and molecular biology, and worked as a post-doctoral research scientist in this area in university, government and industrial laboratories prior to his involvement in Intellectual Property. Dr. Sechley is a Registered Patent Agent within the Canadian and U.S. Patent offices, a member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association, the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada, and the International Association for the Protection of Industrial Property.

ABSTRACT
Legal Protection of Plant-Related Matter - a Global Perspective

This talk addresses many of the recent issues, options, and obstacles placed in the path of obtaining IP protection in biotechnology, with an emphasis on plant-related subject matter. Topics include plant patents, plant variety protection, and patent protection; why any one of these options would be considered and how they fit within the global framework available for protection of Intellectual Property.

MOHAN B SINGH, Ph.D.

Associate Professor Mohan B Singh is co-director of the biotechnology research team at the Institute of Land and Food Resources, University of Melbourne, Australia. His research contributions in pollen molecular biology and immunology of grass pollen allergens cross boundaries of plant biology, human health and biotechnology. He has published over 140 research papers and has substantive publications in plant biology, medical biology and immunology journals, and is the major inventor on several international patents on grass pollen allergens and their diagnostic and therapeutic applications. In recognition of his research contributions, he was awarded a 2001 achievement medal by CSIRO, Australia's science research organization.

ABSTRACT
Allergen Biotechnology: Novel Allergy Therapeutics through Biotechnology

With up to 25% of the populations in industrialized countries suffering from IgE mediated allergic symptoms such as asthma, hay fever and food allergies, the impact of allergy on society is significant. Recombinant allergens offer novel and exciting possibilities for both improved diagnosis and therapy of allergic conditions. Protein micro-arrays of recombinant allergens have potential to offer highly accurate diagnosis of allergenic components while allergens that have been engineered to reduce or remove IgE reactivities offer safer and efficacious therapeutic reagents. Another exciting possibility to be discussed in this presentation includes plant expression of novel allergy therapeutics and their possible delivery as edible anti-allergy vaccines.

www.landfood.unimelb.edu.au/research/Biotech

MARC-ANDRÉ SIRARD, D.M.V.

Dr. Sirard is Directeur du Centre de Recherche en Biologie de la Reproduction and a Canada Research Chair in Animal Genomics at Laval University, Quebec. As a Ph.D. student he was involved in research on the first clinical method to produce test-tubes calves. Since 1988, his laboratory has published over 135 scientific papers, presented more than 300 communications and over 25 invited lectures at international meetings, and directed 25 master’s and 18 post-doctoral students. In 1990, Dr. Sirard was awarded an industrial research Chair in collaboration with Semex Canada, which culminated in the Synergy award in 2000. In 2001, he became one of the first to receive a Canada Research Chair.

ABSTRACT
Transgenic Animals For Unique Molecules

Using cloning and other approaches, it is now possible to add or subtract genes to domestic animals with great precision. A main interest of these efforts is the production of recombinant proteins, mainly from human genes. Our company focuses on using transgenic pigs to produce human recombinant proteins in their semen, with a number of advantages.

marc-andre.sirard@crbr.ulaval.ca

http://www.crbr.ulaval.ca

JEFFREY M. STAUB, Ph.D.

Jeffrey Staub is Program Manager of the Vector Technology group at Monsanto, which is responsible for developing enabling technologies to support the plant transformation pipeline. He earned his Ph.D. at Rutgers University, where he co-developed the technology for chloroplast transformation in higher plants. He joined Monsanto in 1997 to lead a research team that has since extended this transformation technology to agronomically important crop plants. His team has developed tools for biopharming in chloroplasts and demonstrated the production of human therapeutic proteins in that organelle. Dr. Staub holds at least five technology patents and numerous patent applications, and has authored more than a dozen publications.

ABSTRACT
Chloroplast Biopharming

Chloroplast transformation (transplastomic) technology shows promise for protein production because of the ability to accumulate recombinant proteins at extraordinarily high levels. Recent work shows that the prokaryotic organelle can also properly express complex eukaryotic proteins that require controlled disulfide bond formation for biological activity. Furthermore, maternal inheritance of chloroplasts in most crop plants may simplify field management in some cases. A comparison to nuclear transgenic systems will be presented as well as the current state-of-the-art and prospects for commercial chloroplast biopharming.

www.monsanto.com

SANDHYA TEWARI, Ph.D.

Sandhya Tewari is Deputy Director of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the foremost industry association in India. She heads the Biotechnology, Agriculture, and Pharmaceutical desk. Her work involves promotion of Indian industry in these sectors through close interaction with government on policy issues and creating awareness of new opportunities. Dr. Tewari began her career as a lecturer and researcher, and holds a Ph.D. in Plant Molecular Biology from University of Manitoba.

ABSTRACT
Making Technology Transfer Everyone's Business: Perspectives from an Emerging Economy

For the biotechnology revolution to succeed globally, the rift between "have's" and "have-nots" must not deepen. Mechanisms that encourage the sharing of technologies and improve capacity for forging enduring partnerships must be developed. This is possible with a willingness to experiment with innovative international partnering models, flexible IPR systems, and improved market access.

JEFF TOLAN

ABSTRACT
Iogen's Ethanol-from-Biomass Demonstration Plant in Ottawa

There is increasing interest in fuel ethanol from biomass. Iogen Corporation of Ottawa is operating a 40 t/d plant that converts wheat straw into ethanol. This presentation describes the process and operating experience to date.

http://www.iogen.ca

PETER TURNER

Peter Turner is the Vice President and General Manager of Monsanto Canada, a leading provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products designed to improve farm productivity. Prior to joining the Winnipeg-based head office in 2001, he held progressively senior positions in sales, marketing and country administration with Monsanto in Europe and Africa. Turner holds an honours degree in agriculture from the University of Nottingham and a post-graduate degree in international marketing from the Institute of Marketing in the U.K.

ABSTRACT
Delivering the Future: Stewardship of New Products from Biotechnology

This presentation will use the Monsanto Pledge, a series of commitments that describe the company’s policies for the products developed through biotechnology, as the basis for illustrating how a global leader in biotechnology innovation stewards technologies to achieve benefits for all.

http://www.monsanto.com

CARROLL VANCE, Ph.D.

Carroll Vance has conducted research in plant biochemistry and biotechnology since 1972 and is recognized as a world authority in the areas of legume symbiotic nitrogen fixation, nitrogen assimilation, and plant adaptations to phosphorus stress. He is currently Research Leader of the USDA/ARS, Plant Science Research Unit at the University of Minnesota. He has led and collaborated on pioneering studies, authored or coauthored more than 200 scientific publications, and delivered more than 100 invited lectures and presentations in national and international forums. He has been recognized as Outstanding Senior Scientist USDA/ARS, Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and Fellow of the Crop Science Society and Agronomy Society of America.

ABSTRACT
Farming in a World of Declining Renewable Resources: Improvement of Plant Nitrogen and Phosphorus Acquisition Through Biotechnology

Food crop production in agriculture requires large inputs of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer. With their ever-increasing cost, accompanied by the environmental perturbation caused by extensive use of these critical nutrients, it is questionable whether agriculture can be environmentally sustainable. Biotechnology offers the promise of helping feed the worldÕs growing population by improving crop nutrient acquisition.

http://www1.umn.edu/arspsru/plantsci.html

PETER WELTERS, Ph.D.

Peter Welters, founder of Phytowelt GmbH, specializes in plant molecular biology, plant biotechnology, and biochemistry. During his Ph.D. at the Max-Planck-Institute for Plant Breeding Research in Cologne, he studied gene regulation in nitrogen-fixing symbiosis of Rhizobia and legumes. He spent three years as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, working on projects in protein transport regulation of plants and yeasts. Seven years of research experience, as well as heading the Production of Pharmaceutical Proteins in Plants project in France, provided the foundation for Phytowelt GmbH.

ABSTRACT
Techtransfer by Private Corporations

This presentation will provide examples of companies that are successfully transferring biotechnological knowledge and expertise between academia and industry, as well as between industrial entities.

contact@phytowelt.de

http://www.phytowelt.de

ROBERT ZHONG, M.D.

Dr. Robert Zhong received his M.D. from Shanghai Medical School and completed fellowship training in transplantation at the University of Western Ontario. He is currently a Professor of Surgery, Microbiology & Immunology and Pathology as well as Director of Experimental Surgery at the university. He is also a scientist at The John P. Robarts Research Institute, where he directs a world-class microsurgery and primate surgery transplant team that is developing animal models to bridge basic research and clinical application. Dr. Zhong holds several peer-reviewed grants, has authored 125 papers in high profile journals, was president of the International Society for Experimental Microsurgery, and is a member of several editorial boards.

ABSTRACT
Xenotransplantation - A Dream or A Reality?

Xenotransplantation, using animal organs for human donors, may be a solution to solving the severe shortage of human donor organs. The pig is regarded as the most suitable donor for humans; this lecture will review progress and barriers in the field.

zzhong@uwo.ca

http://www.rrr.ca