Green Revolution to Gene Revolution - Foods from Modern Biotechnology"

Event name:"Green Revolution to Gene Revolution - Foods from Modern Biotechnology"

Start Date:03 October 2008

Time:12h30 - 14h00

Venue: Exhibition Hall, The UCT Graduate School of Business, Breakwater Campus, Duration:2 hours

The UCT Graduate School of Business in association with Deloitte is proud to present: "Green Revolution to Gene Revolution - Foods from Modern Biotechnology" Presented by American academic, Professor Bruce Chassy, a biochemist at the University of Illinois Professor Chassy’s research focuses on the characterisation and development of methods for the genetic manipulation of microorganisms used in food and dairy fermentations. His research experiences with the development of genetically modified microorganisms that are used in foods led him to an interest in food safety and the safety evaluation of "biotech foods." The presentation is designed to give the balanced facts as to "what they are, and what they are not" and "why they are developed and grown". It includes a brief mention of nutritionally-improved/enhanced crops, including some developments that are in the pipeline. The take-home message: "The science and the care that is being taken in applying it"

website:www.gsb.uct.ac.za

Chemistry and innovation

For those with a little interest in commercial science / biotechnology investments, you might be interesting in this workshop here.

Stem Cells From Patient

Thailand (SANEPR.com) September 16, 2008 -- A collaboration between Bangkok Hospital Medical Center, Theravitae Ltd and the University of Pittsburgh has created a new stem cell therapy treatment option at Bangkok's world-class hospital and medical facility.Patients with heart damage or heart failure can now be treated at Bangkok Heart Hospital (a division of Bangkok Hospital Medical Centre) with stem cells from their own peripheral blood tissue.

Stem cell therapy involves the use of partially differentiated or undifferentiated cells to treat damaged tissue in several areas of the body. Their damaged heart muscle can be repaired without the need for tissue transplants or mechanical insertions. The stem cells used are known as angiogenic precursor cells.

These cells are designated as unipotent, that is, they have the potential only to become one type of mature cell. However, their undeveloped status means that the body can utilize and reproduce them in a way it cannot with mature cells. Cell selection and expansion using this method takes about a week - thousands of times less what it might take to find a suitable donor for heart tissue.Magnetic resonance imaging, a thoracoscopic camera and keyhole surgery are used to administer the stem cell product directly to the damaged area of the heart. The surgery involves a small incision being made in the left side of the chest, and a thoracoscopic camera being inserted into the thoracic cavity.

The cells are injected directly into the cardiac muscle at the point of damage, which is located using an MRI. The technology also has the potential to be able to grow new heart tissue from a person's own stem cells, and Bangkok Hospital is leading the world in research in this area.The new treatment option at Bangkok Heart Hospital means that medical tourists have a less invasive, more natural and scientifically advanced method of treatment for coronary artery disease and heart failure at a world-leading facility.

Bangkok Hospital is accredited by TEMOS (Telemedicine for the Mobile Society), an organization which assures international travelers of the quality and safety standards of hospitals worldwide.

It also involves a patient's home doctor in the treatment and recovery process. For more information, please see http://www.bangkokhospital.com/App/NewsEventsDetail.aspx?newsid=73 and www.bangkokhospital.com

SA listed pharmaceuticals assessed

South African based industrial publishing house and research company, ManufacturingHub.co.za will be releasing an industrial report of listed pharmaceutical companies on the JSE for the third quarter of 2008.

Read full details of the report here.

SHEQ Content

ManufacturingHub.co.za is currently in the process of finalising a content sharing agreement with leading SHEQ website SHEQAfrica.com.

In the interim we have begun displaying some of their Safety, Health, Environmental and Quality related news and information on our site here.

We are aware of the display problem with Internet Explorer 7 and are in the process of rectifying it.

For further information please do not hesitate to contact Marc Ashton on 082-561-1585 or e-mail marc@rival.co.za

Kind regards,
Marc Ashton
Managing Editor

Write for ManufacturingHub.co.za

ManufacturingHub.co.za - www.manufacturinghub.co.za - is looking to source some new content and we’re looking to hit some of the SA science, manufacturing and biotechnology communities for some ideas.

And the best part of it - we’ll even pay for it (Admittedly not very well but hopefully as the traffic grows we can take it from there).

We woudl like to invite you to circulate amongst your friends and professional colleagues that we have a SMALL writing budget that we would like to try and utilise for ManufacturingHub.co.za (www.manufacturinghub.co.za).

If you believe you have a topic that would be applicable to professionals in the SA Food, Pharmaceutical, Chemical / Biotechnology communities then by all means please either drop me a brief or suggestion and we can take it from there.

We are looking for some content that is fresh and sharp and maybe a little provocative (in a targeted way!). The idea is to now really step up this resource to get South Africans recognising ManufacturingHub.co.za as the premier online industrial resource for the SA Food, Pharmaceutical, Chemical and Cosmetic Manufacturing industries.

Details as below:
Marc Ashton - Managing Editor
www.manufacturinghub.co.za
marc@rival.co.za

Facebook group - http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7654433017

Also spread the word about this group and try and build it a bit so we can expend the SA science community a bit online.

Regards,
Marc Ashton