Features
Ping Ma: Letting the Data Speak
Cell biology experiments that used to take months now take one day, the number of labs doing bench science has exploded, as have the number of research techniques available and, to top it all off, the Internet makes sharing data as easy as clicking a mouse. Gene sequencing alone has generated so much DNA data that making sense of it all is a Herculean task. So what are we to do with this embarrassment of riches?
New Fellowship to Support
Cardiac Regenerative Medicine
Have your heart set on studying regenerative medicine? If you're a young scientist with an interest in cardiovascular regeneration and biomedical engineering, a new partnership between Carle Foundation Hospital and the Institute for Genomic Biology may offer the perfect post-doctoral experience.
Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Management for
Life Scientists
The IGB is co-sponsoring a new certificate program that will equip entrepreneurially minded MD, DVM, and PhD students in the life sciences with the necessary skills to meet the challenges of managing biotechnology ventures. The curriculum consists of six modules and draws from various disciplines, including management, law, regulatory policy, ethics, marketing, and finance. Students will learn the traditional ins and outs of entrepreneurship, such as creating a business plan and managing intellectual property, but they will also study topics specific to the life sciences, such as managing the FDA approval process and conducting clinical trials.
The Energy Biosciences Institute: Realizing Sustainable Biofuels
From media reports, Americans might conclude that surging ethanol production has put the nation well on the road to energy independence – but that is not quite the case. There are still a host of biological, environmental, technical, and legal issues that must be resolved for the U.S. biofuels industry to reach its potential, including avoiding conflict with food production, and maximizing environmental and economic benefits.
Embracing the Creativity of Art & Science
Darwin’s Playground is a series of three sculptures, ranging in height from 3-12 feet. Constructed of polyurethane covered with fiberglass, the sculptures are a striking focal point for the IGB plaza. The bright colors and whimsical shapes capture the creativity of biologists, and put to form a radical view of the role modern biologists play in shaping, and even creating, life. They were created by Chicago Artist Tony Tasset and were dedicated in September 2007.
Building a Better Pig
In times past, sea captains kept pigs on board their ships, but not to eat them. The captains believed pigs would unfailingly swim to the nearest shore if the ship went down - and thereby save the crew. Times have changed, but the pig is still viewed as a lifesaver, and again, not just for its food value - more than 40 pharmaceuticals are derived from swine.
Illinois Professor Named to Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry
Animal geneticist Harris Lewin, the director of the Institute for Genomic Biology and a professor and Gutgsell Endowed Chair in the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Illinois, has been elected to the Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry. He was the only American in a group of seven new foreign members elected during an annual meeting in late December.
