supporting student learning and a growing biotechnology industry simultaneously stem tech, kansas...
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Supporting Student Learning and a Growing Biotechnology Industry Simultaneously
STEM Tech, Kansas City MORichard Norris, Director CPLSElizabeth Boedeker, CRO CoordinatorTuesday, October 30, 2012
Bio-Bench Contract Research Organization
What are we?
• Research for hire– Academic institutions– Local area start up companies
• Additional training for our students– Internship opportunities within the CRO
What are we?
Additional training for our students-Internship opportunities within the CRO-Assigned to CRO Partners
Research for hire-Local area start up companies-BRDG Park-HELIX
Benefits are more one sided
• Of more benefit to the company
• Of more benefit to the college– Internal projects
Chaumette Vineyard Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
• Hank Johnson/Oliver Yu
• Biofermentation
• Optimization of yeast culture growth
• Use of facilities and equipment– Provide their own workers
Advantage: company
STLCC Faculty Project• Very interesting
– Not well studied– Rare bleeding disorder
• Potentially could result in several scientific publications
• Development of clinical diagnostic test?
Advantage: college/students
STLCC Aquaponics Project• Combine fish and plant growth
• Health of fish of promenant importance
• Overlaps our BRDG Park and main campus– Fish maintenance at FV– Diagnostics at BRDG Park
• PCR optimization and assay
Advantage: college/students
Benefits are BALANCED
• Company benefits
• College / students benefit
Several Types of CRO Partners• Well-established companies
– Usually small to medium
– Have resources available• Lab facilities• Personnel
Phycal – Algae Company• Provide Internships after convincing!• 1 intern to start• Currently 3 interns• Some funding delays
– Continue with projects– Minimized impact
Advantage: college/students and company!
• Small start-up companies
– Extremely limited resources
– Limited lab facilities if any
– NO $$• Proof of concept
Several Types of CRO Partners
BioGlow
BioGlow
• Lab use agreement
• Example to our students
• Frequently in lab with students
Advantage: Company and students
Electrochaea• Very small start up• Lab use agreement with us
– Only lab space they had• 4 interns trained
– Biotechnology– Engineering
• 1 hired full-time
Advantage: college/students and company!
TrophoMax• Largest impact (both)
• Lab use agreement with us
• Only lab space they had
• Senior Scientist to oversee work (recommend)
TrophoMax -interns• 3 interns assigned initially
– Biotechnology– Horticulture
• Great experience – Deadlines and their importance– Data
• Proper collection• documentation
TrophoMax • Hit milestones they would not have otherwise
• Moving into next phase– Lab space in building– Hiring of intern (1) full time
• Huge advocates for usAdvantage: college/students and company!
Vantage Links• Spin-off company
• ELISA-based
• Human diagnostic testing
• If had student, would assign!!
Orion Systems West• Join in January 2013
• Short microbiology applications
• 6 month, but maybe longer
Laughlin Consulting
• Working to establish
• Need to get a senior scientist to oversee
Helix Center
• Coordinate with core there
• Work to get interns assigned over there
• Need more interns!!
Future directions-all intertwined• Expanding
– Engineering
– Horticulture
– Biotechnology
– BUSINESS
