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The Next Great Biotechnology Hub

What will be the next great biotechnology hub? You decide, literally!If you've been reading my posts from the BIO convention, you likely know I am passionate about promoting growth in biotechnology, whether I'm working with the networking group I started in San Diego or utilizing social media to promote it globally (e.g., these posts).

The BIO 2009 convention was a whirlwind for me, and I barely had time to catch my breath, but one thing that struck me is that many around the world share my excitement. I'd like to highlight a few examples which indicate that we will surely be welcoming many new hubs in the future, and that we may well need to think about hubs in a new way to really advance biotechnology. I spoke with Robin Deacle at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center's exhibit, where she explained that they have eight very active Intellectual Exchange Groups, which marry networking with research interests such as RNA or plant molecular biology.

These groups are well established, the Plant Molecular Biology group was started 20 years ago and is kept active by Bayer, Monsanto, and Syngenta. In addition, Robin indicated they are interested in utilizing new media to connect researchers. As a former researcher in North Carolina's Research Triangle, I can attest that it is truly an exciting area to work and learn, and NC will continue to be a great biotech hub. I also spent some time with Stacy Williams Shuker from Georgia's Centers of Innovation for Life Sciences. They also realize the power of connecting researchers who have common interests and work in the same region, and have created iResearch, what could be thought of simplistically as a 'Facebook for Georgia Scientists.' Like Facebook, it lists the researchers' profiles and interests, but from a scientific perspective. It contains a database of their publications, patents, and grants, and goes a step further and creates a graphical representation of their top interests.

Stacy gave me a demo (video) and I can tell you that it is really an impressive tool. It allows scientists in Georgia to connect their research and to better understand their regional biotechnology 'ecosystem,' and this will surely lead to advancements, even outside of the state. My third example is not based on geography, or a particular scientific area, but it utilizes other common interests and new technologies to create a biotechnology hub. If you were at BIO, you likely learned about IamBiotech.org, a website and initiative driven by BIO to bring scientists together to educate the community about biotech.

A small group of companies in the Washington, DC area are behind IamBiotech.org, and its drivers include Joe Trippi, manager of Howard Dean's presidential campaign, which many believed paved the way for Barack Obama's innovative use of social media to win the 2008 presidential election. During the BIO convention, I spent a lot of time with the team and was really impressed with their enthusiasm for the campaign and the resulting 'buzz' that they were able to create. IamBiotech.org will use our passion for science and the power of social media to unite us, and I expect that great things will result when we all participate with this campaign.

So, what is 'The Next Great Biotechnology Hub?' It's up to you! Keeping in mind the excellent examples above, I challenge you to think about ways that you can create your own 'hub' using your passion for your region, your scientific interests, and/or the creativity and ingenuity inherent to all who prosper in this field. President Obama gave an incredibly inspiring speech at the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) recently, encouraging us to work together globally and to reach out to our communities to make the scientific advancements that are so desperately needed.

Now, more than ever, you can make a real difference in improving the way biotechnology is done and perceived by the public. As President Obama said, quoting John F. Kennedy in his speech to the NAS more than 40 years ago, 'The challenge, in short, may be our salvation.' Mary Canady, Ph.D., founder, http://comprendia.com