BioAsia 2007 expects to attract over 3,000 visitors

BioAsia 2007, the 4th edition of Asia's premier biotechnology event, will be held from February 15 to 17, 2007, at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC) in Hyderabad. Andhra Pradesh chief minister, Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy will inaugurate the three-day global bio-business forum.

Jointly hosted by the Federation of Asian Biotech Associations (FABA), the government of Andhra Pradesh, and University of Hyderabad and supported by the European Federation of Biotechnology, BioAsia 2007 is expected to attract first-time participants from Canada, Finland, and Holland, besides representatives of the 15 member countries of FABA. The event is expected to attract more than 70 exhibitors, 800 delegates, 40 internationally acclaimed speakers and 3,000 visitors from across the globe.

The edition will host a focused session on "Translational Research: Bridging Basic Science with Clinical Practice", with special focus on "Discovery and Development of Vitamin D analogs as Anticancer Drugs" and "Pre-clinical Cancer Chemo-Prevention Studies: Efficacy and Biomarkers".

To encourage promising entrepreneurs, a special conference titled "Bio-business Funding Opportunities" will feature prominent venture capitalists and technology transfer advisers, who will share their expectations with the entrepreneurial community on making business ideas a reality and the various funding options that are available.

In partnership with the Technology Vision Group LLC, BioAsia 2007 will facilitate a "Business Forum", which will have one-to-one meetings for collaboration, strategic alliances, business development and outsourcing. Participants can browse through www.biopartnering.com and prepare for private meetings with potential partners before attending the conference.

"This year Prof G Padmanabhan will be conferred the prestigious GENOME VALLEY EXCELLENCE AWARD for his outstanding contribution in the field of biotechnology," said Prof P Reddana, University of Hyderabad and BioAsia 2007 Conference Coordinator. Prof Padmanabhan's contributions include those in the area of transcriptional regulation of malarial drug metabolising genes in liver, mechanism of chloroquine action and its resistance in the parasite. The Padmabhushan awardee will deliver a lecture titled "Biotechnology Road Map for India in the Global Context" at the CEO conclave.

Disclosing the special attraction of the event, "The global bio-forum will witness the launch of the FABA BioAsia Innovation Award 2007, which is aimed at activating the youth and promoting creativity and innovation among young scientists. All young scientists under the age of 35, who are pursuing their studies/research in biotechnology and life sciences, are encouraged to exhibit their products/innovations in the conference," said FABA secretary general, Dr B S Bajaj. The FABA BioAsia Innovation award will carry a citation and a cash award of Rs 1 lakh and is open to all young scientists working in institutes of all FABA member countries.