The School of Dentistry at the University of Manchester invites applications for a prestigious PhD studentship commencing in October 2009. Funding will provide full support for the UK/EU tuition fee and a tax-free annual stipend of £13,290.
The primary objectives of this project are to establish diagnostic accuracy of Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) in imaging root canal anatomy and to develop image optimisation methods. The School has a micro-CT facility to allow excellent standards of validation. The end-point of the research would be a clear understanding of the scope and limitations of CBCT in root canal visualisation and a protocol for optimal imaging. A potential spin-off would be the acquisition of data needed to develop CBCT endodontic software that could be patented and marketed.
Traditional dental imaging relies upon intraoral and panoramic radiographs. The advent of digital radiography has not altered the status quo, i.e. all images are two-dimensional. In the current decade, dental imaging has been revolutionised by the development of cone beam CT. This technology gathers volumetric data, providing the clinician with a three-dimensional dataset.
Endodontics relies heavily on intraoral radiography. In all but simple, single-rooted, teeth the need to identify and localise the root and root canal architecture means that three-dimensional imaging could be of significant value. While early CBCT machines gathered large volume data, typically the whole head or facial bones, newer machines offer small volume options suitable for single tooth imaging. No work has been published looking at visualisation of root canal anatomy using a validation reference standard so the scope and potential of this research is significant.
The successful applicant will develop skills in X-ray imaging using in vitro methods (microCT and CBCT), understanding of and skills in conducting diagnostic accuracy studies, ethical requirements of clinical studies and image analytical techniques. Upon completion of the project, dentists would be ideally placed to become clinical academics or seek research fellowships whilst scientists could develop an academic or commercial research career in bioimaging.
Applicants who are dentally qualified should have some experience of research, preferably through an MSc project, and the ambition to pursue a clinical academic career. Scientists should hold a particular interest in imaging sciences as applied to medicine.
Applications are welcomed from candidates holding, or expecting to obtain, a first or upper second-class honours degree in a relevant subject such as dentistry or computer science. An MSc in Endodontics or BioHealth Informatics is desirable.
More information here.
Friday, 21 November 2008
Professor of the Day: Professor Matt Brown, Immunology
Professor Matt Brown is Professor of Immunogenetics and Director of the Immunology Program at the University of Queensland, based at the Diamantina Institute and 
Institute of Molecular Biosciences, a position he has held since September 2005. Prior to that he was Professor of Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, where he worked since 1994. He initially trained in rheumatology in Sydney, and remains clinically active, with a special interest in ankylosing spondylitis (AS).
Professor Brown's group researches genetics of common diseases, particularly musculoskeletal diseases. They are the central genetics research centre for the Australo-Anglo-American Spondyloarthritis Consortium, the main international AS genetics group. In addition, the group are performing genomewide association studies in multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis and cervical cancer, and have genetics projects ongoing in rheumatoid arthritis and several other diseases. Professor Brown is a Principal Investigator of the Wellcome Trust Case-Control Consortium which did much of the development work and proof of principle studies for genomewide association studies, and is now involved in developing the approaches required for downstream genetics research (resequencing, fine-mapping, copy number variation studies). Professor Brown’s group also collaborate with researchers at the MRC Mammalian Research Facility Harwell, England, in ENU-mutagenesis approaches to develop new mouse strains with bone and joint disorders.
Head to the UQ Diamantina Institute webpage.
Institute of Molecular Biosciences, a position he has held since September 2005. Prior to that he was Professor of Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, where he worked since 1994. He initially trained in rheumatology in Sydney, and remains clinically active, with a special interest in ankylosing spondylitis (AS).Professor Brown's group researches genetics of common diseases, particularly musculoskeletal diseases. They are the central genetics research centre for the Australo-Anglo-American Spondyloarthritis Consortium, the main international AS genetics group. In addition, the group are performing genomewide association studies in multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis and cervical cancer, and have genetics projects ongoing in rheumatoid arthritis and several other diseases. Professor Brown is a Principal Investigator of the Wellcome Trust Case-Control Consortium which did much of the development work and proof of principle studies for genomewide association studies, and is now involved in developing the approaches required for downstream genetics research (resequencing, fine-mapping, copy number variation studies). Professor Brown’s group also collaborate with researchers at the MRC Mammalian Research Facility Harwell, England, in ENU-mutagenesis approaches to develop new mouse strains with bone and joint disorders.
Head to the UQ Diamantina Institute webpage.
International Scholarhsips: Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships
Ambassadorial Scholarships, The Rotary Foundation's oldest and best-known program, was founded in 1947. Since then, nearly 38,000 men and women from about 100 nations have studied abroad under its auspices. Today it is the world's largest privately funded international scholarships program. Nearly 800 scholarships were awarded for study in 2005-06. Through grants totaling approximately US$500 million, recipients from about 70 countries studied in more than 70 nations.
The purpose of the Ambassadorial Scholarships program is to further international understanding and friendly relations among people of different countries and geographical areas. The program sponsors several types of scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students as well as for qualified professionals pursuing vocational studies. While abroad, scholars serve as goodwill ambassadors to the host country and give presentations about their homelands to Rotary clubs and other groups. Upon returning home, scholars share with Rotarians and others the experiences that led to a greater understanding of their host country.
Generous contributions from Rotarians worldwide represent a continued faith that today’s Ambassadorial Scholars will be tomorrow's community and world leaders.
More information is here.
The purpose of the Ambassadorial Scholarships program is to further international understanding and friendly relations among people of different countries and geographical areas. The program sponsors several types of scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students as well as for qualified professionals pursuing vocational studies. While abroad, scholars serve as goodwill ambassadors to the host country and give presentations about their homelands to Rotary clubs and other groups. Upon returning home, scholars share with Rotarians and others the experiences that led to a greater understanding of their host country.
Generous contributions from Rotarians worldwide represent a continued faith that today’s Ambassadorial Scholars will be tomorrow's community and world leaders.
More information is here.
PhD Scholarship: Fred Hollows PhD Scholarship for Prevention of Blindness
The Fred Hollows Foundation has started an exciting new endeavour to sponsor a PhD Scholarship for the Prevention of Blindness at the International Centre for Eye Health, within the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. This scholarship aims to provide training and aid in building of skills for future leaders in the field of prevention of blindness. A further aim is to facilitate important research advances that will help facilitate the control of blindness. This will be a three year project, focusing on research issues of key importance to assess the impact of blindness and to implement programmes for the prevention of blindness in a cost-effective and equitable manner. Nationals of low and middle income countries are eligible for the scholarship, and the fieldwork should be conducted in that setting.
The Scholarship will include tuition fees plus stipend.
Eligibility criteria:
Applicants for this scholarship must:
-Hold a 1st or 2.1 university degree (or equivalent)
-Hold a Masters degree in Community Eye Health, Epidemiology, Public Health, Health Economics or a relevant field (or equivalent)
-Be a national of a low or middle income country
-Have experience in designing and conducting research in health in a low-income country
-Have experience in writing up study results and findings in reports, guidelines, standard operating procedures or papers suitable for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
-Have experience in managing and analysing data using packages including Epi Info, Excel and common statistical programmes.
-Have excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
-Be committed to long term capacity building in research in their own country
It is desirable that applicants for this scholarship should have:
-Published research articles in peer review journals
-Experience of working in eye care programmes
-Knowledge of eye diseases and their management
-Experience working with NGOs or ministry of health
-Preference will be given to candidates who are nationals of a country in Africa.
More info here.
The Scholarship will include tuition fees plus stipend.
Eligibility criteria:
Applicants for this scholarship must:
-Hold a 1st or 2.1 university degree (or equivalent)
-Hold a Masters degree in Community Eye Health, Epidemiology, Public Health, Health Economics or a relevant field (or equivalent)
-Be a national of a low or middle income country
-Have experience in designing and conducting research in health in a low-income country
-Have experience in writing up study results and findings in reports, guidelines, standard operating procedures or papers suitable for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
-Have experience in managing and analysing data using packages including Epi Info, Excel and common statistical programmes.
-Have excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
-Be committed to long term capacity building in research in their own country
It is desirable that applicants for this scholarship should have:
-Published research articles in peer review journals
-Experience of working in eye care programmes
-Knowledge of eye diseases and their management
-Experience working with NGOs or ministry of health
-Preference will be given to candidates who are nationals of a country in Africa.
More info here.
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
Professor of the Day:Professor Thomas MacDonald, Immunology, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry
Professor Tom MacDonald received a PhD in immunology from Glasgow in 1976 and then did a short post-doc at the Trudeau Institute in upstate New York . In 1978 he was appointed as an assistant professor at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia and received 
tenure and promotion to Associate Professor in 1983. In 1984 he left Philadelphia and worked at Merck and Co for a year before returning to Bart's Medical College in 1985. In 1986 he was appointed a Wellcome Trust Senior Lecturer at Bart's (till 1994), was promoted to reader in 1989, and given a personal chair at the University of London in 1991. In 2000 he moved to Southampton medical school to head up the Division of Infection, Inflammation and Repair and then in 2005 he returned to Queen Mary as Professor of Immunology and Dean for Research in the Medical School.
He has over 300 publications, mostly on how inappropriate immune reactions cause disease in the human gut. He was awarded FRCPath in 1995 and FMedSci in 2002 on the basis of his published works. He is currently interested in how negative-regulatory signalling pathways prevent resolution of gut inflammation in human inflammatory bowle disease and how gut bacteria manipulate mucosal immunity.
Tom MacDonald's continuing research interests are in immunology and inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Ongoing research projects include identifying novel pathways which can block inflammatory cytokines in IBD (supported by GSK and UCB Pharma); regulation of MMP's in inflamed bowel by TGFbeta; control of TGF beta signalling in IBD by Smad7 and p300 (supported by CICRA); and the function and modulation of Peyer's patch dendritic cells by bacterial products (pathogens and non-pathogens) from the gut (supported by BBSRC).
In more basic studies he continues to use Citrobacter rodentium infection in mice as a model to modulation of host immunity by this pathogen and the way in which the host controls the inflammatory response to this pathogen ( in collaboration with Gad Frankel). Outside Barts and the London he has a wide range of research-asociated activity. He is a member of PSCSB panel at MRC (2007-2011), INSERM GI panel, BBSRC Agri-Food panel (2002-2005), BBSRC REI panel (2003-4), BBSRC Institute Review panels (2005, 2006) and is vice-chairman of the governing body of the Rowett Research Institute in Aberdeen. He was associate editor of Gut ( 1997-2003), on the editorial board of Gastroenterology (2001-2006) and is a section editor of Inflammatory Bowel Disease . He regularly reviews GI immunology/inflammation related work for Nature, Nature Medicine, Science and J Clin Invest.
Further information at the Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry website.
tenure and promotion to Associate Professor in 1983. In 1984 he left Philadelphia and worked at Merck and Co for a year before returning to Bart's Medical College in 1985. In 1986 he was appointed a Wellcome Trust Senior Lecturer at Bart's (till 1994), was promoted to reader in 1989, and given a personal chair at the University of London in 1991. In 2000 he moved to Southampton medical school to head up the Division of Infection, Inflammation and Repair and then in 2005 he returned to Queen Mary as Professor of Immunology and Dean for Research in the Medical School.He has over 300 publications, mostly on how inappropriate immune reactions cause disease in the human gut. He was awarded FRCPath in 1995 and FMedSci in 2002 on the basis of his published works. He is currently interested in how negative-regulatory signalling pathways prevent resolution of gut inflammation in human inflammatory bowle disease and how gut bacteria manipulate mucosal immunity.
Tom MacDonald's continuing research interests are in immunology and inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Ongoing research projects include identifying novel pathways which can block inflammatory cytokines in IBD (supported by GSK and UCB Pharma); regulation of MMP's in inflamed bowel by TGFbeta; control of TGF beta signalling in IBD by Smad7 and p300 (supported by CICRA); and the function and modulation of Peyer's patch dendritic cells by bacterial products (pathogens and non-pathogens) from the gut (supported by BBSRC).
In more basic studies he continues to use Citrobacter rodentium infection in mice as a model to modulation of host immunity by this pathogen and the way in which the host controls the inflammatory response to this pathogen ( in collaboration with Gad Frankel). Outside Barts and the London he has a wide range of research-asociated activity. He is a member of PSCSB panel at MRC (2007-2011), INSERM GI panel, BBSRC Agri-Food panel (2002-2005), BBSRC REI panel (2003-4), BBSRC Institute Review panels (2005, 2006) and is vice-chairman of the governing body of the Rowett Research Institute in Aberdeen. He was associate editor of Gut ( 1997-2003), on the editorial board of Gastroenterology (2001-2006) and is a section editor of Inflammatory Bowel Disease . He regularly reviews GI immunology/inflammation related work for Nature, Nature Medicine, Science and J Clin Invest.
Further information at the Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry website.
Scholarship: The Royal Bank of Scotland International Scholarship
The Royal Bank of Scotland International Scholarship is a brand new scholarship now exclusively available to Chinese applicants wishing to pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree. Two scholarship are available under the scheme, and each will cover all tuition fees for highly qualified professionals, entrepreneurs and business leaders from the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong (SAR), and Macau (SAR), it will aim at bridging international boundaries by providing Chinese business professionals with an opportunity to study a globally recognised degree in one of the world’s financial centres.
To be considered for The Royal Bank of Scotland International Scholarship, you must meet the following criteria:
-A national of the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong (SAR), Macau (SAR);
-A graduate with proven academic skills;
-Committed to contribute to the socio-economic development of the People’s Republic of China.
-Established in a career, with a track record of excellence and achievement, and the prospect of becoming a leader in his/her chosen field;
-Have good English Language skills, as most UK Higher Education Institutions require a minimum IELTS of 6.5 for admission onto Postgraduate courses.
-Have sufficient funds to meet your tuition fees and living expenses, after taking account of the possible award of the Bank of Scotland International Scholarship.
For more information please follow this link.
To be considered for The Royal Bank of Scotland International Scholarship, you must meet the following criteria:
-A national of the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong (SAR), Macau (SAR);
-A graduate with proven academic skills;
-Committed to contribute to the socio-economic development of the People’s Republic of China.
-Established in a career, with a track record of excellence and achievement, and the prospect of becoming a leader in his/her chosen field;
-Have good English Language skills, as most UK Higher Education Institutions require a minimum IELTS of 6.5 for admission onto Postgraduate courses.
-Have sufficient funds to meet your tuition fees and living expenses, after taking account of the possible award of the Bank of Scotland International Scholarship.
For more information please follow this link.
Commercial Research: Whitfield Solar
Whitfield Solar was set up in 2004 as a vehicle to commercialise 30 years of research by Dr. George Whitfield from the University of Reading into low-cost solar concentrators. He was joined at the Solar Concentrator Group by fellow founders Dr Roger Bentley and Dr Clive Weatherby. A key part of this work was the optimisation of the size of optical elements and concentration ratios used to ensure the most cost-effective PV concentrator systems.
Solar concentration ratios of several thousand times are theoretically possible, but in practice, concentration levels above about 250 times raise a range of technical issues, including the need for:
-Extremely accurate and reliable tracking of the sun to maintain the focused energy on the cell
-Cell technology capable of converting the energy efficiently at this intensity
-A satisfactory means of removing the significant thermal energy absorbed.
The work at Reading looked at the relationship between concentration and cost, and paid attention to the realities and challenges of production.
Whitfield Solar’s launch product competes with flat-plate photovoltaic (PV) offerings on four levels. It is lower cost; lower weight; has lower embodied energy; and requires lower-tech manufacturing processes. Whitfield’s product takes the sun’s energy and concentrates it via an array of Fresnel lenses onto a fraction of the surface area of silicon solar cells that conventional PV panels require. As such it protects its customers from potential shortages of solar silicon and is immune to shortages of solar glass which both threaten the PV industry.
Whilst using tried and tested solar silicon for its launch product, it is set up to embrace new solar cell technology when it has demonstrated the same levels of long-term reliability and cost-efficiency that silicon can deliver.
Whitfield is well-known in the solar community and has had prototypes of its launch product running in Spain for the last 2 years.
By creating a system that relies on a range of highly efficient manufacturing technologies, Whitfield Solar can transfer the benefits of engineering excellence to a CPV product whilst opening the door to the enormous cost savings associated with these high-volume techniques. Unlike many of the alternative concentrator approaches, Whitfield’s core components will be manufactured in multi-million quantities even at quite modest overall power outputs thereby driving significant economies of scale. Perhaps not surprisingly, Whitfield’s development team are drawn from various branches of Europe’s automotive and domestic appliance industries
More information at the Whitfield Solar website.
Solar concentration ratios of several thousand times are theoretically possible, but in practice, concentration levels above about 250 times raise a range of technical issues, including the need for:
-Extremely accurate and reliable tracking of the sun to maintain the focused energy on the cell
-Cell technology capable of converting the energy efficiently at this intensity
-A satisfactory means of removing the significant thermal energy absorbed.
The work at Reading looked at the relationship between concentration and cost, and paid attention to the realities and challenges of production.
Whitfield Solar’s launch product competes with flat-plate photovoltaic (PV) offerings on four levels. It is lower cost; lower weight; has lower embodied energy; and requires lower-tech manufacturing processes. Whitfield’s product takes the sun’s energy and concentrates it via an array of Fresnel lenses onto a fraction of the surface area of silicon solar cells that conventional PV panels require. As such it protects its customers from potential shortages of solar silicon and is immune to shortages of solar glass which both threaten the PV industry.
Whilst using tried and tested solar silicon for its launch product, it is set up to embrace new solar cell technology when it has demonstrated the same levels of long-term reliability and cost-efficiency that silicon can deliver.
Whitfield is well-known in the solar community and has had prototypes of its launch product running in Spain for the last 2 years.
By creating a system that relies on a range of highly efficient manufacturing technologies, Whitfield Solar can transfer the benefits of engineering excellence to a CPV product whilst opening the door to the enormous cost savings associated with these high-volume techniques. Unlike many of the alternative concentrator approaches, Whitfield’s core components will be manufactured in multi-million quantities even at quite modest overall power outputs thereby driving significant economies of scale. Perhaps not surprisingly, Whitfield’s development team are drawn from various branches of Europe’s automotive and domestic appliance industries
More information at the Whitfield Solar website.
Professor of the Day: Professor Michael Shuler, Chemical Engineering, Cornell University
Professor Michael Louis Shuler is the Samuel B. Eckert Professor of Chemical Engineering with a joint appointment in the Institute of Food Science at Cornell University in New York. He is also Director of the Chemical Engineering and 
Bioengineering Program at Cornell University. Professor Shuler's areas of research include structured models, heterologous protein expression systems, cell culture analogs for pharmacokinetic models, multidrug resistance mechanisms; in vitro toxicology; plant cell tissue culture, biodegradation and bioremediation.
Professor Shuler graduated with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Notre Dame, Indiana in 1969 and earned a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota in 1973. He then joined the faculty of Cornell's School of Chemical Engineering in 1974, and in 1992 was appointed the Samuel B. Eckert Professor of Chemical Engineering. During his tenure at Cornell, Professor Shuler has been invited to serve as visiting or guest professor at several universities including the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1988 and the Institute for Biotechnology in Zurich, Switzerland in 1995.
Professor Shuler's contributions to his profession have been widely recognized and have earned him numerous honors such as the Marvin J. Johnson Award of the Microbial and Biochemical Technology Division of the ACS, an AIChE Professional Progress Award, and an Amgen Award in Biochemical Engineering. He has gained membership to the National Academy of Engineering and the American Academy of the Arts and Sciences. In 1992, he was elected as an inaugural fellow to the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, and in 1997 he was voted fellow to the American Institute of Chemical Engineers in 1997.
Professor Shuler has many publications to his merit and serves on the editorial boards of several academic journals such as Biotechnology Progress, on which he served as editor-in-chief from 1985 to 1988. Also to his credit, professor Shuler has U.S. patents for several of his inventions, including "Use of Inhibitory Solvents in Multi-Membrane Reactor," and "Apparatus and Process to Eliminate Diffusional Limitations in a Membrane Bioreactor by Pressure Cycling," both of which were selected by NASA as Class I NASA Tech Brief.
The research conducted by Michael Shuler focuses on applying chemical reaction engineering principles to biological systems. As part of this work his research group has developed a new approach to model individual cells mathematically.
These models have proven to be important conceptual tools used to test hypotheses about cellular mechanisms and the interaction of viruses and cells. One model of a "minimal cell" is being used to relate genomic instructions to cell physiology.
Another project combines mathematical models of subcellular and cellular mechanisms with whole-animal models as a means to relate the rapidly increasing insight into molecular toxicology and pharmacology with animal physiology. The organs of mathematical models are compared with physical models that use living cells to mimic organs such as the liver and lung.
Dr. Shuler also is investigating targeted drug delivery to multidrug-resistant cancer cells.
Further info available at the Cornell University website.
Bioengineering Program at Cornell University. Professor Shuler's areas of research include structured models, heterologous protein expression systems, cell culture analogs for pharmacokinetic models, multidrug resistance mechanisms; in vitro toxicology; plant cell tissue culture, biodegradation and bioremediation. Professor Shuler graduated with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Notre Dame, Indiana in 1969 and earned a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota in 1973. He then joined the faculty of Cornell's School of Chemical Engineering in 1974, and in 1992 was appointed the Samuel B. Eckert Professor of Chemical Engineering. During his tenure at Cornell, Professor Shuler has been invited to serve as visiting or guest professor at several universities including the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1988 and the Institute for Biotechnology in Zurich, Switzerland in 1995.
Professor Shuler's contributions to his profession have been widely recognized and have earned him numerous honors such as the Marvin J. Johnson Award of the Microbial and Biochemical Technology Division of the ACS, an AIChE Professional Progress Award, and an Amgen Award in Biochemical Engineering. He has gained membership to the National Academy of Engineering and the American Academy of the Arts and Sciences. In 1992, he was elected as an inaugural fellow to the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, and in 1997 he was voted fellow to the American Institute of Chemical Engineers in 1997.
Professor Shuler has many publications to his merit and serves on the editorial boards of several academic journals such as Biotechnology Progress, on which he served as editor-in-chief from 1985 to 1988. Also to his credit, professor Shuler has U.S. patents for several of his inventions, including "Use of Inhibitory Solvents in Multi-Membrane Reactor," and "Apparatus and Process to Eliminate Diffusional Limitations in a Membrane Bioreactor by Pressure Cycling," both of which were selected by NASA as Class I NASA Tech Brief.
The research conducted by Michael Shuler focuses on applying chemical reaction engineering principles to biological systems. As part of this work his research group has developed a new approach to model individual cells mathematically.
These models have proven to be important conceptual tools used to test hypotheses about cellular mechanisms and the interaction of viruses and cells. One model of a "minimal cell" is being used to relate genomic instructions to cell physiology.
Another project combines mathematical models of subcellular and cellular mechanisms with whole-animal models as a means to relate the rapidly increasing insight into molecular toxicology and pharmacology with animal physiology. The organs of mathematical models are compared with physical models that use living cells to mimic organs such as the liver and lung.
Dr. Shuler also is investigating targeted drug delivery to multidrug-resistant cancer cells.
Further info available at the Cornell University website.
Monday, 17 November 2008
Commercial Research: Particle Therapeutics, United Kingdom
Particle Therapeutics is a spin-out company from the University of Oxford that commenced operations in October 2006. The company is a drug delivery organisation applying innovative delivery systems and drug reformulation technologies to the development of proprietary products to improve the administration and efficacy of pharmaceuticals, both generic and speciality.
The application of the Company’s technology is also anticipated to enable extension of patent life for existing therapeutics, thereby securing valuable intellectual property for longer term revenues. The Company has identified several candidate
drugs as being particularly suited to its needle-free delivery system (the “Particle Therapeutics Device”) and is considering adding a small number of these to its pipeline. The first of these, glucagon, has been selected on the basis of a very significant unmet clinical need which is ideally addressed by Particle Therapeutics’ innovative device and particle formulation technologies. There are compelling clinical, commercial and technical grounds for selecting glucagon, or needle-free delivery to patients experiencing severe hypoglycaemia, as the Company’s first product.
Particle Therapeutics is developing single-use powder injection devices pre-filled with specially formulated powder particles.
The advantages of powder injection over conventional needle-and-syringe injection are as follows:
-No cross-contamination from needle or syringe re-use
-No particular skill is required to administer powder injections
-No perceived risk to the patient (e.g. injection of air, puncturing arteries)
-No bleeding, and the injection is virtually pain-free
-No “cold chain” of refrigeration, as with preservation of liquid drugs
The drug particles used for powder injection must be carefully formulated to ensure they have the chemical and physical properties to create the greatest therapeutic effect. The company has unique expertise in this area.
Visit the Official Company website.
The application of the Company’s technology is also anticipated to enable extension of patent life for existing therapeutics, thereby securing valuable intellectual property for longer term revenues. The Company has identified several candidate
drugs as being particularly suited to its needle-free delivery system (the “Particle Therapeutics Device”) and is considering adding a small number of these to its pipeline. The first of these, glucagon, has been selected on the basis of a very significant unmet clinical need which is ideally addressed by Particle Therapeutics’ innovative device and particle formulation technologies. There are compelling clinical, commercial and technical grounds for selecting glucagon, or needle-free delivery to patients experiencing severe hypoglycaemia, as the Company’s first product. Particle Therapeutics is developing single-use powder injection devices pre-filled with specially formulated powder particles.
The advantages of powder injection over conventional needle-and-syringe injection are as follows:
-No cross-contamination from needle or syringe re-use
-No particular skill is required to administer powder injections
-No perceived risk to the patient (e.g. injection of air, puncturing arteries)
-No bleeding, and the injection is virtually pain-free
-No “cold chain” of refrigeration, as with preservation of liquid drugs
The drug particles used for powder injection must be carefully formulated to ensure they have the chemical and physical properties to create the greatest therapeutic effect. The company has unique expertise in this area.
Visit the Official Company website.
University Spotlight: University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a major national research university located on a 1,900-acre campus in Iowa City in southeast Iowa, on the Iowa River near the intersection of U.S. Interstate Highways 80 and 380. Iowa is composed of 11 colleges, the largest of which is the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, enrolling most of Iowa's undergraduates. The Henry B. Tippie College of Business, the Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, and the Colleges of Education, Engineering, Law, Nursing, Pharmacy, enroll undergraduates, and with the Colleges of Dentistry and Public Health provide graduate education in conjunction with the Graduate College.
More than 29,000 students enroll at Iowa each year. Some 64 percent come from Iowa, 21 percent from adjoining states, and 8 percent from the remaining states.
International students from 109 countries make up 7 percent of the University's enrollment. The faculty numbers about 1,700 and there are about 13,000 staff. The total annual operating budget is about $2.1 billion, and there are more than 120 major buildings, most of them within walking distance of one another. Adding to the population are more than a million visitors each year who come to enjoy cultural events and art exhibits, to attend Big Ten athletic events, and to participate in the many conferences and educational programs scheduled at the University year-round.
Established in 1847, Iowa has won international recognition for its wealth of achievements in the arts, sciences, and humanities. Iowa was the first U.S. public university to admit men and women on an equal basis and the first institution of higher education in the nation to accept creative work in theater, writing, music, and art as theses for advanced degrees. It established the first law school and the first educational radio station west of the Mississippi, broadcast the world's first educational television programs, and developed and continues to hold preeminence in educational testing.
The University has world renowned research programs in genetics, hydraulics, and speech and hearing, and has recorded major innovations in agricultural medicine, biocatalysis, biomedical engineering, biomedical sciences, and pharmacology
education. Its graduate programs in audiology, printmaking, creative writing, speech-language pathology, and nursing service administration are first-ranked. Iowa scientists, including James Van Allen, have been pioneers in space research, designing and building research instruments for more than 50 successful U.S. satellites and space probes. The University of Iowa operates one of the nation's most advanced and comprehensive university-owned teaching hospitals. It also has developed the most technically advanced driving simulator in the world.
For more information, head to the Official University of Iowa website.
More than 29,000 students enroll at Iowa each year. Some 64 percent come from Iowa, 21 percent from adjoining states, and 8 percent from the remaining states.
International students from 109 countries make up 7 percent of the University's enrollment. The faculty numbers about 1,700 and there are about 13,000 staff. The total annual operating budget is about $2.1 billion, and there are more than 120 major buildings, most of them within walking distance of one another. Adding to the population are more than a million visitors each year who come to enjoy cultural events and art exhibits, to attend Big Ten athletic events, and to participate in the many conferences and educational programs scheduled at the University year-round. Established in 1847, Iowa has won international recognition for its wealth of achievements in the arts, sciences, and humanities. Iowa was the first U.S. public university to admit men and women on an equal basis and the first institution of higher education in the nation to accept creative work in theater, writing, music, and art as theses for advanced degrees. It established the first law school and the first educational radio station west of the Mississippi, broadcast the world's first educational television programs, and developed and continues to hold preeminence in educational testing.
The University has world renowned research programs in genetics, hydraulics, and speech and hearing, and has recorded major innovations in agricultural medicine, biocatalysis, biomedical engineering, biomedical sciences, and pharmacology
education. Its graduate programs in audiology, printmaking, creative writing, speech-language pathology, and nursing service administration are first-ranked. Iowa scientists, including James Van Allen, have been pioneers in space research, designing and building research instruments for more than 50 successful U.S. satellites and space probes. The University of Iowa operates one of the nation's most advanced and comprehensive university-owned teaching hospitals. It also has developed the most technically advanced driving simulator in the world.For more information, head to the Official University of Iowa website.
Commercial Research: RegenTec
RegenTec was established in 2001 and is based at BioCity Nottingham, UK. The company is a spin-off from Professor Kevin Shakesheff’s internationally renowned research team at the University of Nottingham.
RegenTec is a leader in the field of regenerative medicine. This field has the potential to revolutionize healthcare by providing permanent replacements for damaged or diseased tissues in unlimited supply. RegenTec's vision is to provide the pivotal technologies required to make the area of regenerative medicine a clinical success. These technologies will provide the platform for the development of
innovative products that deliver patient benefits in important and challenging areas of medicine.
A key concept in regenerative medicine is the provision of a ‘scaffold’ that creates an optimised environment, or a “regenerative niche” around cells, enabling tissue regeneration to occur in clinical situations in which the body’s natural repair processes have failed.
RegenTec’s patented injectable polymer scaffolds are also designed to deliver cells, adhesion peptides and growth factors directly to the tissue repair site if required.
The scaffolds can be either injected or moulded and solidify within minutes of delivery, creating a space-filling material with an architecture and environment suitable for efficient tissue repair. This injectable macroporous 3D scaffold represents a novel approach to in situ tissue repair and includes the following advantages:
-An open pore structure which aids cell attachment, migration, and tissue development
-Scaffold solidification occurs at body temperature, is non-toxic, and can be used to encapsulate and deliver cells at the site of injection
-Growth factors can be incorporated into the system for controlled release
-A system readily adaptable for its end application (e.g. porosity, architecture, protein encapsulation, material composites)
When a tissue develops or repairs itself a “regenerative niche” is formed comprising cells, 3D template, extracellular matrix and growth factors. RegenTec’s scaffold technology is able to combine the all these key components into one environment which is optimal for tissue repair. In simple applications the cells, extracellular matrix and growth factors are provided by the patient’s own tissue neighbouring the repair site. In such applications, RegenTec’s scaffolds provide the 3D template within which the body’s own response can be orchestrated. In more challenging applications, stem cells, matrix and/or growth factors must be provided within the 3D template. The versatility of RegenTec’s scaffolds ensures compatibility with these requirements.
More information is available on the RegenTech Company Website.
RegenTec is a leader in the field of regenerative medicine. This field has the potential to revolutionize healthcare by providing permanent replacements for damaged or diseased tissues in unlimited supply. RegenTec's vision is to provide the pivotal technologies required to make the area of regenerative medicine a clinical success. These technologies will provide the platform for the development of
innovative products that deliver patient benefits in important and challenging areas of medicine.
A key concept in regenerative medicine is the provision of a ‘scaffold’ that creates an optimised environment, or a “regenerative niche” around cells, enabling tissue regeneration to occur in clinical situations in which the body’s natural repair processes have failed.
RegenTec’s patented injectable polymer scaffolds are also designed to deliver cells, adhesion peptides and growth factors directly to the tissue repair site if required.
The scaffolds can be either injected or moulded and solidify within minutes of delivery, creating a space-filling material with an architecture and environment suitable for efficient tissue repair. This injectable macroporous 3D scaffold represents a novel approach to in situ tissue repair and includes the following advantages:
-An open pore structure which aids cell attachment, migration, and tissue development
-Scaffold solidification occurs at body temperature, is non-toxic, and can be used to encapsulate and deliver cells at the site of injection
-Growth factors can be incorporated into the system for controlled release
-A system readily adaptable for its end application (e.g. porosity, architecture, protein encapsulation, material composites)
When a tissue develops or repairs itself a “regenerative niche” is formed comprising cells, 3D template, extracellular matrix and growth factors. RegenTec’s scaffold technology is able to combine the all these key components into one environment which is optimal for tissue repair. In simple applications the cells, extracellular matrix and growth factors are provided by the patient’s own tissue neighbouring the repair site. In such applications, RegenTec’s scaffolds provide the 3D template within which the body’s own response can be orchestrated. In more challenging applications, stem cells, matrix and/or growth factors must be provided within the 3D template. The versatility of RegenTec’s scaffolds ensures compatibility with these requirements.
More information is available on the RegenTech Company Website.
Scholarships: 2009 MBA Aston Business School
Aston University Business School have a number of Scholarships available for International Students interested in undertaking an MBA in 2009.
1. Scholarships are available to students from EU countries, EU candidate countries, Latin American countries, African countries, Middle Eastern countries, Russia, Japan, Sri Lanka and South Korea. A scholarship of £5,000 for qualifying applicants to help with the cost of tuition fees.
2. Scholarships are available to students exclusively from African countries. A scholarship of 50% of the tuition fees for qualifying applicants to help with the cost of study.
3. Up to six scholarships are available to students exclusively from African countries through the Ferguson Trust Scholarship. A scholarship of £5,000 for qualifying applicants to help with the cost of tuition fees.
For more information head to the Aston Business School website.
1. Scholarships are available to students from EU countries, EU candidate countries, Latin American countries, African countries, Middle Eastern countries, Russia, Japan, Sri Lanka and South Korea. A scholarship of £5,000 for qualifying applicants to help with the cost of tuition fees.
2. Scholarships are available to students exclusively from African countries. A scholarship of 50% of the tuition fees for qualifying applicants to help with the cost of study.
3. Up to six scholarships are available to students exclusively from African countries through the Ferguson Trust Scholarship. A scholarship of £5,000 for qualifying applicants to help with the cost of tuition fees.
For more information head to the Aston Business School website.
Professor of the Day: Professor Adam Janiak, Computer Science, Poland
Professor Adam Janiak received the M.Eng. and Ph.D. degrees from the Wroclaw University of Technology, Wroclaw, Poland, in 1972 and 1977, respectively, and the Dr.Sc. degree from the Warsaw University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland, in 1992.
He received the Professor title in 1999 from President of Poland. He was invited as a Visiting Professor to universities in Australia, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, New Zealand, Thailand, China, Spain, USA, Greece, Great Britain, Holland and France. Currently he is a Full Professor in computer science and operations research of industrial engineering areas with the Institute of Computer Engineering, Control and Robotics, Wroclaw University of Technology, where he is the Head of the Department of Artificial Intelligence and Algorithms Design. He has authored three books and more than 200 papers in edited books, international journals, and conference proceedings (including 57 publications in journals from ISI Master Journal List). His papers were cited over 300 times (according to data from ISI journals database). His research interests include sequencing and scheduling problems with classical and generalized models of operations in computer and manufacturing systems, resource allocation problems, complexity theory, and theory of algorithms (physical design automation of VLSI).
Prof. Janiak is a corresponding member of the Polish Academy of Sciences, a vice-president of the Computer Science Committee of the Polish Academy of Sciences and a head of the panel: “Computer Methods in Science” of the Polish Research Council. He is the expert of the State Accreditation Committee. He has served on the program committees for several international conferences on operations research and is a regular reviewer for a number of prestigious journals and conferences. He is an Associated Editor for International Journal of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Decision Making in Manufacturing and Services, Recent Patents on Computer Science and Book Series Computational Intelligence and its Applications.
For further information please head the Wroclaw University of Technology website.
He received the Professor title in 1999 from President of Poland. He was invited as a Visiting Professor to universities in Australia, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, New Zealand, Thailand, China, Spain, USA, Greece, Great Britain, Holland and France. Currently he is a Full Professor in computer science and operations research of industrial engineering areas with the Institute of Computer Engineering, Control and Robotics, Wroclaw University of Technology, where he is the Head of the Department of Artificial Intelligence and Algorithms Design. He has authored three books and more than 200 papers in edited books, international journals, and conference proceedings (including 57 publications in journals from ISI Master Journal List). His papers were cited over 300 times (according to data from ISI journals database). His research interests include sequencing and scheduling problems with classical and generalized models of operations in computer and manufacturing systems, resource allocation problems, complexity theory, and theory of algorithms (physical design automation of VLSI).
Prof. Janiak is a corresponding member of the Polish Academy of Sciences, a vice-president of the Computer Science Committee of the Polish Academy of Sciences and a head of the panel: “Computer Methods in Science” of the Polish Research Council. He is the expert of the State Accreditation Committee. He has served on the program committees for several international conferences on operations research and is a regular reviewer for a number of prestigious journals and conferences. He is an Associated Editor for International Journal of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Decision Making in Manufacturing and Services, Recent Patents on Computer Science and Book Series Computational Intelligence and its Applications.
For further information please head the Wroclaw University of Technology website.
Sunday, 16 November 2008
PhD Scholarship: International Postgraduate Research Scholarship/University of Queensland International Research Tuition Awards (IPRS/UQIRTA)
The IPRS program enables outstanding international students to undertake an MPhil or PhD in areas of research strength at Australian universities and gain experience with leading Australian researchers. Funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research (DIISR), the IPRS provides for the tuition fees of scholarship holders and standard Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for them and their accompanying dependants. Scholarships are available for a period of two years for an MPhil or three years for a PhD, with a possible extension where academic circumstances merit. IPRS awardees may also be offered a University of Queensland Research Scholarship (UQRS).
UQ Research Scholarships (UQRS) provide a living allowance to international research higher degree (RHD) candidates who have been offered a place at UQ and have been approved for tuition fee support. UQRS are awarded via a competitive, merit-based process which establishes high calibre candidates whose research interest and ability best match the needs of the UQ school or institute.
UQRS are offered to international RHD candidates commencing their candidature via merit criteria that include:
-academic merit,
-research performance/potential, and
-relevance to UQ Research Strength
For more information head to the University of Queensland Scholarships Site.
UQ Research Scholarships (UQRS) provide a living allowance to international research higher degree (RHD) candidates who have been offered a place at UQ and have been approved for tuition fee support. UQRS are awarded via a competitive, merit-based process which establishes high calibre candidates whose research interest and ability best match the needs of the UQ school or institute.
UQRS are offered to international RHD candidates commencing their candidature via merit criteria that include:
-academic merit,
-research performance/potential, and
-relevance to UQ Research Strength
For more information head to the University of Queensland Scholarships Site.
University Spotlight: Freie Universität Berlin
Freie Universität Berlin is a leading research institution. It is one of nine German universities that met with success in all three funding lines in the federal and state Excellence Initiative, thereby receiving additional funding for its institutional future development strategy. Freie Universität can thus take its place as an “International Network university” in the global competition among universities. Its future development strategy is focused around three strategic 
centers: for cluster development, for international exchange, and for graduate studies. Development and assessment of research projects takes place within three major focus areas – area studies, humanities, and life sciences. Freie Universität has various offices abroad, e.g., in New York, Beijing, and Moscow, that provide a platform for international cooperation. The university’s performance in the Excellence Initiative has provided funding for several new graduate schools and transdisciplinary research clusters.
The broadest spectrum of research in the humanities in Germany is to be found at Freie Universität under the auspices of the Dahlem Humanities Center. One unique feature is the large number of specialized subjects such as Byzantine Studies and Jewish Studies. The Center for Area Studies clusters the regional studies research on North and Latin America, Eastern Europe, East Asia, the Middle East, and individual European countries. Governance research is one highlight of the Otto Suhr Institute, one of the most renowned political science institutes in Europe. In the natural sciences, major focus is placed on the life sciences and Earth sciences, as well as physics, mathematics, and computer science. The broad spectrum also includes the Department of Veterinary Medicine – one of five veterinary schools in Germany – as well as the largest pharmaceutical educational institution in Germany. Charité
University Medicine Berlin, a joint corporation of Freie Universität and Humboldt-Universität, is the largest medical school in Europe.
Researchers at Freie Universität Berlin regularly open their institutes, labs, and libraries to the public, for example, during the Long Night of the Sciences or open house days. The Center for Cooperation with Schools organizes various activities open to schoolchildren. These include a Children’s University and a Summer University with many activities in the special labs for school students, NatLab and PhysLab. There are many lectures on a variety of subjects open to the public. The Guest Auditor Program is also attractive to the older generation. Politicians, foreign guests of state, and ambassadors, as well as representatives from business and commerce are all popular visitors at Freie Universität. The university confers honorary doctorates on outstanding personalities from Germany and abroad: These include the former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan; the Nobel Prize winners in Literature, Orhan Pamuk and Günter Grass; the literary critic, Marcel Reich-Ranicki, and the author Salman Rushdie.
The general career preparation courses in the bachelor degree programs and the Career Service of Freie Universität help to prepare students for their careers. In
addition, Freie Universität encourages the formation of companies by its students, graduates, and faculty. A center for company founders has four different locations where it can offer young entrepreneurs office space as well as advice and support during their start-up phase. Numerous successful companies have emerged from the university environment, e.g., in information technology, the service sector, or science. Freie Universität has been the recipient of various employer awards, including awards for the introduction of environmental-protection measures and, two times in succession, the “Total E-Quality Award” for exemplary management of human resources facilitating equal opportunities. Freie Universität was the first university in Berlin to be certified as a family-friendly university; a family office supports employees and students in balancing the responsibilities of family and professional life.
For more information head to the University Website.
centers: for cluster development, for international exchange, and for graduate studies. Development and assessment of research projects takes place within three major focus areas – area studies, humanities, and life sciences. Freie Universität has various offices abroad, e.g., in New York, Beijing, and Moscow, that provide a platform for international cooperation. The university’s performance in the Excellence Initiative has provided funding for several new graduate schools and transdisciplinary research clusters.The broadest spectrum of research in the humanities in Germany is to be found at Freie Universität under the auspices of the Dahlem Humanities Center. One unique feature is the large number of specialized subjects such as Byzantine Studies and Jewish Studies. The Center for Area Studies clusters the regional studies research on North and Latin America, Eastern Europe, East Asia, the Middle East, and individual European countries. Governance research is one highlight of the Otto Suhr Institute, one of the most renowned political science institutes in Europe. In the natural sciences, major focus is placed on the life sciences and Earth sciences, as well as physics, mathematics, and computer science. The broad spectrum also includes the Department of Veterinary Medicine – one of five veterinary schools in Germany – as well as the largest pharmaceutical educational institution in Germany. Charité
University Medicine Berlin, a joint corporation of Freie Universität and Humboldt-Universität, is the largest medical school in Europe.Researchers at Freie Universität Berlin regularly open their institutes, labs, and libraries to the public, for example, during the Long Night of the Sciences or open house days. The Center for Cooperation with Schools organizes various activities open to schoolchildren. These include a Children’s University and a Summer University with many activities in the special labs for school students, NatLab and PhysLab. There are many lectures on a variety of subjects open to the public. The Guest Auditor Program is also attractive to the older generation. Politicians, foreign guests of state, and ambassadors, as well as representatives from business and commerce are all popular visitors at Freie Universität. The university confers honorary doctorates on outstanding personalities from Germany and abroad: These include the former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan; the Nobel Prize winners in Literature, Orhan Pamuk and Günter Grass; the literary critic, Marcel Reich-Ranicki, and the author Salman Rushdie.
The general career preparation courses in the bachelor degree programs and the Career Service of Freie Universität help to prepare students for their careers. In
addition, Freie Universität encourages the formation of companies by its students, graduates, and faculty. A center for company founders has four different locations where it can offer young entrepreneurs office space as well as advice and support during their start-up phase. Numerous successful companies have emerged from the university environment, e.g., in information technology, the service sector, or science. Freie Universität has been the recipient of various employer awards, including awards for the introduction of environmental-protection measures and, two times in succession, the “Total E-Quality Award” for exemplary management of human resources facilitating equal opportunities. Freie Universität was the first university in Berlin to be certified as a family-friendly university; a family office supports employees and students in balancing the responsibilities of family and professional life.For more information head to the University Website.
Professor of the day- Professor Vladimir Bajic, Computational Bioscience, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia
Dr. Vladimir Bajic has been appointed Director of the Computational Bioscience Research Center and Professor of Applied Mathematics and Computational Science in the Mathematical and Computer Sciences and Engineering Division at KAUST. He will assume his duties full time in May 2009.
Dr. Bajic is a Professor of Bioinformatics, and Acting and Deputy Director of the South African National Bioinformatics Institute (SANBI) at the University of the Western Cape. He has previously worked in industry and has extensive experience with academic research institutions across the globe, including Vinca Nuclear Science Institute in Yugoslavia and the Institute for Infocomm Research in Singapore, where he was Head of the Knowledge Extraction Laboratory. Across various fields, he has authored or co-authored more than 360 research publications, edited volumes, software products and invention disclosures. His work in modeling and artificial intelligence has resulted in several promoter recognition tools and knowledge discovery platforms that are currently commercial products. Thirty master’s and doctoral students have graduated under his supervision.
Dr. Bajic is an elected member of the Academy of Nonlinear Sciences (Russia), has been a registered Professional Engineer in South Africa, and was awarded the only South African Research Chair in Bioinformatics and Human Health. He has served on the editorial boards of several international journals and currently serves on the Advisory Boards of a number of research institutes. He was an elected role model of the Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R), Singapore, in 2002.
Dr. Bajic earned a graduate degree in Electrical Engineering and a master’s degree of Electrical Engineering Sciences from the University of Belgrade, Serbia, followed by a doctorate of Engineering Sciences in Electrical Engineering from the University of Zagreb, Croatia.
For further information please head to the Official King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) website.
Dr. Bajic is a Professor of Bioinformatics, and Acting and Deputy Director of the South African National Bioinformatics Institute (SANBI) at the University of the Western Cape. He has previously worked in industry and has extensive experience with academic research institutions across the globe, including Vinca Nuclear Science Institute in Yugoslavia and the Institute for Infocomm Research in Singapore, where he was Head of the Knowledge Extraction Laboratory. Across various fields, he has authored or co-authored more than 360 research publications, edited volumes, software products and invention disclosures. His work in modeling and artificial intelligence has resulted in several promoter recognition tools and knowledge discovery platforms that are currently commercial products. Thirty master’s and doctoral students have graduated under his supervision.
Dr. Bajic is an elected member of the Academy of Nonlinear Sciences (Russia), has been a registered Professional Engineer in South Africa, and was awarded the only South African Research Chair in Bioinformatics and Human Health. He has served on the editorial boards of several international journals and currently serves on the Advisory Boards of a number of research institutes. He was an elected role model of the Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R), Singapore, in 2002.
Dr. Bajic earned a graduate degree in Electrical Engineering and a master’s degree of Electrical Engineering Sciences from the University of Belgrade, Serbia, followed by a doctorate of Engineering Sciences in Electrical Engineering from the University of Zagreb, Croatia.
For further information please head to the Official King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) website.
University Spotlight: University of Tokyo
The University of Tokyo was established in 1877 as the first national university in Japan. As a leading research university, the University of Tokyo offers courses in essentially all academic disciplines at both undergraduate and graduate levels and conducts research across the full spectrum of academic activity. The university aims to provide its students with a rich and varied academic environment that ensures opportunities for both intellectual development and the acquisition of professional knowledge and skills.
The University of Tokyo has a faculty of over 4,000 and a total enrollment of about 29,000, evenly divided between undergraduate and graduate students. As of 2006 there were 2,269 international students, and over 2,700 foreign researchers come annually to the university for both short and extended visits. The University of Tokyo is known for the excellence of its faculty and students and ever since its foundation many of its graduates have gone on to become leaders in government, business, and the academic world.
The University of Tokyo is composed of three campuses: Hongo, Komaba, and Kashiwa. In addition, some University of Tokyo facilities are situated in other parts of both Tokyo and the country. The main campus of the university is located in Hongo Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo and occupies about 56 hectares of the former Kaga Yashiki, the Tokyo
estate of a major feudal lord. Parts of the seventeenth century landscaping of the original estate have been preserved to provide greenery and open space. The campus is graced by the Kaga Estate's celebrated Akamon, or Red Gate, which dates from 1827 and has been designated as an 'Important Cultural Property' by the Japanese Government. Most of the faculties, graduate schools, and research institutes of the university are located on the Hongo Campus.
The University of Tokyo places strong emphasis on cooperation and links at all levels of research and education interfaculty, interdisciplinary, and with other universities both within Japan and abroad and is working hard to establish strong local and global research and education networks. As of May 2007 students and academics from the university take part in 277 official exchange programs and research collaboration agreements with over 200 institutions in 47 countries, and each year many come to the University of Tokyo as part of these exchanges. In April 2005 the university opened its first university-wide overseas liaison office in Beijing, signaling the start of a new phase in efforts to deepen and strengthen ties with Asia and the world.
The University of Tokyo currently has approximately 2,400 international students from around 100 countries, who are passionately engaged in the pursuit of studies and research.
For more information head to the University of Tokyo site.
The University of Tokyo has a faculty of over 4,000 and a total enrollment of about 29,000, evenly divided between undergraduate and graduate students. As of 2006 there were 2,269 international students, and over 2,700 foreign researchers come annually to the university for both short and extended visits. The University of Tokyo is known for the excellence of its faculty and students and ever since its foundation many of its graduates have gone on to become leaders in government, business, and the academic world.
The University of Tokyo is composed of three campuses: Hongo, Komaba, and Kashiwa. In addition, some University of Tokyo facilities are situated in other parts of both Tokyo and the country. The main campus of the university is located in Hongo Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo and occupies about 56 hectares of the former Kaga Yashiki, the Tokyo
estate of a major feudal lord. Parts of the seventeenth century landscaping of the original estate have been preserved to provide greenery and open space. The campus is graced by the Kaga Estate's celebrated Akamon, or Red Gate, which dates from 1827 and has been designated as an 'Important Cultural Property' by the Japanese Government. Most of the faculties, graduate schools, and research institutes of the university are located on the Hongo Campus.The University of Tokyo places strong emphasis on cooperation and links at all levels of research and education interfaculty, interdisciplinary, and with other universities both within Japan and abroad and is working hard to establish strong local and global research and education networks. As of May 2007 students and academics from the university take part in 277 official exchange programs and research collaboration agreements with over 200 institutions in 47 countries, and each year many come to the University of Tokyo as part of these exchanges. In April 2005 the university opened its first university-wide overseas liaison office in Beijing, signaling the start of a new phase in efforts to deepen and strengthen ties with Asia and the world.
The University of Tokyo currently has approximately 2,400 international students from around 100 countries, who are passionately engaged in the pursuit of studies and research.
For more information head to the University of Tokyo site.
Commercial Research: ApaTech
ApaTech is a world leader in synthetic bone graft technologies. Their mission is to provide surgeons with superior, proprietary, bone graft solutions, helping them improve clinical outcomes and patient quality of life.
ApaTech was formed in 2001 with the rights to bone materials research and IP from London and Cambridge Universities. The company retains pipeline agreements with founding inventors, including Professor William Bonfield, CBE and Queen Mary University of London. CE Mark and 510K clearance for its first bone graft substitute ApaPore and for Actifuse, a new class of bone graft material that combines osteoconductive and osteo-stimulatory activities, in a wide range of orthopaedic and spinal applications.
Actifuse is being used in Europe, the United States and Australasia for spinal fusions, bone tumor void filling, fractures and including use in the spine.*
The HQ and manufacturing facility are based in Elstree (Northwest London) England, with the U.S. operations located in Foxborough, MA, in the greater Boston area.
ApaTech's technology is based on initial research to engineer the optimum structure and chemistry for a safe, effective bone graft material that closely approximates natural bone, thus providing an osteoconductive scaffold for new bone growth. This led to the introduction of ApaPore in a range of tightly controlled porosities that provide different properties tailored to differing surgical applications.
This research has been extended to examine the effect of novel chemical formulations of calcium phosphate, the basis of all ceramic synthetic bone graft substitutes, on bone growth. This resulted in a new class of bone graft substitute, based on silicated calcium phosphate, called Actifuse. The company believes it combines the optimal scaffold and surface chemistry to facilitate fast and sustained bone ingrowth, since Actifuse combines osteoconductive and osteo-stimulatory activities.
In Actifuse, phosphate groups have been selectively replaced by silicate groups. This creates a material that, in addition to the clinically proven interconnected macro and microporous structural properties of ApaPore, enhances the deposition and function of the proteins involved in bone growth, thus stimulating rapid formation of bone and improving the subsequent organization and strength of the graft/host bone composite structure. Unlike a number of traditional calcium phosphate based products, Actifuse is steadily and predictably remodeled by the host biology over time, ensuring that sufficient conductive scaffold remains for the duration of new bone growth and its subsequent maturation.
ApaTech is committed to fully demonstrating the clinical superiority of its technology and has a range of comparator clinical studies ongoing in multiple European countries and the USA. In particular Actifuse is being tested against the 'gold standard' bone graft material, autograft bone, rhBMPs and against other approaches.
Fot further information please visit the company website.
ApaTech was formed in 2001 with the rights to bone materials research and IP from London and Cambridge Universities. The company retains pipeline agreements with founding inventors, including Professor William Bonfield, CBE and Queen Mary University of London. CE Mark and 510K clearance for its first bone graft substitute ApaPore and for Actifuse, a new class of bone graft material that combines osteoconductive and osteo-stimulatory activities, in a wide range of orthopaedic and spinal applications.
Actifuse is being used in Europe, the United States and Australasia for spinal fusions, bone tumor void filling, fractures and including use in the spine.*
The HQ and manufacturing facility are based in Elstree (Northwest London) England, with the U.S. operations located in Foxborough, MA, in the greater Boston area.
ApaTech's technology is based on initial research to engineer the optimum structure and chemistry for a safe, effective bone graft material that closely approximates natural bone, thus providing an osteoconductive scaffold for new bone growth. This led to the introduction of ApaPore in a range of tightly controlled porosities that provide different properties tailored to differing surgical applications.
This research has been extended to examine the effect of novel chemical formulations of calcium phosphate, the basis of all ceramic synthetic bone graft substitutes, on bone growth. This resulted in a new class of bone graft substitute, based on silicated calcium phosphate, called Actifuse. The company believes it combines the optimal scaffold and surface chemistry to facilitate fast and sustained bone ingrowth, since Actifuse combines osteoconductive and osteo-stimulatory activities.
In Actifuse, phosphate groups have been selectively replaced by silicate groups. This creates a material that, in addition to the clinically proven interconnected macro and microporous structural properties of ApaPore, enhances the deposition and function of the proteins involved in bone growth, thus stimulating rapid formation of bone and improving the subsequent organization and strength of the graft/host bone composite structure. Unlike a number of traditional calcium phosphate based products, Actifuse is steadily and predictably remodeled by the host biology over time, ensuring that sufficient conductive scaffold remains for the duration of new bone growth and its subsequent maturation.
ApaTech is committed to fully demonstrating the clinical superiority of its technology and has a range of comparator clinical studies ongoing in multiple European countries and the USA. In particular Actifuse is being tested against the 'gold standard' bone graft material, autograft bone, rhBMPs and against other approaches.
Fot further information please visit the company website.
PhD Scholarships: Overseas Research Student Awards Scheme (ORSAS)
ORSAS awards offer international postgraduate students the opportunity to carry out a broad range of research at well-established UK academic institutions of worldwide recognition. ORSAS award holders make a valuable contribution, not only to the British research base, but also to economic, scientific, educational and other aspects of life in their own country. Meanwhile, their involvement in British academic life and the wider cultural experiences offered in the UK contribute to their personal development and can help increase their future opportunities.
ORSAS awards provide funding to pay the difference between the international student tuition fees and the home/EU student tuition fees charged by the academic institution that the student attends. ORSAS awards do not cover the home/EU fee element, maintenance or travel expenses.
The only two criteria for winning an award are: (1) academic ability, and (2) research potential. Other factors, such as: proposed field of study, financial status, nationality, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion/belief, marital status or any other inappropriate distinctions, will not be taken into account.
Please note that to be eligible to apply for an ORS award
-you must be liable for the overseas fee
-you must be of outstanding merit and research potential
-you must not have already been awarded a PhD or equivalent degree
-you must not have held an ORS award before the Department or School in which you wish to study must support your application
ORSAS supports only full-time postgraduate research students. If you are intending to take an undergraduate or taught postgraduate course you will not receive an ORS award.
If you are eligible to apply for an award, the first step is to identify the university or college in which you would like to study.
For further information please visit the ORSAS website.
ORSAS awards provide funding to pay the difference between the international student tuition fees and the home/EU student tuition fees charged by the academic institution that the student attends. ORSAS awards do not cover the home/EU fee element, maintenance or travel expenses.
The only two criteria for winning an award are: (1) academic ability, and (2) research potential. Other factors, such as: proposed field of study, financial status, nationality, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion/belief, marital status or any other inappropriate distinctions, will not be taken into account.
Please note that to be eligible to apply for an ORS award
-you must be liable for the overseas fee
-you must be of outstanding merit and research potential
-you must not have already been awarded a PhD or equivalent degree
-you must not have held an ORS award before the Department or School in which you wish to study must support your application
ORSAS supports only full-time postgraduate research students. If you are intending to take an undergraduate or taught postgraduate course you will not receive an ORS award.
If you are eligible to apply for an award, the first step is to identify the university or college in which you would like to study.
For further information please visit the ORSAS website.
Saturday, 15 November 2008
Professor of the day- Professor John Wallace, Biochemistry, University of Adelaide
Professor John Wallace holds a Personal Chair in Biochemistry in the School of Molecular & Biomedical Science at the University of Adelaide , Australia. His research interests include the molecular and structural biology of biotin-dependent enzymes, biotin 
protein ligase, and the insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), their receptors and binding proteins.
John is the author of 206 primary research papers, reviews and book chapters on pyruvate carboxylase, biotin protein ligase, the IGFs, their receptors and binding proteins, and other bioactive peptides. He is an inventor on 2 granted international patents and 2 provisional patents pending. Since 1970, John has supervised or co-supervised 46 Ph.D. students and 59 B.Sc. Honours to the successful completion of their degrees.
John received his Honours degree in Agricultural Science in 1960 and his PhD in 1965 from The University of Sydney. He was an 1851 Scholar in the Biochemistry Dept, Oxford University, 1965-66, 3 years at Case‑Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, and returned to Australia in 1969 as a Queen Elizabeth II Fellow to the Biochemistry Dept, University of Adelaide where he became a Faculty member.
John was awarded the 1986 LKB Medal and 2000 Lemberg Medal by the Australian Society for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, elected ASBMB President 2003-04, and was awarded the 2004 Leach Medal by the Lorne Protein Conference.
For more information please follow the link to The University of Adelaide website.
protein ligase, and the insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), their receptors and binding proteins.John is the author of 206 primary research papers, reviews and book chapters on pyruvate carboxylase, biotin protein ligase, the IGFs, their receptors and binding proteins, and other bioactive peptides. He is an inventor on 2 granted international patents and 2 provisional patents pending. Since 1970, John has supervised or co-supervised 46 Ph.D. students and 59 B.Sc. Honours to the successful completion of their degrees.
John received his Honours degree in Agricultural Science in 1960 and his PhD in 1965 from The University of Sydney. He was an 1851 Scholar in the Biochemistry Dept, Oxford University, 1965-66, 3 years at Case‑Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, and returned to Australia in 1969 as a Queen Elizabeth II Fellow to the Biochemistry Dept, University of Adelaide where he became a Faculty member.
John was awarded the 1986 LKB Medal and 2000 Lemberg Medal by the Australian Society for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, elected ASBMB President 2003-04, and was awarded the 2004 Leach Medal by the Lorne Protein Conference.
For more information please follow the link to The University of Adelaide website.
Friday, 14 November 2008
Professor of the Day- Professor Jonathan Green, Psychiatry, University of Manchester
Professor Jonathan Green did his general medical training in Cambridge and University College London, then trained in Paediatrics and Developmental Paediatrics at Queen Elizabeth Hospital for Children, Nuffield Hearing and Speech centre and the Thomas Coram Foundation; before Child Psychiatry in Oxford and Manchester.
He has a long standing clinical and research interest in autistic spectrum disorders. He runs a Regional Specialist Social Development Clinic undertaking assessment and treatment innovation with ASD and other impairments of social development.
He co-led the UK’s first study in to ICD Asperger Syndrome and has published on social and language development in autism, co-morbidity and treatment intervention. Currently Professor Green leads a number of clinical trials into child and adolescent mental health interventions; including the MRC Preschool Autism Communication Trial (PACT), which is a large early intervention RCT for autism. His other interests are in the methodology of treatment trials, in which he works in an MRC study to develop better methods of measurement and causal analysis; therapeutic alliance and treatment process, in which he investigates non specific aspects of treatment effectiveness; and developmental studies into the consequences of early parent child relationships for child social development.
He serves on the Editorial Boards of Advances in Psychiatric Treatment and European Journal of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, and on the NW advisory Board of the Mental Health Research Network.
For more information please head to the University of Manchester, School of Medicine website.
He has a long standing clinical and research interest in autistic spectrum disorders. He runs a Regional Specialist Social Development Clinic undertaking assessment and treatment innovation with ASD and other impairments of social development.
He co-led the UK’s first study in to ICD Asperger Syndrome and has published on social and language development in autism, co-morbidity and treatment intervention. Currently Professor Green leads a number of clinical trials into child and adolescent mental health interventions; including the MRC Preschool Autism Communication Trial (PACT), which is a large early intervention RCT for autism. His other interests are in the methodology of treatment trials, in which he works in an MRC study to develop better methods of measurement and causal analysis; therapeutic alliance and treatment process, in which he investigates non specific aspects of treatment effectiveness; and developmental studies into the consequences of early parent child relationships for child social development.
He serves on the Editorial Boards of Advances in Psychiatric Treatment and European Journal of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, and on the NW advisory Board of the Mental Health Research Network.
For more information please head to the University of Manchester, School of Medicine website.
Thursday, 13 November 2008
Commercial Research: BLIS Technologies, New Zealand
BLIS Technologies was formed in June 2000 to pursue the commercialisation of BLIS (bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances). These are antibacterial peptides or proteins that are able to kill or control the growth of other closely related bacteria.
BLIS Technologies acquired from Otago University (Dunedin) of New Zealand, the extensive collection of BLIS producing organisms gathered by Microbiologist Professor John Tagg over a 20 year period. The Company has been conducting research focusing on those BLIS producing organisms which have the most immediate market potential. One such substance which the Company developed for a market launch, is from a strain of micro-organism called Streptococcus salivarius which produces an antibacterial protein named Salivaricin B. Salivaricin B is a naturally occurring BLIS and helps provide protection against infection by Streptococcus pyogenes. Streptococcus pyogenes is the most common cause of bacterial sore throats (strep throat), and also the cause of rarer but more serious illnesses such as scarlet fever and rheumatic fever.
The key to the development of these preventative treatments has been the ability to identify within the human population, those strains of naturally occurring flora that provide protection to the human host or body by producing a potent bacteriocin (BLIS), that in turn targets and kills specific harmful bacteria. Then to DNA sequence those strains and incorporate them in a stable product format and treatment regime that successfully colonises the desired strain in the human host or body. It is in these areas that Professor Tagg, his research team and BLIS Technologies have focused recent research and development efforts, leading to the international patent application on Streptococcus salivarius strains K12 and K30 and more recent patents in the area of dental caries prevention and ear infection prevention.
The Company has an extensive collection of BLIS producing organisms, providing a huge potential for the development of many new products for use in the control of undesirable bacterial infections.
The Company's research effort is overseen by Dr Chris Chilcott, with consultancy services provided by Professor John Tagg at the University of Otago.
Key areas of research include:
• Product support for existing products
• Use of BLIS Streptococcus salivarius K12 in yoghurt preparations
• Dental caries control
• Ear infections - clinical studies are underway with the Dunedin Hospital ENT Department on the use of a paediatric formulation of BLIS K12 for the prevention of chronic ear infections
• Tonsillitis - clinical studies are ongoing with the Dunedin Hospital ENT Department on the use of a paediatric formulation of BLIS K12 for the prevention of recurring tonsillitis infections.
• Skin infections (including acne) -a potential candidate organism displaying good in vitro properties has been identified and in addition to medical outcomes, the cosmetic uses of such products are promising.
• Peptides produced by these strains of BLIS producing organisms have promise as templates for the design of new antibiotics.
BLIS Technologies listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange on 30 July 2001.
For more information on BLIS Technologies, please vist the BLIS Technologies website.
BLIS Technologies acquired from Otago University (Dunedin) of New Zealand, the extensive collection of BLIS producing organisms gathered by Microbiologist Professor John Tagg over a 20 year period. The Company has been conducting research focusing on those BLIS producing organisms which have the most immediate market potential. One such substance which the Company developed for a market launch, is from a strain of micro-organism called Streptococcus salivarius which produces an antibacterial protein named Salivaricin B. Salivaricin B is a naturally occurring BLIS and helps provide protection against infection by Streptococcus pyogenes. Streptococcus pyogenes is the most common cause of bacterial sore throats (strep throat), and also the cause of rarer but more serious illnesses such as scarlet fever and rheumatic fever.
The key to the development of these preventative treatments has been the ability to identify within the human population, those strains of naturally occurring flora that provide protection to the human host or body by producing a potent bacteriocin (BLIS), that in turn targets and kills specific harmful bacteria. Then to DNA sequence those strains and incorporate them in a stable product format and treatment regime that successfully colonises the desired strain in the human host or body. It is in these areas that Professor Tagg, his research team and BLIS Technologies have focused recent research and development efforts, leading to the international patent application on Streptococcus salivarius strains K12 and K30 and more recent patents in the area of dental caries prevention and ear infection prevention.
The Company has an extensive collection of BLIS producing organisms, providing a huge potential for the development of many new products for use in the control of undesirable bacterial infections.
The Company's research effort is overseen by Dr Chris Chilcott, with consultancy services provided by Professor John Tagg at the University of Otago.
Key areas of research include:
• Product support for existing products
• Use of BLIS Streptococcus salivarius K12 in yoghurt preparations
• Dental caries control
• Ear infections - clinical studies are underway with the Dunedin Hospital ENT Department on the use of a paediatric formulation of BLIS K12 for the prevention of chronic ear infections
• Tonsillitis - clinical studies are ongoing with the Dunedin Hospital ENT Department on the use of a paediatric formulation of BLIS K12 for the prevention of recurring tonsillitis infections.
• Skin infections (including acne) -a potential candidate organism displaying good in vitro properties has been identified and in addition to medical outcomes, the cosmetic uses of such products are promising.
• Peptides produced by these strains of BLIS producing organisms have promise as templates for the design of new antibiotics.
BLIS Technologies listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange on 30 July 2001.
For more information on BLIS Technologies, please vist the BLIS Technologies website.
University Spotlight- Peking University, China
Peking University is a comprehensive and National key university. The campus, known as "Yan Yuan"-- the gardens of Yan, is situated at the northeast of the Haidian District at the western suburbs of Beijing. It stands near the Yuan Ming Gardens and the Summer Palace.
At present, Peking University has over 4,574 teachers, 2,691 of whom are full or associate Professors. At present the University has over 46,000 students including around 15,000 undergraduates, about 12,000 postgraduates and about 19,000 students in night or correspondence programs.
The University consists of 30 colleges and 12 departments, with 93 specialties for undergraduates,2 specialties for the second Bachelor's degree, 199 specialties for Master candidates and 173 specialties for Doctoral candidates.
At present, Peking university has 216 research institutes and research centres, and there are 2 national engineering research centres, 81 key national disciplines, 12 national key laboratories.
The Center for Pharmaceutical Information and Engineering Research engages in scientific research and educational activities in the areas of pharmaceutical engineering management, drug clinical data management and analysis, in order to teach practical knowledge and to provide science-based decision-making support for the pharmaceutical industry and government regulatory agencies, as well as to provide quality drug usage information to the public.In collaboration with the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), European Medicines Agency (EMEA), Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products (Swissmedic), the Chinese State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) and the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE), the center has co-organized several training and research activities on cGMP. These were the first public trainings in China, officially co-sponsored by the US, EU and Swiss regulatory agencies.
The China Center for Economic Research (CCER) at Peking University was founded in August 1994 and is an experiment in new methods of research and education in China. CCER has combined its domestic and international resources in order to bring together a group of well-trained scholars in the fields of economics and management to make contributions to education and research at Peking University, foster economic reform and development in China, and contribute to the development of
modern economic and management theory. The Center continues Peking University's tradition of academic excellence in striving to creating a world-class research and educational institution. The Center's unwavering dedication to scientific research, educational reform, as well as international exchange and cooperation has made it a first among Chinese research institutes and one of the most famous policy consulting bodies in the country.
The Peking University is well-known for its contribution to modern Chinese literature, poetry and art, and for the publications of groundbreaking modern Chinese books such as Hong Zicheng's 'A History of Contemporary Chinese Literature'. The Peking University has been participating in many art-research projects, such as the Center for the Art of East Asia (CAEA) with the University of Chicago, and developing the "Peking University, Deptartment of Digital Art and Design" with UNESCO. The Peking University also partners with the Stanford University for its Asian cultural studies programs such as "The Stanford Program in Beijing" and "The Stanford-Peking University Summer Program", which encourages Stanford students interested in exploring Chinese language, history, culture, and society to study on campus at Peking University.
Peking University has one of the largest pools of international students in China.
The dorms for international students are located at "Shao Yuan" (Shao Garden). Every year, Peking University has approximately 2,000 international students studying on campus. Its international students are made up of students from most countries in the world including most of Western Europe, North America, South America, all parts of Asia, Australia as well as many countries in Africa.
Form more information, please visit the Peking Univeristy Official Site
At present, Peking University has over 4,574 teachers, 2,691 of whom are full or associate Professors. At present the University has over 46,000 students including around 15,000 undergraduates, about 12,000 postgraduates and about 19,000 students in night or correspondence programs.
The University consists of 30 colleges and 12 departments, with 93 specialties for undergraduates,2 specialties for the second Bachelor's degree, 199 specialties for Master candidates and 173 specialties for Doctoral candidates.
At present, Peking university has 216 research institutes and research centres, and there are 2 national engineering research centres, 81 key national disciplines, 12 national key laboratories.
The Center for Pharmaceutical Information and Engineering Research engages in scientific research and educational activities in the areas of pharmaceutical engineering management, drug clinical data management and analysis, in order to teach practical knowledge and to provide science-based decision-making support for the pharmaceutical industry and government regulatory agencies, as well as to provide quality drug usage information to the public.In collaboration with the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), European Medicines Agency (EMEA), Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products (Swissmedic), the Chinese State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) and the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE), the center has co-organized several training and research activities on cGMP. These were the first public trainings in China, officially co-sponsored by the US, EU and Swiss regulatory agencies.
The China Center for Economic Research (CCER) at Peking University was founded in August 1994 and is an experiment in new methods of research and education in China. CCER has combined its domestic and international resources in order to bring together a group of well-trained scholars in the fields of economics and management to make contributions to education and research at Peking University, foster economic reform and development in China, and contribute to the development of
modern economic and management theory. The Center continues Peking University's tradition of academic excellence in striving to creating a world-class research and educational institution. The Center's unwavering dedication to scientific research, educational reform, as well as international exchange and cooperation has made it a first among Chinese research institutes and one of the most famous policy consulting bodies in the country.The Peking University is well-known for its contribution to modern Chinese literature, poetry and art, and for the publications of groundbreaking modern Chinese books such as Hong Zicheng's 'A History of Contemporary Chinese Literature'. The Peking University has been participating in many art-research projects, such as the Center for the Art of East Asia (CAEA) with the University of Chicago, and developing the "Peking University, Deptartment of Digital Art and Design" with UNESCO. The Peking University also partners with the Stanford University for its Asian cultural studies programs such as "The Stanford Program in Beijing" and "The Stanford-Peking University Summer Program", which encourages Stanford students interested in exploring Chinese language, history, culture, and society to study on campus at Peking University.
Peking University has one of the largest pools of international students in China.
The dorms for international students are located at "Shao Yuan" (Shao Garden). Every year, Peking University has approximately 2,000 international students studying on campus. Its international students are made up of students from most countries in the world including most of Western Europe, North America, South America, all parts of Asia, Australia as well as many countries in Africa.Form more information, please visit the Peking Univeristy Official Site
Professor of the Day- Professor Wing Suen, Economics, University of Hong Kong
Wing Suen was educated at the University of Hong Kong. He obtained his Ph.D. at the University of Washington. After doing post-doctoral research at the University of 
Chicago, he returned to his alma mater in 1989 and is now Chair of Economics at the School of Economics and Finance. He had also held research or teaching positions at Simon Fraser University, Harvard University, and the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Wing's research interests center around applied microeconomic theory. He has done some work on efficiency and early contracting in two-sided matching markets. One of his current research areas looks at the transmission of information across individuals with divergent beliefs and motives. An application that is close to the heart of the academician is the issue of grade inflation in higher education. He argues that the college professor, in playing the dual role of advocate and judge for his students, is trapped into an inefficient equilibrium in which grades are too high.
Another example of this line of work explores the structure of social networks. Individuals with opposing viewpoints tend to believe that the other party is uninformed or misinformed. If people form social ties in order to obtain more information, they will rationally choose to be associated with like-minded peers. Will there be an equilibrium in which people with different viewpoints are segregated from one another? What are the consequences of this group formation process for the evolution of social beliefs?
Visit the University of Hong Kong's Faculty of Business and Economics site here
Chicago, he returned to his alma mater in 1989 and is now Chair of Economics at the School of Economics and Finance. He had also held research or teaching positions at Simon Fraser University, Harvard University, and the Chinese University of Hong Kong.Wing's research interests center around applied microeconomic theory. He has done some work on efficiency and early contracting in two-sided matching markets. One of his current research areas looks at the transmission of information across individuals with divergent beliefs and motives. An application that is close to the heart of the academician is the issue of grade inflation in higher education. He argues that the college professor, in playing the dual role of advocate and judge for his students, is trapped into an inefficient equilibrium in which grades are too high.
Another example of this line of work explores the structure of social networks. Individuals with opposing viewpoints tend to believe that the other party is uninformed or misinformed. If people form social ties in order to obtain more information, they will rationally choose to be associated with like-minded peers. Will there be an equilibrium in which people with different viewpoints are segregated from one another? What are the consequences of this group formation process for the evolution of social beliefs?
Visit the University of Hong Kong's Faculty of Business and Economics site here
University Spotlight- University of Queensland, Australia
The University of Queensland (UQ) is one of Australia's leading education and research organisations in Australia. With its main campus based in the city of Brisbane on Australia's east coast, UQ is home to over 26,000 undergraduate students and over 10,000 postgraduate students.
UQ is made up of 7 faculties; Arts, Biological and Chemical Sciences, Business-Economics-Law, Engineering-Physical Sciences-Architecture, Health Sciences, Natural Resources-Agriculture-Veterinary Science, and Social and Behavioural Sciences.
In addition to the above faculties, UQ is home to many world leading research centres through joint and collaborative ventures.
The Diamantina Institute for Cancer, Immunology, and Metabolic Science is based at Brisbane's Princess Alexandra Hospital and focus their efforts at turning their scientific discoveries into better treatments for diseases like cancer, diabetes, obesity, arthritis and osteoporosis. The centre is headed by Professor Ian Fraser who was named Australian of the Year in 1996 after his research groups completed clinical trials of a vaccine against the HPV virus which was 100% effective in preventing common cervical cancers.
The Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) is recognised nationally and internationally as one of Australia's leading centres for molecular bioscience research. The major focus of IMB's research is to understand the information contained in the genes and proteins of mammals and thereby to improve human and animal health through the development of new pharmaceuticals, cell therapies and diagnostics.
The National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology, or EnTox, is a Centre of excellence that addresses the need for national and international research into human environmental toxicology. Based at Coopers Plains, the major research themes of EnTox are to study the exposure, effects and mechanisms of toxicity of: a range of toxins including metals and metalloids such as cadmium and arsenic; natural toxins such as algal toxins and mycotoxins and anthropogenic pollutants including various persistent organic pollutants like dioxins and pesticides.
The University is a founding member of the national 'Group of Eight', an alliance of research-strong "sandstone" universities committed to ensuring that Australia has higher education institutions which are genuinely world class. It belongs also to the global 'Universitas 21 alliance'.
UQ is home to almost 7000 international students from over 113 countries, of which China, Singapore and the United States are represented the highest. The top three programs by enrolment are the Bachelor of Arts, Doctor of Philosophy, Bachelor of Science.
The University has 10 residential colleges catering for Australian and international students ranging in price from AU$11,100 up to AU$16,500 p.a (for about 36 weeks).
For more information on the University of Queensland, head to their Official Website.
UQ is made up of 7 faculties; Arts, Biological and Chemical Sciences, Business-Economics-Law, Engineering-Physical Sciences-Architecture, Health Sciences, Natural Resources-Agriculture-Veterinary Science, and Social and Behavioural Sciences.
In addition to the above faculties, UQ is home to many world leading research centres through joint and collaborative ventures.
The Diamantina Institute for Cancer, Immunology, and Metabolic Science is based at Brisbane's Princess Alexandra Hospital and focus their efforts at turning their scientific discoveries into better treatments for diseases like cancer, diabetes, obesity, arthritis and osteoporosis. The centre is headed by Professor Ian Fraser who was named Australian of the Year in 1996 after his research groups completed clinical trials of a vaccine against the HPV virus which was 100% effective in preventing common cervical cancers.
The Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) is recognised nationally and internationally as one of Australia's leading centres for molecular bioscience research. The major focus of IMB's research is to understand the information contained in the genes and proteins of mammals and thereby to improve human and animal health through the development of new pharmaceuticals, cell therapies and diagnostics.
The National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology, or EnTox, is a Centre of excellence that addresses the need for national and international research into human environmental toxicology. Based at Coopers Plains, the major research themes of EnTox are to study the exposure, effects and mechanisms of toxicity of: a range of toxins including metals and metalloids such as cadmium and arsenic; natural toxins such as algal toxins and mycotoxins and anthropogenic pollutants including various persistent organic pollutants like dioxins and pesticides.
The University is a founding member of the national 'Group of Eight', an alliance of research-strong "sandstone" universities committed to ensuring that Australia has higher education institutions which are genuinely world class. It belongs also to the global 'Universitas 21 alliance'.
UQ is home to almost 7000 international students from over 113 countries, of which China, Singapore and the United States are represented the highest. The top three programs by enrolment are the Bachelor of Arts, Doctor of Philosophy, Bachelor of Science.
The University has 10 residential colleges catering for Australian and international students ranging in price from AU$11,100 up to AU$16,500 p.a (for about 36 weeks).
For more information on the University of Queensland, head to their Official Website.
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