Staff: Rowella Garcia, Jennifer Griffin, Imani Tyus

Chair: Bill Craig

The meeting began with welcoming remarks by Dr. Bill Craig.

Approval of Minutes from May 10, 2005 Meeting - The minutes werwe approved as submitted.

Presentation: Challenges to development of oncology therapeutics:
What role will bio engineers play in solving the problem? – Dr. Laurie Phillips

Update on combination products –regulatory issues – Dr. Tony Ratcliffe

The FDA’s three key development roles are: Gatekeeper to the marketplace -- the new drug approval process; Cop on the beat or Enforcer – ensuring quality compliance via inspection and enforcement actions (including criminal charges); Sentinel of Safety Concerns – during development and post-approval

The problem is that totally new technology is automatically placed in Class III, but we can petition to take it out of Class III if you don’t think the new technology is “risky” Fran Abrams, Director of Team Internships Program of Corporate Affiliates Program, Jacobs School of Engineering

Recruitment of New IAB Members - Dr. Bill Craig

Rowella will send out list of companies from BIOCOM for the IAB members to determine if they have any associates at these companies in order to initiate contact. A membership drive to increase our board will be planned for 2006.

Reports System-wide Bioengineering Symposium and Bioengineering Faculty Recruitment - Dr. Shu Chien

The Multi-campus Research Unit entitled “Bioengineering Institute of California” is a consortium of the Bioengineering programs of the 10 University of California campuses. An annual System-wide Bioengineering Symposia was held on June 26-27, 2005 at the University of California, Santa Cruz. This symposium brought nearly 200 faculty, students and postgraduate researchers from all of the UC campuses. Roderick Pettigrew, the Director of National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) served as the keynote speaker. The program had a great emphasis on industry. The next symposium will be in June 2006 at the UCLA campus. The exact date is yet to be determined.

Two outstanding scientists, Dr. Deborah Leckband and Dr. Peter Orlean, and their trainees will be joining the bioengineering department. They have formally accepted UCSD's offers and will be relocating to La Jolla at a date to be finalized, approximately Spring 2006. Dr. Deborah Leckband will serve as Professor of Bioengineering, and Dr. Peter Orlean as Professor of Medicine and Adjunct Professor of Bioengineering.

Dr. Deborah Leckband received her Ph.D. in Chemistry at Cornell University and is Head and Professor of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Illinois. She has taught over 20 engineering and chemical engineering courses since 1993. Dr. Leckband has published numerous original research articles in peer-reviewed journals and received prestigious honors and awards, most recently – Fellow, American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering (IAMBE). Her research is focused on Biomolecular and Interfacial Engineering.

Dr. Peter Orlean is currently Professor of Microbiology at University of Illinois at Urbana, who received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry at University of Cambridge in 1982. His research team is focused on glycosylphosphatidylinositols (GPIs). He and his colleagues use genetics, bioinformatics, molecular biology, and biochemistry to study how GPIs are made in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Dr. Orlean is also a Burroughs Wellcome Scholar in Molecular Pathogenic Mycology.

Report on Stem Cell Initiative – Dr. Shu Chien

Proposition 71 on Stem Cell Initiative was proposed nearly a year ago. The funds for the initiative still have not been released for research funding. Other sources of funding have been obtained to start training grants at several institutions; UCSD is among the institutions that have received such a training grant. Larry Goldstein is the Principal Investigator on this. The process for stem cell research funding is slow due to politics and finance.

BMES Chapter for Undergraduates at UCSD –Shirley Lee and Alexander Varond

Shirley Lee has been appointed as a Student Board Representative on the BMES National Board and was selected to receive the Rita Schaffer Award of the National Biomedical Engineering Society for her outstanding service and leadership.

Update on BMES company tours:
The BMES Chapter for undergrads had their first successful company tour with GENPROBE, Inc, one of our Industrial Advisory Board members. The interaction served as a great benefit to the students, as they were given helpful guidelines for applying to the company. The next Industry tour will be at Asymtek on Nov 4th and Diversa on Nov 18th.

The Bioengineering Quiz Bowl: Inaugural Year (April 7, 2006) - Alexander Varond

Alexander Varond is BMES Liaison and Bioengineering Quiz Bowl (BQB) Committee Member.

he mission of BQB is to develop a foundation for a strong tradition for UCSD Department of Bioengineering, enhance Industry and Alumni networks, foster recognition of advances in BE, cultivate solidarity and enliven the BE spirits.

BQB will be an evening of competition between students (undergrad and grad) that culminate in a final match between a team of students and a team mixed with industry leaders and professors. Questions topics are focused around fundamentals in BE which includes Physics, Chemistry, Math, and Elementary BE. It will be a casual event open to the entire UCSD community which will potentially be televised on UCSD TV (reaching 800,000 homes in San Diego). Invitations to this event will be sent to BE Alumni, local industry professionals, BE faculty, researchers, grad students, and undergrads. UCSD BMES will be hosting and organizing this event with the close support of the Department of Bioengineering; namely Drs. Bob Sah and Trey Ideker.

The BQB's program will run for approximately 2 hours that will be broken down as follows:

The goal of the event is to strengthen relationships among UCSD students, faculty, and industry. BMES hopes that industry shares their vision in this very unique and beneficial event. They are asking for support from industry. Baxter has already pledged $1000. Sponsoring industry will be invited to speak about their company products, initiatives, and employment/internship opportunities (~ 5 minutes) and will also be acknowledged in the program, website, and in their potential broadcast on UCSD TV.

Alexander passed around a sign up sheet for more information regarding sponsorship and thanked all in attendance. Interested industry members please contact Alexander Varond at avarond@ucsd.edu.

Announcements/Other Business

Breakfast with Industry - Jennifer Griffin

On Friday, November 4, 2005, the UCSD Bioengineering Graduate Students Group will be holding their Annual Breakfast with Industry. It will be at 7:30am-9:30am at UCSD’s Faculty Club. Jim Burke, Director of Engineering at Breg, Inc. will deliver this year’s keynote address.

Dr. Chien and Craig thanked everyone for another successful meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 9:30am.

For contact information please contact Rowella Garcia at rgarcia@bioeng.ucsd.edu.