Groundbreaking Cancer and Diabetes Therapies, Drug Delivery Modes Highlight Florida Tech Transfer Conference Agenda.TAMPA, Fla. -- May 23 Conference in Sarasota, FL Will Showcase Capabilities and Licensing Opportunities from 17 of Florida's Most Prestigious Institutes and University Centers of Excellence A new cancer treatment that specifically targets cancer cells without harming normal ones and research demonstrating how adult stem cells can be induced to form new pancreatic islet cells to combat diabetes and prevent diabetic retinopathy diabetic retinopathy n. Retinal changes occurring in long-term diabetes and characterized by punctate hemorrhages, microaneurysms, and sharply defined waxy exudates. are among the exciting new therapies and technologies that will be available for licensing at the 2006 Florida Tech Transfer Conference on May 23. William C. Cance, M.D. of the University of Florida's Laboratory of Signal Transduction and Cancer will explain how a critical molecule for anticancer therapeutics, Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK FAK Freight All Kinds FAK Focal Adhesion Kinase FAK First Aid Kit FAK Federasie Van Afrikaanse Kultuurvereniginge (Federation of Afrikaans Culture Organisations, South Africa) FAK Fußballklub Austria Wien ), is being used to generate cancer therapeutics. Originally developed to treat breast cancer, the technology also exhibits promise in treating other solid tumor cancers such as colon cancer colon cancer, cancer of any part of the colon (often called the large intestine). Colon cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed in the United States. . The specific peptide sequences, when introduced to cancer cells, inhibit FAK function and thereby limit the spread of cancer. Edward Scott, Ph.D., Director of the University of Florida's Program in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, last year defined SDF-1 (Stromal Stromal A type of tissue that is associated with the support of an organ. Mentioned in: Wilms' Tumor Derived Factor-1) as a critical target for the prevention of retinopathy retinopathy /ret·i·nop·a·thy/ (ret?i-nop´ah-the) any noninflammatory disease of the retina. circinate retinopathy . Now that safety and efficacy studies have been completed in both mice and non-human primates for anti-SDF-1 therapy, the treatment is in pre-IND development prior to initiating clinical trials. With diabetic retinopathy causing blindness in 12,000 - 24,000 Americans each year according to the American Diabetes Association The American Diabetes Association, or the ADA, is an American health organization providing diabetes research, information and advocacy. Founded in 1940, the American Diabetes Association conducts programs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, reaching hundreds of , the therapy has tremendous potential to improve the quality of life for scores of diabetes sufferers. In addition to the number of technologies and therapies that will be available for commercialization and licensing, the Florida Tech Transfer Conference will showcase some of the state's most exciting new research centers. The University of South Florida's brand new Center for Molecular Diversity in Drug Design, Discovery and Delivery (CDM 1. CDM - Content Data Model 2. CDM - Code Division Multiplexing 5) debuted earlier this month with a mission to advance revolutionary efforts at drug discovery and design. The interdisciplinary initiative, a collaboration between the USF USF University of South Florida USF Universal Service Fund (often part of phone bill in US) USF University of San Francisco USF University of Sioux Falls USF University of St. Department of Chemistry, the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Medicine, the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute and the USF Center for Biological Defense, represents a synergy for harnessing advances in molecular science that will lead to better understandings of human disease, disease prevention and the discovery and development of novel treatments. The Center is focusing its efforts on new strategies for enhancing molecular diversity and modes for drug delivery, such as using pharmaceutical co-crystals and nanoparticle-based antibiotics (nanobiotics). Edward Turos, Ph.D., a professor of Chemistry at USF and founder and scientific director of Nanopharma Technologies, a USF spin-off company, will update conference delegates on CMD CMD cerebromacular degeneration. 5 and his work in designing new antibiotics for anthrax and drug resistant staph infections and finding new nano-sized materials for drug delivery. The Florida Tech Transfer Conference agenda will center on technology transfer and licensing trends in Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology, Medical Devices, and Materials Sciences. Keynote speakers Robert G. Bell, Ph.D., president of Biotechnology Development LLC (Logical Link Control) See "LANs" under data link protocol. LLC - Logical Link Control and Walter H. Moos, Ph.D., vice president of Biosciences at SRI International, will address issues surrounding the successful introduction of new drugs and biotechnology products to the marketplace. For registration and further information, please visit http://www.flatechtransfer.org. About the Conference Producers: The Florida Research Consortium The Florida Research Consortium (FRC FRC abbr. functional residual capacity FRC see functional residual capacity. ) is a not-for-profit strategic partnership between Florida's universities, the business community and state government. For more information, visit http://www.floridaresearch.org. The Tampa Bay Technology Forum Founded in 2000, the Tampa Bay Technology Forum is a professional association whose members work together to make the Bay area a place where technology and innovation thrive. For more information, visit http://www.tbtf.org. |
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