NZ Biomedical Researchers Showcase Their Work

New Zealand Biomedical Researchers Showcase Their Work

Leading New Zealand biomedical researchers are show-casing their work to international pharmaceutical companies at a meeting opening in Wellington today.

“The New Zealand Biomedical R&D Showcase” is sponsored by the Minister for Research, Science and Technology, Pete Hodgson. It is jointly chaired by the Chairman of the Researched Medicines Industry (RMI), Richard Nottage, and Dr Paul Reynolds, Chief Policy Adviser at the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology.

Dr Reynolds said, “The meeting is an opportunity for New Zealand researchers to inform the international pharmaceutical industry about the scope of our biomedical research. It will explore the potential to develop and grow our biomedical research industry.”

Over the next two days the meeting will cover the New Zealand policy environment, drug discovery and development, clinical research, gene and protein-based research, and animal-based biomedical research that takes place in this country.

RMI Chairman Richard Nottage said, “It has taken considerable effort on the part of the pharmaceutical industry to bring together some of their most senior research directors in support of the Government’s knowledge economy drive.

“We hope this meeting represents the first of similar, but smaller, commercially-focussed discussions which will need to occur if the New Zealand biotech industry is to grow significantly and to have a viable, long term future.

The presenters have been drawn from a variety of New Zealand’s public and private research entities. They include notable figures such as cancer researcher Prof William Denny, Genesis Chief Executive, Dr Jim Watson, Malaghan Institute Director, Professor Graham Le Gros, and Dean of the Auckland Medical School, Professor Peter Gluckman.

The participants include pharmaceutical company research directors from the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand representing major international pharmaceutical companies, such as Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen-Cilag, Pfizer and Wyeth.

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