Winter 2007
Holding Our Breath: Dr. David Sherman of Seattle Biomedical Research Institute Takes on Tuberculosis
At the November 9th breakfast of the Seattle Science & Technology Discovery Series, Dr. David Sherman, tuberculosis program director at SBRI, discussed the spread of TB across the globe and how researchers are working to develop new drugs to fight this tricky disease.
Nine million new cases of TB are diagnosed each year, with significantly high concentrations found in Africa and Asia. Dr. Sherman highlighted the prevalence of HIV co-infection among tuberculosis patients, a situation which complicates treatment due to the high toxicity of drugs used to target TB. Drug resistance is also becoming a larger problem, as 450,000 cases of multi-drug resistant (MDR) and an undetermined proportion of XDR – extensively drug-resistant – TB hamper our ability to fight the spread of the disease.
Despite the many obstacles, Dr. Sherman is hopeful that greater awareness, increased funding, and a two-pronged attack of discovery science and drug research will eventually enable us to breathe a little easier when it comes to TB.
Did you know...?
- According to the World Health Organization, two billion people – roughly one-third of the planet’s population – are latently infected with TB. Ninety percent of people who contract the disease fight off the infection naturally.
- Each year, two million people die from TB. Treatment is complicated because of the bacteria’s physical structure: the cell wall forms a waxy barrier that is impenetrable by many classes of drug.
- In the past, approaches to treating TB included blood transfusions from a goat, and a procedure called plombage therapy, in which the infected lung is purposefully collapsed to starve the bacteria of oxygen.
- The last drug developed for TB came into use in the 1960s.
Satisfy Your Craving for Science and Technology with Our Discovery Series in Seattle or Spokane! For more information, visit the Seattle or Spokane program web sites online.
Let There Be Light: New Series Flicks a Switch on Nanophotonics
Cell phones no thicker than a credit card. Clean, inexpensive power whenever and wherever it’s needed. Computers that operate literally at the speed of light. All of these and more will be made possible through nanophotonics, proving that good things really do come in small packages.
Advancing the “Virtuous Cycle” of Education, Research and Entrepreneurship: Highlights of the 2007 Technology Institute
Every other year, the Technology Alliance convenes a group of business leaders, heads of education and research institutions, and state policymakers to discuss the key issues facing Washington’s science and technology sector and how we as a state can bolster our long-term economic competitiveness. The retreat provides a unique opportunity to hear from state and national experts about our position in the global innovation economy and to discuss in depth how we can advance Washington’s future economic success.
At the 2007 retreat, a combination of keynote presentations, case studies and interactive panel discussions guided participants toward identifying strategies to position Washington for prosperity, focusing on strengthening the “virtuous cycle” of K-12 and higher education, research capacity and entrepreneurial climate in our state.
The College & Work Ready Agenda: Improving the Odds of Student Success
Last year, the Technology Alliance joined forces with a number of business and labor organizations across Washington State to focus on transforming our education system to prepare students to be successful in higher education and 21st century careers. Last month, the coalition drew a line in the sand on an issue that figured prominently at the Technology Institute: the preparation gap between high school and postsecondary education.
Two More MBA Students Get Their Wings as Part of Alliance of Angels Fellowship Program
Alliance of Angels, the Technology Alliance program that advances early stage investment and entrepreneur education, has ramped up its activities in recent months with the help of two new, part-time program managers: Jacob Miller, the 2007-08 William H. Gates, Sr. Fellow in Innovation & Entrepreneurship, and 2007-08 K&L Gates Fellow Kevin Kirn.
Vision and Leadership for Washington’s Long-term Economic Success: Technology Alliance Welcomes New Members of the Board
The TA continuously strives to bring together visionary leaders from Washington’s science and technology sector to advance our goals of excellent education systems, strong research capacity and a robust entrepreneurial climate. We are proud to welcome five outstanding individuals to our board of directors overseeing TA programs and activities that strengthen our state’s competitiveness in the knowledge-based economy.
Stay up to date with the Technology Alliance
Make it your New Year's resolution to update your contact information with the Technology Alliance. Email Kristin Osborne with new or changed email, mailing address, or phone number. Thanks.
A new angle
Check out the new blog of the Alliance of Angels--The Angel Angle--providing an inside look at angel deals, entrepreneurial innovation, and startup activity in the Pacific Northwest.
