http://www.boston.com/business/specials/bio2007/articles/biotech_future/
The future of biotech: Experts look at what's next
THE BIOTECHNOLOGY GURU
Robert S. Langer
institute professor
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Biomedical technology is helping to relieve human suffering. Universities in the Boston area have played a significant role in creating these technologies and, in some cases, in helping launch them into companies.
One major challenge for the future is government funding for academic research. National Institutes of Health budgets are virtually stagnant, and that’s a big problem for sustaining the type of research that has enabled academic research to flourish and, in many cases, to provide the platforms for launching biotech companies. Early-stage resources for research have been vitally important. Government support has been the catalyst both for major discoveries and, in many cases, for start-up companies trying to make lifesaving products.
In his recent book, Senator Barack Obama discusses a conversation he and I had when both of us were receiving honorary degrees at Northwestern University. He also rightfully comments on how critical basic research, enabled by adequate government funding, is to the future of our country. Today, the average age of someone getting their first NIH grant is over 40 — a real concern for young people who want to have careers in the biosciences.
On the positive side, I think the next 5 to 10 years will see breakthroughs in many areas of medical biotechnology. For example, look for advances in DNA and SiRNA therapies, cell technology, stem cells, and the treatment of cancer and other diseases. We will also witness advances in convergence technology, where medical devices are combined with drugs to make new kinds of therapeutic systems, as well as in nanotechnology, which can have a great effect on drug delivery, imaging, and diagnostics.
The future of the medical field is being planned out for society to live a healthy life. Much of this is not as cheap as we might think it is actually it is very expensive and requires help from the government to flourish. Barack Obama, our president says that this basic research of finding new ways to cure diseases and find new medicine it's the right of the government to help because all this new finding is for the future of our country. Much of these new medical research will help us humans live a longer life but without suffering, being able to stay healthy, while enjoying life is the best a person could have, it is the best medicine a person could ask for. Althought, it might be so expensive, but it is necessary to provide the cure for humans diseases. In my opinion these advances in medical treatment and new medicine is very good because overall we have had a lot of increase in deaths and not much people are being born because no one wants to bring a baby into this world knowing that there are so many diseases and illneses going around and that the baby could be born with a illness and then have to suffer. Society should be well taken care of because we are the ones that make up this Earth, we are the ones trying to keep everything in peace and trying to take care of our Earth. The government is the one that is helping these companies flourish and to be able and provide society with the best health and medicine services.
Robert S. Langer
institute professor
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Biomedical technology is helping to relieve human suffering. Universities in the Boston area have played a significant role in creating these technologies and, in some cases, in helping launch them into companies.
One major challenge for the future is government funding for academic research. National Institutes of Health budgets are virtually stagnant, and that’s a big problem for sustaining the type of research that has enabled academic research to flourish and, in many cases, to provide the platforms for launching biotech companies. Early-stage resources for research have been vitally important. Government support has been the catalyst both for major discoveries and, in many cases, for start-up companies trying to make lifesaving products.
In his recent book, Senator Barack Obama discusses a conversation he and I had when both of us were receiving honorary degrees at Northwestern University. He also rightfully comments on how critical basic research, enabled by adequate government funding, is to the future of our country. Today, the average age of someone getting their first NIH grant is over 40 — a real concern for young people who want to have careers in the biosciences.
On the positive side, I think the next 5 to 10 years will see breakthroughs in many areas of medical biotechnology. For example, look for advances in DNA and SiRNA therapies, cell technology, stem cells, and the treatment of cancer and other diseases. We will also witness advances in convergence technology, where medical devices are combined with drugs to make new kinds of therapeutic systems, as well as in nanotechnology, which can have a great effect on drug delivery, imaging, and diagnostics.
The future of the medical field is being planned out for society to live a healthy life. Much of this is not as cheap as we might think it is actually it is very expensive and requires help from the government to flourish. Barack Obama, our president says that this basic research of finding new ways to cure diseases and find new medicine it's the right of the government to help because all this new finding is for the future of our country. Much of these new medical research will help us humans live a longer life but without suffering, being able to stay healthy, while enjoying life is the best a person could have, it is the best medicine a person could ask for. Althought, it might be so expensive, but it is necessary to provide the cure for humans diseases. In my opinion these advances in medical treatment and new medicine is very good because overall we have had a lot of increase in deaths and not much people are being born because no one wants to bring a baby into this world knowing that there are so many diseases and illneses going around and that the baby could be born with a illness and then have to suffer. Society should be well taken care of because we are the ones that make up this Earth, we are the ones trying to keep everything in peace and trying to take care of our Earth. The government is the one that is helping these companies flourish and to be able and provide society with the best health and medicine services.
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