Novartis Int'l BioCamp: Forum for future research, business leaders

BASEL, Switzerland — Novartis highlighted its ongoing commitment to fostering research and innovation at the 2010 Novartis International Biotechnology Leadership Camp (BioCamp).

The three-day seminar brings biotechnology and business experts together with 60 selected students from leading international universities in 24 countries and territories.

First started seven years ago in Taiwan, the BioCamp has developed into an international forum for science and business students from around the world to learn, exchange ideas and work together in a highly competitive business environment.

Previously hosted in Tokyo, Hong Kong and Cambridge, Massachusetts, the seminar marks the first time International BioCamp is hosted at the state-of-the-art Novartis global headquarters here.

“Novartis BioCamp creates a forum for up-and-coming talent to directly experience what it takes to bring new therapies from the lab to patients,” said Joseph Jimenez, CEO of Novartis.

“It’s exciting to see BioCamp participants inspire and challenge each other during the program, generating new ideas around scientific innovation and improving patient outcomes,” Jimenez added.

This year, Karen Rosal and Carlo Castillo were selected to attend the International BioCamp. Rosal completed her Master in Molecular Biology at Okayama University in Japan. Castillo is currently taking up Master of Science in Molecular Medicine at St. Luke’s College of Medicine.

During the program, International BioCamp participants interact with and learn from key Novartis scientists who lead the Novartis approach to drug discovery, exchanging thoughts on advancing innovation.

Students will participate in high-level workshops and learn about breakthrough new medicine to address patients’ unmet medical needs.

They will also receive first-hand experience about starting and running a biotech company from entrepreneurs in the industry, helping them better understand trends and challenges in the biotechnology sector.

The BioCamp also provides students with the opportunity to explore career prospects in the biotech industries.

“At Novartis, our ultimate goal is to have the insights needed to bring the right medicine, to the right patient, at the right dose,” said Dr. Dhavalkumar D. Patel, Ph.D., head of Novartis Institute for BioMedical Research (NIBR) in Europe and global head of the Autoimmunity, Transplantation and Inflammation Disease Area.

“BioCamp gives us an opportunity to expose top talent to both the art and science required to drive pharmaceutical innovation,” Patel said.

Students will also visit some of the newest Novartis lab facilities. The visionary Novartis Campus in Basel fosters innovation and creativity with workspace that encourages collaboration and teamwork.

The Campus Project includes 10 new research and office buildings which are already open and plans are underway for several additional buildings. Currently, some 6,500 associates work at the Novartis Campus. Ultimately, the site will provide a work environment for some 10,000 associates.

On the final day of the program, BioCamp participants, working in groups, will present business cases to a jury of internal and external experts.

The jury will select three individual winners and one winning team based on their contribution, performance, leadership and teamwork.

This year, the participants in the International BioCamp were chosen through an application process in 14 countries as well as through 10 local and regional BioCamp programs in Bangladesh, China, Egypt, India, Japan, Korea, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore and Taiwan.

Workshops and presentations are led by industry experts, Jimenez; Ann Fudge, member of the Novartis board of directors; Patel; Dr. Rino Rappuoli, global head of research for Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics; Dr. Romeo Paioni, head of scientific and external affairs, Novartis Pharma; Prof. Susan Gasser, director of the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research; Prof. Francis Waldvogel, chairman of the Novartis Venture Fund; and Dragan Grabulovski, chief science officer of Covagen.