August 29, 2000

STRONG MARYLAND BIOTECH A PLUS IN SCOTLAND DEAL

She is part of a 14-member delegation on an initial, four-day visit of Maryland biotechnology industry leaders to the biotech "Tartan Triangle." The trip includes a stop to see Dolly, the world's first cloned sheep at the Roslin Institute. The delegation is attending briefings with potential partners in Scotland's three centers of biotech excellence in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee.

"In Maryland and Scotland, you have two of the most concentrated areas of biotechnology in the world," said Hunter-Cevera. "We are on many parallel research tracks where we will pursue specific cooperation. Some possibilities are biological-based vaccines against viral diseases, as well as vaccines for fish and other animals, and environmental biotechnology, an area of emphasis at UMBI to help protect Chesapeake Bay waters and seafood production," said Hunter-Cevera.

Maryland is the first U.S. state to sign a biotechnology agreement with Scotland, according to Lisa S. Smith, vice president, Scottish Technology and Research (STAR) Center-Northeast. USA.

"We are delighted that UMBI is participating in the first Maryland biotechnology industry visit to Scotland," said Smith. "The strengths of UMBI, particularly in protein structure research and marine biotechnology, provide marvelous opportunities for successful cooperation between Maryland and Scotland." The STAR Center, which provides support to Maryland and Scottish companies interested in developing trade and international business, organized the visit to Scotland in cooperation with the Maryland Bioscience Alliance, the non-profit association MdBio, Inc., the State of Maryland and Montgomery County.

Currently, two Maryland companies--Life Technologies and BioReliance--have their European headquarters in Scotland. Three Scottish companies are actively pursuing business development opportunities in Maryland, home of nearly 300 biotechnology firms.

"Just as in Maryland, Scotland's vibrant biotech companies are linked with global markets. In biotechnology, I think Scotland is a gateway to Europe and other regions, which will provide incentives for Maryland partnerships that emerge from this trip," said Hunter-Cevera.

"Because my father's heritage is Scottish, I am especially proud to help our Maryland team applaud the outstanding science of Scotland, which includes such past scientific greats such as John Hunter, the father of modern surgery; James Simpson, who introduced modern anaethesia; and Alexander Fleming, discoverer of Penicillin. And, it is exciting indeed to witness on-going Scottish biotechnology at this time--a time of David Lane, discoverer of the p53 gene, a key component in cancer prevention; Ian Wilmut of the Roslin Institute, who gave us Dolly the sheep; and Sir Phillip Cohen, one of the best cancer specialists in the world. Hunter-Cevera joined UMBI in 1999 after 22 years of industrial experience. She came to the institute after directing the Department of Environmental Biotechnology for the Earnest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory at the University of California.

This year, Hunter-Cevera launched "a second phase" of UMBI's evolution, she said, one of linking portfolio packages within technology transfer, emphasizing economic development in Maryland based on licensing technology from UMBI laboratories at five research and education centers. The UMBI centers are the Center of Marine Biotechnology, Medical Biotechnology Center and Institute of Human Virology, all in Baltimore; the Center of Agricultural Biotechnology in College Park; and the Center for Advanced Research in Biotechnology in Rockville.