BASF Officially Launches the Collaborative Advanced Research Initiative at Harvard University
30 4월 2008 - 12:30AM
PR Newswire (US)
- Opening celebrated with inaugural Symposium on Biofilms
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. and LUDWIGSHAFEN, Germany, April 29 /PRNewswire/
-- BASF today announced the official launch of the BASF Advanced
Research Initiative at Harvard University. The Advanced Research
Initiative at Harvard University represents an innovative model for
university-industry collaboration designed specifically to drive
new frontiers of scientific discovery. The opening of the
initiative was celebrated with an inaugural two-day Symposium on
Biofilms held in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The decisive difference
of this collaboration between academia and industry from most
research initiatives is its more integrative nature: BASF
researchers from Germany are working closely with Harvard academic
research teams, easing scientific exchange on the projects, as well
as fostering broader interaction between the two institutions. This
arrangement also gives the students the opportunity to benefit from
a close interaction and early exposure to industry. Harvard faculty
will also have the freedom to distribute and publish findings from
the initiative, and BASF will have the opportunity to further
develop discoveries and innovations for possible commercialization.
Since the BASF Advanced Research Initiative at Harvard University
was first announced last fall, 10 postdoctoral students from the
United States, France, Italy, Switzerland and China have already
started working in Harvard labs on multiple projects. For example,
they are studying the interaction between bacteria and surfaces
under various conditions and developing new types of surfaces in
order to uncover structure-property relationships with respect to
the interaction. Another project involves the use of colloidal
techniques to develop formulations of pharmaceutical actives with a
higher bioavailability. Over the next five years, with direct
funding from BASF to reach up to $20 million, the students will
pursue further projects in applied physics and mathematics,
chemical biology, systems biology, bioengineering and materials
science. While based at Harvard's School of Engineering and Applied
Sciences (SEAS), this highly interdisciplinary initiative will
benefit from having strong ties with students, departments and
schools throughout the University. In addition, relationships with
other research groups at universities, such as Massachusetts
Institute of Technology and the University of Massachusetts
Amherst, as well as with technology transfer and other companies in
New England, have already been established. "We welcome the
opportunity to work in cooperation with one of the world's most
respected and prolific universities," said Dr. Andreas Kreimeyer,
member of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF and Executive
Research Director. "Together, we are the right team to harness the
innovative potential of new technologies and translate them into
commercial successes, while at the same time providing solutions to
global challenges." "This type of progressive research association
with a major industrial leader is a new model for Harvard, and one
we hope to emulate and repeat," said Venkatesh Narayanamurti, Dean,
SEAS, John A. and Elizabeth S. Armstrong Professor, and Professor
of Physics. "There is tremendous value in this initiative, as it
will not only strengthen education and research, but also explore
solutions to some of the world's most pressing problems in an
effort to better society." The two-day Symposium on Biofilms at the
Norton's Woods Conference Center at the American Academy of Arts
and Sciences in Cambridge, has brought together leading experts in
microbiology, chemistry, physics and materials science, to share
their knowledge about the life of biofilms and their interaction
with surfaces. George Whitesides, Woodford L. and Ann A. Flowers
University Professor, and Co-director of the BASF Advanced Research
Initiative at Harvard University, delivered the keynote speech at
the symposium. The study of biofilms and their interaction with
surfaces has gained worldwide interest as microbial biofilms on
surfaces cause billions of dollars in losses each year in equipment
damage, product contamination, and energy losses. More importantly,
biofilms also cause medical infections, resulting in adverse and
detrimental affect to human life. In addition to Whitesides, BASF's
Dr. Jens Rieger, Scientific Director of Polymer Research, and
Harvard's David Weitz, Mallinckrodt Professor of Physics and
Applied Physics, are directing the BASF Advanced Research
Initiative at Harvard University and establishing a broad research
network of faculty and students to generate new innovations
relevant to society's needs. About BASF BASF is the world's leading
chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from
oil and gas to chemicals, plastics, performance products,
agricultural products and fine chemicals. As a reliable partner
BASF helps its customers in virtually all industries to be more
successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions,
BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global
challenges such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition
and mobility. BASF has more than 95,000 employees and posted sales
of almost euro 58 billion in 2007. BASF shares are traded on the
stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN).
Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at
http://www.basf.com/. DATASOURCE: BASF Corporation CONTACT: Mark A.
Stephenson, +1-973-245-6072, , or Betsy Arnone, +1-973-519-9808, ,
both of BASF Corporation Web site: http://www.basf.com/
http://www.basf.com/usa
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