BASF SE has launched a research initiative called "North American Center for Research on Advanced Materials" through which it is collaborating with Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University of Massachusetts, Amherst. One goal of this initiative is to jointly develop new materials for the automotive, building and construction, and energy industries. The cooperation is initially planned for five years. About 20 new post-doctoral positions will be created at the three universities. Scientists from disciplines such as chemistry, physics and biology and engineers with know-how in different industries will work together in this research initiative. The academic partners contribute not only their expertise in material sciences, modeling and formulation methods, but also provide new ideas for interesting research approaches. Besides fundamental scientific knowledge, BASF researchers will contribute the necessary experience in transforming research results into technically feasible processes and products and input about which materials are needed in the different industries and applications. The ideas and topics to be researched will be decided jointly by the researchers participating in the initiative. Topics already identified include micro- and nanostructured polymers with new properties, as well as biomimetic materials that emulate nature. For example, the scientists are working on lightweight construction materials for wind turbines and automotive construction and on new color effects for cosmetic applications. The research scientists are supported and advised by a scientific committee that includes BASF scientists and George Whitesides, Ph.D. and Dave Weitz, Ph.D. of Harvard; Robert Langer, Ph.D. and Mary Boyce, Ph.D. of MIT, and Todd Emrick, Ph.D. and Alan Lesser, Ph.D. of UMass Amherst. The American research initiative will build on the successful cooperation between BASF and Harvard University. During the five years' cooperation to date, 13 academic research groups have been working together with BASF scientists.

Life Technologies Corporation announced that it has signed a collaborative research agreement and related license with Harvard University under which it has acquired rights to develop a panel of characterization assays designed to rapidly evaluate human pluripotent stem (hPS) cells for their utility in a variety of discovery and translational research applications. The license expands Life's growing portfolio of stem cell research products and deepens its commitment to customers in the field. The panel, which will be offered on the company's semiconductor sequencing and PCR-based genetic analysis platforms, will help overcome major hurdles that impede stem cell technology from moving into the clinic. Current methods for evaluating pluripotency -- the potential for induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells to differentiate into any cell type -- are laborious, costly and can produce ambiguous results. Standardizing the way researchers characterize iPS cells will allow them to quickly identify the most promising cell lines and avoid wasting time and resources on cells that do not possesses the appropriate characteristics. Such efficiency could accelerate applications ranging from development of disease-in-a-dish models from patient-derived cells and drug screening, to the eventual use of pluripotent cells as a renewable source for transplantation medicine.

Harvard Office of Technology Development Presents at BioNetwork East, Apr-04-2013 09:00 AM. Venue: Eden Roc Renaissance Resort & Spa, Miami Beach, Miami, Florida, United States. Speakers: Michael Preminger, Executive Director.