Neglected diseases are a scourge of the developing world. The biotechnology industry holds great promise for producing medicines that will reduce suffering and save lives, yet market barriers have discouraged investment in fighting developing-world diseases.
A recent BIO white paper discusses some of the incentives - with associated advantages and challenges - that could encourage greater research and development of treatments and preventions for neglected diseases of the developing world.
It's Carbon Payback Time
A recent study from researchers at the University of Wisconsin takes another look at the "carbon debt" models proposed by Searchinger and Fargione in ScienceXpress earlier this year. Searchinger and Fargione argued that biofuel development in the United States and Europe would lead to the destruction of rainforests and grassland in Brazil and other tropical climates, which would of course release massive amounts of carbon into the atmosphere. The new study takes into account some factors that other researchers criticized Fargione and Searchinger for ignoring. Read the post.
Science News
Development of advanced biofuels continues around the world
Development of advanced biofuels continues around the world, with reports of a new chemical breakthrough by Chinese researchers--a process that can help turn turn sawdust into biofuel. Read the story
Policy Updates
Small Business Innovation Research Grants (SBIR)
Not sure what the SBIR issue is? Check out our Hopes and Cures Blog, and find out why stamping out SBIR will also stamp out hope for cures.
