Session 6

Session 6

SESSION 5: REVIEW

Topics covered:

BioBusiness Revolution: Healthcare and Biomedical Sciences (Past, Present and Future)


Brief Overview/ Summary

BioBusiness Revolution: Healthcare and Biomedical Sciences (Past, Present and Future)

• What exactly is BioBusiness?
  

BioBusiness is basically any business that carries out commercial activity related to the biotech industry. Some examples of industries where biobusinesses are found are the biomedical sciences industry, and the agricultural industry. In 2001, biobusiness was found to contribute a whopping 25% of global GDP and employs approximately 40% of the world's labor force. However, the employment figures showed that more than 50% of those employed in biobusinesses were actually farmers in developing countries as well as China and India. [Source: BioEnterprise Asia]

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  Some key areas in BioBusiness and relevant examples:
  
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    Biomedical BioBusiness
    
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      Healthcare
      
      • Better procedures and processes to improve chances of complete recovery?
        
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      Pharmaceuticals
      
      • Tailor made medicines to specifically cater to each patient?
        
    • Biomedical Biotechnology
      
    • Herbal and traditional medicine
      
    • Medical devices
      
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      Diagnostics
      
      
      
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    Environmental and Industrial BioBusiness
    
    • Management of biodiversity
      
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      Waste Management
      
      • The use of bacteria to break down previously non biodegradable material like plastics
        
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      Environmental biotechnology
      
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    Agricultural-Veterinary and Food BioBusiness
    
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      Agriculture
      
      • "Natural Pesticides"
        
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      Animal Husbandry
      
      • The creation of new hybrid species of animals. See: Zorse - half zebra, half horse
        
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      Forestry and Lumber
      
      
      
      
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    Others
    
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      Bio-IT and the application of ICT in biobusiness
      
      • The use of Electronic Medical Records (EMR) is one of the more prominent uses of ICT in biobusiness.
        

Interesting Observations and Ideas/Key Takeaways

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  Spray-on Fabric
  
  I feel that it is appropriate to discuss my previous post regarding the possibility of spray-on shirts. After reading the article, I feel that there is great potential for spray-on fabrics in the biomedical industry. I present to you some possible applications and innovations that may result from this new development.
  
  
  
  
  
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    Medical
    
    If you can spray on a shirt, why not spray on a bandage? A sterile spray-on bandage would be a perfect addition to any first aid kit. Gone is the need to store multiple sized bandages! Let's not forget the necessary fumbling around trying to apply it to the affected wound. A spray-on bandage would even eliminate the need for knowing how to properly applying bandages. With a spray on bandage, each bandage would be custom-made ensuring a perfect fit over every affected area.
    
    A spray-on cast would only be a natural progression of the spray-on bandage. Easily applied casts would eliminate the need for splints entirely. The perfect-fit nature of the spray-on would be able to perfectly immobilize the affected area temporarily until more advanced care is available.
    
    
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    Military
    
    The possibility of easily applied first aid on the frontlines of battle would be an opportunity I'm sure many armed forces would be keen to invest in. Soldiers injured in the front lines of battle would have access to better first aid resulting in lesser casualties. Who wouldn't want that bandages and casts that are easily applied in the midst of battle?
    
     
    
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  Printing of organs
  
  • Organ printing is defined as computer-aided, jet-based 3D tissue-engineering of living human organs. Basically, a printer will create actual organs by painstakingly printing living cells layer by layer.
    
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    Organ printing involves three sequential steps:
    
    • development of "blueprints" for organs
      
    • actual organ printing
      
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      organ conditioning and accelerated organ maturation

Issues for Further Discussion

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  Ethical Issues
  
  Ethics has always played a big part in genetics and the medical sciences. Should man play God? Is it ethical?
  
  
  
  
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  Overpopulation
  
  As health care continues to improve, so does the average lifespan of humans. What happens when man can live for more than 1000 years?
  
  
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  Safety concerns
  
  Although stringent safety measures have been implemented to ensure the safety and welfare of consumers, it is impossible to absolutely guarantee the safety of a new drug/medical procedure. Everything comes with side effects. Should certain "beneficial" drugs be approved although the risks relating to their usage are not fully known?
  
  

Personal Ratings

(7/10) This week's session was somewhat interesting, touching on genetic engineering, biomedical innovations and the issues relating to "Man playing God". Interesting stuff! J