BIO 2012: A New Map to the World

Posted on June 29, 2012June 10, 2013 by Valentina Rosa

What is the most direct route from Pennsylvania to South Dakota? I found it’s easiest to cross through Italy and Germany until you reach New Jersey, then go through Minnesota until you arrive in South Dakota. You may think I have a bit of a messed up GPS, however my map is right—Welcome to BIO.

This year the annual BIO International Conference was held in the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. The floor held over 65 countries and more than 30 country pavilions. Forty-eight states sent representatives to be on the show room floor– as someone on the floor described it, the showroom was “The UN of Biotech.”

Growing up, my parents attended big conferences like this every year, but this year was my first time to experience it for myself. As a Summer Intern sponsored by the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, I was able to receive an exhibition pass. My first view of the conference came from above—it was like looking out the plane window at a foreign country before you land for the first time. A little overwhelmed, but still excited, I entered the show floor for the first time. While walking around talking to people, I learned so much about the field of Biotech and the Pharmaceutical industry. The Massachusetts pavilion hosted many different talks over the few days we attended the conference. Governor Patrick addressed the new collaboration between Massachusetts and Israel, and Dr. Geraldine Hamilton of the Wyss Institute at Harvard University talked about her research on an organ on a chip. I learned a substantial amount about everything that’s up and coming in the sciences.

While I was at BIO I experienced a lot of brand new technology, including seeing bioreactors that create proteins that can make vaccines. The first day I thought I was in over my head, but by my third visit I had a grasp on how things at the conference flowed. Over the course of the week I learned a lot, and I hope to attend more conferences in the future.

Did you attend BIO too? How did you feel about the talks and the exhibits? Let us know by commenting on the blog or tweeting at us @TRA360.

Study Shows Online Training More Effective for Regulatory Compliance

Posted on May 29, 2012June 10, 2013 by Valentina Rosa

Online training is taking over the Regulatory Affairs industry

A recent study from Enhanced Online News (EON) shows that in comparison to other techniques, regulatory affairs online training is the most efficient and effective method. Today, online training helps build clearer accountability and shows measurable return-on-investment metrics.

Why online training?

In contrast to traditional regulatory affairs training, online technology allows regulatory teams to “easily monitor which employees have completed all necessary compliance training”. For instance, digital tools test employees on their knowledge of SOPs, policies and new processes. In general, those who have undergone digital regulatory compliance training have reduced their compliance problems in recent years. On the other hand, companies requiring traditional training have had more difficulties overall overcoming various compliance issues.

The modern world of technology is ever-changing and constantly developing. With this change in technology comes the evolution of digital training for industries around the world.

Do you think online training for regulatory affairs is the most effective training method? Comment below and let us know!

The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center: A Dream Internship for Both Students and Employers

Posted on April 11, 2012June 10, 2013 by Valentina Rosa

Many students around the country struggle to find an internship before graduation to gain “real world” experience in their field of study. Likewise, employers can sometimes struggle to find the perfect internship candidate for their company. The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center is breaking the ice by implementing their 2012-2013 Internship Challenge. Focusing on “enhancing the talent pipeline in Massachusetts life sciences companies” in addition to providing a paid hands-on internship for students in the life science fields, the MLSC has provided over 550 interns with 200 internships around the state over the past three years. This paid internship program is sponsored through a grant so employers do not need to pay their intern out of pocket.

Here at TRA360, we have a personal connection to the MLSC Internship Program through past-intern-turned-social-media-manager, Ryan Connors. Check out this short Q+A about the MLSC Internship Challenge and how it helped shape Ryan’s career path.

Q) How did you first hear about the MLSC Internship Challenge? Why did you decide to apply?

Ryan) I first heard about it in one of my classes at U. Mass. I decided to apply as soon as I heard about it because I understood the difficulty of finding quality paid internships and their importance to my future. Many ideal jobs require experience and most recent or soon-to-be grads have none.

Q) What was the procedure like after you applied? Were you able to decide who you interned for? How did you start working with TRA360?

Ryan) I applied and it seemed like my name was pulled out of a hat by TRA360; I’m very fortunate for that. I went in for an interview, liked the people, they liked me, and offered me a job that day. I knew going in that I wanted the job. As soon as I left, I wanted it that much more.

Q) Tell us a little bit about what you accomplished for TRA360 in the first few months of your internship.

Ryan) The first few months were great. I got some real hands-on experience with online marketing and started developing my knack for social media. I had no idea how important the online space was becoming and I felt that it was exactly where I wanted to be. Looking back, I couldn’t be happier with that decision.

Q) Would you recommend the Massachusetts Life Science Internship program? If so, what types of students would the program benefit?

Ryan) Absolutely! Any student can benefit from the program. I’m genuinely surprised that more people don’t know about it. So many qualified students are working less-than-desirable jobs when they could be starting their careers instead. There’s nothing to lose by applying but there is a world to gain.

Have you heard of the MLSC Internship Challenge? Let us know and comment below!

The Skyrocketing Costs of Developing a New Drug

Posted on March 15, 2012June 10, 2013 by Valentina Rosa

The price of developing new drugs have dramatically increased.

What would you do with a billion dollars? Some would buy 371 Super Bowl ads, others may buy an island, but in the pharmaceutical world, a billion dollars is just a sliver of how much it costs to invent a new drug. According to the Forbes article, “The Truly Staggering Cost Of Inventing New Drugs”, the average drug developed by a major pharmaceutical company can cost as much as $11 billion!

The skyrocketing cost of inventing new drugs implies that medicine should be pricey. After all, countless hours of research and testing new drugs in laboratories across the world account for much of the hefty cost of inventing new drugs. However, what happens when the drugs fail to be approved and plummet in the medical market? Currently, less than 1 in 10 drugs that are tested in human clinical trials succeed. What does this say about the pharmaceutical industry? How about the billions of dollars being invested every year into new drugs? About the people who need and rely on new drug development?

What do you think about the skyrocketing cost of drug development? Will prices only get higher from here? Let us know your thoughts!