Symposium 2017

Where is life science heading in the future?

May 4-5th 2017, Engelsberg Ironworks

How will new life science findings influence our lives in the future? What are the current trends in Asia, USA and Europe and what drives the research and development in different parts of the world? What new interactions between disciplines do we observe within the rapidly evolving field of life science? At this meeting, the global challenges within health, human medicine and the environment were addressed and we also discussed important ethical considerations. The meeting included short presentations from leading scientists and moderator led discussions where all participants contributed to the dialogue.

Program  

Moderator: Paul Hudson – Assistant Porfessor at Department of Proteomics and Nanobiotechnologym KTH Royal Institute of Technology Stockholm

IMPORTANT BREAKTHROUGHS WITHIN LIFE SCIENCE

  • Gunnar von Heijne – Professor at Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University

CURRENT TRENDS IN LIFE SCIENCE IN ASIA

  • Bertil Andersson – Professor and President of Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

CURRENT TRENDS IN LIFE SCIENCE IN EUROPE

  • Anna Wedell Professor/Senior Consultant in Medical Genetics; Head, Center for Inherited Metabolic Diseases, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm
  • Göran Sandberg Executive director Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation and Professor at Umeå Plant Science Centre 
  • Ulf Janzon – Policy and Communications Director MSD Sweden 

CURRENT TRENDS IN LIFE SCIENCE IN USA

  • Anne E. Deconinck – Executive Director, The Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts 

LIFE SCIENCE IN ETHICAL ASPECTS

  • Karim Jebari Researcher Philosophy at the Institute for Future Studies, Stockholm

HUMAN MEDICINE. PRESENTATION AND PANEL DISCUSSION

  • Melvin Samsom – Chief Executive Officer at Karolinska University Hospital Stockhlolm 
  • Leroy Hood – Senior Vice President / Chief Science Officer Providence St. Joseph Health. President, Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle. 

ESOLVING ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES. PRESENTATION AND PANEL DISCUSSION

  • Jens Nielsen  Professor and Head of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers, Gothenburg 

CONCLUSION

  • Mathias Uhlén – Professor of Microbiology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm 
After

2017 Report

This report is based on presentations made and discussions occurring during a conference at Engelsbergs bruk, 4-5 May 2017, which was arranged by the Stockholm Science City Foundation and the Axel and Margaret Ax:son Johnson Foundation. The conference aimed to bring together representatives of different organisations and fields of interest to discuss the present status and future development of the life sciences. Various aspects ranging from global political standpoints to new technologies and ways of working were covered. Several challenges and opportunities for countries wanting to take a leading role in the life sciences were highlighted, with the focus on the future role of Sweden. The report can be used as a strategic document for decision makers and organisations active in the life sciences. Please note that this report attempts to summarise the presentations given by the speakers of the conference, it does not claim to provide a comprehensive description of all current trends or future possibilities in the field. Some of the statements may also present the personal views of the speakers.

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