Pacific Rim Summit on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy

Program Preview

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# Highlights of Breakout Session Tracks

**BIOENERGY PANEL**

**New Developments in Biofuels Production**

Joy Doran Peterson of the University of Georgia outlines the latest
developments in the production of ethanol from agricultural residues,
including sugar beet, sugar cane, citrus waste, corn stover and grasses.
Mark Burk, Vice President of Chemical and Industrial R&D at Diversa
describes the development of Ultra-Thin, a revolutionary next-generation
alpha amylase enzyme offering optimal liquefaction performance. Wei-Jia
Ting of National Tsing Hua University concludes with an introduction to
enzyme-mediated biodiesel production.

**Cellulosic Biofuels in China**

Professor Cao Zhuan, one of the driving forces in Chinese bioethanol,
from Qinghua University, will present an overview on bioethanol in China
today. Professor Li Shizhong, of the China Agricultural University, the
main advocate for a new Chinese national biomass to ethanol project,
will discuss the biomass to ethanol process. And Professor Qu Yinbo from
Shangdong University will contribute by presenting his expertise on
cellulase in China.

**Hydrogen Production through Bacterial Fermentation**

This session will review the bioengineering and biotechnological aspects
of hydrogen fermentation and the potential for applying fermentation to
production of hydrogen fuel. Speakers include Patrick Hallenbeck,
Professor at Université de Montréal; Michael Cooney, Associate
Researcher at the University of Hawaii; and Debabrata Das, Professor at
Indian Institute of Technology. Guangyi Wang, Associate Professor at the
University of Hawaii, will moderate.

**MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOPROSPECTING PANEL**

**Bioprospecting - Law, Business & Ethics**

Biotechnology companies often conduct field research by collecting
material samples in remote ecosystems and extracting biological
compounds and genetic information from them in order to aid in research
for new pharmaceuticals, genetic markers, cellular pathways, biomedical
treatments, etc. This panel will discuss an increasingly complex
national and international legal framework arising out of the 1992 World
Convention on Biodiversity, which now requires that companies conduct
such research pursuant to formal agreements. The speakers include Dr.
Paul Alan Cox of the National Ethnobotany Center, Seth Reiss of Godbey
Griffths Reiss & Chong, and Melody McKenzie, Board member of Native
Hawaiian Legal Corporation. Leighton Chong moderates.

**Discoveries in Marine Biotechnology**

Stuart Donachie will discuss work at the University of Hawaii to screen
Hawaiian marine mycoflora for desirable small molecules. Christopher
Marquis of the University of New South Wales discusses his study on
algae/coral communities as targets for the discovery of new
biologically-active compounds. Guangyi Wang of the University of Hawaii
concludes with a summary of his team's research on several Hawaiian
sponges and algae for understanding microbial diversity and
biotechnology potential of marine species in the Hawaiian coral reef
ecosystems.

**Drugs from the Sea**

This presentation will cover the significant number of marine-derived
drug candidates directed against human diseases that are now in the
clinical and preclinical arenas. Specific examples will demonstrate the
multiple parallel steps ranging from biomass procurement through
semisynthesis and/or total synthesis of the initial or derivative
compounds that are required to successfully develop a marine-derived
compound as a drug entity. With Rene Wijffels of Wageningen University
in the Netherlands; David Newman of the National Cancer Institute; and
Margo Haygood at the Oregon Health and Science University.

**NOVEL APPLICATIONS AND NANOTECHNOLOGY PANEL**

**Nano-biotech for Drug Discovery**

This session highlights several new technologies that address key
bottlenecks in the drug development process. High-throughput
biocatalysis, integrated biocatalytic synthesis and cell-based
screening, and the chemoenzymatic synthesis of unique core structures
that can be further functionalized using highly selective and rapid
biocatalytic techniques will become increasingly important in the
development of a new paradigm for drug discovery. This session includes
talks from academia and a start-up biotechnology company in areas
related to lead compound generation and optimization at the
chemistry-biocatalysis interface, and in human toxicology testing at
accelerated speeds made possible by the application of nanotechnology
coupled with biocatalysis. Featuring Marc Tius (University of Hawaii),
Douglas Clark (University of California, Berkeley) and Jonathan Dordick
(Solidus Biosciences).

**Functional Foods and Bioactives**

Bozena Kosikova of the Slovak Academy of Sciences will discuss potential
application of lignin biopolymers isolated from wastes of chemical wood
treatment as diet additives. Keo Intabon of the University of Tsukuba
will present research on industrial production of functional ingredients
using Agaricus blazei mushrooms. Lastly, John Finley**,** Chief
Technology Officer at A. M. Todd will discuss recovery of phenolic
compounds and plant pigments from fruit processing wastes.

**Using Biology to Manufacture Electronics**

Taking nanotechnology and biologically-inspired materials and electronic
device design from the lab to the market. With MacArthur Genius award
winner, Angela Belcher (Massachusetts Institute of Technology); Venture
Capitalist and Forbes columnist, Josh Wolfe; and Michael Knapp**,** CEO
of Cambrios Technologies.

**BIOBASED PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS PANEL**

**New Business Models for Bioproducts**

Due to the high cost of transporting feedstocks, many industrial
biotechnology applications, and thus much of the research and
development in industrial biotechnology, will occur outside of
established hubs of research and commercialization strength. This
session addresses the need for new business models and regional
strategies to cope with reduced access to funding, management,
complimentary firms, suppliers, and markets. With Kevin Kelly
(University of Hawaii Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive
Research); Gandy Goodfellow, President, Goodfellow Agricola; and Rick
Norland, Founding Partner, Thorington Corporation.

**Economically Viable Bioproducts from a C3 Platform**

This session will examine opportunities for building a renewable
3-carbon (C3) chemical industry, including presentations on new
technology for producing propylene glycol, 3-hydroxy propionic acid and
its derivatives, and 1,3-propanediol. Featuring Matt Tobin (Codexis),
Jim Millis (Cargill), and Edi Eliezer (DuPont). Moderated by Chris Ryan
(Natureworks).

**Japanese microbial biotechnology: Its novelty and uniqueness**

A collection of top research advances from Japan in microbes and
microbial enzymes. Michihiko Kataoka of Kyoto University presents a new
enzymatic process for the optical resolution of racemic pantolactone.
Shigeru Yamanaka of Shinshu University discusses extracellular
production of cellulosic microfibrils by Acetobacter bacteria; and
Yasuhisa Asano of Toyama Prefectural University presents a novel
enzymatic process for production of umami seasonings.