Event Recap - Unleashing the Power of Biotech in the Bay Area and Asia: Exploring Possibilities, Collaboration, and Risks
On Thursday, October 5, Asia Society Northern California hosted a timely discussion on the future of biotechnology and the influence of the Bay Area and Asia. The conversation was moderated by Dr. Regis B. Kelly, Professor Emeritus at UCSF, Biochemistry and Biophysics Director and QB3 Institute, and featured Richard Dasher, Director of the US-Asia Technology Management Center at Stanford University; Marietta Wu, Managing Director of Quan Capital; and Mika Nishimura, Operational Partner of Glide Healthcare.
Dr. Kelly introduced the topic of biotechnology in the Bay Area and its links to Asia. He delineated three main subjects that concern biotechnology today. Firstly, he described how pharmaceuticals could alleviate mental health concerns with targeted development. He also spoke about diagnostics, and how information should be conveyed in a simple, personalized manner easily understood by a patient. Finally, he addressed medical problems and social ramifications related to aging populations and imagined the future of biotech in transforming aging.
In the panel, Dasher, Nishimura, and Wu took turns addressing topics such as the importance of patient management, the benefits of innovation through university research, and scientific collaboration across borders. They also touched on data set management; the importance of the Chinese market for healthcare; the diversity of patients in Asia; the need for NGOs in the battle against climate change; and the importance of fostering better relations between Asia and the Global North. The discussion concluded with a captivating debate between Dashner and Kelly comparing Stanford and the University of California San Francisco, and the benefits higher education can bring to prospective medical professionals.