Biotechnology & Entrepreneurship (BTE-GY)

This practical course offers students the opportunity to apply practically their knowledge and skills to analyzing technology, preparing their own business plans or working at an early-stage biotech company. The student can sign up for three projects. | Prerequisite: Adviser’s approval.

The contribution of biotechnology to modern health care stretches far beyond developing therapeutic entities. This course provides an overview of key cutting-edge technologies such as stem-cell research and therapeutic cloning and demonstrates how their applications change “the conventional” for the availability of new treatments, monitoring services and diagnostics. The course examines the Human Genome Projects and its implications for health care and epigenetic modifications of the genome and their role in disease. The course also highlights the role of biotechnology in managing several sociologically high-impact diseases, in developed and developing countries. | Prerequisite: Adviser’s approval.

Biosensors and biochips are two of the most exciting, complex and fast-growing areas of biotechnology today—the interface between biotechnology, nanotechnology and micro-electronics industries. The course covers conventional biosensors based on whole cells, nucleic acids, antibodies and enzymes (e.g. enzymatic glucose monitoring) as well as new and emerging technologies related to designing, fabricating and applying multi-array biochips and micro-fluidic systems (lab-on-the-chip). The goal is to familiarize students with basic principles of biosensors design and applications. The course also covers practical applications of this technology in health care, medical diagnostics, defense and other areas. | Prerequisite: Adviser’s approval.

The course focuses on the commercial use of biological catalysts across various industry segments, including pharmaceuticals, health care, fine chemicals and food. The course combines a broad overview of cutting-edge technologies with industrial insights into the economics of bio-processing and deals with newly emerging trends in biomaterials. Case studies are presented to facilitate analysis, formulate trends and underline major challenges. | Prerequisite: Adviser’s approval.

Pharmaceutical drug development can take years and billions of dollars to place one drug into the market. At the core of any drug development strategy is expectation of how well the therapy of interest would perform and what financial returns are to be expected. This course is aimed at familiarizing students with understanding pharma asset strategy, including understanding the potential of the indication, the therapy’s differentiation, and projected financial returns. The course will mimic real-world asset strategy development as applied in industry. | Prerequisites: BT-GY 6013

This practical course offers students the opportunity to apply practically their knowledge and skills to analyzing technology, preparing their own business plans or working at an early-stage biotech company. The student can sign up for three projects. | Prerequisite: Adviser’s approval.