Note to Correspondents

United Nations University Seminar on Harnessing Biotechnology for Development:

The Latin American and Caribbean Experience at Headquarters 28 October

 

The United Nations University (UNU) at the United Nations in New York and the UNU-Biotechnology for Latin America and the Caribbean (UNU-BIOLAC) are organizing a panel entitled "Harnessing Biotechnology for Development:  The Latin American and Caribbean experience" on 28 October 2004, from 3 to 5 p.m., in the auditorium of the Permanent Mission of Germany (49th St. and First Ave).

This event is an opportunity to introduce and present the work and research of the UNU-BIOLAC, a research institute based in Caracas, Venezuela.  The UNU-BIOLAC does extensive training in the region, especially in Argentina and Costa Rica.  Beyond that, high-profile panellists will discuss the burden of infectious diseases in Latin America, the solutions available to tackle this problem, and the tools needed to empower local populations and scientists.

Panel Chairperson:  Jean-Marc Coicaud, Head of the United Nations University office in New York.

Panellists:  Dr. José Luis Ramirez, Coordinator, UNU-BIOLAC; Dr. Gerald Keusch, Assistant Provost for Global Health, Boston University Medical Campus and Associate Dean for Global Health at Boston University School of Public Health; Dr. Stephen L. Hoffman, the founder and Chief Executive and Scientific Officer of Sanaria Inc., and co-founder and Chairman of Protein Potential LLC, vaccine development companies in Rockville, Maryland.

Further information, including the agenda and registration, is available online at http://www.ony.unu.edu, or by contacting the New York office, tel.:  212-963-6387, e-mail:  nassim@ony.unu.edu; or Ramon Ray, UNU, 2 UN Plaza, DC2-2060, New York, New York10017, tel.:  212-963-6387, fax:  212-371-9454, e-mail:  ramon@ony.unu.edu.

United Nations media, United Nations staff, Permanent Missions and non-governmental organizations are invited.

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