Believing in biotech: alliance director sees national role for Colorado.

• Author: Schwab, Robert
• Position: Q & A - Arlen Meyers, Colorado Alliance for Bioengineering

BIOTECHNOLOGY, ESPECIALLY IF YOU CONSIDER THE FULL RANGE OF LIFE sciences from agriculture to human and animal medicine, from medical devices to genetic manipulation, is not only the next new thing, but one that will stay with us for many years to come, says Dr. Arlen Meyers, executive director of the Colorado Alliance for Bioengineering.

But you have to take the long view.

Meyers, also a head-and-neck surgeon at the University of Colorado Hospital, said in an interview with ColoradoBiz and W3W3.com Talk Radio, that Colorado has a chance to become the center of the nation's biotech universe, but that fulfillment of such a dream depends on what's done now to accommodate biotech as a growth industry.

In February, ColoradoBiz reported that CU Boulder's economic forecasters were looking to biotech as an economic driver in 2002. The redevelopment of part of the old Fitzsimons Army Medical Center as a biotechnology park (ColoradoBiz November, 2001) is expected to give legs to that drive.

And on Dec. 4, Meyers and his bioengineering alliance are planning the third annual CAB Expo, an industry showcase meant to bring together academics, business people and investors who may be interested in biotech growth in the state. It will be held at Fitzsimons.

W3W3 is an Internet radio station hosted by Larry and Pat Nelson at w3w3.com. In the interview, Meyers talked about both the biotech industry and the Dec. 4 expo. Following is an edited version of the dialogue.

W3W3: Most people in the high-tech arena know how important the biotech industry is to Colorado. So what is the purpose of this expo?

MEYERS: There are several purposes. One is to improve academic/industry collaboration. The second is to showcase the science of faculty inventors at the CAB affiliate universities: CSU, Denver University, University of Colorado, Colorado School of Mines. And a third purpose is to demonstrate to visitors our potential as the center of the biotech universe.

CB: What would you expect to see if you walked into the fair?

MEYERS: You will see nationally and internationally recognized scientists talking about various aspects of the business of science in Colorado. There will be breakout sessions, talking about biotech opportunities in aerospace, led by industry specialists from the aerospace industry to IBM, to the deputy director of the newly formed National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, Dr. Donna Dean, whose budget is about $275 million.

So there...