When Engineers meet Bioscientists

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When Engineers meet Bioscientists

• Gary Wang 10/31/2009

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Greener?
IT industry
Biotech
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Life Science? Bio-Tech? High-Tech?

• May be subjective and will change over time
• No official definitions of Life Science,
  Bio-Tech, and High-Tech but according to North
  American Industry Classification System (NAICS)

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Why? (1)
80 products of Frys Electronics are not
necessities of our life. -- Judy Wang, Family
talk, 2006
Daddy, next time when you come to my house,
could you bring me a new toy? -- Derek Wang,
Skype call, 2005
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Why? (2)
High-tech Impact
Biotech Impact
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Motivation

• 2003 International Technology Roadmap for
  Semiconductors (ITRS) clearly identifies the
  integration of electrochemical and
  electrobiological techniques as one of the
  system-level design challenges that will be faced
  beyond 2009
• Electrical engineering technologies and
  microfluidics can be fully integrated to provide
  advanced biochemical solutions.

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Motivation
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What? (1)
Learning Technologies
Learning Business
Lab-on-a-chip technology may soon become an
important part of efforts to improve global
health particularly through the development of
point-of-care testing devices.
POCT (Point-of-Care Testing)
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IVD (In Vitro Diagnostic) Market
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Continuous-Flow Microfluidics

• miniaturized total chemical analysis systems
  (µTAS)
• the broader terms microfluidics and
  lab-on-a-chip are now often used in addition to
  µTAS.

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Digital Microfluidics

• electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD)
• EWOD refers to the modulation of the interfacial
  tension by applying an electric field
• Many advantages of EWOD architecture
• We are filing significant IPs

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So? (1)

• Very different business model
• Very diversified industry with Fragmented markets
• Longer development cycle slower pace
• Very different mindset
• Not Silicon Valley friendly

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Different business model
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Technology driven but conservative business
??????????????
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Veterinary Diagnostic Equipment

• Hematology analysis
• Automated hematology analyzers
• Coagulation analyzers
• Blood typing kits
• Biochemistry analysis
• Biochemistry systems
• Dry chemistry systems
• Blood gas analyzers
• Electrolyte analysis
• Lactate meters
• Glucose meters
• Immunoassays
• Competitive immunoassays
• Sandwich immunoassays
• Animal-site rapid immunoassays
• DNA testing
• Bile acid tests and others
• Urine test kits
• Refractometers

• Radiography
• Digital radiography
• Computed tomography
• Dental radiography
• Peripherals and consumables
• Diagnostic ultrasound
• Large animal reproduction
• Small animal reproduction
• Equine tendon
• Cardiology
• Ophthalmology
• Ultrasound systems
• Three dimensional ultrasound
• Magnetic resonance imaging
• Other imaging
• Gamma cameras
• Dermatology imaging
• PACS
• Endoscopes

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Longer development cycle

• Reboot is not an option
• Regulatory requirements
• FDA, The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) and
  PMDA (Japan)
• Clinical trials
• GMP (Good manufacturing practice)
• Regional differences/protections
• X3 ?

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Very different mindset

• Know-how?
• Anti-big-companies?
• Team work?
• More individual dependent?
• More Self-centered?
• Scientistic vs. Engineering?
• Degree important?

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Not Silicon Valley friendly

• Anti-high-tech altitude?
• Silicon Valley culture?
• Difficult to start from your garage?
• Rational decision?
• Lack knowledge appreciation of advanced IT
  technologies?

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So? (2)
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Roadkills?

• Set the right expectations
• Planning is the key
• Determination
• Reach out
• Timing is right
• Increasing demands on multi-disciplined talents
• No Recession in IVD (2/6/2009 Kalorama
  Information)
• Act now!
• Or 120 question

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Conclusion