- Email: [email protected]
The international centre for genetic engineering and biotechnology of UNIDO
314
TIBTECH - NOVEMBER
1990 [Vol. 8]
The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology of UNIDO Arturo Falaschi The idea of creating an International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) was raised about ten years ago within the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the UN agency established to promote the industrial development of third world countries. Several scientists advising UNIDO'suggested that progress in genetic engineering techniques and advanced biotechnology could offer possible solutions to the most pressing problems (health, nutrition and economic development) of the developing world. Biotechnological products give high return for relatively little investment in terms of energy, raw materials and capital expenditure. These features make such processes attractive for the economic development of third world countries. In 1982, at a conference held in Belgrade, the ministerial representatives of 35 UNIDO member countries agreed on the importance of creating 'a centre of excellence for research and training in genetic engineering and biotechnology addressed to the needs of the developing world'. The Statutes of the Centre were signed in Madrid in 1983 and 43 countries have signed them to date (see Table 1). The Centre, governed by a Preparatory Committee with representatives of the member countries, has started its activity, provisionally as a special project of UNIDO. The Statutes stipulate that when 24 countries have ratified, the ICGEB will become an Autonomous Intergovernmental Organization. ICGEB has been established as a
A. Falaschi is the Director of ICGEB, Padriciano 99, 1-34012 Trieste, Italy.
twin centre having two component laboratories, one in Trieste, Italy (an industrialized country), and one in New Delhi, India (a developing country), with an additional network of affiliated centres (national laboratories in member countries whose activities are partly co-ordinated and funded by ICGEB). Direction of the Centre, as a whole, resides in Trieste. It is mainly developing countries that are involved with the Centre (see Table 1). Several industrialized countries initially involved in the establishment of ICGEB, were particularly interested in hosting the Centre and withdrew their participation when the decision for the site was taken. The main basis for the twin Centre decision was that the generous joint offer of the Governments of Italy and India took into account both the needs; (1) of close contact with industries involved in advanced biotechnology, and (2) of sensitivity to the needs of the Third World. Voluntary donations of the two host countries assured the initial financial support for the Centre. In addition to further voluntary donations (from the signatory countries in the provisional phase), regular contributions from the member countries will eventually assure its future financial support. Management of the Centre In 1986 Prof. I. C. Gunsalus (Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry at the University of Illinois, IL, USA) was appointed as Director of ICGEB. Subsequently, the heads of the two component laboratories were appointed. For Trieste, I (formerly Director of the Institute of Genetics of the National Research Council in Pavia, Italy) was chosen, and for New Delhi, Prof. K. K. Tewari
(~ 1990, Elsevier Science Publishers Ltd (UK) 0167 9430/90/$2.00 -
(Professor and Chairman of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California at Irvine, CA, USA) was selected. After three years of dedicated service in the establishment of the basic activities of the Centre, Prof. Gunsalus returned to the USA, and I was appointed as Director. Prof. F. Baralle (formerly Director of Research at the Instituto Sienstenapico, Milanese) was appointed head of the Trieste Component in September 1990. The Centre has a Panel of Scientific Advisers (PSA), and a Governing body (the Preparatory Committee), which is chaired by Ambassador A. Taylhardat from Venezuela. Scientific programme To outline the scientific programme and to appoint scientists for the two component laboratories, the PSA collaborated with the Director and the heads of the Components. Selection of appropriate research topics was limited by the following considerations: (1) the plan to employ no more than 24 scientists (of a level of Assistant Professor or higher) in each component laboratory; (2) research should be directed at problems of interest to the Third World; and (3) research topics should be of such scientific merit as to attract researchers of high quality. Two scientific symposia held in 1984 and 1985 at New Delhi and Trieste advised on the selection of programmes, with a broad division of fields being agreed upon between the two components. Consequently, the Component at New Delhi addresses predominantly agricultural and health applications, whereas that at Trieste deals with industrial applications. The final
TIBTECH - NOVEMBER1990[Vol. 8]
315
--Table I
The m e m b e r countries of lCGEB. There are 43 in all Component host countries
Affiliated
India Italy
Algeria
Other member countries
centres
Hungary
Afghanistan Bhutan Bolivia Colombia Congo Costa Rica Ecuador Indonesia Iran Iraq
Spain Sudan Thailand Trinidad & Tobago
Nigeria
Kuwait
Tunisia
Venezuela Yugoslavia
Mauritania Mauritius Mexico
Turkey Viet Nam Zaire
Argentina
Brazil Bulgaria Chile China Cuba Egypt Greece
Morocco Pakistan Panama Peru Poland Senegal
selection resulted from the outcome of the two symposia, the proposals of the Directors and the advice of the PSA, with a final endorsement by the Preparatory Committee.
Trieste c o m p o n e n t In Trieste 32 post-doctoral scientists, also organized in five groups, are working at present on the following subjects:
N e w Delhi c o m p o n e n t The research activity in New Delhi (currently involving five group leaders and 25 post-doctoral scientists) focuses on the following subjects:
• Microbiology (leader: C. Bruschi); (a) to investigate the degradation of lignin for the improved utilization of agricultural waste: and (b) the production of novel multi-host shuttlevector systems (i.e. DNA molecules able to replicate in cells from different species).
• Hepatitis viruses (leader: S. Jameel); to obtain novel engineered vaccines for the Indian variants of hepatitis B, and the study of non Anon B enteric hepatitis. • Malaria (leader: F. Kironde); to produce novel vaccines for the Indian variants of Plasmodia. • Plant stress resistance (leader: J. Bennett); (a) to produce plants resistant to the herbicide glyphosate by inserting bacterial genes encoding degradative enzymes: (b) to i d e n t i ~ genes conferring insect resistance to rice; and (c) to apply Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLP) analysis to characterize rice varieties in order to map important genetic traits. • Plant transformation (leader: K. Tewari); to develop novel plant vectors based on chloroplast DNA, which would have the advantage of a very high copy number. • Protein chemistry (leader: V. Chauhan); a number of Hirudine analogues are being synthesized and tested to explore structure-function relationships in biologically active polypeptides.
• Virology (leaders: L. Banks and G. Faulkner); to study Human Papilloma viruses, some variants of which are implicated as the cause of cervical cancers. (Cervical carcinoma is the main cause of death by cancer of African women.) • Cell and molecular biology (leader: A. Falaschi); to study molecular aspects of the regulation of DNA replication in human cells. This work aims also to obtain new linear mammalian vectors based on physiological replication origins. • Genome studies (leader: C. Schneider); (a) to identify molecules that allow the progress of cells into S-phase; and (b) to develop automated preparation of DNA fragments for sequencing. • Protein structure a n d f u n c t i o n (leader: S. Pongor); (a) to provide support in protein chemistry and purification to the other groups; and (b) to focus on those structural units of protein whose active conformation is formed or stabilized by interaction with a specific environ-
ment {e.g. the amphiphilic helices that are unstable in aqueous solution but stable when bound to a membrane). Other activities The research programme is just one facet of ICGEB's activities. Others include the Training Programme, the Collaborative Research Programme and the Scientific Services. Training p r o g r a m m e The training programme consists of long-term and short-term projects. For long-term training, the ICGEB has awarded post-doctoral fellowships to member-country scientists (ten fellowships a year per Component). Another ten fellowships are awarded to member-country scientists to work in selected Italian laboratories on programmes related to those of the Centre. These are for one year with possible renewal for a second year. Furthermore, a predoctoral training programme is currently being organized. This will entail an agreement with University institutions of an international character in Trieste and New Delhi with the idea of enrolling membercountry persons (with at least a BSc degree in a scientific subject) into a three- to five-year PhD programme to be run by the Institution in conjunction with ICGEB. The programme will require that each student obtains credits, on advanced molecular genetics subjects, for at least two semester courses per year, for three years. The graduate students will be working at the scientific programntes of ICGEB and will eventually discuss a thesis based on the research performed under the supervision of ICGEB scientists. The short-term Training Programme includes a number of practical and theoretical courses or workshops, and of symposia held at the two Components and at Affiliated Centres. Nine such activities were held in 1989 and the programme for 1990 lists 12 events with an overall emphasis on molecular biology projects relevant to third-world countries. Participation in the training programme is given to membercountry scientists preferentially, but not exclusively. In particular, nonmember country scientists are considered for those activities which
316
are sponsored in collaboration with other international agencies whose membership is more extended than that of ICGEB.
Collaborative research programme The Collaborative Research Programme concerns the Affiliated Centres: these are national laboratories, recognized by the PSA and the Preparatory Committee as having the required scientific standards, and which undertake ICGEB research projects of two kinds: (1) projects relevant to the developing world and which correlate with the research projects of the two Components: and (2) applied projects, not directly related to the ICGEB programme, but of particular interest to the member countries. An international peerreview system has been established and the first 14 grants have already been awarded for a total of US$ 800 000 for three years.
TIBTECH- NOVEMBER 1990 [Vol. 8]
Premises The two component laboratories are presently located in temporary premises. The. Research Area of Trieste (a science park created recently as part of a national effort to establish Trieste as a centre for scientific co-operation between the developed and the developing world) has made available to ICGEB a building to house both the administration and the laboratory. A second building will be available in the summer of 1990, and a third will be ready by the end of 1991: ICGEB Trieste will then have almost 7000 m 2 available for research, training activities, and administration. In New Delhi ICGEB laboratories and administration are housed in the recently constructed National Institute of Immunology; the permanent facility (of 10 000 m 2) is expected to be built by the end of 1991.
Prospects Why ICGEB?
Scientific services Both component laboratories offer services to the member countries for the synthesis of oligonucleotides and oligopeptides and for the sequencing of proteins. A service for making databases on biological macromolecule sequences, and software for their analysis, available to the affiliated centres and member countries through a computer, is currently being organized. The databases will continuously be updated. Furthermore, the Centre provides, on request, consultants to member countries for specific scientific programmes and for building and equipping biological laboratories.
Funding As mentioned previously, the financial support (at present) comes predominantly from donations by the two host countries. In 1989, the Preparatory Committee agreed to reschedule the available funds (US$ 45 million) in a five-year programme, beginning July 1989. This is a rolling five-year programme, to be rescheduled each year. Thus, from July 1990, new funds will have to be found to assure the required fiveyear longevity. Setting up the fiveyear rolling programme was necessary to offer participants reasonable future prospects. This has been a key element in convincing the first seni6r scientists to join ICGEB.
osophy is common to that of ICTP. A final comment on the international character of the ICGEB: the staff and fellows in the two Components come from 22 countries. The persons involved in the longterm training are exclusively from member countries, whereas the scientists are selected purely on the basis of their professional excellence (giving preference to member countries only when persons of comparable ability are identified). The scientific activities in the two Components, after the definition of the research programme and the basic organization of the two laboratories, began only at the start of 1988; since that time, seven full publications in internationally refereed journals have appeared and are given below in chronological order (Refs 1-7).
The ICGEB is not intended to be just another molecular biology laboratory, but one that is specifically addressed and geared to the needs of the developing countries. Particularly, it aims to provide developing countries with scientists trained at an international level in modern biotechnology while working at programmes which are relevant to those countries. The underlying idea is that state-of-the-art research and achievements useful to the developing world can be pursued simultaneously. Efforts of ICGEB to strengthen the research capabilities of the member countries through the Collaborative Research Programme and the scientific services complement the activity of the centralized laboratories. The basic model for ICGEB was the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), established in Trieste as a joint IAEA/UNESCO effort in 1964 to provide training in physics for scientists from developing countries, to help the developing world to help itself through science, and to establish Trieste as a preferential forum for co-operation between industrialized countries and the Third World. The ICGEB, being involved in a scientific activity of typically experimental nature, has obviously put the main emphasis in training through involvement in the research programmes, but its phil-
What will be the future of the Centre? I think that there is no need to increase enormously in size, in order to be effective as a catalyst for the scientific development in biotechnology of the member countries. A reasonable expectation would be that by the end of the first five-year programme, the two Components will be operating in the final premises with an overall staff (in each Component) close to 150 persons (including the trainees and graduate students). More important, I expect that by that time, the usefulness and validity of the ICGEB activities will have convinced the member countries (and others) that it is worthwhile to assure the continuation of the effort.
Acknowledgements The physicist A. Salam, of ICTP, developed an outstanding programme for training scientists from developing countries - and encouraged the creation of ICGEB. Prof. D. Romeo, President of the Research Area in Trieste has promoted and helped ICGEB from its inception. Dr S. Ramachandran, Director of Biotechnology of the Government of India, has given valuable support to the efforts of ICGEB in New Delhi. I would also like to acknowledge an Italian diplomat G. Rosso-Cicogna who was actively involved in the establishment of ICGEB in Trieste and New Delhi.
TIBTECH
-
NOVEMBER 1990 [Vol. 8]
317
References 1 Manfioletti, G. and Schneider, C. (1988) Nuc]eic Acids Res. 16, 2873-2884 2 Schneider, C., King, R. M. and Philipson, L. [1988)Cell54, 787-793 3 Falaschi, A., Biamonti, G., Cobianchi, F., Csordas-Toth, E. et al.
(1988) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 951, 430-442 4 Van der Bliek, A. M., Kooiman, P. M., Schneider C. and Borst, P. (1988)
6 Tuteja, N., Tuteja, R. and Farber, D. B. (1989) Exp. Eye Res. 48, 863-872 7 Giacca, M., Gutierrez, M. I., Demarchi, F., Diviacco, S., Biamonti, G., Riva, S. and Falaschi, A. (1989)
Gene 71,401-411 5 Del Sal, G., Manfioletti, G. and Schneider, C. (1989) BioTechniques 7, 514-519
Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 165,956-965
:Among :themany:i~:terfiationa~:orga~ization~ devdied-to- the de::-;olopment ;of biOteehnoiogical . . . . . I ': ~ :researCh; education andcommer~e worldwidei th:O:IIB:is probably)heio~e;:wh:bse!~ims most closely ]:~. ..;i::resemble those of ICGEB; Th~ following brief:commenta~:outlifieS ~h~::way:in:whieh the different : I ~i~PrO~chOg:ancI:~oth°ds°f:this inStitut~may:be:dibe~teS~t°the~ameends':-: :::::! ::::;:: ::: g::~;~:~:~C:::::::: : ~ ~
%:::\:5
:
::::
:::
:
:::
; ~
:
::
;: :~
~
::~
~::
i
~:
::~C:f,%i~:::
:: :
: ~
,:7~i:~___
_i
._
] [ [
....
The International Institute of Biotechnology David J. Hardman The International Institute of Biotechnology (IIB) was established in the UK originally as a Company Limited by Guarantee, and is registered as a charity for the worldwide advancement of education and research in the field of biotechnology. As such its activities parallel some of the objectives of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB); however, our infrastructure and approach advancing our objectives is different. The IIB brings together comprehensive research and educational expertise in disciplines underpinning biotechnology from academic, industrial and governmental establishments from around the world. This unique blend of professional expertise has led to the IIB being recognized as a centre of excellence, and as an internationally respected source of information in the field of biotechnology. The Institute's research programmes are focused on problems identified as fundamentally important for the supranational development of biotechnology, which, by virtue of their very nature, require an interdisciplinary team approach for
D. J. Hardman is at the International Institute of Biotechnology, PO Box 228, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7YW, UK. @ 1990, Elsevier Science Publishers Ltd (UK)
0167
their solution. Such research initiatives promote the development of the biotechnological applications of microbes and their products. In the past, for example, The Insti: tute approached the question of process intensification of an antibiotic fermentation, by uncoupling growth and product synthesis via genetic engineering and environmental manipulations, while immobilizing the mycelium in order to achieve extended process times. Scale-up of this process was accomplished successfully. Biotreatment of toxic environmental chemicals, in particular halo-organic pollutants and the development of appropriate bioreactors for their removal has also successfully involved a multi-institution, multidisciplinary approach. The Institute has also launched a major search-and-discovery project under the title Biodiversity for Biotechnology Innovation related to utilizing novel, naturally occurring microorganisms. One element of this project is a co-operative programme with Indonesia on mycorrhizal inoculants for commercial tropical foreign trees, and the use of fungi for dehalogenating toxic chemicals. A second element of the programme involving collaboration with Thailand is concerned with carbohydrate. engineering. A number of International Agreements for education, research and
9430/90/$2.00
training have been formally concluded with newly industrializing countries. For example in Thailand there is a major research and training link with The National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in Bangkok. In addition The Institute's role as a Principal Link Centre in the World Bank Universities II Project in Indonesia has led to active interactions with the Inter University Centres of Biotechnology in Java. The major educational training activity of the Institute is centred around a unique post-graduate qualification, the Master of Biotechnology degree. Designed to provide a flexible training programme in disciplines required for the successful development of biotechnology now and for the 21st Century, the course may be completed by one year's fulltime attendance, or over an extended period part time. We are also developing a credit-accumulation scheme such that credit accumulated through prior participation in other relevant courses and, where appropriate, via experiential learning in the biotechnology field, will count towards the requirements for completion of the Masters Degree. The Institute offers a range of courses for Continuing Professional Development. It organized (in 1985) the first NATO Advanced Studies Institute of the then newly
TIBTECH - NOVEMBER
1990 [Vol. 8]
The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology of UNIDO Arturo Falaschi The idea of creating an International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) was raised about ten years ago within the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the UN agency established to promote the industrial development of third world countries. Several scientists advising UNIDO'suggested that progress in genetic engineering techniques and advanced biotechnology could offer possible solutions to the most pressing problems (health, nutrition and economic development) of the developing world. Biotechnological products give high return for relatively little investment in terms of energy, raw materials and capital expenditure. These features make such processes attractive for the economic development of third world countries. In 1982, at a conference held in Belgrade, the ministerial representatives of 35 UNIDO member countries agreed on the importance of creating 'a centre of excellence for research and training in genetic engineering and biotechnology addressed to the needs of the developing world'. The Statutes of the Centre were signed in Madrid in 1983 and 43 countries have signed them to date (see Table 1). The Centre, governed by a Preparatory Committee with representatives of the member countries, has started its activity, provisionally as a special project of UNIDO. The Statutes stipulate that when 24 countries have ratified, the ICGEB will become an Autonomous Intergovernmental Organization. ICGEB has been established as a
A. Falaschi is the Director of ICGEB, Padriciano 99, 1-34012 Trieste, Italy.
twin centre having two component laboratories, one in Trieste, Italy (an industrialized country), and one in New Delhi, India (a developing country), with an additional network of affiliated centres (national laboratories in member countries whose activities are partly co-ordinated and funded by ICGEB). Direction of the Centre, as a whole, resides in Trieste. It is mainly developing countries that are involved with the Centre (see Table 1). Several industrialized countries initially involved in the establishment of ICGEB, were particularly interested in hosting the Centre and withdrew their participation when the decision for the site was taken. The main basis for the twin Centre decision was that the generous joint offer of the Governments of Italy and India took into account both the needs; (1) of close contact with industries involved in advanced biotechnology, and (2) of sensitivity to the needs of the Third World. Voluntary donations of the two host countries assured the initial financial support for the Centre. In addition to further voluntary donations (from the signatory countries in the provisional phase), regular contributions from the member countries will eventually assure its future financial support. Management of the Centre In 1986 Prof. I. C. Gunsalus (Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry at the University of Illinois, IL, USA) was appointed as Director of ICGEB. Subsequently, the heads of the two component laboratories were appointed. For Trieste, I (formerly Director of the Institute of Genetics of the National Research Council in Pavia, Italy) was chosen, and for New Delhi, Prof. K. K. Tewari
(~ 1990, Elsevier Science Publishers Ltd (UK) 0167 9430/90/$2.00 -
(Professor and Chairman of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California at Irvine, CA, USA) was selected. After three years of dedicated service in the establishment of the basic activities of the Centre, Prof. Gunsalus returned to the USA, and I was appointed as Director. Prof. F. Baralle (formerly Director of Research at the Instituto Sienstenapico, Milanese) was appointed head of the Trieste Component in September 1990. The Centre has a Panel of Scientific Advisers (PSA), and a Governing body (the Preparatory Committee), which is chaired by Ambassador A. Taylhardat from Venezuela. Scientific programme To outline the scientific programme and to appoint scientists for the two component laboratories, the PSA collaborated with the Director and the heads of the Components. Selection of appropriate research topics was limited by the following considerations: (1) the plan to employ no more than 24 scientists (of a level of Assistant Professor or higher) in each component laboratory; (2) research should be directed at problems of interest to the Third World; and (3) research topics should be of such scientific merit as to attract researchers of high quality. Two scientific symposia held in 1984 and 1985 at New Delhi and Trieste advised on the selection of programmes, with a broad division of fields being agreed upon between the two components. Consequently, the Component at New Delhi addresses predominantly agricultural and health applications, whereas that at Trieste deals with industrial applications. The final
TIBTECH - NOVEMBER1990[Vol. 8]
315
--Table I
The m e m b e r countries of lCGEB. There are 43 in all Component host countries
Affiliated
India Italy
Algeria
Other member countries
centres
Hungary
Afghanistan Bhutan Bolivia Colombia Congo Costa Rica Ecuador Indonesia Iran Iraq
Spain Sudan Thailand Trinidad & Tobago
Nigeria
Kuwait
Tunisia
Venezuela Yugoslavia
Mauritania Mauritius Mexico
Turkey Viet Nam Zaire
Argentina
Brazil Bulgaria Chile China Cuba Egypt Greece
Morocco Pakistan Panama Peru Poland Senegal
selection resulted from the outcome of the two symposia, the proposals of the Directors and the advice of the PSA, with a final endorsement by the Preparatory Committee.
Trieste c o m p o n e n t In Trieste 32 post-doctoral scientists, also organized in five groups, are working at present on the following subjects:
N e w Delhi c o m p o n e n t The research activity in New Delhi (currently involving five group leaders and 25 post-doctoral scientists) focuses on the following subjects:
• Microbiology (leader: C. Bruschi); (a) to investigate the degradation of lignin for the improved utilization of agricultural waste: and (b) the production of novel multi-host shuttlevector systems (i.e. DNA molecules able to replicate in cells from different species).
• Hepatitis viruses (leader: S. Jameel); to obtain novel engineered vaccines for the Indian variants of hepatitis B, and the study of non Anon B enteric hepatitis. • Malaria (leader: F. Kironde); to produce novel vaccines for the Indian variants of Plasmodia. • Plant stress resistance (leader: J. Bennett); (a) to produce plants resistant to the herbicide glyphosate by inserting bacterial genes encoding degradative enzymes: (b) to i d e n t i ~ genes conferring insect resistance to rice; and (c) to apply Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLP) analysis to characterize rice varieties in order to map important genetic traits. • Plant transformation (leader: K. Tewari); to develop novel plant vectors based on chloroplast DNA, which would have the advantage of a very high copy number. • Protein chemistry (leader: V. Chauhan); a number of Hirudine analogues are being synthesized and tested to explore structure-function relationships in biologically active polypeptides.
• Virology (leaders: L. Banks and G. Faulkner); to study Human Papilloma viruses, some variants of which are implicated as the cause of cervical cancers. (Cervical carcinoma is the main cause of death by cancer of African women.) • Cell and molecular biology (leader: A. Falaschi); to study molecular aspects of the regulation of DNA replication in human cells. This work aims also to obtain new linear mammalian vectors based on physiological replication origins. • Genome studies (leader: C. Schneider); (a) to identify molecules that allow the progress of cells into S-phase; and (b) to develop automated preparation of DNA fragments for sequencing. • Protein structure a n d f u n c t i o n (leader: S. Pongor); (a) to provide support in protein chemistry and purification to the other groups; and (b) to focus on those structural units of protein whose active conformation is formed or stabilized by interaction with a specific environ-
ment {e.g. the amphiphilic helices that are unstable in aqueous solution but stable when bound to a membrane). Other activities The research programme is just one facet of ICGEB's activities. Others include the Training Programme, the Collaborative Research Programme and the Scientific Services. Training p r o g r a m m e The training programme consists of long-term and short-term projects. For long-term training, the ICGEB has awarded post-doctoral fellowships to member-country scientists (ten fellowships a year per Component). Another ten fellowships are awarded to member-country scientists to work in selected Italian laboratories on programmes related to those of the Centre. These are for one year with possible renewal for a second year. Furthermore, a predoctoral training programme is currently being organized. This will entail an agreement with University institutions of an international character in Trieste and New Delhi with the idea of enrolling membercountry persons (with at least a BSc degree in a scientific subject) into a three- to five-year PhD programme to be run by the Institution in conjunction with ICGEB. The programme will require that each student obtains credits, on advanced molecular genetics subjects, for at least two semester courses per year, for three years. The graduate students will be working at the scientific programntes of ICGEB and will eventually discuss a thesis based on the research performed under the supervision of ICGEB scientists. The short-term Training Programme includes a number of practical and theoretical courses or workshops, and of symposia held at the two Components and at Affiliated Centres. Nine such activities were held in 1989 and the programme for 1990 lists 12 events with an overall emphasis on molecular biology projects relevant to third-world countries. Participation in the training programme is given to membercountry scientists preferentially, but not exclusively. In particular, nonmember country scientists are considered for those activities which
316
are sponsored in collaboration with other international agencies whose membership is more extended than that of ICGEB.
Collaborative research programme The Collaborative Research Programme concerns the Affiliated Centres: these are national laboratories, recognized by the PSA and the Preparatory Committee as having the required scientific standards, and which undertake ICGEB research projects of two kinds: (1) projects relevant to the developing world and which correlate with the research projects of the two Components: and (2) applied projects, not directly related to the ICGEB programme, but of particular interest to the member countries. An international peerreview system has been established and the first 14 grants have already been awarded for a total of US$ 800 000 for three years.
TIBTECH- NOVEMBER 1990 [Vol. 8]
Premises The two component laboratories are presently located in temporary premises. The. Research Area of Trieste (a science park created recently as part of a national effort to establish Trieste as a centre for scientific co-operation between the developed and the developing world) has made available to ICGEB a building to house both the administration and the laboratory. A second building will be available in the summer of 1990, and a third will be ready by the end of 1991: ICGEB Trieste will then have almost 7000 m 2 available for research, training activities, and administration. In New Delhi ICGEB laboratories and administration are housed in the recently constructed National Institute of Immunology; the permanent facility (of 10 000 m 2) is expected to be built by the end of 1991.
Prospects Why ICGEB?
Scientific services Both component laboratories offer services to the member countries for the synthesis of oligonucleotides and oligopeptides and for the sequencing of proteins. A service for making databases on biological macromolecule sequences, and software for their analysis, available to the affiliated centres and member countries through a computer, is currently being organized. The databases will continuously be updated. Furthermore, the Centre provides, on request, consultants to member countries for specific scientific programmes and for building and equipping biological laboratories.
Funding As mentioned previously, the financial support (at present) comes predominantly from donations by the two host countries. In 1989, the Preparatory Committee agreed to reschedule the available funds (US$ 45 million) in a five-year programme, beginning July 1989. This is a rolling five-year programme, to be rescheduled each year. Thus, from July 1990, new funds will have to be found to assure the required fiveyear longevity. Setting up the fiveyear rolling programme was necessary to offer participants reasonable future prospects. This has been a key element in convincing the first seni6r scientists to join ICGEB.
osophy is common to that of ICTP. A final comment on the international character of the ICGEB: the staff and fellows in the two Components come from 22 countries. The persons involved in the longterm training are exclusively from member countries, whereas the scientists are selected purely on the basis of their professional excellence (giving preference to member countries only when persons of comparable ability are identified). The scientific activities in the two Components, after the definition of the research programme and the basic organization of the two laboratories, began only at the start of 1988; since that time, seven full publications in internationally refereed journals have appeared and are given below in chronological order (Refs 1-7).
The ICGEB is not intended to be just another molecular biology laboratory, but one that is specifically addressed and geared to the needs of the developing countries. Particularly, it aims to provide developing countries with scientists trained at an international level in modern biotechnology while working at programmes which are relevant to those countries. The underlying idea is that state-of-the-art research and achievements useful to the developing world can be pursued simultaneously. Efforts of ICGEB to strengthen the research capabilities of the member countries through the Collaborative Research Programme and the scientific services complement the activity of the centralized laboratories. The basic model for ICGEB was the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), established in Trieste as a joint IAEA/UNESCO effort in 1964 to provide training in physics for scientists from developing countries, to help the developing world to help itself through science, and to establish Trieste as a preferential forum for co-operation between industrialized countries and the Third World. The ICGEB, being involved in a scientific activity of typically experimental nature, has obviously put the main emphasis in training through involvement in the research programmes, but its phil-
What will be the future of the Centre? I think that there is no need to increase enormously in size, in order to be effective as a catalyst for the scientific development in biotechnology of the member countries. A reasonable expectation would be that by the end of the first five-year programme, the two Components will be operating in the final premises with an overall staff (in each Component) close to 150 persons (including the trainees and graduate students). More important, I expect that by that time, the usefulness and validity of the ICGEB activities will have convinced the member countries (and others) that it is worthwhile to assure the continuation of the effort.
Acknowledgements The physicist A. Salam, of ICTP, developed an outstanding programme for training scientists from developing countries - and encouraged the creation of ICGEB. Prof. D. Romeo, President of the Research Area in Trieste has promoted and helped ICGEB from its inception. Dr S. Ramachandran, Director of Biotechnology of the Government of India, has given valuable support to the efforts of ICGEB in New Delhi. I would also like to acknowledge an Italian diplomat G. Rosso-Cicogna who was actively involved in the establishment of ICGEB in Trieste and New Delhi.
TIBTECH
-
NOVEMBER 1990 [Vol. 8]
317
References 1 Manfioletti, G. and Schneider, C. (1988) Nuc]eic Acids Res. 16, 2873-2884 2 Schneider, C., King, R. M. and Philipson, L. [1988)Cell54, 787-793 3 Falaschi, A., Biamonti, G., Cobianchi, F., Csordas-Toth, E. et al.
(1988) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 951, 430-442 4 Van der Bliek, A. M., Kooiman, P. M., Schneider C. and Borst, P. (1988)
6 Tuteja, N., Tuteja, R. and Farber, D. B. (1989) Exp. Eye Res. 48, 863-872 7 Giacca, M., Gutierrez, M. I., Demarchi, F., Diviacco, S., Biamonti, G., Riva, S. and Falaschi, A. (1989)
Gene 71,401-411 5 Del Sal, G., Manfioletti, G. and Schneider, C. (1989) BioTechniques 7, 514-519
Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 165,956-965
:Among :themany:i~:terfiationa~:orga~ization~ devdied-to- the de::-;olopment ;of biOteehnoiogical . . . . . I ': ~ :researCh; education andcommer~e worldwidei th:O:IIB:is probably)heio~e;:wh:bse!~ims most closely ]:~. ..;i::resemble those of ICGEB; Th~ following brief:commenta~:outlifieS ~h~::way:in:whieh the different : I ~i~PrO~chOg:ancI:~oth°ds°f:this inStitut~may:be:dibe~teS~t°the~ameends':-: :::::! ::::;:: ::: g::~;~:~:~C:::::::: : ~ ~
%:::\:5
:
::::
:::
:
:::
; ~
:
::
;: :~
~
::~
~::
i
~:
::~C:f,%i~:::
:: :
: ~
,:7~i:~___
_i
._
] [ [
....
The International Institute of Biotechnology David J. Hardman The International Institute of Biotechnology (IIB) was established in the UK originally as a Company Limited by Guarantee, and is registered as a charity for the worldwide advancement of education and research in the field of biotechnology. As such its activities parallel some of the objectives of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB); however, our infrastructure and approach advancing our objectives is different. The IIB brings together comprehensive research and educational expertise in disciplines underpinning biotechnology from academic, industrial and governmental establishments from around the world. This unique blend of professional expertise has led to the IIB being recognized as a centre of excellence, and as an internationally respected source of information in the field of biotechnology. The Institute's research programmes are focused on problems identified as fundamentally important for the supranational development of biotechnology, which, by virtue of their very nature, require an interdisciplinary team approach for
D. J. Hardman is at the International Institute of Biotechnology, PO Box 228, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7YW, UK. @ 1990, Elsevier Science Publishers Ltd (UK)
0167
their solution. Such research initiatives promote the development of the biotechnological applications of microbes and their products. In the past, for example, The Insti: tute approached the question of process intensification of an antibiotic fermentation, by uncoupling growth and product synthesis via genetic engineering and environmental manipulations, while immobilizing the mycelium in order to achieve extended process times. Scale-up of this process was accomplished successfully. Biotreatment of toxic environmental chemicals, in particular halo-organic pollutants and the development of appropriate bioreactors for their removal has also successfully involved a multi-institution, multidisciplinary approach. The Institute has also launched a major search-and-discovery project under the title Biodiversity for Biotechnology Innovation related to utilizing novel, naturally occurring microorganisms. One element of this project is a co-operative programme with Indonesia on mycorrhizal inoculants for commercial tropical foreign trees, and the use of fungi for dehalogenating toxic chemicals. A second element of the programme involving collaboration with Thailand is concerned with carbohydrate. engineering. A number of International Agreements for education, research and
9430/90/$2.00
training have been formally concluded with newly industrializing countries. For example in Thailand there is a major research and training link with The National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in Bangkok. In addition The Institute's role as a Principal Link Centre in the World Bank Universities II Project in Indonesia has led to active interactions with the Inter University Centres of Biotechnology in Java. The major educational training activity of the Institute is centred around a unique post-graduate qualification, the Master of Biotechnology degree. Designed to provide a flexible training programme in disciplines required for the successful development of biotechnology now and for the 21st Century, the course may be completed by one year's fulltime attendance, or over an extended period part time. We are also developing a credit-accumulation scheme such that credit accumulated through prior participation in other relevant courses and, where appropriate, via experiential learning in the biotechnology field, will count towards the requirements for completion of the Masters Degree. The Institute offers a range of courses for Continuing Professional Development. It organized (in 1985) the first NATO Advanced Studies Institute of the then newly