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Wyss Institute established with historic gift

Harvard University received the largest single gift in its history -- $125 million -- to transform the Harvard Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering into the Wyss Institute, which launched January 1, 2009. Read the press release...

Look for the new Wyss Institute Web site this summer at this url and at wyss.harvard.edu.

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Announcements

	Joanna Aizenberg awarded Fred Kavli Distinguished Lectureship in Nanoscience Each year the Materials Research Society presents this award to "an outstanding spokesperson for nanoscience." In addition to receiving a cash award from the Kavli Foundation, Dr. Aizenberg will address the MRS spring meeting in San Francisco.
	Institute hires Director of Administration The Wyss Institute is pleased to announce that Ayis Antoniou, Ph.D., MBA, has been hired as the Institute's first Director of Administration. Ayis brings great expertise in finance, strategy, and organizational dynamics, as well as extensive experience as an entrepreneurial leader who has launched and successfully grown multiple ventures in various industries.
	iGEM registration is open! The Wyss Institute will co-sponsor the Harvard University team for the International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition (iGEM), an undergraduate student competition based on Synthetic Biology. The Harvard team will compete this summer against close to 100 teams from all over the world. Register here...

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News from the Wyss Institute

	Reengineering E. coli and yeast for renewable energy BIOLOGICALLY PRODUCED HYDROGEN is now possible, as demonstrated by Pamela Silver's group. Using E. coli as the catalyst, renewable biomass is converted into formate and subsequently processed into hydrogen. [Appl Environ Microbiol. 2009 Feb 6]
	Artificial spleen for sepsis therapy CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY focuses on a blood-cleansing microdevice developed by Don Ingber's team. The device combines a microfluidic system with micromagnetic opsonins and controllable magnetic fields to rid flowing blood of pathogens, such as the Candida albicans fungi that can be deadly in sepsis patients. [Lab Chip 2009 DOI: 10.1039/b816986a]
	Biomimetic materials as cancer vaccines TECHNOLOGY REVIEW highlights infection-mimicking materials that generate protective anti-tumor immunity. Created by a team led by David Mooney, these materials produce 90% survival in animals that otherwise die from cancer within 25 days. [Nature Materials 2009 Feb; 8(2):151-8]