Two top Egyptian young graduates selected to attend the global Novartis Biotechnology Leadership Camp “BioCamp” in USA

July 29-31, 2009

Novartis Biotechnology Leadership Camp held for the second time in Egypt and the Middle East

Cairo, July 31, 2009 — Three young Egyptian graduates have been chosen as best participants at the Novartis Biotechnology Leadership Camp “BioCamp” which was held from July 29-31, 2009 in Cairo, Egypt. The top two will travel to the USA to participate in the global BioCamp which will be held in October while the third will act as an alternate in case any of the others cannot travel.

BioCamp is a pioneering two-day seminar that brings the biotechnology sector closer to talented young university graduates. It has been held over the past four years in Switzerland, Japan, China and Taiwan. 25 talented young men and women from Egypt, Morocco and Palestine, selected after a rigorous application process, listened to lectures by international experts on the topic of Hepatitis B & C.

Dr. Sergio Abrignani, Director of the National Institute of Molecular Genetics in Milan, Italy delivered the opening address. Dr. Abrignani, who has made seminal contributions in the field of hepatitis C vaccines, gave a global view of the disease and state-of-the-art therapy. This was followed by a keynote address by Dr. Gamal Esmat, Head of the International Society for Liver Diseases and professor of Gastroenterology at Cairo University, who discussed hepatitis as a problem in Egypt.

Following the lectures, the BioCamp participants split into four groups to work on preparing a strategic plan to combat hepatitis. On the second day of the seminar, each group got to present their plan to a panel of judges who then chose the best team and three top participants.

The two winners who will participate in the global BioCamp in the USA are Reem Olabi, who has a bachelor of science degree in pharmacy from Ain Shams University and is working towards a masters degree in Biotechnology from the American University in Cairo and Maha Omar, a graduate of the Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University. The third winner was Yasmin Mitwally, Faculty of Pharmacy & Biotechnology, German University in Cairo.

The participants also had a chance to explore career opportunities and network with local and global leaders in the biotechnology sector. For many, this was the first of many networking events that will help place them firmly on the first steps of their careers.

“Last year’s winner of the international BioCamp was a young Egyptian doctor from Ain Shams University and Novartis is hoping to send another winner again to the international BioCamp this year,” said Ali Toker, Novartis Egypt Country President.

Participation in BioCamp is highly selective and students who participated were chosen based on their academic excellence and professional focus.

“Participation in BioCamp is a very competitive process, but that is for good reason. We wanted to discover the hidden talent in the country, and support and sustain it through the international exposure and possible job opportunities that BioCamp provides. We also hope to help that talent flourish even further and attain its highest levels,” said Ali Toker, Novartis Country President.

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