A recent post on Alternet makes an interesting observation. Noting that two major American organizations, Chrysler and the Ford Foundation, have recently hired new CEOs with no previous experience in those industries, the authors write,

“Today, you don’t need to have experience in the work of an enterprise to lead it. You just need to be a leader. You need to have demonstrated a capacity to innovate and inspire, analyze and imagine. If you have these leadership skills, you are considered able to perform successfully as a leader almost anywhere… Leadership, in short, has become a marketable skill set.”

The article raises some tough questions. What is the right balance between leadership and experience? Is leadership really a transferable skill? Can an executive in one industry make a seamless transition to another? For that matter, would the head of an established multinational company be as effective at the helm of a small start-up?

Food for thought before searching for your next c-level employee…

BioSynergy, the science and business of biotechnology

What do a bunch of biomedical undergrads with an interest in business do for fun?

Well, if you’re Justin Chakma and his pals, you form a society, set up your own MBA-style case studies to hone your skills – and then publish a magazine to spread the biotech fervor.

Three months after the formation of the Delta Biotechnology Society, the inaugural issue of its BioSynergy magazine is expected to roll off the presses this month for distribution to biomedical undergrads at home and away. Student clubs at Caltech and Stanford are apparently interested in distribution of the 84-page full-colour publication, funded primarily by U of T’s faculty of pharmacy and departments within the faculty of science, along with some modest ad revenue.

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We are all interconnected - but to what end?

Collaboration and social networks have become an incredible cultural phenomenon. The opportunity for the internet to bring people together and collaborate in ways that were previously impossible (or at least really inefficient) is an interesting curiosity. But, while there is definitely fun in social networking sites and social media (those of you who haven’t seen the Fatboy Slim video with Christopher Walken on YouTube are in for a treat), I continue to look for the utility and value.

So far, these sites have just been a source of entertainment and fancy for me, but at the same time interconnectedness and interdependence are shaping our world and the internet is unquestionably a major force in making this happen. People much smarter than me have been writing and speaking about this for the past couple of years. While I am convinced that interconnectedness is an incredible enabler and that it is having profound impacts in our world, I continue to struggle with finding the utility for technology transfer and the commercialization of research.

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Om Malik of GigaOM brings us Found+READ, a collection of articles on role models, lessons-learned, wisdom of founders and practical advice for those attempting start-ups. A fantastic resource for founders — a great way to start your day.

Found+READ

Scientists now have a YouTube of their own!

SciVee: the YouTube for scientists

Launched at the beginning of September, SciVee enables scientists to upload or download video or audio and to interact with content creators. Content is largely tied to peer-reviewed published articles from open-access journals (known as ‘pubcasts’) but there are some videos not linked to specific papers. There are also plans to expand the scope of content to include pubcasts tied to commercial journals. Communities around a specific video can also be created to facilitate communication and collaboration.

A partnership of the Public Library of Science (PLoS), the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the San Diego Supercomputing Center (SDSC), SciVee is currently in alpha mode so content is a bit thin. However, if you’re tired of YouTube’s usual fare and are in the mood for something with substance, check out SciVee – content can be browsed by tags or by using the “Explore” tab.

Given MaRS’ track record of adopting and embracing new technology, maybe we’ll see some content from Martians there soon?

Find out who will be the next Einstein

The Nobel Prizes aren’t due to be announced until next month but already predictions and odds-making are surfacing on the Web. Information provider Thomson Scientific has joined the fray with its annual predictions for this year’s 2007 Nobel Laureates. Thomson’s ISI Web of Knowledge database is used to identify influential researchers in the Nobel prize categories of chemistry, economics, physiology or medicine and physics, based on a citation and impact analysis of their published research.

This year’s “Thomson Scientific Laureates” includes one Canadian on the list: Arthur B. McDonald, Director, Sudbury Neutrino Observatory Institute and Gordon and Patricia Gray Chair in Particle Astrophysics, Queen’s University.

Click for the list of other Laureates.

However, keep in mind that just four of the 54 Thomson Scientific Laureates have gone on to win a Nobel Prize.

They grow up too fast, originally uploaded by wiseacre

A “first of its kind” managed Canadian fund focused on clean-energy launched today, signaling a key step in the coming of age of this industry. The fund, launched by Criterion Investments Ltd., will be Canada’s first global clean energy fund. The reasons behind the launch indicate the significance of this milestone.

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Nerve cell (Rick C. Stahl, Nikon Small World exhibit)

Dr. Freda Miller, Senior Scientist at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children and one of the leading scientists of Aggregate Therapeutics Inc. was featured in a news article in the Toronto Star yesterday.

The article related recent experiments using skin-derived stem cells to repair spinal cord injuries in rats. Following administration of the cells, the rats ability to walk improved significantly.

Dr. Miller’s groundbreaking work raises the possibility that, one day, patients with CNS injuries may be treated with stem cells derived from their own skin.

Aggregate Therapeutics is the exclusive worldwide licensee of this powerful technology.

Fruit fly (drosophila) ovaries showing developing eggs
Photo by Dr. Daniel J. Johnston at Wellcome images

Published this week in the online journal of Science, researchers have discovered a shocking finding that gives a new twist to evolution. Although common in bacteria, it is rare to find the genomes of distantly related organisms, such as bacteria and higher life forms, mix. This is what scientists call “lateral gene transfer”.

However, scientists led by the University of Rochester and the J Craig Venter Institute (remember Venter from another story this week) have found the first cases in which the entire bacterial genome of a parasite (Wolbachia pipientis), was found fully intact in the genome of a higher life form species (fruit fly).

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First Transition Therapeutics announces its listing on Nasdaq and now NeurAxon, another MaRS tenant, announces closing $32 million Series B Financing. This latest funding, led by two new blue-chip life science investors, Delphi Ventures and OrbiMed Advisors, yet again validates the quality biotech research taking place in Toronto’s Discovery District and guarantees it will continue.

This financing is good news for Canadian-led biotech companies, which have been struggling recently with what seems like more than their fair share of challenges. Steve Burrell Biotech Stock Select (PDF), which tracks 25 of Canada leading public companies, has seen a 29% drop in value since this time last year. Needless to say, that is not going in the right direction.

Hmmm… Wonder if there is any correlation between the good news from Transition Therapeutics and Neuraxon and the fact that they are both at MaRS? OK, just some promotional wishful thinking!