Biosynergy

Infobox Newspaper
name = BioSynergy Magazine


caption = The June 7, 2008 cover of
"BIO2008 Edition of BioSynergy"
type = Semiannual Magazine
format = Print and Electronic
foundation = September, 2007
owners = BioSynergy Magazine Inc.
editor = Justin Chakma
editor_title = Editor in Chief and Publisher
category = Business Magazine
staff = 100
circulation = ~40,000
headquarters = Toronto, Canada
ISSN = 1918-0276
website = [http://www.biosynergyonline.com/ BioSynergyOnline.com]

BioSynergy Magazine is a biannually published biotechnology magazine and self-titled non-profit corporation targeted at executives and scientists at the [http://www.bio2008.org BIO International Convention] . [ [http://www.biosynergyonline.com BioSynergy - Welcome ] ] It is the first and only student-run biotechnology magazine in the world. Created by students at the University of Toronto, BioSynergy has since expanded to incorporate students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University and the University of British COlumbia. The student magazine has a number of major supporters, including the [http://www.bio.org Biotechnology Industry Organization] , which represents 1300 biotechnology companies worldwide, and [http://www.nature.com/nbt/index.html Nature Biotechnology] .

History

BioSynergy Magazine was created under the auspices of the Delta Biotech Society at the University of Toronto in April 2007 by two undergraduate students, Tim Zhao and Justin Chakma. The founders originally intended the organization to inform and inspire undergraduate students in business and the biomedical sciences, but later discovered a much broader audience receptive to their ideas outside of the university and across North America. [ [http://www.news.utoronto.ca/science-and-technology/student-biotechnology-magazine-makes-name-for-itself.html Student biotechnology magazine makes name for itself - University of Toronto - News@UofT ] ]

The magazine was initially one platform within a broader initiative in Toronto founded at the same time known as the Delta Biotech Society. A seminars series was the other platform at the beginning. The final platform, mock case-study sessions focusing on biotech companies emerged from the unique training regiment the founders developed for BioSynergy’s editorial team. Over the course of two weeks, they composed a business plan with a bold vision to expand to the United States and fly-in speakers in a two year timeframe.

Confident in their initiative, the founders took their business plan to Dr. David Naylor, President of the University of Toronto, who commissioned a report on undergraduate biotech initiatives in the United States. This gave birth to a new case-study based course at the University of Toronto (HMB431H1). They also secured the support of Dr. Ilse Treurnicht, CEO of the MaRS Discovery District, which led to a Memorandum of Understanding with MaRS agreeing to provide speaker facilities and assist the organization.

Issue #1 of BioSynergy ( [http://www.biosynergyonline.com/files/magazine/2007_complete.pdf The Biotech Odyssey] ) was launched in September 2007, focusing on the linkages between entrepreneurial scientists, investors and clinicians in the biotech industry. One thousand print copies were distributed at the University of Toronto. The first meeting at MaRS brought together almost 100 students. Subsequent recruiting expanded the staff from fourteen undergraduate students to forty six students ranging from MBA to medical to doctoral students. These students began work on Issue #2 ( [http://www.biosynergyonline.com/files/magazine/2008_complete.pdf Our Biological Renaissance] ) through the 2007-2008 academic year, which focused on biology’s transition into a quantitative, engineering-based discipline.

The original vision was fulfilled in last than a year from BioSynergy’s beginning when in April 2008, BIO (Biotechnology Industry Organization) was persuaded by the founders to allow them to distribute BioSynergy to 22,000 scientists and executives at BIO2008 in San Diego – the world’s largest biotechnology conference. As fate would have it, the leading academic journal Nature Biotechnology was persuaded to also sponsor BioSynergy. During the tenure of the founders, print circulation and revenue increased by 28 000% and 1263% respectively. This international expansion enabled the founders to create branch offices in 12 cities from San Francisco to New York City, and marked the beginning of a new era for BioSynergy Magazine.

Content

The magazine welcomes guest contributions and story pitches from biotech professionals who have perspectives to share from their own entrepreneurial journey.Notable contributors include:
*James Watson (1962 Nobel Prize Winner and co-discoverer of the double helix)
*Phillip Sharp (1992 Nobel Prize Winner)
*William Brody (President of Johns Hopkins University).
*Daniel Vasella (CEO of Novartis)
*Andrew Marshall (Editor in Chief of Nature Biotechnology)
*Hugh Grant (CEO of Monsanto)

References