Agricultural News
Latest in Biotechnological Research Finds Use for Tobacco Plants in Saving Lives
Mon, 31 Oct 2016 15:35:13 CDT
Dr. Charles Arntzen, regents' professor and founding director of the Biodesign Institute in Phoenix, Arizona recently spoke with Associate Farm Director Carson Horn during BioTech University - a conference designed to give attendees a strong working knowledge of the latest in biotechnological research. Dr. Artnzen took the opportunity to describe the purpose and vision behind the Institute he has helped to build at Arizona State University.
"We designed this facility for multidisciplinary research," Arntzen said. "We think medicine is going to become more personalized over time. So, we're trying to put together diagnostic tools, information management and new therapeutics and vaccines all in one package so that we can deliver healthcare better, faster and cheaper in the future."
Dr. Arntzen is viewed as a leader in developing genetically-modified plant-based vaccines for human disease prevention in the developing world as well as disease prevention in animal agriculture. Most recently, Arntzen introduced ZMAPP: a tobacco based anti-Ebola drug, widely regarded as the most encouraging Ebola therapy currently.
"We've been pursuing the idea of having plants grown in developing countries and then harvested to make new vaccines and now more recently therapeutics," Arntzen said. "I'm totally convinced the technology is good, now I just got to make sure that we find ways to implement it not only in the US but around the world."
Luckily for Dr. Arntzen and his team, their methods are very much in line with creating traditional pharmaceuticals, which has shielded him from consumer backlash with the angst genetically modified organisms can cause the public to have. He says education though, is the key to ensuring people understand the benefits that his products can bring to revolutionizing safe, effective healthcare.
"In our case of trying to make plant made pharmaceuticals the GMO issue sort of is an interference or it's a side show," Arntzen said. "What we're doing is really totally different."
Listen to Dr. Arntzen and Carson Horn's full conversation by clicking the LISTEN BAR below.
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