Organization

The goals of Biotrends are based in our commitment to advance science literacy and education:

• To offer timely articles on a wide range of topics in science and technology. Biotrends plans to cover all disciplines of science and technology with an emphasis on how they affect our lives.

• To provide discussions of scientific issues of national and international importance.

• To provide background information explaining science and technology advances and issues in the news.

• To introduce the public to scientists and science policy makers through interviews. Our intent is to provide insight into the workings of scientific discovery and the creation of science policy by giving them a personal face.

• To provide a platform through which scientists can communicate their work in a manner all can understand. We believe that public understanding and support is the single most important factor in the funding and advancement of science.

Editors

“After getting three degrees in science and an MBA focused on healthcare and the pharmaceutical industry and using my training to write about science, I began to look at how science is being taught and communicated to the public. It was only after giving talks and interacting with the public that I realized we are not doing a great job, educating the public”.

Shadi Farhangrazi, Ph.D., Founder and Editor

Dr. Farhangrazi is the founder and Co-Editor of Biotrends, and President and Managing Partner of Biotrends International, a management and strategy development consulting company in Denver, Colorado. An international speaker, a strategist and adviser in the area of biotechnology, healthcare and global health. Dr. Farhangrazi has been an adviser and consultant to major multinational companies, governmental and non-governmental organizations and biotechnology companies in such diverse areas as strategy and business development, product placement and introduction, international development as well as global health. Dr. Farhangrazi is a frequent invited speaker, talking on diverse topics including public policy and science education, global health, business ethics, management and strategy, and stem cell research. Dr. Farhangrazi is also an Adjunct Professor of Engineering and Computer Science at University of Denver focusing on biological engineering, bioinformatics and bio-enterprises.

Dr. Farhangrazi is a neuroscientist and was formerly, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Center for the Study of Orphan Diseases, and a Faculty at the Department of Neurology and Center for the Study of Nervous System Injury, and Science and Business Liaison for the Spinal Cord Injury Research and Rehabilitation Program, at Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis. Dr. Farhangrazi has been the author of several literary and scientific papers and articles. She holds a PhD in Biochemistry with focus on Protein Design from National Center for Design of Molecular Function, Utah State University, and an MBA from University of California, Irvine.

Go to Dr. Farhangrazi's Homepage

Gayle Knapp, Ph.D., Editor

Gayle Knapp is trained in the biological and chemical sciences. She received an AB degree (Chemistry) from Barnard College , a PhD (Biochemistry) from the University of Illinois , and postdoctoral training (Molecular Biology) at University of California at San Diego . She has held faculty appointments at The University of Alabama at Birmingham and Utah State University and is now co-owner of CyberSym Technologies. Her research interests lie in the field of RNA structure/function, biosynthesis and gene structures. Having taught molecular biology, biochemistry, chemistry, and medical and dental microbiology, she strongly believes in an integrated teaching approach that emphasizes interconnectedness—neither molecules, reactions, pathways, nor organisms stand alone. Her vocation may be the biologically-derived sciences; however, her avocation is a curiosity for all things scientific that leads to an ardent desire to advance the understanding of those things by striving to improve scientific literacy.

Dr. Knapp can be found running or skijoring on trails of the intermountain western USA with a Siberian husky or designing jewelry using natural materials. Her philosophy is: “We're custodians of our Gaia for a mere mote of time but the results of our actions likely will persist into future ages. We need to realize how linked we are to each other and to this earth.”

Cyndi Sauvage, Editor

Cyndi Sauvage is a 15-year veteran of the publishing industry and has been involved in every aspect of writing, editing and producing a wide variety of magazines, books and newspapers (commercial and trade) in Colorado and New York City.

Cyndi is a worldwide traveller to over 60 countries, speaks Spanish and French, and is learning Chinese and was a co-author of Karen Brown 's Country Inn Guides to Spain and Portugal. A lifelong learner, she is always enrolled in a class or two that captures her interest. She is also a part-time teacher, freelance writer, editor and language tutor based in Denver, Colorado , where she is a member of the Denver World Affairs Council and the Institute of International Education. Cyndi received her BA Spanish/French and graduate study in Latin American Literature from University of Colorado, Boulder.

Michael Sugarman, Ph.D., Director of Science Education, Schools and Educators

Michael Sugarman received his B.S. in Biology/Psychology from Union College (Schenectady , NY ) in 1997, and then went on to get a Ph.D. in Neurobiology from the University of California , Irvine in 2002. During his graduate studies and following post-doc at UCI, he generated a genetically modified (transgenic) mouse model of a human neuromuscular disease and characterized the resulting pathology. He has published several high profile research manuscripts as well as book chapters and review articles with his Ph.D. advisor, Dr. Frank LaFerla. However, his true calling and talent is teaching conceptually complex scientific ideas in ways students can comprehend. His previous teaching experience includes undergraduate courses in neurobiology, genetics and biology. He also has extensive one-on-one tutoring experience with high school students in all sciences.

Dr. Sugarman is concerned about the general lack of scientific knowledge among the public and how low U.S. students rank in science and math skills among other countries. “With science/technology advancing at such a rapid pace and affecting us all in some capacity, it is critical to educate the public, allowing them to not only understand the world with which they interact, but also to provide sufficient knowledge regarding hot topic issues ( e.g. The Human Genome Project, forensic DNA fingerprinting, stem cell research and much more). This knowledge provides a foundation for one to form educated views on particular scientific issues, which is all the more critical if we are given the opportunity to vote on the issue.”

Are you interested in finding out who writes for Biotrends? Click here For a list of Contributing Authors to Biotrends.

Staff and Interns

Maryann Adolfo

Diane (Dee) Christensen

Manuel Duenas

Tim Omi

Judy A. Ritts

Steve Sipes

Michael Tran

The Liability Statement

The articles, statements and contributions published in Biotrends are not necessarily the opinions of the editors, managers or the parent company of Biotrends, Biotrends International. We aim to create an open environment for communication, and therefore, accept and publish contributions with differing positions on issues; however, the contributions must be relevant to our mission and goals as outlined above.