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By Michele Sanguanini

CRISPR/Cas9 is a gene editing technology that is revolutionising the way that scientists design biomedical research. In addition to this, CRISPR/Cas9 is opening promising avenues for applications in gene therapy, manufacturing, and agriculture. The commercial and disruptive potential of this invention is so promising that it sparked a ‘gold rush’ towards patenting CRISPR/Cas technologies. Two principal players weighed in to define the CRISPR/Cas9 patent landscape in the US: the University of California Berkeley (UCB) and the Broad Institute, a joint MIT-Harvard research institute. This ultimately led to a high-profile patent battle in front of the US Patent Trial and Appeal Board, where the Broad Institute prevailed in the first instance. The dispute, however, continues worldwide. In this Communication, I will focus on the European front of this litigation; the problem being not only who owns this technology in Europe, but also what are the potential impacts of patent conflicts between academic institutions on European policy and law.

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By Emma Lawrence

In recent years, the volume of data generated from all aspects of our lives has been increasing, in parallel with the sophistication of analytical techniques used to process this data. This shift toward a ‘data-driven’ society has the potential to yield insights that can benefit many sectors of public life, but it has also prompted concerns related to privacy. A recent report by the Royal Society on data management and use is a recognition that the fast pace of all areas of data growth requires careful consideration.

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By Alex Koehler-Sidki

The digital world is changing fast; the computing power of today’s smartphones outpaces that of supercomputers from just twenty-five years ago. We can video-call people on the opposite side of the globe, and we trust that our data are transmitted securely from one device to another. But, given this breathless speed of advancement, can we maintain our security in the coming decades? The use of quantum mechanics could be the answer. Is the UK’s science policy up to it?

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The Cambridge Science and Policy Forum aims to stress the importance of the interaction between science and policy, offering a view on where this interaction is still lacking but also giving positive examples where evidence has been crucial in decision making. Our main goal is to reach early-career researchers, increasing understanding and encouraging them to pursue a role in science policy.

Where? Old Divinity School, St John’s College

When? Monday 23rd April, 2 – 6 pm

 PROGRAMME

Call for Abstracts
Policy-related societies, event organisers and individuals are invited to participate actively in our event by presenting a poster. Whether the mission of your poster would be to introduce your society, report on the outcomes of an activity you organised, or advertise future events, we are interested to hear about your poster ideas. Abstracts (max. 250 words) can be submitted to forum@cuspe.org until 13th of April 12 PM.

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By Mrittunjoy Guha Majumdar

Richard Holbrooke once said ‘Diplomacy is like jazz: endless variations on a theme’.  A fine-art as it seemingly is, diplomacy has recently had an added embellishment on its canvas: science. For the diplomats of the day, this new addition to the vanguard of diplomacy has come with a lot of additional resources and opportunities, over and above the traditional elements of ‘soft power’, which is an approach to international relations that involves persuasion using economic and/ or cultural influences.

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