*Welkom* to our blog! We are the 2008 Group Study Exchange team representing Rotary District 7620 which includes Central Maryland and Washington DC. We will be visiting District 1600, located in the southwestern part of the Netherlands as a part of a professional exchange with members from their district. This exchange is a part of the greater goal of the Rotary Club to promote world peace through the exchange of ideas and the understanding of other cultures. District 1600 includes Rotterdam and The Hague, which are the second and third largest cities in the Netherlands, following Amsterdam. We will be in the Netherlands from April 26 through May 24, during which, we will live with host families, give presentations to several Rotary Clubs and visit vocational sites related to our respective professions. Most of all, we will be immersed in Dutch culture and have many wonderful experiences. We hope you will enjoy reading about our experiences and adventures! *Dank u*

Monday, May 5, 2008

Bio Science Park at Leiden University


The visit to the Bio Science Park at Leiden University was coordinated by drs. Jaap Blaak, and it provided a look into the ever growing field of biotechnology. We had 4 presentations, 2 of which were from the CEOs of start up biotechnology companies (to-BBB and FlexGen). To-BBB is involved in modifying the delivery system of drugs for better entry into the brain. This technology may prove to be invaluable in the treatment of diseases of the brain with efficacious drugs that would otherwise have poor penetration. FlexGen has created a prototype instrument that can produce custom DNA microarrays within 24 hours. DNA microarrays play an important role in genetic research and medical diagnosis and potentially in population disease surveillance.
The Netherlands, small in land mass, big in innovation.

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