Dr. David Brigham (EntoGenetics)

Event Date:
March 10, 2014 – 4:00 PM to March 11, 2014 – 4:59 PM

Location:
Burson 115

Event Date:
March 10, 2014 – 4:00 PM to March 11, 2014 – 4:59 PM

Location:
Burson 115

Seminar Series

Spring 2014

Dr. David Brigham
EntoGenetics, Inc.

Will be presenting

“Bio-Engineered Fiber Production”

Abstract:

Development of advanced textiles for the war fighter has been stagnant, and biomedical advancements require new implantable fibers and scaffolding. The best ballistic fibers are forty years old. Advances in regenerative medicine are paced by improved scaffolding for growing new organs and tissues. Further, we need to replace petrochemicals with renewable green biofiber technology. EntoGenetics is working to meet these needs by engineering the silkworm to produce the strongest bio fiber on earth, spider silk. We will be summarizing what makes spider silk so special, our technology to mass produce it, and its applications. EntoGenetics is combining bioinformatics, genetic engineering, and agronomics to make a 4,000 year old technology the cutting edge of biotechnology.

Spider silk is a protein that uses highly optimized nanocrystals to produce these strong, tough fibers. This structure will be elucidated and the method of adapting it to silkworms illustrated. We will also be discussing the other properties that make spider silk very interesting in biomedical applications and recent developments in regenerative medicine that can take advantage of it. EntoGenetics is taking the oldest biotechnology and using the newest one to bring textile production back to North Carolina.

Biography:

2007-Present Chief Scientist and CEO of EntoGenetics Inc.
2004 – 2007 Manager, NC BioNetwork BioEd Center, Gaston College.
2000 – 2004, Director, Iowa BioDevelopment, Indian Hills Community College
1997-2000, Post-Doctoral Fellow, Recombinant DNA/Protein Resource Facility, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Oklahoma State University

Monday, March 10, 2014 @ 4:00 PM in Burson 115