ByBySally ElkhatibSally Elkhatib

Mubarak City for Scientific Research & Mubarak City for Scientific Research & Technology Applications (MuCSAT) is the Technology Applications (MuCSAT) is the newest addition of research institutes in newest addition of research institutes in Egypt that was directed to the Egypt that was directed to the development and renovation of industry. development and renovation of industry.

A decision to develop a science park in A decision to develop a science park in Alexandria region was reached in 1993 in Alexandria region was reached in 1993 in order to acquire and improve scientific order to acquire and improve scientific technologies in different areas of human technologies in different areas of human life. life.

The Mucsat occupies 250 acres in the The Mucsat occupies 250 acres in the industrial area located at New Borg El Arab industrial area located at New Borg El Arab City, west of Alexandria. City, west of Alexandria.

Research

institutes

The aim of this institute is to develop The aim of this institute is to develop new solutions for medical, industrial new solutions for medical, industrial and environmental problems such as: and environmental problems such as:

- Carrying out applied research in the - Carrying out applied research in the field of biotechnology serving different field of biotechnology serving different industries.industries.

- Establishing strong links with - Establishing strong links with industry by introducing industry by introducing biotechnological products and biotechnological products and improvement of classical bio-products.improvement of classical bio-products.

Institutes Institutes DepartmenDepartmen

tsts

11--Proteins Research Proteins Research DepartmentDepartment

PRD is specialized in executing PRD is specialized in executing researches related to proteins researches related to proteins chemistry, structure, functions, chemistry, structure, functions, purification obtain large quantities of itpurification obtain large quantities of it

modifying proteins structure aiming to modifying proteins structure aiming to increase the efficiency of their increase the efficiency of their performed functions, to produce performed functions, to produce components with high economical components with high economical values with preserving the efficiency values with preserving the efficiency of protein. of protein.

Research AreasResearch Areas Bioactive proteins and Bioactive proteins and

peptidespeptides Thermostable proteinsThermostable proteins Protein biopolymers Protein biopolymers

(proteins-like polymers)(proteins-like polymers) Protein-protein and protein Protein-protein and protein

membrane interactionmembrane interaction Proteins structure and Proteins structure and

modelingmodeling ProteomicsProteomics Protein expression system Protein expression system

and affinity improvementand affinity improvement

Protein-TaggingProtein-Tagging Imaging, and microarraysImaging, and microarrays Cell proteomicsCell proteomics Expression and functional Expression and functional

proteomicsproteomics Biopharmaceutical productsBiopharmaceutical products Protein downstream Protein downstream

optimization and screeningoptimization and screening Bio-control proteinsBio-control proteins Peptide synthesisPeptide synthesis

22--Nucleic Acid Research Nucleic Acid Research DepartmentDepartment : :

The department focuses on nucleic acids The department focuses on nucleic acids and research employing novel techniques and research employing novel techniques for genomes studies, employing gene for genomes studies, employing gene amplification, detection and transfer amplification, detection and transfer technology in different prokaryotic and technology in different prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems, with the aim of eukaryotic systems, with the aim of optimization of the metabolic processes optimization of the metabolic processes and traits of the organism. and traits of the organism.

Research in genetic maps and Research in genetic maps and Bioinformatics.Bioinformatics.

Research AreasResearch Areas:: Molecular markers and their application in Molecular markers and their application in

plant, animals, fungi, algae, bacteria and plant, animals, fungi, algae, bacteria and virusesviruses

Molecular typing of different organismsMolecular typing of different organisms Designing genetic protocols for selection Designing genetic protocols for selection

of important genes of important genes DNA and RNA microarry studiesDNA and RNA microarry studies Engineering of vectors to fulfill Engineering of vectors to fulfill

requirements of biotechnology requirements of biotechnology applicationsapplications

33--Medical Biotechnology Medical Biotechnology DepartmentDepartment

Medical biotechnology department is Medical biotechnology department is the department dealing with the department dealing with biomedical research in the field of biomedical research in the field of diagnostic, prognostics, therapeutics, diagnostic, prognostics, therapeutics, vaccines, and stem cell research.vaccines, and stem cell research.

Research AreasResearch Areas::

Drug assessment of natural and synthetic Drug assessment of natural and synthetic compoundscompounds

Natural products and their bioassaysNatural products and their bioassays Immunological and molecular diagnosis of Immunological and molecular diagnosis of

diseasesdiseases Monoclonal antibody production and Monoclonal antibody production and

assessmentassessment Immunogenetics of diseasesImmunogenetics of diseases Mammalian cell culture and stem cell line Mammalian cell culture and stem cell line

researchresearch

44--Bioprocess Development Bioprocess Development DepartmentDepartment

BID focuses on the development of industrial BID focuses on the development of industrial process using different types of living process using different types of living organisms. These include, production of organisms. These include, production of primary and secondary metabolites by primary and secondary metabolites by microbial cells like enzymes, amino acids, microbial cells like enzymes, amino acids, polysaccharides, organic acids and polysaccharides, organic acids and antibiotics. antibiotics.

Moreover, the activity of BID is now extended Moreover, the activity of BID is now extended to the production of therapeutic proteins by to the production of therapeutic proteins by mammalian and insect cells in cooperation mammalian and insect cells in cooperation with medical biotechnology department. New with medical biotechnology department. New trends for large scale cultivation of plant cell trends for large scale cultivation of plant cell and mushrooms were recently developed and mushrooms were recently developed

Research AreasResearch Areas::

Production of Enzymes, amino acids, Production of Enzymes, amino acids, organic acids, polysaccharides and organic acids, polysaccharides and antibioticsantibiotics

Production of biological agents for Production of biological agents for biological control and bio-famingbiological control and bio-faming

Cultivation of mammalian cells for the Cultivation of mammalian cells for the production of therapeutic proteins using production of therapeutic proteins using serum serum

Production of pharmaceutically important Production of pharmaceutically important compounds using plant cell culturecompounds using plant cell culture

55--Pharmaceutical Bioproducts Pharmaceutical Bioproducts Research DepartmentResearch Department

Pharmaceutical Bioproducts Research areas Pharmaceutical Bioproducts Research areas focus on using biotechnology techniques for focus on using biotechnology techniques for the production of biopharmaceutical the production of biopharmaceutical compounds from plant, microorganisms and compounds from plant, microorganisms and algae. algae.

The department contains a plant tissue The department contains a plant tissue culture lab. culture lab.

This lab also used for gene transformation to This lab also used for gene transformation to enhance the production of pharmaceutical enhance the production of pharmaceutical active ingredients from plant active ingredients from plant

Research AreasResearch Areas

Production of biopharmaceutical compounds Production of biopharmaceutical compounds from plant,microorganisms and aglae using from plant,microorganisms and aglae using biotechnologybiotechnology

Establishing plant transformation protocols for Establishing plant transformation protocols for production of pharmaceutical active production of pharmaceutical active compoundscompounds

Using molecular genetic markers for Using molecular genetic markers for somaclonal variation identification...etc.somaclonal variation identification...etc.

Production and preservation of plant genetic Production and preservation of plant genetic resources endangered using biotechnologyresources endangered using biotechnology

scaling up and production of scaling up and production of biopharmaceutical products using different biopharmaceutical products using different typs of bioreactorstyps of bioreactors

The impact of ALCDRI on the future The impact of ALCDRI on the future agriculture will become evident and agriculture will become evident and result in a wide range of products, result in a wide range of products, processes and services for the processes and services for the development of the agricultural and development of the agricultural and integrated industries in Egypt. integrated industries in Egypt.

InstituteInstitutedepartmentsdepartments

11--Land and Water Technologies Land and Water Technologies DepartmentDepartment

Soil chemistry, physics, and fertility Soil chemistry, physics, and fertility and plant nutrition , Irrigation and and plant nutrition , Irrigation and drainage technologiesdrainage technologies

Arid lands reclamationArid lands reclamationSoil and water environmental studiesSoil and water environmental studiesRemote sensing and geographical Remote sensing and geographical

information systeminformation system

22--Molecular Plant Pathology Molecular Plant Pathology DepartmentDepartment

Viral diseasesViral diseasesBacterial diseasesBacterial diseases Insects and biological control Insects and biological control

33--Animal Livestock and Fisheries Animal Livestock and Fisheries Research DepartmentResearch Department

Animal ProductionAnimal ProductionPoultry productionPoultry productionFish production Fish production

44--Agricultural Industries and Agricultural Industries and Food Technology DepartmentFood Technology Department

Chemical food analysisChemical food analysis Packaging and processing of foodsPackaging and processing of foods Dairy processingDairy processing Sea food researchSea food research Microbiological food analysisMicrobiological food analysis Nanofood researchNanofood research Sensory, chemical and nutritional Sensory, chemical and nutritional

evaluationevaluation Food quality controlFood quality control

55--Plant Genetic Resources Plant Genetic Resources DepartmentDepartment

Maximizing economic laboratory of Maximizing economic laboratory of plants using tissue culture plants using tissue culture techniques techniques

66--Project Management and Project Management and Sustainable Development Sustainable Development

DepartmentDepartment Department aims to undertake a series of Department aims to undertake a series of research and studies in Economics of research and studies in Economics of agricultural production plant or animal agricultural production plant or animal

Developed programs using computer Developed programs using computer technology, Economics and agricultural technology, Economics and agricultural marketing systems marketing systems

Studying marketing of agricultural Studying marketing of agricultural products as well as, estimating marketing products as well as, estimating marketing margins, study the problems of marketing margins, study the problems of marketing the agricultural products, examine the the agricultural products, examine the current status of product marketingcurrent status of product marketing

The mission of the institute is to The mission of the institute is to promote the understanding, promote the understanding, manufacturing, production, utilization manufacturing, production, utilization and manipulation of new materials and manipulation of new materials

Adopting advanced technologies Adopting advanced technologies utilized for production and utilized for production and processing of nano-materials, processing of nano-materials, composites, electronic materials and composites, electronic materials and polymers through industry-driven polymers through industry-driven applied research. applied research.

Institute Institute departmentsdepartments

ERENRI will be a leading for cleaning ERENRI will be a leading for cleaning environment, preserving natural environment, preserving natural resources and protecting the natural resources and protecting the natural environment for future generations. environment for future generations.

Institute Institute departmentsdepartments

Research AreasResearch Areas::

Molecular ecology, biodiversity, conservation Molecular ecology, biodiversity, conservation and documentation of the Egyptian and documentation of the Egyptian bioresourcesbioresources

Bio-monitoring and detection tools Bio-monitoring and detection tools (biosensors, biomarkers, ecological indicators (biosensors, biomarkers, ecological indicators etc.)etc.)

Development and/or innovate environmentally Development and/or innovate environmentally friendly biotech products (Biodegradable friendly biotech products (Biodegradable plastics, Bio-based materials etc.)plastics, Bio-based materials etc.)

Promotion of waste to wealth technologies Promotion of waste to wealth technologies aimed at cleaner environment and resource aimed at cleaner environment and resource recoveryrecovery

IRI vision is to build the IRI vision is to build the experience necessary to:experience necessary to:

Provide technical consulting services, Provide technical consulting services, Contribute in the fields of computer Contribute in the fields of computer

aided manufacturing, multimedia, aided manufacturing, multimedia, artificial intelligence, high artificial intelligence, high performance computing and to performance computing and to participate in creating technical and participate in creating technical and scientific expertise in different areas scientific expertise in different areas of Informatics. of Informatics.

InstituteInstituteDepartmentsDepartments

Research AreasResearch Areas::

Data NetworksData Networks Wireless NetworksWireless Networks Data Networks Performance and Data Networks Performance and

OptimizationOptimization Mobile and Cellular NetworksMobile and Cellular Networks Data CommunicationsData Communications Information TechnologyInformation Technology Real-time Computer GraphicsReal-time Computer Graphics Quality of ServiceQuality of Service RoboticsRobotics Distributed Database DesignDistributed Database Design

How to be a successfulHow to be a successful scientist scientist????????????????????

1.    1.    Do the experiment.Do the experiment. It’s fun to sit around and talk about It’s fun to sit around and talk about hypothetical data and all of the potential implications, but at hypothetical data and all of the potential implications, but at some point, we have to test the hypothesis.  The sooner the some point, we have to test the hypothesis.  The sooner the better.better.

2.    2.    Realize nobody knows the outcome.Realize nobody knows the outcome. Science is Science is exciting because we work at the edge of knowledge.  The exciting because we work at the edge of knowledge.  The flip side of that is that it’s very hard to see where our flip side of that is that it’s very hard to see where our project will lead.  Recognize it’s a journey and we’re just project will lead.  Recognize it’s a journey and we’re just following the data.following the data.

3.    3.    Don’t overthink it.Don’t overthink it. There will always be reasons an There will always be reasons an experiment could fail.  Lab experiments without risk are lab experiment could fail.  Lab experiments without risk are lab experiments without fun.  experiments without fun. 

4.    4.    Experiments don’t fail.Experiments don’t fail. They give us information.  They give us information.  Maybe that information is telling us that dropping our flask Maybe that information is telling us that dropping our flask on the ground was not a good idea.  Data collected.  Lesson on the ground was not a good idea.  Data collected.  Lesson learned.  Next experiment.learned.  Next experiment.

5.    5.    Don’t stop learning. Don’t stop learning. Try a new Try a new technique. Consider switching fields.  technique. Consider switching fields.  Scary?  Absolutely.  But it’s more fun to be Scary?  Absolutely.  But it’s more fun to be scared than bored.  And most of the time, scared than bored.  And most of the time, we find our fear was irrational anyway.we find our fear was irrational anyway.

6.    6.    Analyze the data and be Analyze the data and be confident.confident. Second-guessing ourselves can Second-guessing ourselves can be a killer.  Make the best decision with the be a killer.  Make the best decision with the data at hand and move forward.  Future data at hand and move forward.  Future lab experiments may disprove our lab experiments may disprove our hypotheses, but that’s how science works.hypotheses, but that’s how science works.

7.    7.    What will we really lose if it fails? What will we really lose if it fails? Time, Time, money?  We knew these risks coming in.  Double money?  We knew these risks coming in.  Double down and take a hit.down and take a hit.

Any Any Questions?Questions?