Share thisThe laboratory animal science community gathered in Shanghai, China to engage in constructive dialogue on building global policies.
“It is not the knowing that is difficult, but the doing…” Chinese proverb
There was an undercurrent of anticipation at the September 2009 meeting held in Shanghai for the laboratory animal research community. Billed as The Sharing Conference, this gathering of representatives of transnational pharmaceutical companies, international research organisations, and laboratory animal leaders from all over the world promised a different kind of meeting experience.
The Sharing Conference brought together stakeholders from industry, academia, and government engaged in animal-based bioresearch in China to share strategies for building and sustaining world-class animal research programs. Co-hosted by the Office of the Shanghai Administrative Committee for Laboratory Animals, AAALAC International, and Global Research Education & Training (GR8), the three day program was designed to facilitate information sharing, new skill development, networking, collaboration, and partnering among multinational pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, CROs, and government agencies concerned with laboratory animal welfare.
The concept of sharing caused a shiver of apprehension given the intense competition among the participants, both within China and the global drug industry. Additionally, the agenda, which was not fixed until a few days before, did not resemble a typical biomedical science meeting crammed full of 20-minute presentations by high-profile scientists and meeting sponsors. There were no exhibits; no abstracts; no posters. So no one knew quite what to expect, but everyone knew they wanted to be there and be part of the discussions.
Naturally, networking was on high on everyone’s agenda. There was great interest on the part of the Chinese to hear first-hand from AAALAC International and global pharmas about their expectations for contract research organizations (CROs) anxious to secure and keep a steady flow of business from the West. All the companies and institutions wanted to showcase their capabilities. Western participants, on the other hand, were seeking ways to assess those capabilities as well as to monitor studies and assure the integrity of the science from half-a-world away. The underlying agenda, therefore, was to facilitate communication and build relationships through which trust could be nurtured.