In 2009, Alzheimer's disease was the sixth leading cause of death in North America, affecting 5.7 million people in the United States and Canada combined. Alzheimer’s disease is manifested in a form of dementia that is associated with serious impairment in thinking and memory. It is caused by the degeneration of the brain due to nerve cell death. As degeneration progresses, individuals affected by this disease begin to develop problems with basic motor functions such as walking. Ultimately, Alzheimer’s disease is fatal, with death occurring between four to six years after diagnosis.

Alzheimer’s has a significant impact on society. Direct and indirect costs implicated with Alzheimer’s are estimated to be $148 billion USD annually. Due to the aging baby boomer population, and the increasing number of individuals aged 65 and older, it is expected that there will be a dramatic increase in the number of new cases of Alzheimer’s each year. There is a pressing need to develop and market new therapeutics and diagnostics, while raising awareness of current advancements in the area of Alzheimer’s.

The Masters of Biotechnology Class of 2011 is proud to be hosting our annual MBiotech Symposium on March 10th, 2010 highlighting current key research initiatives and advances in the field of Alzheimer’s disease. The aim of this event is to provide an open forum to discuss current and innovative development in both pre-clinical research and clinical studies in Alzheimer’s disease, and efforts to commercialize current advancements Alzheimer’s disease.

The Masters of Biotechnology Program at the University of Toronto is a two-year graduate degree program that exposes students to both science and business courses. It also incorporates up to one year of professional experience in the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical sectors. By drawing upon experienced leaders in the biotechnology sector, and distinguished faculty from the Departments of Biology, Chemistry and Management, the Masters of Biotechnology Program synergizes science with business into a truly interdisciplinary course. The professional development that takes place in this program equips students with the tools needed to address the evolving needs of the global biotechnology and health sciences industries.