Changing the map of global scientific innovation These photos are of Seeding Labs Fellows. Front cover: Dr Nicholas Gikonyo and assistants, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya; Lab of Dr Maite Castro, Universidad Austral de , Valdivia, Chile. Back cover: Faculty at the Protestant University of the Congo, Kinshasa, DRC; Lab of Ricardo Morbidoni, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Talent knows no boundaries

Muthike Waimiru, MSc in Nutrition at the University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya OUR VISION: Seeding Labs’ mission is to A WORLD WHERE support and expand scientific GREAT research in developing countries HAPPENS by providing affordable EVERYWHERE. reclaimed laboratory equipment and facilitating connections with the global scientific research community.

Nearly one third of the world’s population is infected with tuberculosis. Over 200 million people are infected with malaria. In 2005, 7.6 million people died of cancer and 17.5 million of cardiovascular disease in the developing world. Lab of Dr. Nicholas Gikonyo Kenyatta University, Kenya We believe that science holds the answers to these and many other pressing problems in the developing world. But we don’t want to export answers. The 1.5 million scientists and engineers currently working in low and middle income countries have the knowledge to develop their own solutions. They only lack adequate resources to put their talent and ambition to work.

That’s where we come in.

Dr. Claudio Hetz and lab members, University of Santiago, Chile Steven Runo, Matthew Ngugi, Allan Mgutu and Taity Changa in the Plant Transformation Lab, Kenyatta University TRANSFORMING TODAY’S SURPLUS INTO TOMORROW’S INNOVATIONS

Seeding Labs was started by scientists, for scientists. We understand that even great minds can’t do great work without the proper tools.

Volunteer scientists from bioscience companies and our growing network of university-based chapters in North America identify unwanted but still functional equipment resulting from their Graduate students from Harvard Medical routine upgrades. Our online inventory School pack equipment for Dr. Maite allows us to match their surplus to the Castro in Valdivia, Chile needs reported by colleagues in the developing world, and the volunteers help us assemble the shipments.

By mobilizing our abundant resources at home, we enable scientists abroad to more efficiently allocate scarce financial resources and build high quality facilities at a fraction of the cost.

A student in the Hetz lab uses equipment from Seeding Labs GLOBAL NETWORK

Since 2003, Seeding Labs has provided equipment to 22 scientists in 13 countries Seeding Labs Boston, MA

Sustainable Institute Berkeley, CA

Ellen Koenig Inst. Dominicano de Estudios Virologicos Zanmi Lasante/Partners In Santo Domingo, DR Health, Cange, Haiti Alicia Jorquera Anna Maria Xet Mull Laboratorio BioIntegral Universidad San Carlos, Coagulab, Puerto La Cruz, Guatemala

Gabriel Trueba Maria Aparecida de Congo Protestant Universidad San Francisco de Souza Tanaka University Quito, Ecuador Centro de Fitossanidade Kinshasa, DRC Campinas, Brazil

Sebastian Brauchi Leticia Franco Maite Castro Gallastegui Claudio Hetz Universidad Nacional de Monica Salas Grandez Universidad de Chile, Asuncion, Paraguay Maria Rauch Santiago, Chile Rody San Martin Diego Golombek Claudia Quezada Miguel Velardez Universidad Austral de Chile, Universidad de , Valdivia, Chile Argentina

Hector Ricardo Morbidoni Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Argentina GROWING IMPACT

Providing scientists with the appropriate tools allows them to do more, faster

BY THE NUMBERS: $386,000 in equipment sent to 22 labs in 13 countries Clinton Foundation Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 83% Covenant of Fellows increase their University, Ota, Nigeria number of staff & trainees 259 Congo Protestant students and staff University training in seeded labs Kinshasa, DRC Prospect International/CARE Antananarivo, Madagascar 66% of Fellows increase their number of projects 182% average increase in lab funding 60 publications in national & international journals RECENT FELLOWS

“I have always thought it is amazing that two cells can ‘talk’ and this conversation is the basis for the regulation of events that are important in the whole organism.”

Dr. Castro works on the effects of interactions between neurons and glia cells on the modulation of neuronal metabolism. Dr. Maite Castro Gallestegui Universidad Austral de Chile Castro et al. 2007, J Neurochem, 102(3):773-82 Castro et al. 2008, Pflugers Arch, 457(2):519-28 Valdivia, Chile

“I hope to help establish a solid neuroscience school, as well as increase participation in public communication of science.”

Dr. Golombek studies circadian entrainment: how light effects our biological clocks in Dr. Diego Golombek neurochemical and molecular terms. Universidad de Buenos Aires Agostino et al. 2009, Chronobiol Int. 26(1):126- Buenos Aires, Argentina 33 Cardinali and Golombek, 2009, Lancet 373(9662):439-41. “We are starting a microscopy facility with the first TIRF microscope and the first two-photon microscope to share with all the researchers in the country. “

Dr. Brauchi focuses on TRP channels, proteins that ferry ions across cell membranes and are integral to the perception of light, cold, pain and other sensory stimuli. Dr. Sebastian Brauchi Universidad Austral de Chile Brauchi et al. 2007, PNAS USA. 104(24):10246-51 Valdivia, Chile Carvacho et al. 2008 J Gen Physiol. 131(2):147-61

“In 10 years, I hope to celebrate the conquering of HIV.”

Dr. Koenig founded IDEV to conduct clinical trials and introduce molecular diagnosis of Dr. Ellen Koenig opportunistic infections and resistance to HIV. Instituto Dominicano de There are over 100,000 individuals infected with HIV in the Dominican Republic. Estudios Virologicos (IDEV) Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Students from the Harvard College Seeding Labs chapter pursue their own research interests and have opportunities to learn from Seeding Labs Fellows like Dr. Samuel Mampunza, Dean of the Medical School at the Congo Protestant University. SUPPORTING YOUNG LEADERS

Volunteer scientists, especially members of our university chapters, are a key part of the change we hope to create in the scientific community.

Today’s science students will be tomorrow’s leaders in academia and industry. We hope they will bring the spirit of global cooperation from Seeding Labs to the institutions they lead. AIMING FOR EXCELLENCE IN EAST AFRICA

Strengthening human and material capacity in Kenya Our goal is to help national institutions foster talent and build infrastructure in the sciences. With partnerships across public and private sectors, we are beginning longer-term projects in Kenya, where Science, Technology and Innovation were designated as one of six fundamental pillars of economic advancement. Beginning in the summer of 2009, we will focus on the University of Nairobi and Kenyatta University where the Leah Tsuma, PhD candidate in growing student populations are Biochemistry at the University of eager for new tools and global Nairobi collaborations.

Dr. Hudson Angeyo, Lecturer in Physics at the University of Nairobi TIMELINE FOR GROWTH

Our vision for the future

2009-2010 2010 - 2011 2011-2013 2014+

Enhance Establish Broaden Strengthen training and support services contributions in scientific professional for sustainable increasing infrastructure networks science science capacity

•Equip facilities •Partner with • Train Kenyan • Assist Kenyan across the natural, Biosciences technical students scientists in physical and Eastern and and establish local technology clinical sciences to Central Africa to companies to transfer, licensing, give tens of develop courses in provide equipment and equipping thousands of lab management repair and startup ventures to students the and new maintenance translate highest possible experimental services. discoveries from level of training. techniques for the lab to the students and •Assist in joint public. faculty. purchasing and local distribution •Identify partner •Partner with of chemicals and institutions and ResearchGATE.net supplies. begin providing to build online assistance in other tools for U.S. and East Africa African scientists countries. to share expertise and find others with related research interests for exchange programs and collaborations. Board of Directors Omotade Akin Aina Martin Mwangi Program Director, Higher Education Mary-Feiser Post-doctoral Fellow, and Libraries in Africa, Carnegie Chemistry, Harvard University Corporation of New York Eugene Terry Nina Dudnik Agricultural research and Executive Director, Seeding Labs development specialist

David Hastings Paul Cruickshank Principal, Managing Excellence; Chairman Emeritus Adjunct Professor, Tufts PhD Candidate, History of Science, University Harvard University

Patricia Larrabee President, Facility Logix

Advisors Pearl Freier Nasim Memon President , Cambridge BioPartners CEO, NGM Enterprise, LLC.

Sakiko Fukuda-Parr Venkatesh Narayanamurti Professor of International Affairs, Director, Science, Technology, & The New School Public Policy Program, Harvard Kennedy School; Steve Grant Professor of Physics, Harvard U.S. Sales Manager, YSI, Inc. University

Calestous Juma Professor of the Practice of International Development, Harvard Kennedy School SEEDING LABS 08-09

“Seeding Labs helped me to perform experiments and continue my collaborations. But it also showed me that it is possible to find solidarity in science. “

Diego Golombek, Buenos Aires

5 SEEDING LABS 11 EVERETT ST N8 CAMBRIDGE, MA 02138 Tel. +1-617-401-7876 [email protected] www.seedinglabs.org