Public, private partners in a brave new world

There's a lot riding on the promise of biotechnology.

State officials say investing in the emerging medical science will improve New Jersey's balance sheet.


Scientists tout stem cells and other biotech research as the foundation of a whole new world of medicine, a world where the lame could walk and the old could live without debilitation.

For the sick and their loved ones, there is hope where there was none.

During the preparation of this series, The Record heard from dozens of national experts in medicine, science, commerce and government. There was plenty of divergence in their opinions.

But when asked to take the big view, almost all saw a role for both government and the private sector in the quest to turn the promise of biotech into the reality of better health.

Collectively, they offer a few simple guideposts that citizens and their elected representatives might consider when trying to assess how well the partnership is going.

Be patient

Abraham Abuchowski is a former Rutgers scientist who co-founded the New Jersey-based biotech Enzon in the 1980s. He now runs...