07 Mid-Atlantic Bio Announces Plenary Speakers
Nobel Prize winning scientist Tom Cech and Jim Mullen, the CEO of one of the world’s largest biotechnology companies, will be plenary speakers at the 2007 Mid-Atlantic Bio conference scheduled for October 24-26 at the Bethesda North Marriott. Mid-Atlantic Bio is the joint conference of the Virginia Biotechnology Association (VaBIO), the Mid-Atlantic Venture Association (MAVA) and the Technology Council of Maryland/MdBio.
“These world-class plenary speakers are just the beginning,� said Mark Herzog, executive director of VaBIO. “Mid-Atlantic Bio grows each year because of the intensive networking that takes place at the conference.�
Jim Mullen is the CEO and president of Biogen Idec, a global biotechnology company that engages in the development, manufacture, and commercialization of novel therapies primarily in the areas of oncology, neurology, and immunology. The company employs more than 3,500 employees worldwide and has a market capitalization in excess of $18 billion. It was founded in 1985 and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Mr. Mullen is also a director of PerkinElmer, Inc. and served as chairman of the board of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO).
Mid-Atlantic Bio also announced that Dr. Tom Cech, Nobel Laureate and president of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), will address a plenary session of the conference. With an endowment of more than $16 billion, HHMI is one of the world’s largest private biomedical research institutes. Last year, HHMI opened the Janelia Farm Research Campus (JFRC) located on a 689-acre property in Northern
Virginia. The unique, world-class biomedical research complex represents a $500 million
investment by HHMI. The campus includes 760,000 square feet of laboratory space, in addition to facilities to support collaborations with scientists from around the world.
Dr. Cech’s work has been recognized by many national and international awards and prizes, including the Heineken Prize of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences (1988), the Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award (1988), the Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1989), and the National Medal of Science (1995). In 1987 Dr. Cech was elected to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and also awarded a lifetime professorship by the American Cancer Society.
“More than 800 bioscience professionals from throughout the mid-Atlantic will enjoy two and a half days of outstanding presentations, new partnering opportunities, scientific poster sessions, and great food and drink,� said Dr. Maciek Sasinowski, chairman of VaBIO and CEO of Incogen. “It just keeps getting better each year.�
For more information, visit www.midatlanticbio.org.
