BIO Launches New Humanitarian Award to Recognize Outstanding Innovator Who Has Transformed Society Through Biotechnology
“So many people become involved in biotechnology because they want to help others, by working to discover a cure for a rare or serious disease or to address challenges as diverse as global warming and agricultural sustainability,” said Jim Greenwood, president and CEO of BIO. “This award celebrates the accomplishments of the real-life heroes behind the science of biotechnology.”
The Biotech Humanitarian Award will recognize individuals behind tangible improvements in the area of therapeutics, food and agriculture or industrial and environmental applications. The inaugural award and a prize of $10,000 will be presented in May at the annual BIO International Convention, and the five finalists will be recognized as well. The 2009 BIO International Convention runs May 18-21 in Atlanta, Ga.
“Biotechnology is responsible for a tremendous number of medical, industrial and agricultural advances, but these accomplishments – which form the backbone of everyday life – too often happen out of the spotlight. Through the Biotech Humanitarian Award, our innovative industry will recognize the top contributions that have improved contemporary society,” said Dr. Joshua Boger, Chairman of BIO’s Board of Directors and President and CEO of Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated.
Nominations are open to all individuals and can be accessed via iambiotech.org. Nominees must have achieved one of the following: produced new applications, significantly advanced biotech applications or made available tangible, applicable results in the food and agriculture, industrial and environmental, or therapeutic sectors.
Qualified nominees for the Biotech Humanitarian Award will be professionals in the biotechnology field including scientists, researchers, academics, entrepreneurs, financiers, philanthropists, educators, advocates and others who have added value to society through their pursuit of biotechnology processes.
Upcoming BIO Events
BIO-Asia Partnering Conference 2009
January 19-20, 2009
Tokyo, Japan
BIO CEO & Investor Conference 2009
February 9-10, 2009
New York, New York
BIO-Europe Spring
March 16-18, 2009
Milan, Italy
BIO Windhover 2009
April 13-15, 2009
New York, New York
2009 BIO International Convention
May 18-21, 2009
Atlanta, Ga.
BioEquity Europe
June 9-10, 2009
Munich, Germany
World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology & Bioprocessing
July 19-22, 2009
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
About BIO
BIO represents more than 1,200 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the world’s largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world.
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