President Bush to Speak at BIO 2003
"The president's acceptance is an honor and an acknowledgement of our industry's growing impact on medicine, agriculture and the environment," said Carl B. Feldbaum, president of the Biotechnology Industry Organization. "For BIO, bringing the president of the United States to our members will be a memorable cap to our first 10 years of service as the biotechnology industry's liaison to Washington.
Other high-ranking federal officials speaking at the June 21 – 25 convention include Tom Ridge, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security; Mark B. McClellan, FDA commissioner; and the directors of the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and the National Human Genome Research Institute.
The convention features 199 sessions across 25 tracks of programming, including tracks on policy, business and finance, drug development and regulatory affairs. The event also encompasses a two-day HealthFest on the National Mall, special forums on bioethics, global health and patient advocacy; a two-day Thinking Beyond Tomorrow Lecture Series; 345,000 square feet of exhibit space; a series of dazzling receptions at Washington landmarks, including Union Station; and a BIO TV Studio and media center, complete with two press conference rooms.
"This year's convention is in BIO's own hometown of Washington, D.C., and we've done everything possible over the past year to make this an unparalleled opportunity for learning, networking and politicking. It will be a great celebration that befits our 10-year anniversary," said Feldbaum. "So meet me at Union Station for our welcoming reception and stay for the biotechnology event of a decade."
Registration
Online registration for regular attendees is available at http://www.bio.org/events/2003/reg/, or you can register on site. To find a hotel with available space, call Washington, D.C., Accommodations at (800) 554-2220, or e-mail mmatthews@wdcahotels.com and mention that you are a BIO 2003 attendee.
Note: Only reporters and editors working full-time for print or broadcast news organizations may register on site by presenting valid, current media credentials (i.e. official picture identification from the employing news organization). Without proper, approved credentials, on-site media registration will be denied. Press registration is open on site Saturday and Sunday, and opens at 6 a.m. Monday.
Equipment – Press Information
6:30 – 7 a.m.: Camera sticks, trucks and cables pre-set time in the event hall. After 7 a.m., no one will be allowed to cable into the event hall.
7 – 9 a.m.: All members of the media will be asked to leave the event area and return upon completion of the security sweep.
12:45 p.m.: Final press access. No member of the media will be credentialed or allowed to enter the room AFTER 12:45 p.m.
BIO represents more than 1,000 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations in all 50 U.S. states and 33 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of health-care, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products.