May 4, 2007
Purdue to highlight life sciences teamwork at BIO 2007 in Boston
BOSTON - The Purdue Research Park and Discovery Park will highlight how they are working together to advance research and spark economic development in the life sciences arena as a part of this month's BIO 2007 international conference.Slated for Sunday through Wednesday (May 6-9) in Boston, the annual event is sponsored by the Biotechnology Industry Organization and is expected to draw 18,000 corporate executives, researchers, government officials and venture capitalists for three days of networking and learning.
BIO 2007 - with the theme New Ideas. Bold Ventures. Global Benefits. - also features more than 180 educational sessions and workshops on finance, partnerships, research and development, science, and policy.
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"Through the expanding link between the Purdue Research Park and Discovery Park, Purdue is changing how a 21st century university translates research into viable commercial products to create jobs, grow our life sciences industry and spark the economy," said Joseph B. Hornett, senior vice president, treasurer and chief operating officer for the Purdue Research Foundation, which owns and operates Purdue Research Park.
"We also think BIO 2007 will be abuzz with excitement surrounding the announcement in March that the $100 million Alfred Mann Institute for Biomedical Development will be based at Purdue's Discovery Park, creating a new national model for commercializing intellectual property."
The Purdue Research Park, located near Purdue's main campus, is home to 140 companies and more than 2,900 employees working in the areas of tissue engineering, biomedical diagnostic devices, targeted drug delivery and nerve regeneration.
Discovery Park works closely with the Purdue Research Park as the university's primary interdisciplinary hub for research to build a stronger pipeline for translating campus research into commercial enterprises and startup companies.
The recently announced Alfred Mann Institute for Biomedical Development is designed to enable commercialization of innovative biomedical technologies that improve human health.
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"The mission of this global conference centers on highlighting best practices to strengthen biotechnology innovation and progress," said Charles Buck, operations director at Discovery Park's Bindley Bioscience Center. "Through research advancements in biofuels, biomedicine, biopharmaceuticals and biotechnology at Discovery Park and its pipeline to the Purdue Research Park, Purdue is well-positioned for the amazing progress occurring in the biotechnology industry as well as its endless future potential."
Purdue's research expenditures in the life sciences area accounted for $166 million of the university's $365 million total during the 2005-2006 fiscal year. Over the last three years, life sciences research expenditures alone totaled $475 million.
The stakes also are high for Indiana.
In a recent report by technology giant Battelle Memorial Institute and BIO, Indiana was one of only three states with a specialization in three key life science sectors in 2006. Only New Jersey ranked higher, with a presence in all four sectors - agricultural feedstock and chemicals, drugs and pharmaceuticals, medical devices and equipment, and research testing and medical laboratories.
The state has an estimated 670 life science companies, employing more than 48,000 people and accounting for a total employment impact of 223,292 jobs. The average annual salary is $68,715, ranking among the highest of any industry in the state.
At BIO 2007, the Purdue booth (No. 2813) will highlight the work of several of the park's flagship life science companies, including Quadraspec Inc., BioVittesse Inc., Seyet Inc., Endocyte Inc., Bioanalytical Systems Inc., and the Chao Center for Industrial Pharmacy & Contract Manufacturing.
In addition, Purdue will display the park's business development acceleration services and its lineup of biotechnology companies in West Lafayette and the park's satellite incubators in Indianapolis, Merrillville, Ind., and New Albany, Ind.
Purdue will spotlight projects, research and facilities related to the life sciences field from Discovery Park's Bindley Bioscience Center, Birck Nanotechnology Center, Oncological Sciences Center, Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship, Energy Center, e-Enterprise Center and the Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering.
Two leading Purdue researchers also will sit on panel discussions during the conference.
Fred Regnier, the J.H. Law Distinguished Professor and a Bindley Center researcher, will participate in a discussion titled "Proteomics: A Strategy for Translating Discoveries to the Cancer Clinic," from 4-5:30 p.m. Monday (May 7). Regnier, an expert in analytical chemistry and biochemistry, is known for his efforts in proteomics, the pioneering field of categorizing protein function, and for developing a way to place multiple mini-labs on a single silicon chip.
Michael Ladisch, distinguished professor of agricultural and biological engineering and director of the Laboratory of Renewable Resources Engineering, will join a discussion on "Leading Pretreatment Technologies With Corn Stover and Poplar Wood" from 2-3:30 p.m. Tuesday (May 8). His research addresses bioprocess engineering, and his work has resulted in new industrial bioenergy processes and novel methods to transform renewable resources into bioproducts.
The Indiana Economic Development Corp., working in tandem with the state's life sciences initiative BioCrossroads, is sponsoring a luncheon and dinner on Monday (May 7) at BIO 2007 to draw attention to the state's national leadership role in the life sciences arena. Purdue also will have a display at the IEDC�s exhibit.
More than 90 technology-related companies call the Purdue Research Park home. Under development by the Purdue Research Foundation, a private, nonprofit foundation created to assist Purdue, the 591-acre research park also lays claim to the largest university-affiliated, business incubation complex in the country.
Discovery Park is a $350 million research hub at Purdue, fostering interdisciplinary research in health care, nanotechnology, alternative energy, homeland security, life sciences, cyberinfrastructure, advanced manufacturing, cancer treatment, systems engineering, the environment and innovative learning.
In its first five years, 16 companies have been launched based on research developed at Discovery Park, and most of those startups are now at the Purdue Research Park. Discovery Park also has generated more than $180 million worth of sponsored research for Purdue that has generated more than 40 patents.
The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), which was founded in 1993, is a nonprofit association that represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, state and international affiliates, and related organizations.Writer:Phillip Fiorini, (765) 496-3133, pfiorini@purdue.edu
Sources: Joseph Hornett, (765) 494-8645, jbhornett@purdue.edu
Charles Buck, (765) 494-2208, cbuck@purdue.edu
Fred Regnier, (765) 494-3878, fregnier@purdue.edu
Michael Ladisch, (765) 494-7022, ladisch@purdue.edu
Chad Barden, Quadraspec, (574) 780-0819, cbarden@quadraspec.com
Laila Razouk, BioVitesse, (408) 930-4044, Laila.Razouk@Biovitesee.com
Ed Chait, Bioanalytical Systems, (765) 413-3006, echait@bioanalytical.com
Jim Bartek, Seyet, (765) 532-022, bartek@seyet.com
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
Note to Journalists: Journalists who want to speak with officials with Discovery Park and the Purdue Research Park while they are participating in BIO 2007 from May 6-9 in Boston, Mass., can contact Phillip Fiorini at (765) 427-3009, pfiorini@purdue.edu or Jeanine Phipps at jsphipps@prf.org, (765) 413-5579.
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