Last modified: Tuesday, April 4, 2006
IU's life sciences expertise on display at BIO 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 4, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University's commitment to life sciences will be on display April 9-12 in Chicago when the university participates in BIO 2006, the leading international conference for the biotechnology industry in the United States.
Several of IU's leading entrepreneurial researchers from the School of Medicine in Indianapolis and the College of Arts and Sciences in Bloomington will be on hand to spread the word about the life sciences resources and expertise at the university. About 18,000 biotechnology professionals from around the world are expected to attend BIO 2006.
IU collaborated with the Indiana Economic Development Corp. and other state life sciences organizations to develop a 1,000-square-foot exhibit hall pavilion to showcase Indiana's life sciences strengths. In addition to IU, primary sponsors of the Indiana exhibit include Dow AgroSciences, the Indy Partnership, Cinergy/PSI, Indianapolis Power and Light Co. and Wabash Valley Power Association.
"Indiana University is making major strides in expanding its life sciences research capacity," said IU President Adam W. Herbert. "We have attracted to Indiana some of the world's leading experts in this fast-growing field. Thanks to the efforts of our excellent faculty, IU's externally funded life sciences research grants and contracts have more than doubled in the past eight years.
"To spur even greater advances, we are building major new research facilities on both our Indianapolis and Bloomington campuses. We have developed the most powerful information technology infrastructure of any research university in the nation. This remarkable cyberinfrastructure facilitates data-intensive research. It also links our researchers on these campuses to each other and to their colleagues around the globe. I am very pleased that we have this opportunity to share our significant progress in this high-priority area with the worldwide biotechnology community," Herbert said.
IU's presence at the BIO 2006 conference in conjunction with local life sciences leaders demonstrates the partnership approach the university is taking in life sciences, said D. Craig Brater, dean of the IU School of Medicine and vice president of IU with responsibility for life sciences.
"IU has a statewide focus and is building the life sciences through collaborations with business and government such as the Cook Group in Bloomington, Lilly and Guidant in Indianapolis, and community development organizations such as BioCrossroads," Brater said.
Among those representing the university in the exhibit and at conference panel discussions will be:
- Robert Bacallao, associate professor of medicine and of anatomy and cell biology and an expert in advanced microscopy imaging techniques.
- Richard DiMarchi, Linda and Jack Gill Professor of Biomolecular Sciences and professor of chemistry. A retired group vice president at Eli Lilly and Co., DiMarchi serves as a board member or adviser to several biotechnology firms, and he will address a BIO 2006 dinner sponsored by the Indiana Economic Development Corp. at which Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels is scheduled to speak.
- Linda Malkas, professor of medicine, Vera Bradley Professor of Oncology, and co-founder of csKeys LLC, a startup cancer diagnostics company.
- Keith March, director of the Indiana Center for Vascular Biology and professor of medicine and cellular and integrative physiology.
- Mervin Yoder Jr., Richard and Pauline Klingler Professor of Pediatrics, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, and co-founder of EndGenitor Technologies Inc., a startup company developing products using adult stem cells.
- Douglas P. Zipes, Distinguished Professor, emeritus professor of medicine and former director of the Krannert Institute of Cardiology, who helped create the first implantable heart cardioverter designed to stop attacks of arrhythmia.
IU also will be connecting with its Chicago-area and biotechnology industry graduates and friends with an alumni reception on Monday evening (April 10) at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.
Other sponsors of the Indiana exhibit include Baxter BioPharma Solutions, Deloitte, Southwest Indiana Development Council, Northern Indiana Public Service Company, BioCrossroads, Columbus Indiana Economic Development Board, Cook Pharmica LLC, Indiana Health Industry Forum, Indianapolis Convention Visitors Association, Lafayette/West Lafayette Economic Development, Bloomington Life Sciences/Economic Development, Sentry Logistic Solutions Inc. and Ball State University.
