26 May 2004 00:01
BIO 2004: Russian Scientists Help Combat Bioterrorism Through BioIndustry Initiative
/Health/Medical Writers/High-Tech Writers
BIO 2004 Annual Convention
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 26, 2004--The US Department of State is sponsoring more than 100 leading scientists
and biotechnology industry representatives from Russia and other former Soviet republics to participate in the
Biotechnology Industry Organization's annual conference, BIO 2004, in San Francisco, June 6 - 9.
The scientists are being supported by the State Department's BioIndustry Initiative (BII), which was created
after 9/11 to strengthen US-Russian cooperation in combating the threat of bioterrorism.
A Model Activity for the BII
Veteran scientists from some of the best research and production facilities of the former Soviet Union will present
their latest capabilities and expertise, ranging from novel vaccines to industrial scale production of pharmaceuticals
available in this emerging biotech sector.
Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage describes the conference as: "...a significant event for the State
Department's nonproliferation programs and a model activity for our BioIndustry Initiative. We greatly value the
collaborations with scientists of the former Soviet Union, and are confident programs like BII will ultimately help
combat the shared threat of bioterrorism."
The BII Mission
The mission of the BII is to counter the threat of bioterrorism through targeted transformation of former Soviet
biological research and production capacities. BII collaborators include the International Science and Technology Center
(ISTC), a multinational nonproliferation program headquartered in Moscow, the Boston-based CIMIT, Center for Integration
of Medicine and Innovative Technology, and its Russian counterpart, TEMPO, the Non-Commercial Partnership Center of
Modern Medical Technology.
BII director Dr. Jason Rao said today that this unique international program has "incredible potential,"
both in joint efforts to combat terrorism, and in opening up significant opportunities for U.S. industry. "We are
tapping into one of the greatest scientific communities during a time of enormous growth and opportunity. The
possibilities are endless."
Expanding Opportunities
Dr. Ronald F. Lehman II, director of the Center for Global Security Research at Lawrence Livermore National
Laboratory, who chairs the governing board of ISTC, noted that "BIO2004 expands our opportunities to apply the
talent and knowledge of defense science from around the world to peaceful applications. The ISTC is particularly
interested in projects that do this in transparent partnership among nations, especially with parties to our
organization. We strongly urge American companies and research organizations to consider joint projects with
participating scientists from Russia and other ISTC members."
Scheduled events include:
June 6: 4:30 pm, San Francisco Marriott: Presentation on opportunities in Russian biotechnology, in conjunction with
BIO International Biotechnology Marketplace.
June 7: 10 am-12, Press reception at Russia Biotechnology Pavilion, Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco.
--30--TC/bo* CONTACT: CIMIT Rita E. Watson, 617-768-8772 (office) 617-733-7869 (mobile) rewatson@partners.org or John
Adams Associates Ann Crampton, 202-737-8400 acrampton@johnadams.com
June 7: 7:30-9:30 pm, Discussion of Russian biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries at Stanford Business
School.
June 8: 5-6:30 pm, BII hosts hospitality reception at Russia Biotechnology Pavilion.
June 10: Russian delegation will be hosted by University of California at Santa Cruz.
[Business Wire] |
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