Though not yet a major player in the biosciences, Arizona is “doing all of the right things” to attract industry and become a national force in the biosciences, said James C. Greenwood, president and CEO of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), the industry’s national trade association based in Washington, D.C.
Greenwood was in town to speak at a biotechnology symposium in Chandler that attracted 300 attendees.
“Arizona is not a major player yet, but if you look at the plan you have here, and how you’re fulfilling it, you’re doing it all,” Greenwood said.
“I go to states all over our country and see what they’re doing to try to attract industry. It starts with attracting research dollars and bringing the most talented people in the country to the state. I think Arizona’s doing everything right.”
The event was co-sponsored by Arizona Citizens for Research and Employment (Arizona CURE) and the Arizona BioIndustry Association. It focused on educating and informing Chandler-area community leaders to the benefits of biotechnology. Chandler has made national headlines in recent months due to a major facility planned by Covance, a global drug-development services firm that has been the target of animal rights activists.
Greenwood, a former U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania, was the keynote speaker at the four-hour event. He spoke on the role that biotechnology plays in eliminating world hunger, cleaning the air, and ending disease.
Several local science and business leaders spoke, including Wendel Barr, senior vice president, Covance; Boyd Dunn, mayor, City of Chandler; Ron King, Ph.D., vice president, strategic alliances and commercialization, Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen); Jon McGarity, president and CEO, Arizona BioIndustry Association; Michael Mobley, Ph.D., associate director, Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University; Jim Patterson, chairman, Arizona CURE; and Peter Sausen, Ph.D., executive director, program management services, Covance.
More information:
“Biotech symposium rallies support for Covance,” East Valley Tribune, 03/31/2007
“Chandler biotech symposium education for local officials,” Arizona Republic, 03/31/2007