Nanotechnology Now - Press Release: Discovery Lecture Series focuses on global business development in life sciences arena

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Discovery Park researchers, from left, Jiri Adamec and Maria Sepulveda analyze molecule samples taken using gas chromatography coupled with a mass spectrometer at a Purdue laboratory in Discovery Park's Bindley Bioscience Center. Adamec, a faculty researcher in metabolomics and proteomics, and Sepulveda, an assistant professor in the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, are examining the development of biomarkers in fish that have been exposed to chemicals and contaminants such as herbicides. The research has applications in how humans might adversely react to the same chemicals. (Purdue News Service photo/David Umberger)

Abstract:
International leaders will join Purdue University officials and Indiana industry executives Nov. 8 for a conference on global business development in life sciences and entrepreneurship.

Discovery Lecture Series focuses on global business development in life sciences arena

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN | Posted on October 18th, 2007

Leading life sciences venture capitalist G. Steven Burrill is the keynote speaker for the Discovery Lecture Series event "Global Business Development in Life Sciences," which is being offered in collaboration with BioCrossroads, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and Lilly Endowment.

Burrill, who is chief executive of California-based Burrill & Co., will give his address, "Biotech 2007: A Global Transformation," at 12:15 p.m. in the Ross-Ade Pavilion on campus.

Purdue President France A. Córdova will highlight Purdue's success in technology commercialization at 1:30 p.m. During her address, she will outline how Purdue's commitment to interdisciplinary research has accelerated campus commercialization efforts in life sciences, nanotechnology, cancer, entrepreneurship, health care and other areas.

"This nation's global leadership in life sciences starts locally, with universities, business leaders and other stakeholders collaborating on research and ensuring those ideas move to the marketplace where the benefits can be realized," said Alan H. Rebar, executive director of Purdue's Discovery Park. "Extending the discussion about how we can improve that process and maintain world leadership is a priority at Purdue."

The free event, the fourth at Purdue since the Discovery Lecture Series made its debut in February 2006, will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. To register, go online to http://www.purdue.edu/dp/dls , or call (765) 494-3662 for more information.

"Indiana is already home to world-class pharmaceutical, medical device and diagnostics manufacturers," Burrill said. "And with the state's commitment to life sciences, particularly advancing discovery and research efforts at its major universities, I'm privileged to be a part of this global discussion at Purdue and its Discovery Lecture Series."

Rebar will provide opening remarks at 11:30 a.m. about Discovery Park's research and economic development mission in the life sciences area. William Miller, provost emeritus at Stanford University and chairman of the Discovery Park External Advisory Council, will introduce Burrill at 12:15 p.m. and moderate a question-and-answer session following the keynote address.

"Steven Burrill's expertise and success in developing and growing life sciences companies for nearly 40 years is unparalleled," said Charles Buck, operations director at Bindley Bioscience Center, home to Purdue's interdisciplinary life sciences research. "As an industry pioneer, he's a primary reason why the U.S. remains the leader in the life sciences and biotechnology arenas."

Burrill also is board chairman of pharmaceutical company Pharmasset and is a board member for several biotech companies, including Catalyst Biosciences, DepoMed, Intranasal, Phytomedics, Proteogenix, Proventys, Targacept and XDx. In addition, he serves on industry boards and is an adviser on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Center for Biomedical Innovation.

Before launching his own company in 1994, Burrill spent 28 years with Ernst & Young, directing and coordinating the firm's services to clients worldwide in the biotechnology, life sciences, high-technology and manufacturing industries worldwide. In 2002 Burrill was listed among the biotech industry's top 50 scientist visionaries by Scientific American magazine.

David Johnson, president and chief executive of Indiana's life sciences development initiative BioCrossroads, will lead a panel discussion starting at 2:30 p.m. Joining Johnson and Burrill on that panel will be Ted Ashburn, senior director of corporate development at pharmaceuticals giant Genzyme Corp., and Roger Newton, co-founder of Pfizer Corp. subsidiary Esperion Therapeutics. Newton led development of the cholesterol drug Lipitor, which is currently the world's top-selling drug.

"BioCrossroads sees momentum growing within Indiana's life sciences industry, and we've been successful in putting Indiana on the life sciences map by building alliances among corporate, government and academic partners," Johnson said. "Discussions such as this one at Purdue are important forums to continue to highlight Indiana's cutting-edge research and new-business formation."

During the 9 a.m. morning session, offered in collaboration with Purdue's Kauffman Campus Initiative, Ashburn will lead a best-practices workshop titled "Skills for Success in the World of Business Development."

Michael Kurek, a partner at Ann Arbor, Mich.-based Biotechnology Business Consultants Inc., will follow with a talk on what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur.

The Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship is leading Purdue's Kauffman Campus Initiative to foster entrepreneurship across non-business disciplines at the university's statewide campuses through a five-year, $1.5 million grant from the Kauffman Foundation.

Indiana has an estimated 670 life science companies, employing more than 48,000 people and accounting for an employment impact of 223,292 jobs, according to a recent study by technology giant Battelle Memorial Institute and the Biotechnology Industry Organization.

The average annual salary is $68,715, ranking among the highest of any industry in the state. The same study found that the Indianapolis metropolitan area has the nation's fourth-largest employment base in the pharmaceuticals sector and ninth largest for all biosciences employment.

The stakes also are high for Purdue. The university'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 Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment provided a $1 million gift to Purdue's Discovery Park in 2005 to sponsor the ongoing Discovery Lecture Series. Prior Discovery Lecture events at Purdue focused on nanotechnology, health care and a lecture by U.S. physicist John Hall, who won Nobel Prize in 2005 for his role in developing laser-based precision spectroscopy.

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About Purdue University
Discovery Park is Purdue's hub for translational interdisciplinary research and is home to a total of 10 established research centers focusing on areas such as biosciences, advanced manufacturing and cancer care to health-care engineering, nanotechnology and energy.

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Contacts:
Writer: Phillip Fiorini
(765) 496-3133

Sources: Alan Rebar
(765) 496-6625

G. Steven Burrill
(415) 591-5405

Charles Buck
(765) 494-2208

David Johnson
(317) 238-2450

Purdue News Service:
(765) 494-2096