BIO 2006 Ancillary and Community Programs to Cover Range of Industry-Related Topics

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 5, 2006) -- An educational program covering the basics in biotechnology and a career fair are among the ancillary and community programs scheduled to begin in advance of the BIO 2006 Annual International Convention April 9-12 at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago.

Ancillary and community programs begin Friday, April 7, and run throughout the convention. Venues are either within McCormick Place or in a nearby facility.

Among the most popular programs, “The Basics of Biotech,” a two-hour overview of biotechnology, will run from 10 a.m. to noon Sunday, April 9, at the convention center.

Participants will discover how stem cells, tissue engineering, biosensors, and other biotech innovations are becoming a part of daily life. Additional information may be obtained by visiting http://www.bio.org/events/2006/programs/primer.asp

Also on Sunday, jobseekers may connect with potential employers at the BIO 2006 Career Fair. This event will be held off site at the Hyatt Regency Chicago from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit http://www.bio.org/events/2006/programs/career.asp.

Friday and Saturday, conventioneers will have the opportunity to participate in BioParks 2006, a conference focusing on the trends and issues affecting biotechnology research parks. The program will feature an off site trip to Chicago’s successful research parks as well as discussions about plans for new research parks and projects that contribute to urban renewal.

BioParks 2006 will run from 10 a.m. to noon Friday, April 7, and from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, April 8, at Chicago’s Swissotel. For registration and payment information, visit http://www.bio.org/events/2006/programs/bioparks.asp. Registration for BioParks 2006 is separate from BIO 2006 registration and fees.

And following the last year’s success, this year the Patient and Medical Health Advocacy Display will be expanded. The display can be viewed from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 11, and Wednesday, April 12, in the convention center, grand concourse.

Representatives from 32 national and international patient and medical health advocacy groups will be on site to provide information about their organizations. Advocacy groups can help identify participants for clinical trials, locate principal investigators and assist companies in locating beneficiaries for their products.

A list of groups scheduled to participate can be viewed by visiting http://www.bio.org/events/2006/programs/pindex.asp.

Again this year, the BIO 2006 agenda will include the Second Annual “Diversity Within the Biotech Industry Leadership Luncheon,” from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 12, in the convention center. Program panelists will consider strategies for promoting diversity in the biotechnology industry.

Additional information on the Diversity Luncheon may be viewed at http://www.bio.org/events/2006/moi/.

For more information on the BIO 2006 Annual International Convention, visit BIO’s website at http://www.bio.org/events/2006/.

Advance media registration for BIO 2006 is now closed. Registration is complimentary for credentialed members of the news media. Only reporters and editors working full-time for print or broadcast news organizations may register onsite with valid media credentials.

BIO represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and 31 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products.

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