Washington, D.C. (May 10, 2017) – Ann Romney, the former First Lady of Massachusetts, a New York Times best-selling author and global ambassador for the Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, will headline a keynote address at the Biotechnology Innovation Organization’s (BIO) International Convention in San Diego (June 19-22). The wife of politician and businessman Mitt Romney, Mrs. Romney has dedicated herself to advocating for families and patients. In her role at the Ann Romney Center, she works to forge novel forms of collaboration that accelerate the search for treatments, preventions and cures for– multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer’s disease, ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), Parkinson’s disease and brain tumors. These five complex, debilitating neurologic diseases affect 50 million people in the U.S.
During a keynote discussion moderated by BIO President & CEO Jim Greenwood, Mrs. Romney will share how her diagnosis of MS nearly 20 years ago challenged her self-identity and will talk about the difficulties of finding the right treatment – all while finding the resilience to thrive in her roles as mother, grandmother, equestrian and patient advocate.
“Ann Romney embodies the ‘Breakthrough’ theme of this year’s BIO International Convention through her persistence in the face of adversity and her determination to reclaim her health,” said Jim Greenwood, President & CEO of BIO. “Mrs. Romney’s compelling personal story and her vision as a global ambassador for brain health research reflect the cornerstone of our Convention programming designed to inspire and educate biotechnology leaders.”
Not long ago, there were limited treatments for MS, but today, the 400,000 MS patients in the U.S. have several options to manage their symptoms. In sharing her vision behind the Center, Mrs. Romney will speak about the challenges ahead in identifying breakthrough treatments, preventions and cures for neurological diseases.
Sponsored by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Wednesday’s keynote session will take place from 9 to 10:30 AM (PT) and is open to attendees with Convention Access or higher.
Advance media registration is available for qualified reporters working full time for print, broadcast and web publications with valid press credentials. To register, please visit here.
About BIO
BIO is the world's largest trade association representing biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the world’s largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world.
BIOtechNOW is BIO's blog chronicling “innovations transforming our world” and the BIO Newsletter is the organization’s bi-weekly email newsletter. Subscribe to the BIO Newsletter.
Upcoming BIO Events
June 19-22, 2017
San Diego, CA
BIO World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology
July 23 - 26, 2017
Montréal, Canada
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