News Release
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June 22, 2005
Boise State Joins Idaho Delegation At International Biosciences Conference in Philadelphia
Idaho research institutions, including Boise State University, are exploring
how they can stimulate the state’s biosciences industry.
The state’s three largest universities and the Idaho National Laboratory are
at the worldwide BIO convention, which opened on Monday in Philadelphia.
Boise State Universitiy, Idaho State University, and the University of Idaho
joined the state’s Office of Science and Technology and the Idaho Economic
Development Association in hosting an Idaho pavilion at the three-day
meeting.
BIO is the world’s largest gathering of the biotechnology industry from
researchers to financiers and corporate executives. About 18,000
participants from all 50 states and 60 countries are at the annual show.
“We’re here to describe what Idaho and Boise State can offer in terms of
infrastructure, education opportunities and research collaboration,” said
Jim Munger, chair of Boise State’s biology department. “We’re also here to
learn what we can do to develop resources that would attract biotech
companies.”
The biosciences industry is heavily dependent on university research, and
that creates extraordinary opportunities, the research and development vice
president for one of the world’s largest biopharmaceutical firms said.
“It’s hugely important that we continue to invest in research,” said Amgen
Vice President Roger Perlmutter.
Collaboration opportunities are one reason Idaho State University’s
Christopher Daniels joined the delegation.
”We’re really building our research infrastructure at ISU now,” said
Daniels, director of the school’s new Biomedical Research Institute. “I’m
here to understand what the role of the institute can become in terms of
regional economic development.”
Agriculture is at the root of Idaho’s biosciences industry. New seeds for
food or forage crops, exploration of biomass for fuels and animal medicine
are the focus of research and commercial activity in the state.
Other growing areas cover everything from Alzheimer’s research at Boise
State to medical equipment at Sapidyne Instruments in Boise to
pharmaceutical analysis at Alturas Analytics in Moscow.
Karl Tueller, executive director of the Idaho Office of Science and
Technology, called the convention “a tremendous opportunity in a
concentrated agenda to meet the world leaders in this industry. There’s
enormous potential here.”
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Contact:: Bob Fick,
Idaho Department of Commerce and Labor, (208) 332-3570 ext. 3628
Media Contact: Janelle Brown, University
Relations, (208) 426-1790, jbrown2@boisestate.edu
The Office of Communications and Marketing
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Education Building, #726 -
Boise Idaho 83725-1030
208-426-1577
(fax)208-426-4001
email newservices@boisestate.edu
Last reviewed on Thursday, December 22, 2005