[September 01, 2015]

WIRED Magazine Editor, Cambia Grove Founder and Fred Hutch's President to Appear at Oregon Bio's 'Expanding the Ecosystem' Annual Conference

Internationally known leaders from key companies, funders and organizations, including Epic Semiconductors, Carabiner, University of California, Davis, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Endeavour Partners, and WIRED magazine will present to an anticipated 300 participants in two weeks to share innovation best practices, emerging thought leadership in cannabis medical research, growing the presence of women in STEM, digital health's local expansion, pharmaceuticals' valuation, and the opportunities of the bio-cluster at Portland's central southeast side.

Said Dennis McNannay, executive director of the Oregon Bioscience Association, "This year's keynotes have been chosen to challenge traditional thinking. The goal is to provide a mix of informative perspectives participants can use to stimulate and accelerate innovation in their own organizations."

Featuring six high profile keynoters and multiple track sessions, the Oregon Bio 2015: Expanding the Ecosystem event will offer a comprehensive experience featuring professional development, networking, career growth opportunities, the annual Pitchfest, and exposure to the emerging commercialization intel at the Research Pavilion.

The roster of keynote speakers includes:

• Gary Gilliland, Ph.D. and M.D., president of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
• Wolf Richter, co-founder, president, Epic Semiconductors
• Judy Kjelstrom, Ph.D., director, Biotech Program at UC Davis
• Dan Ledger, principal, Endeavor Partners, Digital Health/Mobile Platforms
• Cabot Brown, CEO and founder, Carabiner LLC
• Fred Vogelstein, author and contributing editor, WIRED magazine

Said Gary Gilliland Ph.D. and M.D., president of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, "Our commitment to getting this right and continuing to fuel the intellectual and financial economy of [Washington] state is the same commitment you have in Oregon. The pace of discovery is swifter than ever before. The power that Washington and Oregon can have together by collaborating is invigorating. Let's harness the resources in the northwest together. And let's get started now."

Fred Vogelstein, author and contributing editor of WIRED magazine published in the July issue his family's very real and very personal quest to treat his son's epilepsy. In the article, entitled, "Boy Interrupted: One Man's Quest to Cure His Son's Epilepsy - With Weed," Vogelstein will be relating his family's experience and what led them to a cannabis research firm in the U.K. "My family impressed upon me that not that many people are in my spot - as an editor of a widely-read publication - to be able to promote this conversation. They made it clear to me it was my obligation to do that."

One key focus will be dedicated to helping women grow in STEM careers (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Addressing this will be Judith Kjelstrom, Ph.D., director of University of California Davis's Biotechnology Program. Said Dr. Kjelstrom about her presentations, "Academic jobs are scarce, and more Ph.D. graduates are needed in the STEM fields. Graduate education must evolve to meet these needs and importantly, a special focus in needed to empower women to maximize their participation."

Day One on Sept. 9 occurs at the Collaborative Life Sciences Building at Portland's South Waterfront to provide attendees with a focus on both the biotech career path as well as meeting investors/funders at the Pitchfest. It highlights the innovative perspectives of nationally respected researchers, innovators and policy makers while exploring the latest commercialization opportunities found in Oregon's research and entrepreneurial sectors. "To compete with the world's best entrepreneurial ecosystems, Oregon must learn to cultivate this trait and reward the risks these pioneers take," adds McNannay.

Day two on Sept. 10 will move to Marylhurst University's campus auditorium and will focus on both the business of bioscience as well as policy. Attendees will have the opportunity to dial in on how Oregon's expanding bio ecosystem can drive competitive advantage in the areas of peer-to-peer networking, economic revitalization in Portland's inner southeast quadrant, licensing, educating and upskilling the workforce, and research and development. Local leaders see that this is the time to leverage the current industry momentum to effect smart change and industry growth.

The conference also comprises evening events including Wednesday, Sept. 9's 'Wine on the Willamette' on the back deck of the new Collaborative Life Sciences Building. Ten wineries/distributors will pour from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., bringing together science, policy and company leaders in view of the soon-to-be-opened Tilikum Crossing transit bridge.

On Thursday, Sept. 10, 'Tapas on the Terrace,' included as part of conference registration, will commence on the patio of Marylhurst University's Commons area from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. This year, for the first time, the event will have an auction, and proceeds will benefit the Northwest chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Conference Platinum Sponsors include Oregon Health & Science University, Oregon Translational Research and Development Institute (OTRADI) and Genentech. Silver sponsors include TE Connectivity (News - Alert), Canon, MedIntelliBase, and Springer. Meal and wine reception sponsors include Davis Wright Tremaine, PhRMA, MSEI, MolecularMD, and Welch Allyn, and track sponsors include BIO (Biotechnology Industry Organization), and Biotronik. Sponsors in other categories include HDR (News - Alert)/OrangeWall and Oregon Nanotechnology & Microelectronics Institute.

Exhibitors include: BIO, Biotronik/MSEI, Bovard Consulting, Canon (News - Alert), Charles River Labs, Davis Wright Tremaine, InFocus Systems, Genentech, Marquam Group, MedIntelliBase, Oregon Clinical Trials & Research Institute, OHSU-Invent, OTRADI, ShareVault, Sigma Design, Springer and Welch Allyn.

About Oregon Bioscience Association

The Oregon Bioscience Association advocates for its members and the industry to create opportunity through community, collaboration and commercialization. Oregon Bio promotes the growth and quality of the bioscience industry in Oregon and continually seeks ways to support sustainability and growth in the life science, bioscience, biotechnology and device manufacturing industries and to create acceleration initiatives so members can achieve their full scientific, economic and social potential. Oregon Bio, a nonprofit membership association, is the Oregon affiliate of BIO, Biotechnology Industry Organization.

BIO found in 2014 Oregon's jobs in biotech grew faster than most other U.S. markets. The association's most current economic impact study showed that Oregon has 802 bioscience establishments and 13 life science research institutions and that Oregon is emerging in several bioscience areas with job growth in four of the five major subsectors from 2007 to 2012. BIO also found the state's research, testing, and medical labs subsector has grown particularly fast in recent years, increasing employment by 33 percent. Oregon's research universities are especially focused in the biosciences relative to other fields with their $456 million in bioscience academic R&D in 2012 accounting for 67 percent of all academic research.

NIH awarded Oregon nearly $304 million in 2014, with 673 grants awarded to 42 firms. Additionally, the National Cancer Institute gave 62 awards, totaling more than $39 million; 43 SBIR and STTR awards totaled $18.8 million; the Department of Defense granted almost $3 million; and the National Science Foundation awarded $60.3 million in grants. More about the Oregon Bioscience Association can be found at www.oregonbio.org.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150901005485/en/

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