WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (May 29, 2009) The state of Florida highlighted its biotechnology advances at the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) International Convention along with more than 14,000 attendees and 1,800 exhibitors at the Georgia World Congress Center last week. The Florida Pavilion, hosted by BioFlorida – the state’s bioscience industry association – was represented by leaders from academia, industry, economic development, government and service supporters.

Pavilion exhibits included Banyan Biomarkers , BioTools , The Broward Alliance , Business Development Board of Palm Beach County , Dharma Biomedical , Draper BioMems Development Center at USF , Enterprise Florida , Florida Biosciences, The Florida High Tech Corridor Council , Lake Nona Medical City , Miami Children’s Hospital Research Institute , Miami-Dade Beacon Council , Nova Southeastern University , The Office of Technology Licensing at the University of Florida , Osprey Biotechnics , The Florida Governor’s Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development (OTTED) , Research Facilities Design , Saliwanchik, Lloyd & Saliwanchik , The Scripps Research Institute , Steelgate and Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute – Florida . More than 30 companies and organizations were represented in the Florida Pavilion.

“Promoting all sectors of biotechnology including research, development, healthcare, education and commercialization is part of Florida’s ongoing path to success,” said Governor Charlie Crist. “We must remain determined to enhance our state’s engagement in this sector and maintain our competitive edge.”

With 58 countries and 48 states present at the show, the international marketplace knows Florida has the science, the technology and the critical mass to lead the industry in discoveries. Companies in the Florida Pavilion showcased their compelling research conducted in Florida throughout the four-day show.

Florida’s presence at BIO is crucial for the state’s visibility in the global life science market, according to Russell Allen, President & CEO, BioFlorida. “Florida’s strength, leadership and commitment to this industry is clear, and our innovations were showcased to bioscience executives from around the world,” Allen said. “Our pavilion participants gained multiple new business opportunities, which will further enhance the bioscience industry statewide.”

The Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute in Port St. Lucie, FL (VGTI-FL) is an affiliate of VGTI at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, OR, and one of the Florida exhibitors who came to BIO to develop and forge partnerships from across the entire academic and business spectrum.

“It’s critical to the institute’s success,” said Candy Walker, Program Manager, VGTI-FL. “Being in the Florida Pavilion at BIO gave us access to technologies from all over the world in the space of a few days.” VGTI-FL expands the infectious disease research of VGTI-OR with an emphasis on translational studies in humans.

Another Florida Pavilion exhibitor, Lake Nona of Orlando, FL represents a $2 billion life science investment, including Burnham Institute for Medical Research, M. D. Anderson – Orlando Cancer Research Institute and Nemours Children’s Hospital.

"As we begin to tell the story of Lake Nona's emerging ‘medical city’, the BIO International Conference provided a large and efficient communications platform for Lake Nona and partners within the cluster,” said Thad Seymour, Vice President & General Manager, Health and Life Sciences, Lake Nona. “Florida's growth as a life sciences center and the uniqueness of the Lake Nona cluster stood out at this year's BIO conference, and we look forward to participating actively in the future."

Next year’s event will be held May 3 – 6, 2010 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL. BioFlorida has committed to hosting the Florida Pavilion.