UB School of Management to Host Biotech Symposium

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Current efforts to develop a biotechnology industry presence in Western New York will be the focus of a full-day symposium to be hosted by the University at Buffalo School of Management on July 21.

"BioBuffalo 2004: A Symposium on the Business of Biotechnology in Western New York" will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel, 2040 Walden Avenue, Cheektowaga.

"For biotechnology to be a success in this region, it's necessary to have cooperation and collaboration among all the stakeholders -- from businesses to researchers to government," said School of Management Dean John M. Thomas, who conceived the idea for the symposium. "We wanted to bring these groups together at one event to help broaden everyone's understanding of what is needed."

The purpose of the symposium is to bring the community together to establish a perspective of the current status and future of the biotechnology industry in Western New York.

After registration and breakfast, the event will begin with a lecture on "The Business of Biotechnology" to be given jointly by Joseph Ogden, UB associate professor of finance and managerial economics and director of the school's new MBA option in Biotechnology Management, and Yali Friedman, Ph.D., author of "Building Biotechnology: Starting, Managing and Understanding Biotechnology Businesses."

"At this early stage of development of the industry in the area, it is important to increase the public's knowledge of the industry, as well as awareness of the opportunities and challenges we face," said Ogden, who is the symposium coordinator.

A broad range of issues will be covered in the day's four panel discussions entitled: "Firms in the Biotech Industry," "Biotech Research in Western New York," "Government Support of Biotech Development in Western New York" and "Commercialization of Biotech Products."

Panelists will include business executives, developmental leaders, researchers and others who are impacting the development of biotechnology in the area, and a keynote address will be delivered over lunch.

The event is open to the public and the cost is $239 per person. Continental breakfast, lunch and a cocktail reception from 5:30-6:30 p.m. are included. For more information or to register to attend, visit http://www.BioBuffalo.org or call 716-645-3200.

A media briefing for reporters covering the symposium will be held at 10 a.m. at the event.

The University at Buffalo School of Management is ranked as one of the world's top-50 business schools by The Wall Street Journal. It also has been cited by Business Week as one of the "best business schools" in America, and by Forbes for "best return on investment." For more information about the UB School of Management, visit http://www.mgt.buffalo.edu.