For Immediate Release
May 19, 2009

ONTARIO INNOVATION GOES GLOBAL AT BIO 2009

McGuinty Government Leads Delegation To World’s Largest Biotechnology Convention

NEWS

Ontario is building valuable international partnerships with researchers, governments and investors that will result in high value jobs and attract investment.

The province is leading a 300-member delegation representing private sector companies, universities, municipalities and medical research institutions to the BIO International Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, May 18 to 20.  BIO 2009 is the world’s largest life sciences conference, bringing together some 1,700 exhibitors and 20,000 biotech professionals from around the world.

The Ontario delegation includes four featured scientists who have made significant scientific advancements in their fields: Dr. Andras Nagy has discovered how to grow embryonic-like stem cells from a patient’s own skin cells, a discovery that has him named to Scientific American’s first ever Top 10 Honour Roll, Dr. Michael Salter is an internationally recognized expert on pain; whose work explores the source of pain at a molecular level, Dr. Hertzel Gerstein has been at the forefront of diabetes research and discovery for the past 15 years, and Dr. Tom Hudson is a world leader in genome research and now heads up Ontario’s Institute for Cancer Research.

Also during the conference, Premier Dalton McGuinty will be presented with the Biotechnology Industry Organization’s second annual International Leadership Award.  The award recognizes the Premier’s strong commitment to the development and growth of the biotechnology industry in Ontario.

QUOTES

"Ontario is focused on seizing global opportunities, especially in biotechnology.  BIO 2009 allows Ontario to showcase our strengths and forge global partnerships.”
- Minister of Research and Innovation John Wilkinson .

“Premier McGuinty was chosen for this award [2009 BIO International leadership Award] based on his exemplary record of promoting the biotechnology industry and innovation in the life sciences in Ontario. I strongly believe that our industry will continue to thrive in Ontario under his leadership.”
- James C. Greenwood, president and CEO of BIO.

QUICK FACTS

• Ontario has been named one of the top five regions in North America targeting biotechnology companies in 2009.
• Ontario is North America’s third largest biotechnology cluster.
• Ontario’s life sciences sector employs more than 43,000 people at some 850 companies, which generate approximately $14 billion in revenues annually.
• University of Toronto researchers publish more papers than all but two universities in the world – Harvard and Tokyo.

LEARN MORE

To learn more about Ontario’s featured BIO scientists, visit their websites: Dr. Andras Nagy; Dr. Michael Salter; Dr. Tom Hudson and the Ontario Institute of Cancer Research; and Dr. Hertzel Gerstein.

To read more about the work of these top scientists, visit our Success Stories section featured on the Ministry of Research and Innovation website.

Find out more about BIO 2009.