ERBI announces a spectacular speaker line-up for its 10th Anniversary BioPartnering Exchange Conference

Cambridge, UK 20 Feb 2008: ERBI today announces an impressive speaker line-up for its annual conference to be held from May 7th - 9th 2008. The conference, celebrating the last decade of bio-entrepreneurship, will be held at the Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, near Cambridge, UK. It features three main elements; the conference, formal partnering and the Technology Showcase.

The conference comprises keynote speeches by respected biotech influencers on issues such as the current methods of treating cancer, with a focus this year on the treatment of teenage cancer. A review of life science developments and successes over the last decade will be a highlight, as well as an expert commentary on the trends that are driving the next decade.

Company presentations discussing the scientific and business issues affecting the life science industry in the Cambridge cluster and beyond will complete the line-up, including:- MedImmune, Medtronic, GSK, GE Healthcare Life Sciences.

This year's eminent speakers include:

o Professor Sydney Brenner

Professor Brenner is a Senior Distinguished Fellow of the Crick-Jacobs Center, Salk Institute, La Jolla, USA. He is one of the past century's leading pioneers in genetics and molecular biology. Professor Brenner most recent work has resulted in new ways of analysing gene sequences, which has developed a new understanding of the evolution of vertebrates. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2002.

o Professor Karol Sikora

Professor Sikora is Medical Director of CancerPartnersUK, which is creating the largest UK cancer network as a series of joint ventures with NHS Trusts. He is Professor of Cancer Medicine and honorary Consultant Oncologist at Imperial College School of Medicine at Hammersmith Hospital. He is Scientific Director of leading cancer diagnostic company, Medical Solutions plc. Professor Sikora has recently been appointed Dean of Britain's first independent Medical School at the University of Buckingham. He is a Senior Adviser to the WHO Cancer Programme and the International Atomic Energy Agency.

o Dr Aubrey de Grey

Dr de Grey is the Chairman and Chief Science Officer of the Methuselah Foundation, based in Cambridge UK and Lorton, Virginia, USA. His interest and expertise lies in the development of a true cure for human aging. His research and his foundation specialise in biogerontology research focused on the identification and promotion of specific technological approaches to the reversal of various aspects of aging. He is also Editor-in-Chief of the high-impact biomedical gerontology journal Rejuvenation Research.

The full speaker line-up and conference programme is available on-line at www.erbiconference.co.uk . Registrations can be made for either one day or full conference attendance via the website. The partnering opportunities available to all delegates throughout the conference are supported by the EDB Group's PartneringONET software.

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Notes for editors For media enquiries please contact:

Jeff Solomon CEO, ERBI +44 (0) 1223 497400
Claire Elbrow Media Contact, ERBI +44 (0) 1638 731513

About ERBI

ERBI is Europe's leading regional biotechnology industry group. Established in 1997, today we are a self-financing, non-governmental, membership-based company. Although most of our 430 members come from all walks of the bio-pharma and med-tech community in Cambridge and the wider East of England, today we have a significant number of members from other countries and regions. Our membership ranges from multi-nationals like GSK and MSD, to venture-backed start-ups.

Our primary aim is to help our members enhance their global competitiveness. All of our activities are underpinned by networking - bringing together groups of like-minded people to share best practice, experiences, contacts and knowledge.

Over the last 10 years we have earned a reputation for delivering support that makes a positive contribution to our member companies in the key areas of purchasing, facilities management, health and safety, security, IT, finance, corporate governance, training, HR and business development.

Article Id: 299319
Release date: 20 Feb 2008