RICHMOND, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Virginia Bio, the statewide non-profit association representing the life science industry in the Commonwealth of Virginia, hosted a successful second annual Women Building Bio: The XX Factor conference. This year’s conference identified regional female leaders in the bioscience fields, reflected on innovative research that is changing the industry and provided opportunities for professional development and mentorship amongst all members of the community.
Hosted on September 26 at the Inova Center for Personalized Health, Women Building Bio: The XX Factor converged nearly 250 attendees from across the industry to discuss a wide range of topics such as personalizing medicine to focus on individual patients, fostering lifelong mentorship, establishing public policies for health and encouraging the next generation of women to take on leadership roles. The event also placed an emphasis on networking to develop relationships formed around common interests and ambitions.
“XX Factor is an inspirational event that recognizes the achievements of women in bioscience as well as highlights new and exciting research initiatives coming out of Virginia, DC, and Maryland,” said Barbara Boyan, Dean, School of Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University. “We are excited to see members from the community come together, network and collaborate in order to continue pushing the region forward.”
Participants of the Women Building Bio conference benefited from presentations delivered by a distinguished list of panelists including Alexandra Reeve Givens, Director, Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation; Executive Director, Institute for Technology Policy at Georgetown Law; Crystal Icenhour, CEO, Aperiomics; Immediate Past Chairman, Board of Directors, Virginia Bio; Dr. Saralynn Mark, President, iGiant; Carrie Roth, President and CEO, VA Bio+Tech Park; Secretary, Board of Directors, Virginia Bio; Todd Stottlemyer, CEO, Inova Center for Personalized Health; and Joanne Theurich, Chief of Operations Services, Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
“This event aligns with the mission and great work we’re doing at the Reeve Foundation, and I am honored to have spoken about the importance of patient-focused research to the attendees of Women Building Bio,” said Alexandra Reeve Givens, director of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation and executive director of the Institute for Technology Policy at Georgetown Law.
“Women Building Bio would not be successful without the support of our extraordinary sponsors and our talented speakers,” said Jeffrey Gallagher, CEO of Virginia Bio. “Watching the regional bioscience community come together to discuss our industry’s biggest obstacles and brainstorm ways to overcome adversity was an inspiring experience.”
About the Virginia Biotechnology Association
Virginia Bio is the premier statewide non-profit trade association for life sciences, promoting the considerable scientific and economic impact of the life sciences industry in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Virginia Bio is an advocate for the biopharmaceutical and device industries among federal, state and local policy-makers. Virginia Bio is the official state affiliate of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), AdvaMed and the Medical Device Manufacturers Association (MDMA) and also collaborates closely with the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). To learn more, visit www.vabio.org.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
Women Building Bio: The XX Factor was made possible by Inova, George Mason University, Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Virginia Health System, Cherry Bekaert, Activation Capital, Biotechnology Innovation Organization, Pfizer, AstraZeneca/MedImmune, College of William & Mary, Vibrent, Virginia Tech, HHMI Janelia Research Campus, LifeNet Health, Prince William County, Sanofi, Merck and Silverline Communications.
