BioIndustry Association Marks European Biotech Week by Saying Thank You to UK Public for Their Support

27 September 2013 -- The BioIndustry Association (BIA) is marking European Biotech Week by thanking the British public for the key role they play in supporting biomedical research through charity funding.

The first European Biotech Week, which will take place from 30 September to 4 October 2013, aims to celebrate the innovative and vibrant biotechnology sector. 20 biotech associations will hold events across Europe to highlight biotech's achievements and opportunities and celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of the discovery of the structure of the DNA molecule.

Steve Bates, BIA Chief Executive Officer, said:

"The UK public are the most generous in Europe in their support for biomedical research through charity donation. It's great for the biotech sector in the UK to know they have the support of the British public as scientists seek to develop the next generation of medical therapies. We want to thank the public for their support and share with them some of the research which their money is spent on."

Medical research is the UK public's number one charitable cause. In the UK, medical research charities fund over £1 billion of research a year. Around 9.4 million Britons gave to medical research charities each month in 2012, many through purchases at charity shops or through taking part in fundraising activities.

On Friday 4 October the BIA will collaborate with the British Heart Foundation (BHF), Babraham Institute researchers and staff from Papworth Hospital, enabling members of the public to discover the latest advances in cardiovascular biomedical science and learn tips on how to lead a healthy lifestyle. At the Peterborough BHF Furniture & Electrical store enthusiastic scientists with an interactive display stand will 'take the cause to the store' to explain the type of research made possible by the UK public's generosity. There will also be the opportunity to learn life-saving CPR skills throughout the day. Phil Moore, Area Manager for the Peterborough Store, from the BHF, said:

"We're holding a science café in the Peterborough Furniture & Electrical store to give something back to locals and inform them about heart health and the research the BHF is supporting to fight for every heartbeat. BHF-funded researchers will be on hand on the day to bring everything to life, along with staff from Papworth Hospital."

In addition a number of other events will mark European Biotech week in the UK:

- On 27 September the Rt Hon Sir Jim Paice MP will visit Cambridge-based biotech company Arecor and take part in a roundtable discussion with biotech companies about how the UK government's fiscal policies can boost the sector

- On 30 September a delegation of EuropaBio members will visit the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in London

- On 2 October two UK small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) - e-Therapeutics and PsiOxus Therapeutics - will discover if they are 2013's 'EuropaBio Most Innovative EU Biotech SME' at a prestigious event in Brussels and stand to win €10,000.

For further information, please contact Zoë Freeman, Public Affairs and Communications Executive, zfreeman@bioindustry.org, 020 7630 2187.

European Biotech Week

In the European Biotech Week, events across Europe will celebrate biotechnology, an innovative and vibrant sector launched by the 1953 discovery of the DNA molecule, sixty years ago. For more information and for materials to download, please go to www.biotechweek.org

British Heart Foundation

The British Heart Foundation is the UK's number one heart charity, aiming to keep hearts beating by focusing work on groundbreaking research. For more information, please go to www.bhf.org.uk

Babraham Institute

The Babraham Institute undertakes innovative, life sciences research to generate new knowledge of biological mechanisms underpinning lifelong health and wellbeing. For more information, please go to www.babraham.ac.uk

Papworth Hospital

Papworth Hospital is the UK's largest specialist cardiothoracic hospital and the country's main heart and lung transplant centre, with an extraordinary commitment to delivering the highest levels of clinical quality and outcomes and for providing the best possible standards of personalised care to patients. For more information, please go to www.papworthhospital.nhs.uk/

EuropaBio Most Innovative EU Biotech SME Award

The EuropaBio Most Innovative EU Biotech SME Award aims to showcase European biotech SMEs that have developed an innovative solution to technical, social and environmental problems. See http://bia.me/18Fdtnf and http://bia.me/EBSME2013

BioIndustry Association

Founded over 20 years ago at the infancy of biotechnology, the BioIndustry Association (BIA) is the trade association for innovative enterprises involved in UK bioscience. Members include emerging and more established bioscience companies; pharmaceutical companies; academic, research and philanthropic organisations; and service providers to the bioscience sector. The BIA represents the interests of its members to a broad section of stakeholders, from government and regulators to patient groups and the media. Our goal is to secure the UK's position as a global hub and as the best location for innovative research and commercialisation, enabling our world-leading research base to deliver healthcare solutions that can truly make a difference to people's lives. For further information, please go to www.bioindustry.org

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