Boston – October 26, 2011 – Women In Bio (WIB) Greater Boston announces the formation of the first Northeast U.S. chapter of WIB, a national non-profit organization committed to fostering leadership, entrepreneurship and careers of women in the biosciences. The new WIB chapter expects to leverage the strength of the region’s biotechnology supercluster to provide mentorship and professional development opportunities for women professionals in New England across the career continuum - from those just beginning their careers to industry veterans.
“Boston and New England are a hotbed of bioscience innovation, entrepreneurial spirit and cutting-edge research and development,” said Cindy Crowninshield, R.D., L.D.N., co-chair of the WIB Greater Boston steering committee, and conference director, Cambridge Healthtech Institute. “It’s natural that the women who have been instrumental in driving many significant advances in our industry would collaborate to foster the continued involvement and leadership of other women professionals.”
As its inaugural event, WIB Greater Boston will offer members and other local biotechnology professionals the opportunity to participate in a multi-chapter videoconference discussion of orphan drug development featuring Marlene Haffner, M.D., M.P.H., on November 1, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. A recognized expert on rare diseases and the research and development of products to treat them, Dr. Haffner will discuss current trends in orphan drug development, the entry of big pharma into the arena, and the issues life sciences companies may face in the R&D of orphan drugs.
“The women in WIB Greater Boston have coalesced and begun planning exciting, valuable events for their members in an amazingly short time,” said Debra Bowes, president of Women In Bio. “With the BIO International Conference scheduled for Boston in 2012, the Greater Boston chapter is poised to become a large, impactful organization comprised of accomplished women who choose to share their success and expand their personal networks.”
“Massachusetts is a global leader in the life sciences and a big contributor to that leadership is a talented workforce that is second to none,” said Dr. Susan Windham Bannister, President & CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, the agency charged with implementing the state ten-year, $1 billion Life Sciences Initiative. “To retain our leadership going forward, it is critical that we take full advantage of all of the talent that is available to the life sciences workforce. Women historically have been underrepresented in that workforce, particularly at the top of the corporate ladder. The formation of WIB Greater Boston reflects the commitment of professional women to build our life sciences cluster and to assist other women in achieving their full professional potential. We look forward to collaborating with WIB Greater Boston to accomplish these important goals.”
About Women In Bio
Women In Bio was established in 2001 in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Membership includes women executives, entrepreneurs, scientists, investors, students, and others in professional fields who serve the life sciences industry. WIB Greater Boston joins chapters in the greater Washington, DC region, Research Triangle Park, Seattle and Chicago in providing educational, networking and mentoring opportunities for women biotechnology professionals. For more information, visit www.womeninbio.org or email boston@womeninbio.org.
About the Event
To register for Multiple Chapters: “Discussion with the Expert” Series Featuring Marlene Haffner, please visit the WIB web site (www.womeninbio.org). The event will be video broadcast Tuesday, November 1, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at:
Fish & Richardson P.C.
One Marina Park Drive
Boston, MA 02210
