ANN ARBOR – Ann Arbor’s role as one of the state’s biosciences industry hubs will be highlighted on Oct. 26-27 when MichBio holds its 6th Annual Expo and Conference to the Marriott at Eagle Crest in Ypsilanti.

MichBio is the statewide trade association for biosciences, and the Expo is the premier annual gathering of biosciences leaders and stakeholders, attracting 530 attendees and more than 60 exhibitors last year in Kalamazoo.

“The Expo will spotlight the extraordinary depth of bioscience research and services available in this area of Michigan,” said Stephen Rapundalo, PhD, MichBio president and CEO. “It will also provide an abundance of networking opportunities as well as topical sessions and comment by industry experts from biopharma, emerging business and, for the first time, medical devices and ag/bio-based technologies.”

Day One of the Expo features tours of local biosciences companies including Essen BioScience, NSF International, UM Medical Innovation Center, Aastrom Biosciences, the Michigan Life Science and Innovation Center, Enzo Life Sciences, Xoran Technologies, Accuri Cytometers, Terumo?s Ann Arbor Campus (including Terumo Heart and Terumo Cardiovascular), and the Michigan Research Institute.

At the Marriott, young bioscience companies will present their business plans before an audience of investors at the 4th Annual Emerging Biosciences Showcase, which will also feature panel discussions on the “Capitalization of the Venture” and “What Every Biotech Start-Up Needs to Know About IP Protection.”

Day One’s program also includes an Innovations Poster Session showcasing the most promising technologies and discoveries being developed for commercialization at Michigan universities and research institutions.

Two afternoon sessions will focus on education and networking for manufacturing suppliers thinking about diversifying into the medical device sector with “A Regulatory Primer for Prospective Medical Device Manufacturing Suppliers” and “What You Need to Succeed as a Supplier to the Medical Device Industry.” These sessions will explore what small manufacturers and suppliers need to know about the scope of FDA authority, essentials of regulatory rules, quality system regulations, and compliance procedures, as well as the strategies successful companies employ to establish a medical device market presence.

Topping off the day is the Expo Opening Reception, with welcome by Mike Finney, president and CEO, Ann Arbor SPARK, reception sponsor. The reception is followed by an exclusive CEO-only dinner forum for MichBio bio-company members.

Day Two of the Expo begins with a legislative policy breakfast and presentation of MichBio’s “Legislator of the Year” award. The day continues with concurrent track sessions on pharma, medical devices, ag/bio-based technologies and emerging business topics. Closing the Expo is this year’s keynote address by Dr. Jeffrey E. Shuren, Director, FDA Center for Devices and Radiological Health, and presentation of the 2010 “Innovator of the Year” and “Good to Great” awards, which recognize an individual and a company that have demonstrated excellence in Michigan’s biosciences community during the past year.

On October 28, MichBio will sponsor its annual High School Career Day, this year hosted by the University of Michigan. High School Career Day is planned in conjunction with the MichBio Expo each year.

“Career Day is a free event that gives science teachers an opportunity to introduce some of their best students to educational and career opportunities in the biosciences,” Rapundalo said. “It’s a fun day and lets students see first hand some of the amazing educational and career possibilities that await them after graduation.”

Among other things, students will learn about the biomedical engineering design process, tour working labs at the University, including Chemical Engineering Cleanroom, Vlack Material Science Lab and Lurie Nanofabrication Lab, and hear a presentation on biomedical research and discoveries as well as new technologies being utilized in U-M’s bioscience labs.

For more information about the MichBio Expo, click on MichBio.Org/Expo

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