CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Illinois Biotechnology Industry Organization (iBIO®) and the iBIO Institute today announced the launch of a patient focused center in the IBIO Institute.
The Patient Center will provide critical resources and connections between patient groups, the medical science industry and clinical research institutions. The national Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) and Horizon Pharma have provided funding to launch the Patient Center.
Initially, the Patient Center will provide programming around advocacy training, curriculum development and common best practices to build capacity among smaller, sometimes resource-strapped patient-centered organizations. In time, the Patient Center will become a one stop location providing common office amenities while connecting these patient organizations to the stakeholders crucial to their mission.
“Horizon Pharma is committed to helping patients lead better lives through medical innovation,” says Horizon Pharma Chairman, President and CEO Timothy P. Walbert. “Strengthening the network between patient groups, researchers and industry will benefit clinical research and create an ecosystem that empowers patients to play a role in how their diseases will be treated in the future. This one-of-a-kind initiative allows iBIO and the Institute to leverage the BIO, AdvaMed and PhRMA networks to highlight best practices and pool resources.”
Leading the development of the Patient Center is an Advisory Board comprised of the key stakeholders for the patient center.
Michelle Orive, Rush to Live
Dr. Raj Shah, Rush University Medical
Center
Regina Greer-Smith, Healthcare Research Associates LLC
Jacqueline
Dominguez, American Liver Foundation
Heidi Fredrickson, We Work for
Health, PhRMA
MayeBeth Hadfield, Genentech
Lauren Neff,
Biotechnology Innovation Organization
Rob Metz, Horizon Pharma
“I am honored to serve on the Advisory Committee to help direct the development of this patient center,” said Michelle Orive, Rush to Live. “I am a organ transplant recipient and President and Founder of The Rush to Live Organization. We educate organ donors and recipients. Having a center that will provide resources, connections and best practices will give me more time to focus on the mission of Rush to Live and increase the benefits that we provide to the transplant community. I am excited to participate in the launch of this center.”
The official launch of the Patient Center will be at the iBIO IndEx on April 20th which is iBIO’s annual signature industry event.
“I am excited to launch the Patient Center initiative and the iBIO IndEx is the perfect forum for its inaugural programming. Our theme for the IndEx is Converge to Emerge, and this new Patient Center is a perfect example of how our community can come together to facilitate patient centered innovation,” said Warren Ribley, iBIO and iBIO Institute President and Chief Executive Officer. “The seed funding from BIO and Horizon enabled us to host focus groups and establish the foundation to launch this patient initiative. I want to thank all of the organizations participating on the Advisory Board. Their insight and guidance will be critical to the development of the Patient Center in the IBIO Institute.”
Earlier this week, iBIO announced that Christophe Weber, President and CEO of Takeda, and Kyle Bryant, Founder and Director of Ride Ataxia, Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance, will address approximately 400 life sciences professionals during the 2016 iBIO IndEx at the Hilton Orrington in Evanston, Illinois, April 19th and 20th. For more information about the IBIO IndEx visit http://index.ibio.org.
Organizations and companies interested in participating in the IBIO Institute Patient Center should contact John Collins, Managing Director for Alliance Development at the IBIO Institute, John.Collins@ibioinstitute.org.
About iBIO Institute
The mission of the iBIO Institute is to orchestrate business leadership in delivery of world-class educational programs and job-creating new technology ventures. To learn more about iBIO Institute and its programs, visit www.ibioinstitute.org.
About the Illinois Biotechnology Industry Organization
iBIO’s mission is to make Illinois and the surrounding Midwest one of the world’s top life sciences centers: a great place to do business and a great place to grow technology ventures.
