Illinois Biotechnology Industry Organization Announces New Leadership for iBIO and iBIO Institute

Illinois Biotechnology Industry Organization Announces New Leadership for iBIO and iBIO Institute

CHICAGO --(Business Wire)-- Jan 19, 2010 The Illinois Biotechnology Industry Organization (iBIO) today announced the election of Kris Lutt as Chairman of the iBIO Board of Directors, and the election of Nancy Joseph-Ridge, M.D., as Chairman of the iBIO Institute Board of Directors.

Lutt currently serves as Advisor, Office of the Chairman at Archer Daniels Midland Company, a global agricultural processor headquartered in Decatur, Ill. In this role, Lutt seeks to enhance ADM's performance by coordinating the activities of the company's executive leadership team. Lutt joined ADM in 2002, and previously served as general manager, Specialty Feed Ingredients. In this position, he was responsible for ADM's global amino acid business, which includes sales offices in Europe, China, Singapore, Australia, Brazil, Mexico and the United States. Prior to that appointment he served as vice president, Corn Processing; and earlier as general manager, ADM/LSI, a food ingredient distribution network. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry from the University of Nebraska and a Master of Business Administration from Illinois State University. He has been a member of iBIO's Board of Directors since 2008.

Dr. Joseph-Ridge is General Manager of the Pharmaceutical Development Division for Takeda, headquartered in Deerfield, Ill. Dr. Joseph-Ridge oversees the development and execution of the company's global clinical development strategies and plans. Most recently, Dr. Joseph-Ridge was president of Takeda Global Research & Development Center, Inc., U.S. In this capacity, Dr. Joseph-Ridge was responsible for overseeing the organization's U.S. development activities. Joining the Takeda family of companies in 2002, Dr. Joseph-Ridge previously worked at TAP Pharmaceutical Products Inc., where she was vice president of research and development. At TAP, she also served as therapeutic area head of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology and department head for publications, medical writing and clinical trial registries. Prior to TAP, Dr. Joseph-Ridge gained experience in the cardiovascular and arthritis therapeutic areas while working in drug safety and clinical development at Searle, which has since become part of Pfizer.

Dr. Joseph-Ridge earned her medical degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She completed her internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Rush Hospital, where she later became chief resident, and completed her fellowship in Rheumatology at the University of Chicago. Dr. Joseph-Ridge is board certified in both Internal Medicine and Rheumatology. She joined the iBIO Institute Board of Directors in 2008.

"2010 will be another decisive year for our organizations, particularly with the return to Chicago of the BIO International Convention in early May," said iBIO and iBIO Institute President and CEO David Miller. "Our Boards of Directors will play vital roles in serving our members, who are dedicated to continuing to grow a world-class biotechnology community in Illinois. We are fortunate that Kris and Nancy have accepted these positions of responsibility during a year when we will step up our efforts to create high-paying technology jobs for Illinois' current workers, and dramatically improve the science and math education of future professionals."

Newly elected members of the iBIO Board of Directors include Matthew Wineinger, President, Food & Industrial Ingredients, Americas, Tate & Lyle (Decatur); and Joseph Kuchta, President & CEO, Goble & Associates Healthcare Communication (Chicago).

In addition to Chairman Lutt and Immediate Past Chairman Andrew (Andy) Hull, also of Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, the 2010 iBIO Board of Directors Executive Committee and officers include Vice Chairman, Human Health William Fitzsimmons, Astellas US; Vice Chairman, Food and Agriculture John Pieper, DuPont - Pioneer Hi-Bred International; Chairman, iBIO Finance Committee JoEllen Helmer, Ernst & Young; Secretary Michael Hogg, Business Counsel; Treasurer Susan Jones, Ernst & Young; Member at Large John Larson, Abbott; Member at Large Norbert Riedel, Baxter International; and iBIO and iBIO Institute President & CEO David Miller.

Other members of the iBIO Board of Directors include John Benske, Amgen; Tom Churchwell, Midwest Venture Partners; Kris Coryell, Coryell Consulting; Michael Donaldson, Valent BioSciences; Steve Ducommun, K&L Gates; Rick Dudek, Pfizer; Dean Gregory, Fenwal; Lewis Gruber, SIWA Capital: Alan Heller, private investor; Arthur Holden, Illumina, and Pharmaceutical Biomedical Research Consortium; Gretchen Johnson, KeraCure: John Lane, Hospira; William Moffitt, Nanosphere; Terry Noetzel, Deloitte Consulting; Joe Nolan, Lundbeck; Rae Payne, Illinois Farm Bureau; John Pieper, DuPont - Pioneer Hi-Bred International; Daphne Preuss Ph.D., Chromatin; Michael Rosen, Forest City Enterprises; and Dave Tierney, Monsanto.

Other members of the iBIO Institute Board of Directors include Raymond Drymalski, K&L Gates; Robert Easter, University of Illinois; Alicia I. Löffler, Ph.D., Northwestern University; Norbert Riedel, Baxter International; James L. Tyree, Abbott; and iBIO and iBIO Institute President & CEO David Miller.

About iBIO

The Illinois Biotechnology Industry Organization (iBIO) champions biotechnology in Illinois and the surrounding Midwest region. Headquartered in Chicago, iBIO's mission is to strengthen the leadership position of Illinois and the Midwest as a globally recognized center of medical, agricultural, and -biotechnology. With leaders from business, academia, and government, iBIO promotes the development and retention of new companies as well as corporate expansions. We also advocate sensible public policy at the local, state, and federal levels. iBIO is proud to be an affiliate of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), headquartered in Washington, D.C. To learn more about iBIO and its programs, visit www.ibio.org.

iBIO's Leadership Sponsors are Abbott, Astellas Pharma US, Baxter International Inc. and Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America.

About the iBIO Institute

The iBIO Institute, established by the Illinois Biotechnology Industry Organization (iBIO), provides educational programs and training for K-12 and community college students; members of the health and life sciences community, including entrepreneurs; those considering careers in the life sciences; and the general public. The iBIO Institute creates programs that increase career opportunities for minority and other under-served groups. The iBIO Institute's mission is to orchestrate local resources as a leadership force to help solve America's math and science education crisis. To learn more about the iBIO Institute and its programs, visit www.ibioinstiute.org.

Upcoming iBIO and Affiliated Events

Second Annual Illinois Life Sciences Day at the Capitol

March 10, 2010, 12 pm - 7 pm Springfield, IL

The Illinois Life Sciences Day at the Capitol is an opportunity for you and your colleagues to visit with Illinois state legislators and party leaders, and to honor the winners of the 2010 John W. Maitland Jr. Biotechnology Leadership Award. For more information, visit www.ibio.org/events.

2010 BIO International Convention

May 3-6, 2010 McCormick Place Chicago

The BIO International Convention is the world's largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world. The BIO International Convention showcases the many ways the biotechnology and life science industries work together to help heal, fuel, and feed the world. For more information, visit http://convention.bio.org.

 


Media Contacts:
AJ Pace
iBIO
312.422.1111
[email protected]
or
Jed Weiner
White Oak Communications, Inc.
847.392.4186
[email protected]