Nominations for honor now accepted at www.biocrossroads.com

Indianapolis, May 14, 2009 — For the second year, BioCrossroads will be recognizing the individual who has made the most positive impact on the growth of the state’s life sciences sector.
The Life Sciences Champion of the Year award will be given to an entrepreneurial, research, corporate, medical, academic or philanthropic individual who has made particularly significant achievements in the development and promotion of Indiana’s life sciences sector.

Leonard J. Betley, Chairman and President of the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation, Inc. and the Regenstrief Foundation, and Chairman of the Walther Cancer Foundation, was the inaugural recipient of the award for his multiple roles within the life sciences community and his commitment to improve healthcare.

Criteria includes:

  • Must be a resident of Indiana
  • Must be an individual supporting Indiana’s life sciences growth via entrepreneurial, research, corporate, medical, academic or philanthropic work
  • Judging will be based on assessments of cumulative contribution, not specific achievements over the course of a year.

In honor of the award recipient, BioCrossroads will give grants to two teachers in the science, technology, engineering or mathematics disciplines to pursue professional development through the Indiana Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (I-STEM) Resource Network. The I-STEM Resource Network will select the teaching recipients.

The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, July 15. Finalists will be selected in mid-September and the award will be presented at the Indiana Life Sciences Forum on Tuesday, October 20, 2009.

About BioCrossroads
BioCrossroads (www.biocrossroads.com) is Indiana’s initiative to grow, advance and invest in the life sciences, a public-private collaboration that supports the region’s research and corporate strengths while encouraging new business development. BioCrossroads provides money and support to life sciences businesses, launches new life sciences enterprises (Indiana Health Information Exchange, Fairbanks Institute for Healthy Communities, BioCrossroadsLINX, and Datalys Center) expands collaboration and partnerships among Indiana’s life science institutions, promotes science education and markets Indiana’s life sciences industry.