Indianapolis, May 28, 2008 – More than 275,000 Hoosiers work in the life sciences sector and thousands of others support the industry through research, philanthropy and complementary roles. Who is making the most positive impact on the growth of the state’s life sciences sector? The inaugural BioCrossroads Life Sciences Champion of the Year Award seeks to answer that question.

The honor will be awarded on an annual basis 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.

“As Indiana’s reputation as one of the nation’s top life sciences centers grows, the impact of individual leadership in this effort within our community is increasing as well,” said Dr. August Watanabe, Chairman of BioCrossroads’ Board of Directors. “Through this award, BioCrossroads will recognize each year an individual who personifies the emerging face of Indiana’s life sciences industry and honor one of our leaders who is helping us achieve national prominence.”

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 on specific achievements over the course of a year. Nominations can be submitted at www.biocrossroads.comIn 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 Thursday, July 18. Finalists will be notified in mid- September, and the awards will be presented at the Indiana Life Sciences Forum reception on Monday, October 20, 2008.

About BioCrossroads
BioCrossroads (www.biocrossroads.com) is Indiana’s initiative to grow 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 businesses (Indiana Health Information Exchange, Monarch LifeSciences, 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.