State bioscience effort calls on ‘Big Thinkers’

A Kansas University professor is among seven “Big Thinkers” designated Wednesday by KansasBio, forming a team of industry and policy leaders to help boost the state’s profile during the world’s largest bioscience convention.

Val Stella, a distinguished professor of pharmaceutical chemistry at KU, joins six others in the group of Big Thinkers who qualify through their groundbreaking leadership in bioscience innovation that has contributed to bioscience research, commercialization, policy, industry growth and expansion in the state.

The seven will be part of KansasBio’s presence at the BIO 2007 convention, set for May 6-9 in Boston. Other Big Thinkers:

¢ Scott Deeter, president and chief executive officer, Ventria Bioscience.

¢ David Franz, an international expert in biosecurity.

¢ Joerg Ohle, president and general manager, Bayer HealthCare LLC, Animal Health Division N.A.

¢ Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

¢ Tom Thornton, president and chief executive officer, Kansas Bioscience Authority.

¢ Dave Vander Griend, president and chief executive officer, ICM Inc.

Sebelius spent time during last year’s convention, in Chicago, helping spread the word about the state’s decision to invest heavily in bioscience efforts, said Angela Kreps, KansasBio president, but “we’re not resting on our laurels.”

That’s where the Big Thinkers come in.

“Kansas is demonstrating to the world that we have a strong track record of bioscience innovation and thoughtful leadership,” she said.

Thornton, the bioscience authority’s top administrator, is looking forward to spreading the word about Kansas and all it has to offer.

“Kansas has an abundance of ‘Big Thinkers’ who are placing the state at the forefront of the convergence of health, food and agriculture and industrial and environmental bioscience,” he said. “Kansas is home to world class research institutions; innovative startups; and leaders in drug discovery, animal health, plant sciences, biofuels and biocomposites – and it’s time to let the world in on what we are doing to become a bioscience leader.”

For more information about BIO 2007 or for information on how to join the Kansas delegation, click on www.kansasbio.org.