Triad BioNight Coming March 8

Triad BioNight 2012, an event to showcase the growth of the biotechnology sector throughout the Piedmont Triad, will be held Thursday, March 8, at the Sheraton Greensboro Hotel at Four Seasons.

Robert (Bob) Ingram, general partner of Hatteras Venture Partners, will be the keynote speaker for the event. Hatteras is a Research Triangle Park-based venture capital firm with four funds and more than $200 million under management, including a new Hatteras Discovery fund focused on life science startups.

Hatteras focuses on biopharmaceuticals, medical devices, diagnostics, and related opportunities in human medicine. Hatteras is also one of the partners for the $35 million accelerator program from the $232 million N.C. Innovation Fund recently announced by N.C. State Treasurer Janet Cowell.

Ingram began his career in the pharmaceutical industry as a professional sales representative and rose through a series of roles with increasing responsibility to ultimately become CEO/Chairman of GlaxoWellcome. He co-led the merger and integration that formed GlaxoSmithKline, the world's second largest pharmaceutical company.

BioNight spotlights effective collaboration

Triad BioNight is the marquee event for the Triad’s biotechnology community and is hosted by the Advisory Committee for Biotechnology in the Piedmont Triad and the Piedmont Triad Office of the North Carolina Biotechnology Center.

“The strong biotech cluster in the Triad region supports thousands of high-paying jobs,” said Norris Tolson, president and CEO of the Biotechnology Center. “This community has been extremely successful in working collaboratively to build the cluster.”

This year’s event will celebrate successes, recognize outstanding effort through excellence awards and give attendees an opportunity to network as well as look to the future.

“We are extremely pleased to have a leader with Bob’s vision joining us for Triad BioNight 2012,” said Nancy Johnston, executive director, Piedmont Triad Office, North Carolina Biotechnology Center. “His perspective on what it will take to attract investment in the future will be extremely valuable for bioscience job growth in the Piedmont Triad.”

Speakers, awards celebrate successes since 2005

Triad BioNight, first held in 2005, attracts several hundred leaders of academia, industry, and government from across the state, and features awards to celebrate biotechnology leadership in the region.

Past speakers have included Jim Greenwood, President and CEO of BIO; Anthony Atala, M.D., director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine; David King, CEO of LabCorp; and then-Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue.

Triad BioNight was developed by the Advisory Committee for Biotechnology in the Piedmont Triad. Currently, Russ Read, executive director of the National Center for the Biotechnology Workforce, serves as chairman of the committee and Scott Sewell, vice president of technology acquisition & development for Cook Medical, is vice chair. The event co-chairs are Kathy Elliott, vice president for entrepreneurism and small business at the Greensboro Partnership, and Kevin Barth, director of North America pharmaceutical sales for Banner Pharmacaps.

“The significance of Triad BioNight is evident in the level of commitment from the Advisory Committee for Biotechnology in the Piedmont Triad, the event co-chairs, and a volunteer team of well over two dozen community leaders,” said Johnston.

Additional information on sponsorships, awards and event registration will be posted soon on the Biotechnology Center website.