WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) announced today that it has integrated its alliance development activities into one department as a means of expanding engagement opportunities with external groups that share a commitment to unleashing biotechnologys capability to benefit patients and consumers.

Gillian Mullins has been promoted to lead this enhanced effort as the Managing Director, Alliance Development. Mullins will oversee BIO's external relationships with allied organizations, including: patient advocacy organizations, physician and payer groups, universities, venture capital organizations and the state-based bioscience trade groups that comprise the Council of State Bioscience Association (CSBA).

"BIO's Alliance Development activities are a central element of our organization's directive to promote responsible growth of the bioscience industry while improving understanding of policy issues critical to the industry and patients we serve, said Fritz Bittenbender, BIO's vice president of Alliance Development and State Government Relations. "Through these partnerships we support an industry that is researching and developing new cures and treatments for debilitating diseases including cancer, Multiple Sclerosis and HIV/AIDS and by providing cutting-edge technologies to improve crop yields, and discover cleaner forms of home-grown energy."

"BIO's commitment to partnering with and supporting the initiatives of other similarly aligned trade organizations has played an understated yet invaluable role in advancing the bioscience industry's legislative and regulatory interests," said Chris Rivera, president of the Washington Biotechnology & Biomedical Association and chairman of the CSBA. "In particular, BIO's stewardship of the CSBA has brought together 51 life sciences trade organizations with divergent interests from across the U.S. under the unified banner of promoting public understanding and advocacy for sound public policy that benefits us all."

For more information on BIO, please visit our website at http://www.bio.org.

Upcoming BIO Events

World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology & Bioprocessing April 29-May 2, 2012 Orlando, FL

2012 BIO International Convention June 18-21, 2012 Boston, MA

BIO represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the worlds largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world. BIO produces BIOtechNOW, an online portal and monthly newsletter chronicling innovations transforming our world. Subscribe to BIOtechNOW.

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BIO Announces Expansion of Alliance Development Activities