WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) announced today that it is accepting nominations for the fourth annual Biotech Humanitarian Award. As in years past, the Award will be given to an individual who has harnessed the potential of biotechnology to heal, fuel or feed the planet.

The individuals behind the biggest ideas in biotechnology are discovering ground-breaking technologies to address some of the most complex health, environmental and sustainability challenges facing our world today, said BIO President and CEO Jim Greenwood. The Biotech Humanitarian Award is our way of saying thank you to the biotech innovators who are working on the frontlines to find cures for diseases and make peoples lives and the life of our planet better every day.

The Humanitarian Award honors work that aims to reduce human suffering significantly, enhance the human experience in a way that has a clear and direct benefit to society or improves the health of our planet Additional consideration will be given to approaches that are at a turning point and may potentially have immeasurable influence.

Last years Honoree was Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine advocate who serves as the Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases and the Director of the Vaccine Education Center at The Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Offit was presented the Humanitarian Award in recognition of his 25 years spent dedicated to developing RotaTeq, one of the main vaccines currently used to fight rotavirus, a disease that is the leading cause of severe, dehydrating diarrhea in infants and young children.

The Award and a prize of $10,000 will be presented at the 2012 BIO International Convention, in Boston, MA on June 18-21, 2012. Nominations are open to all individuals and can be accessed here. Nominees will be evaluated and judged on the following criteria: Impact on future generations; Impact on contemporary society; Contribution to the field of biotechnology; and Level of innovation exhibited.

Qualified nominees for the Biotech Humanitarian Award will be professionals in the biotechnology field including scientists, researchers, academics, entrepreneurs, financiers, philanthropists, educators, advocates and others who have added value to society through their pursuit of biotechnology processes.

About BIO

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.

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BIO Opens Nominations for 2012 Biotech Humanitarian Award