ANN ARBOR, MI--(Marketwire -03/20/12)- MichBio, the biosciences industry association in Michigan, announced today that Dr. Michael Stebbins will be the keynote speaker at its 2012 Annual Business Meeting & Showcase on April 19 at Schoolcraft College in Livonia, MI.

Dr. Stebbins is the Assistant Director for Biotechnology in the Science Division of the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy (OSTP). He brings a unique view of the politics, culture and influence of science, and is a thought leader on wide-reaching topics on science policy, education, and funding. In his White House role, Stebbins serves as a lead policy expert on policies related to biological research and biotechnology.

Before joining the White House OSTP, he served as a science advisor to the Obama Campaign and was a member of the Obama Presidential Transition Team. He was the Director of Biology Policy for the Federation of American Scientists, is a co-founder of Scientists and Engineers for America, and was a former Adjunct Professor of Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania. He has worked as a policy fellow for the National Human Genome Research Institute and as a Legislative Fellow for Senator Harry Reid. He received his B.S. at SUNY Stony Brook and a Ph.D. in Genetics while working at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.

"Public policy dictates many aspects of bioscience discovery and commercialization," said Stephen Rapundalo, Ph.D., MichBio president and CEO. "No one knows that better than Dr. Stebbins. Specifically, he understands how having a sound science policy can affect the future of America. Mike Stebbins has insightful perspectives on the evolving dynamics playing out towards a national bioeconomy policy, and what that means for U.S. innovation and competitiveness in the global biosciences industry."

Before coming to Washington, Dr. Stebbins was a senior editor for Nature Genetics, worked as a science journalist for Reuters and as a science advisor to ScienCentral News. In addition, he has written for various publications, and was a frequent contributor to This Week in Science, where he discussed issues relating to science and policy.

The MichBio Annual Business Meeting & Showcase attracts over 200 biosciences leaders from around the state. The evening will include a strolling, networking dinner and exhibits followed by brief comments from Dr. Rapundalo. The keynote address will follow.

This year a first-ever Michigan Bio-Talent Summit will precede the Annual Business Meeting from 9 am - 5 pm. The Summit will bring together bio-industry executives, educators, and talent and workforce development stakeholders from around Michigan. Attendees will discuss the bio-industry's current and future talent needs, alignment of curricula with those needs, and best practices in the retention and recruitment of a qualified bioscience workforce.

MichBio is the trade association committed to driving growth of Michigan's biosciences industry. MichBio members include biosciences companies, academic and research institutions, biosciences service providers, and related organizations. For more information, visit http://www.michbio.org.

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White House Biotechnology Director to Keynote 2012 MichBio Annual Business Meeting