8th Annual WV Bioscience Summit to be Held April 19th in Huntington
As one of the world’s leading manufacturers of eye care products and technologies, Alcon is global leader in life science innovation. Michelle Dixon, general manager of the company’s Huntington facility – which employs nearly 800 – will deliver the keynote address at the 8th Annual West Virginia Bioscience Summit.
Michelle Dixon, General Manager, Alcon
The event, conducted by the West Virginia Bioscience Association, will take place Thursday, April 19, at the Brad D. Smith Foundation Hall, on the campus of Marshall University, in Huntington. The event will begin at 10am and conclude by 5pm.
For more information, or to register, click here, or visit www.biowv.org.
The West Virginia Bioscience Summit will highlight the role and impact of the bioscience industry in West Virginia and the region, showcase research and commercialization efforts taking place at West Virginia universities and private companies, and discuss policies and programs to help nurture the industry.
A host of industry leaders and subject matter experts will participate in the conference, to include:
- Dr. Jerome Gilbert, President, Marshall University
- Michelle Dixon, General Manager, Alcon
- Dr. John Maher, Vice President for Research, Marshall University
- Dr. Jagan Valluri, COO, Cordgenics
- Dr. Frank Binder, Vice President, Microbiological Consultants
- Dr. Meagan Valentine, Progenesis Technologies
- Richard Giersch, CEO, Valtari Bio and Director Health Sciences Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Commercialization, WVU
- Kyle Keeney, CEO, Kentucky Life Science Council
- Dr. Scott Galster, Ph.D., Director, Human Performance, WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute
- Dr. Gerald Hankins, Ph.D., Associate Professor, West Virginia State University
The event will also highlight policies the state should employ to grow and nurture the life science industries. The director of the Kentucky Life Sciences Council will highlight the policies the Commonwealth of Kentucky has implemented to grow the innovation economy. And, West Virginia legislative leaders will discuss policies West Virginia should promote to diversify and grow our state’s life science and technology industries. 
Bryan Brown, executive director of the West Virginia Bioscience Association, said, “West Virginia has an incredibly diverse and talented life science community. It’s time to implement policies at the state level to help the industry grow. We should encourage, through sound public policy, the commercialization of research, the creation and funding of innovation companies and the recruitment of these types of companies and researchers to establish operations in the state.”
He continued, “We are excited to have Michelle Dixon join us to share Alcon’s story of innovation in West Virginia and around the globe, as well as the myriad other experts highlighting the incredible discoveries and ventures that are leading to cures, assistance and economic development for our state and its residents.
The event is being sponsored by Marshall University, Mylan, BIO, VWR International, WVU Corporate Relations, TechConnectWV, PhRMA, Amgen, and the Consumer Healthcare Products Association.
For additional information or to register, contact Bryan Brown at (304) 546-5500, or visit the website at: www.biowv.org.