Former Gov. Mark Schweiker honored at the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center
Former Gov. Mark Schweiker, a Bucks County native and resident, was honored March 14 at the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center (PABC) in Doylestown.
In 2001, Gov. Schweiker approved the $8 million state grant to the Hepatitis B Foundation that funded construction of Bucks County’s first and only biotech incubator, which today is home to 52 early stage and developing companies.
During a ceremony attended by numerous local leaders, foundation staff, professionals with resident companies, scientists with the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute and others, a portrait of Gov. Schweiker was unveiled. That photo will be added to the PABC’s Public Service Wall of Fame, and Gov. Schweiker was given a plaque with a “Key to the PABC,” the first ever made.
The event began with a private, small-group roundtable conversation about the biotech industry in Pennsylvania with Gov. Schweiker and CEOs of resident companies. The discussion was led by Lou Kassa, CEO of the PABC, Hepatitis B Foundation and Blumberg Institute; Dr. Chari Cohen, president of the Hepatitis B Foundation, and Dr. Randy Hyer, president of the Blumberg Institute.
About the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center (PABC)
Located in Doylestown, Pa., with a satellite incubator, B+labs at Cira Centre in Philadelphia, the PABC is a nonprofit life sciences incubator-accelerator offering state-of-the-art laboratory and office space to nearly 70 early stage biotech companies. The PABC uses a highly successful services-based approach to nurture and guide its member companies to success, advancing biotechnology, maximizing synergies among nonprofit scientists and their commercial colleagues, and launching new ideas and discoveries. PABC member companies account for 17% of all National Institutes of Health SBIR grants awarded in Pennsylvania and over the years have created billions of dollars in market value from IPOs, acquisitions and commercial valuations. For more information, please visit the PABC website.