Jim Greenwood, former Congressman, ex-CEO of the world’s top biotech industry association, honored at the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center

The Hepatitis B Foundation, Baruch S. Blumberg Institute and Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center (PABC) honored Jim Greenwood, former Congressman and ex-CEO of BIO, at the organizations’ first Fireside Chat, held Oct. 17, by adding his portrait to their Public Service Wall of Fame.

(L-R) Jim Greenwood, Lou Kassa, Tim Block and Joe Conti

BIO, or the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, is “the world’s largest advocacy association representing member companies, state biotechnology groups, academic and research institutions, and related organizations across the U.S. and in 30+ countries.”

Mr. Greenwood currently is senior policy advisor and chair of the Life Sciences Policy Advisory Group at the law firm DLA Piper. He was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 143rd district from 1981 to 1986 and the Pennsylvania Senate for the 10th district from 1987 to 1993. In 1992, Greenwood was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives representing Pennsylvania's 8th district, a seat he held until 2005 when he resigned to join BIO. Please read more here.

Timothy M. Block, PhD, co-founder, former president and board chair of the Hepatitis B Foundation, Blumberg Institute and PABC thanked Mr. Greenwood for being a key supporter since the early days of the Hepatitis B Foundation, which was the three organizations’ starting point.

“As a member of Congress, Jim Greenwood was a champion of our cause on Capitol Hill, where he opened many doors for us,” Dr. Block said. “And when we were creating an incubator, Jim, always an environmentalist, encouraged us to choose an adaptive reuse, repurposing an existing facility rather than building new on open space, which is so highly valued here in Bucks County. Rob Loughery and Pete Krause, then associated with the Congressman’s office, showed several factories and warehouses that were falling in to disuse.”

Mr. Greenwood joined a short list of influential elected officials on the Public Service Wall of Fame at the PABC. They include former Bucks County State Senator Joe Conti, who attended the event and spoke admiringly of Mr. Greenwood. Others include local State Senator Steve Santarsiero, former Representative Marguerite Quinn and ex-Governors Ed Rendell and Tom Wolf.

The Fireside Chat’s participants, along with Mr. Greenwood, were John F. Crowley, JD, MBA, executive chairman, Amicus Therapeutics, and Ron Philip, chief executive officer of Spark Therapeutics. The chat was moderated by Randall N. Hyer, MD, PhD, MPH, president of the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, which operates the PABC, and CEO of Merlin Biotech.

(L-R) Jim Greenwood, John Crowley and Randy Hyer

About the Hepatitis B Foundation: We are the leading nonprofit organization solely dedicated to finding a cure for hepatitis B and improving the quality of life for those affected worldwide through research, education and patient advocacy. Founded in 1991, the Hepatitis B Foundation is based in Doylestown, Pa., with offices in Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia. To learn more, go to www.hepb.org, read our blog at hepb.org/blog, follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@hepbfoundation) or contact us through info@hepb.org.

About the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute:  An independent, nonprofit research organization, the Blumberg Institute was launched in 2003 by the Hepatitis B Foundation to advance its research mission. Today, the Institute is a leading center for translational research in hepatitis B and liver cancer. The Institute supports drug discovery, biomarker discovery and translational biotechnology around common research themes such as chronic hepatitis, liver disease and liver cancer in an environment conducive to interaction, collaboration and focus. The Blumberg Institute is located in the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center, which it manages, near Doylestown, Pa. Visit www.blumberginstitute.org and follow us on Twitter @BlumbergInstit1.

About the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center (PABC): The PABC uses a highly successful services-based approach to nurture and guide its member companies to success, advance biotechnology, maximize synergies among nonprofit scientists and their commercial colleagues. The PABC has nearly 100 member companies and organizations, mostly small to mid-size science, research and pharmaceutical companies. Nearly 50 of those companies operate on the Doylestown campus, which is home to the Hepatitis B Foundation and the Blumberg Institute. The PABC also manages B+labs at Cira Centre, a new incubator in Philadelphia, in partnership with Brandywine Realty Trust. PABC companies have produced numerous FDA-approved drugs and medical devices, and a recent study found that the PABC’s economic impact exceeded $7.3 billion and created more than 1,100 new jobs during 2016-2021. Please visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter (@BiotechnologyPa) and Facebook