Ambassador Programme Expands to Seattle

Life Science Ambassador Morten Fæster, who is based in Vancouver, will from now on also cover Seattle /State of Washington. A newly signed collaboration agreement with Washington Bio provides MVA members with access to contacts, services, facilities and discounts on conferences & summits. 

Seattle has a lot to offer within pharma, biotech and medtech innovation as well as academic research. In order to tap into Seattle's life science community, Medicon Valley Alliance has signed a collaboration agreement with Washington Biotechnology & Biomedical Association (WBBA). This provides MVA's members with easier access to Seattle's companies and research institutions that counts among others:

• Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center 
• University of Washington
• Dendreon Corp. (Provenge, world's first prostate cancer-vaccine) 
• ZymoGenetics Inc. (protein based biotech company with recombinant thrombin product in the market)
• SonoSite Inc. (portable diagnostic ultrasound devices) 
• Swedish Medical Center 
• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation 

Larger Network and Higher Visibility
The collaboration with WBBA extends the geographical reach of The Life Science Ambassador Programme. Life Science Ambassador Morten Fæster will make use of his extended network and personal relations in Seattle to promote Medicon Valley's companies and research institutions and to scout for new collaboration opportunities between Seattle and Medicon Valley.

Due to the collaboration with WBBA, MVA's members get access to a range of services from WBBA. These services include assistance on information needs, access to the member database of WBBA (www.washbio.org), access to facilities in Seattle, and discounts on conferences & summits organised by WBBA.

Photo by: Daniel Schwen

What's Going on in Seattle?

During spring 2011, Morten Fæster will develop a Mapping Report about Seattle's life science competences and opportunities. The report will provide insight into the local research community by therapeutic area, reveal research highlights, list the scientific key opinion leaders, and point to relevant commercial partners.

If you are interested in discussing how you can gain access to companies or research institutions in Seattle, please contact Life Science Ambassador Morten Fæster at morten.faester@mva.org.

Source: Medicon Valley Alliance, 10.03.2011