Nobel Media and AstraZeneca Bring Nobel Laureate to University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine on May 12

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May 09, 2011, 09:00 ET

STOCKHOLM, May 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of a global initiative between Nobel Media AB, the media company of the Nobel Foundation and AstraZeneca the pharmaceutical company, staff and students at The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine will have the rare opportunity to meet and learn from a Nobel Prize awarded scientist, Dr Michael Brown, on May 12, 2011.

Awarded the 1985 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, Dr Brown will give a lecture at his alma mater, entitled 'Partnerships, Puzzles and Paradigms: A collaborative approach to cholesterol'. Dr Brown will explore the dynamics, challenges and benefits of his partnership with Joseph L. Goldstein, fellow recipient of the Nobel Prize, and the ways it contributed to the pair's extraordinary success in unraveling many of cholesterol's secrets. The lecture is followed by an open question and answer session. In addition, Dr Brown will host roundtable discussions with graduate and medical students. On May 13, Dr Brown will give a further lecture to scientists at AstraZeneca's research and development facility in Wilmington, Delaware, and then in front of the same audience, he will discuss the value of collaboration with Martin Mackay, President of R&D at AstraZeneca.

The event is part of the AstraZeneca Nobel Medicine Initiative, a global cooperation to bring the inspiring achievements from the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine to the general public and to AstraZeneca's leading research facilities worldwide. The aim of the initiative is to inspire the scientific community and others through sharing Nobel Prize awarded achievements and demonstrating how such discoveries are critical to advancing our understanding of how the human body works. For information about previous lectures within the initiative, see:

http://nobelprize.org/nobel_organizations/nobelmedia/partnership/s/astraz

eneca/lecture_events/index.html

(Due to the length of these URLs, it may be necessary to copy and paste the hyperlinks into your Internet browser's URL address field. Remove the space if one exists.)

Dr Michael Brown, 1985 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine, commented:

"My career with Joe Goldstein is proof that scientific success can come from long-lasting, creative partnerships. I am greatly looking forward to meeting students at my alma mater and scientists at AstraZeneca to discuss the lessons I have learned about partnerships throughout a lifetime in science."

Camilla Hylten-Cavallius, CEO of Nobel Media, said:

"We are delighted to continue the lecture series within the AstraZeneca Nobel Medicine Initiative by bringing students and the scientific community into close contact with Nobel Laureates."

Dr. Martin Mackay, President of R&D, AstraZeneca, said:

"AstraZeneca is committed to collaborations with academia, government, not-for-profits and others in industry to facilitate better, more efficient drug development for the good of patients. The story of Drs. Brown and Goldstein is a story of the power of partnership and the extraordinary things that are possible when people are willing to collaborate. AstraZeneca is honored to host Dr. Brown to learn from and be inspired by his outstanding scientific achievements."

The lectures are one component of a broader program of activity as part of the AstraZeneca Nobel Medicine Initiative, which also includes online educational productions and a series of TV documentaries about Physiology or Medicine. For more information on the initiative, please visit http://www.astrazeneca.com/Research/news/Article/AstraZeneca-Nobel-Medicine-I nitiative.

Notes to Editors:

- About Dr Michael Brown

Dr Michael Brown was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1985 for discoveries concerning the regulation of cholesterol metabolism. For more information about Dr Brown, please visit: http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/1985/brown.html

- About Nobel Media AB

Nobel Media AB aims to spread knowledge and interest in the Nobel Prize awarded achievements to a global audience, through digital and broadcast media, publishing and events. Included in Nobel Media's portfolio is Nobelprize.org, the official web site of the Nobel Prize, which received over 41 million visitors during 2010. Production of official television programs consists of The Nobel Prize Award Ceremonies in Stockholm and Oslo, The Nobel Banquet, Nobel Documentaries, Nobel Minds, Nobel Laureates and the Nobel Prize Concert. Through these programs, over 250 million viewers are reached all over the world.

Nobel Media(R), Nobel Prize(R), Nobelprize.org(R), Nobel Prize Guide(R) and Nobel Prize Concert(R) are registered trademarks of the Nobel Foundation.

- About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business with a primary focus on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines for gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory and inflammation, oncology and infectious disease. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. For more information please visit: http://www.astrazeneca.com