Pescatello Elected to Head New England Biotech Association in 2011-12

WAKEFIELD, Mass., Jan. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Paul Pescatello has been re-elected as Chairman of the New England Biotech Association (NEBA) at the organization's annual meeting.

NEBA is a non-profit, member-driven organization comprised of state biotech associations, companies, academic institutions, and other organizations in the six New England states with a collective mission to support and grow the biotechnology industry in the region, and serves as the regional policy and public affairs voice for the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industry.

Pescatello is President & CEO of CURE (Connecticut United for Research Excellence) the educational and business support network organization for bioscience in Connecticut, and will serve a two-year term as head of NEBA.  Pescatello served as NEBA Chairman in 2010 and has been a member of the board since the group's founding.  

"2011 brings with it many changes and challenges for the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industry," said Pescatello.  "With new governors and legislatures in many New England states, it is critical that NEBA continues to educate our policy leaders about biotech and help create a positive regional environment for retention and growth."

"One of our priorities of the upcoming year will be to explore and explain the impact of national Health Care Reform Implementation and its impact on the biotech and biopharmaceutical industries in the six New England states," Pescatello continued.  "Clearly, NEBA can play a role in helping our members--as well as policy leaders and the public--better understand what it will mean for jobs and discovery in the biosciences field."

Representing over 600 members from all six New England states, NEBA is committed to educating policy makers and the public about the biotech industry; promoting public policies that foster innovation; encouraging economic development in the biotech sector; and advocating continued patient access to life-saving and life-improving breakthrough biotechnology medicines.  NEBA members include some of the largest biotech associations in those states: the Biotech Association of Maine, Connecticut United for Research Excellence (CURE), New Hampshire Bio/Medical Council, Rhode Island BioGroup, the Massachusetts High Technology Council, and the Vermont BioSciences Alliance.

To find out more about NEBA, visit www.newenglandbiotech.org

SOURCE New England Biotech Association