The Hepatitis B Foundation, the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, and the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center (PABC) hosted former U.S. Rep. Jim Greenwood, former CEO of BIO, during the organization’s first fireside chat on October 17. Jim Greenwood) and added his portrait to his official account’s Service Wall of Fame.
BIO (Biotechnology Innovation Organization) is “the world’s largest advocacy association, representing member companies, national biotechnology groups, academic and research institutions, and related organizations in the United States and more than 30 countries.”
Greenwood is currently senior policy counsel at DLA Piper and chair of the Life Sciences Policy Advisory Group. From 1981 to 1986, he served as a member of the House of Representatives for Pennsylvania’s 143rd District; from 1987 to 1993, he served as a member of the Senate for Pennsylvania’s 10th District. In 1992, Greenwood was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives representing Pennsylvania’s 8th District. He persisted until 2005, when he resigned to join BIO.
Timothy M. Block, co-founder, former president and chairman of the board of directors of the Hepatitis B Foundation, Bloomberg Institute and PABC, thanked Greenwood for his work since the inception of the Hepatitis B Foundation is an important supporter of the Hepatitis B Foundation, with the Hepatitis B Foundation being the starting point for all three organizations.
“As a member of Congress, Jim Greenwood was a champion of our causes on Capitol Hill and he opened many doors for us,” Dr. Bullock said. “When we created the incubator, Jim, who had always been an environmentalist, encouraged us to choose adaptive reuse, repurposing existing facilities rather than building new facilities on open space, something that was highly valued in Bucks County. With Congress at the time Rob Lochry and Pete Kraus, who have connections in the congressman’s office, showed several factories and warehouses that were about to be abandoned.”
Greenwood joins the list of influential elected officials on the PABC Public Service Wall of Fame. They include a former Bucks County state senator. Joe Conte, who attended the event, expressed his admiration for Greenwood. Others include local state senators. Steve Santarsiero, former Rep. Marguerite Quinn and former governors Ed Rendell and Tom Wolf.
Fireside chat participants along with Greenwood included Amicus Therapeutics executive chairman John F. Crowley and Spark Therapeutics CEO Ron Philip. The chat was moderated by Randall N. Hyer, Ph.D., director of the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, operating arm of PABC and CEO of Merlin Biotech.