Maple Grove -- With Boston Scientific as a backdrop, Governor Tim Pawlenty today appointed 15 volunteer members to the Minnesota Biosciences Council. The newly created council will advise the governor and Legislature on biosciences policy development. It will make recommendations on effective state strategies to support the bioscience industry, and serve as a catalyst for the creation, development and retention of biosciences businesses and supportive institutions in Minnesota.

"This advisory council will continue the momentum that's been growing since May, when more than 600 people participated in the Governor's Biosciences Summit," Governor Pawlenty said. "There is a high level of energy, interest and enthusiasm throughout the Minnesota bioscience industry. I believe we've assembled a top-notch team that will share the responsibility of helping to shape our emerging biosciences industry here in Minnesota."

Commissioner Kramer said the Biosciences Council will convene its first meeting on Tuesday, August 26, with a report expected early in the 2004 legislative session.

"This council represents a good cross section of Minnesota's competitive strengths in the biosciences industries," Commissioner Kramer said. "Those strengths include small-scale pharmaceuticals, applied biologics, industrial biotechnology, and food and agriculture sciences."

The council includes seven representatives from the bioscience industry, one from the investment community, three from academia, and three others who bring special knowledge or background relative to the council's mission. Commissioner Matt Kramer of the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) will chair the council.

The appointed members were selected from more than 80 applicants who responded to the governor's request for nominations and applications to the council. Council members will serve two-year terms.

In addition to the 15 appointed members, two Republicans and two Democrats from the Minnesota Senate and House of Representatives will also serve on the council. The legislative appointees were selected by House and Senate leadership, based on their knowledge and interest in the bioscience industries.

The members of the Minnesota Biosciences Council include:

Biosciences Industry Representatives (seven members):

• James Adam is CEO at Blizzard Genomics, a start-up genomics instrument company. The company makes instruments that analyze microarrays for genomics and proteomics markets.

• Douglas C. Cameron is the Director of Biotechnology at Cargill, where he leads molecular biology and metabolic engineering research and development in the Cargill Biotechnology Development Center (BioTDC), with multiple projects on the uses of microbial biotechnology in areas of food, feed and bio-based materials. Mr. Cameron is also the Principal Investigator on a Department of Energy-sponsored bio-refinery project.

• Lise Duran is the Vice President of Research and Development and product commercialization at SurModics, one Minnesota's strongest medium-sized biotech companies.

• Susan Dvorak is the President of Algos Therapeutics, Inc., a company committed to developing breakthrough treatments for painful conditions.

• Julie Kirihara is the President of ATG Labs, Inc., a small biotech firm that performs cloning, expression and purification services. She is the outgoing President of MNBIO, a former 3M employee, and has experience in agriculture biotechnology.

• Stephen Oesterle is the Senior Vice President for Medicine and Technology at Medtronic, Minnesota's largest medical device company. Prior to joining Medtronic, he was an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard University Medical School and Director of Invasive Cardiology Services at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.

• Brett Schmidli is the Senior Vice President for Technical Operations and General Manager of Manufacturing at Protein Design Labs.

Investment Community (One member):

• Doug Johnson is the Co-Director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies and the Director of Carlson Ventures at the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management.

Academic Members (three members):

• Frank Cerra is the Senior Vice President and professor of surgery at the University of Minnesota's Academic Health Center.

• Robert Elde is the Dean of the University of Minnesota's College of Biological Sciences. He is also the Chair of the University Enterprise Laboratories, which is leading the effort to develop a bioscience business incubator on the transit way between the two Twin Cities campuses. de is also board member of MNBIO, and of Gel-Del, Inc.

• Jennifer Kuzma is an Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute, where she is Associate Director for the Center for Science, Technology and Public Policy.

Members At Large (three members):

• Karen Arnold is the co-founder and CFO at Nanocopoeia, Inc., a small start-up company that has licensed nanoparticle drug development technology from the University of Minnesota's Particle Technology Laboratory. In addition to Nanocopoeia, Ms. Arnold is the CEO of Venture Solutions, a business development firm focused on technology companies.

• Mark DuVal is the Managing Partner at Klepinski & DuVal Law, where he specializes in antitrust and FDA regulatory issues from product development to post-marketing responsibilities.

• Conrad "Connie" Schmidt, is currently a biotechnology consultant with clients around the globe. He was the founder of Oxford Laboratories in Worthington, which developed animal vaccines, until the successful company was sold to UpJohn.

Minnesota House of Representative Members:

• Representative Doug Magnus (R-Slayton) is currently serving his first term in the Minnesota House of Representatives. He is on the following committees: Agriculture and Rural Development Finance; Agriculture Policy; Taxes; and Transportation Finance.

• Representative Tim Mahoney (DFL-St. Paul) is currently serving his third time in the Minnesota House of Representatives. He is on the following committees: Economic Development and Tourism Division; Capital Investment; Commerce, Jobs and Economic Development Policy; and, Jobs and Economic Development Finance.

Minnesota Senate Members:

• Senator Julie Rosen (R-Fairmont) is currently serving her first term in the Minnesota Senate. She is on the following committees: Agriculture, General Legislation, and Veterans Affairs; Environment, Agriculture, and Economic Development Budget Division; and, Jobs, Housing, and Community Development.

• Senator Steve Kelley (DFL-Hopkins) is currently serving his third term in the Minnesota Senate. He is on the following committees: chairman, Education; Commerce and Utilities; E-12 Education Budget Division; and, Health and Family Security.