Over 25 Alabama Bioscience and business professionals traveled to San Francisco for the 2016 BIO International Convention. Headlined by the Alabama Department of Commerce and BioAlabama, companies and organizations were able to showcase the research and developments coming from the state. Other contingents from Alabama were Southern Research, Auburn University, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce, and the University of Alabama in Birmingham.

The BIO International Convention brought together more than 15,000 biotechnology and pharma leaders to discuss new opportunities and promising collaborations. Alabama’s bioscience industry was noted as strong and growing according to the TEConomy/BIO The Value of Bioscience Innovation in Growing Jobs and Improving Quality of Life 2016 Report released during the convention on Tuesday, June 07.

The biennial report measures state bioscience development on key indicators of industry health such as employees and companies, average wages, academic R&D expenditures, venture capital investments, and number of patents issued.

UAB and the Alabama Department of Commerce were included at the interntional convention. (Contributed)

Several metro areas across Alabama ranked highly on key performance measures:

• Auburn-Opelika, AL recognized for being one of only 32 metro areas across the country with specialization in at least three of five bioscience areas.
• Mobile, AL was noted as having the sixth highest specialization in agricultural feedstock and chemicals for medium markets. Decatur, AL ranked ninth in the same category for small market areas.
• Huntsville, AL ranked eighth in research, testing, & medical laboratories in medium market areas, and eleventh in drug & pharmaceutical specialization.

“The biotechnology and life sciences industries have proven their value in generating important innovations that improve quality of life and creating high paying jobs in our state,” said Ted Clem, Director of Business Development for the Alabama Department of Commerce. “We are encouraged to see our work in the bioscience industry validated in this report and remain focused on bringing more bioscience companies and jobs to the state.”

Three key sectors have driven bioscience job growth: drugs and pharmaceuticals; medical devices and equipment; and research, testing and medical laboratories. Biotechnology innovations in Alabama are adding to the economic growth in our state with lucrative jobs with greater than average incomes.

Howard Jacob, Executive Vice President for Genomic Medicine and Chief Genomics Officer at HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology. (Contributed)

Bioscience industry employment in Alabama totaled nearly 14,000 in 2014 across 808 state business establishments. The state has a specialized employment concentration in the agricultural feedstock and chemicals subsector with 62 percent more jobs in the subsector.

Nationally, 77,000 biotech companies employed 1.66 million people in 2014, with job growth nearly double that of total private sector job growth. Average annual wages for jobs in the bioscience industry were $94,543, which exceeded the average annual wage of $51,148 of the total private sector.

Alabama was well represented with several leaders in the Bioscience industry across Alabama.

A Southern Research team showcased the Alabama Drug Discovery Alliance and potential therapies for debilitating diseases at BIO. Scientists at Southern Research have discovered seven FDA-approved anticancer drugs.

Art Tipton, president and CEO of Southern Research, served on an expert panel for a discussion on “Creative Partnerships: Leveraging Economic Development Organization Support in the Life Sciences Sector.” Tipton and the Southern Research team also held meetings with industry leaders and international partners about investing and bringing business to Alabama.

Also at the convention Howard Jacob, Executive Vice President for Genomic Medicine and Chief Genomics Officer at HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, was recognized as a “Future Maker.” Members of the biotech community nominated and voted on their best and brightest colleagues who are driving change and innovation.  Dr. Jacob research on genomic medicine and the use of whole genome sequences has the potential to use to diagnose rare disease and preventive health decisions in the future.

“There are millions of people living with a rare disease and HudsonAlpha uses genome sequencing to find diagnoses and better treatments for those patients,” said Jacob. “I’m honored that I have the opportunity to showcase how we are changing lives through genomics.”