BOSTON, MA--(Marketwire - June 20, 2012) -  To help revitalize American leadership in bioscience, MdBio Foundation, Inc. today announced it has become a founding member of the new Coalition of State Bioscience Institutes (CSBI). CSBI's mission is to improve the delivery of industry-led life science education, workforce development and entrepreneurship programs nationwide. CSBI's formation was announced at the 2012 BIO International Convention in Boston, the biotechnology industry's global event hosted by the Biotechnology Industry Organization.

"America's future success in the sciences depends on individual states working together to accomplish great things," said J.J. Finkelstein, Chair of MdBio Foundation. "We are excited to join forces with our partner states, share best practices and showcase Maryland's considerable bioscience assets. We are particularly confident that our partner states will benefit from MdBioSphere™, our first-of-its-kind serious gaming platform designed to improve science education in the classroom and to increase student interest in science-related careers."

"CSBI is leveraging resources across the United States to speak with a united voice for the biotech industry on life science education, workforce development and entrepreneurship," said CSBI acting co-chair Lance Hartford, who is also executive director of MassBioEd. "We focus on programs that the life science industry is uniquely positioned to deliver and can be replicated across many states and scaled-up nationally." 

Currently, CSBI is identifying leading state programs for national consideration. These programs include teacher-training initiatives such as iBIO Institute's TalentSparks!; workforce competitiveness programs including Oregon Bioscience Association's BioPro and BIOCOM Institute's BioCollaborative; and BayBio Institute's Expert Network resource for entrepreneurs. CSBI is also designing a web-based clearinghouse of all current state-level programs focused on life science education, workforce training and entrepreneurship. 

Working together since December 2011, CSBI serves as an umbrella for standard practice sharing, joint fundraising and national initiatives for life science (STEM) education (student education, career exploration and teacher professional development); workforce development (workforce training, incumbent worker professional development, dislocated worker training); and entrepreneurship. CSBI provides the opportunity for state bioscience organizations to share knowledge with the goal of improving bioscience education and innovation, while maximizing industry support. With its focus in these areas, the CSBI complements the life science policy work of the Council of State Bioscience Associations (CSBA), formed by BIO in 2002.

CSBI founding organizations include BayBio Institute, BIOCOM Institute, the Biotechnology Institute, iBIO Institute, KansasBio, MassBioEd, MdBio Foundation and the Oregon Bioscience Association. Forty-one state bioscience organizations are CSBI members with nine (9) additional groups expected to join. CSBI is co-chaired by BayBio Institute executive director Lori Lindburg and MassBioEd executive director Lance Hartford. The Biotechnology Institute serves as CSBI's administrative organization. By partnering, CSBI members bring unprecedented access to programs, facilitate national communication, and connect an extensive network of industry professionals.

About MdBio Foundation: The MdBio Foundation is a private charitable organization that provides and supports bioscience awareness, education and workforce development in Maryland. It has been instrumental in providing companies with financial support, business development consulting services, and business information services in addition to education and workforce development programs. The Foundation is an affiliate of the Tech Council of Maryland.

About the BIO International Convention: The BIO International Convention will highlight the latest trends and the newest opportunities for executives, investors, scientists, policy leaders, and media from around the world. Speakers at the sessions will share breakthroughs in medicine, diagnostics, the environment, energy production, business operations, financing, partnerships, policy issues and food and agriculture. The Convention also features the BIO Business Forum, a unique platform for biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, academic research institutions, and investors from around the world to gather and discuss strategic opportunities. For registration, conference agenda and exhibitor information, visit 2012 BIO International Convention.

Members of the Coalition of State Bioscience Institutes (CSBI)

Arizona BioIndustry Association

BayBio Institute

Bio Nebraska Life Sciences Association

BioNJ

BioOhio

BIOCOM Institute

BioFlorida Institute

BioForward

Bioscience Association of Maine

Bioscience Association of West Virginia

Biotechnology Institute

Colorado Bioscience Association

Delaware BioScience Association

Georgia Bio

iBIO Institute

Idaho Technology Council

Indiana Health Industry Forum

INDUNIV Research Consortium

Iowa Biotechnology Association

Kansas Bioscience Organization

LifeScience Alley

Life Science Tennessee

Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation

MdBio Foundation, Inc.

MichBio Institute

Mississippi Biotechnology Association

Missouri Institute for Biotechnology and Innovation

Montana Bioscience Alliance

Nevada Biotechnology & Science Consortium

New Mexico Biotechnology & Biomedical Association

New York Biotechnology Association

Oklahoma Bioscience Institute

Oregon Bioscience Association

Pennsylvania Biotechnology Association

Rhode Island BioGroup - Tech Collective

SoCalBio

South Dakota Biotech Association

Texas Healtcare & Bioscience Institute

Utah TECH Workforce Foundation

Virginia Bio

Washington Biotechnology & Biomedical Association

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