The Hepatitis B Foundation, Baruch S. Blumberg Institute and Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center (PABC) honored former U.S. Rep. Jim Greenwood, ex-CEO of BIO, at the organizations’ first Fireside Chat, held Oct. 17, by adding his portrait to its Public Service Wall of Fame.
BIO, or the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, is “the world’s largest advocacy association representing member companies, state biotechnology groups, academic and research institutions, and related organizations across the U.S. and in 30-plus countries.”
Greenwood currently is senior policy advisor and chair of the Life Sciences Policy Advisory Group at the law firm DLA Piper. He was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 143rd district from 1981 to 1986 and the Pennsylvania Senate for the 10th district from 1987 to 1993. In 1992, Greenwood was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives representing Pennsylvania’s 8th District, a seat he held until 2005 when he resigned to join BIO.
Timothy M. Block, co-founder, former president and board chair of the Hepatitis B Foundation, Blumberg Institute and PABC thanked Greenwood for being a key supporter since the early days of the Hepatitis B Foundation, which was the three organizations’ starting point.
“As a member of Congress, Jim Greenwood was a champion of our cause on Capitol Hill, where he opened many doors for us,” Dr. Block said. “And when we were creating an incubator, Jim, always an environmentalist, encouraged us to choose an adaptive reuse, repurposing an existing facility rather than building new on open space, which is so highly valued here in Bucks County. Rob Loughery and Pete Krause, then associated with the congressman’s office, showed several factories and warehouses that were falling into disuse.”
Greenwood joined a short list of influential elected officials on the Public Service Wall of Fame at the PABC. They include former Bucks County state Sen. Joe Conti, who attended the event and spoke admiringly of Greenwood. Others include local state Sen. Steve Santarsiero, former Rep. Marguerite Quinn and ex-Governors Ed Rendell and Tom Wolf.
The Fireside Chat’s participants, along with Greenwood, were John F. Crowley, executive chairman, Amicus Therapeutics, and Ron Philip, chief executive officer of Spark Therapeutics. The chat was moderated by Dr. Randall N. Hyer, president of the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, which operates the PABC, and CEO of Merlin Biotech.
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