Biotech News - Science Foundation Arizona Names William C. Harris President/CEO

Science Foundation Arizona Names William C. Harris President/CEO;
Director of Science Foundation Ireland will take helm of Science
Foundation Arizona this summer

PHOENIX, Arizona--Mar 24, 2006 - Science Foundation Arizona (SFA)
has named William C. Harris, Ph.D., president and chief executive
officer of the Arizona-based nonprofit organization. He will assume
his new role this summer.

As leader of SFA, Harris will be responsible for fostering a culture
that will build and strengthen medical, scientific and engineering
research programs and infrastructure in areas of greatest strategic
value to Arizona's competitiveness in the global economy. He will
also work to actively engage scientific research, academic and
medical institutions representing both the public and private
sectors on a worldwide basis.

Harris comes to SFA with remarkable credentials, having served as
founding director general of Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) for
almost 5 years. Harris was largely responsible for SFI's success as
a global bio/ICT research model. Information and communication
technology (ICT) includes computer science, engineering and
mathematics, which are key to modern bio, particularly systems
biology and personalized medicine.

Harris' work of turning Ireland into an internationally
collaborative partner with multiple biotech, academic-industry
research groups and his establishment of a comprehensive grants
program with an international review system was integral in
Ireland's success for building research investments in strategic
areas and developing a knowledge driven economy.

"Arizona will benefit immediately from Dr. Harris' nearly 3 decades
of experience in managing funds towards the advancement of science
and engineering. His success in Ireland was based on the
establishment of a globally competitive, comprehensive grants
program, focused principally for bioscience/bioengineering and ICT,"
said Dr. Jeffrey Trent, president and scientific director of the
Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen). "There is no doubt
in my mind that under Bill's direction, Science Foundation Arizona
(SFA) will keep this same commitment to excellence and will be of
resounding benefit to all Arizonans."

"Harris' appointment brings incredible opportunity to the state of
Arizona. He will be critical in attracting top-quality researchers,
doctors and collaborative partnerships to the state," said Don
Budinger, chairman and founding director of the Rodel Foundations of
Arizona and founding chair of SFA. "He brings great insight into the
importance of innovation coupled with the experience of how to
establish a globally competitive, comprehensive R&D model with the
goal of growing a more competitive knowledge driven economy for
Arizona."

Harris' appointment marks a milestone in the infancy of SFA's
development. He will report to a yet-to-be named board of directors.

"Science Foundation Arizona hopes to improve access to quality
medical care for all Arizonans," said John Murphy, president and CEO
of the Flinn Foundation and founding director of SFA. "At the same
time, it hopes to build an economy that will create higher paying
jobs, improve our state's educational system and foster recognition
of our state in the global community as a place for innovation and
excellence. On a trip to Ireland last summer I saw first-hand the
results of Harris' work. He brings instant credibility to our
aspirations for Arizona."

Prior to joining SFA, Harris served as director general and CEO of
Science Foundation Ireland where he was able to establish strong
relationships and international collaborations while instituting
globally competitive grants programs and securing a solid funding
base. Harris also served as the director of the Mathematical and
Physical Sciences at the U.S. National Science Foundation, founding
president and executive director of Columbia University's Biosphere
2 Centre (B2C) and as vice-president for research and professor of
chemistry and biochemistry at the University of South Carolina, and
also led the USC Research Foundation.

Harris has authored more than 50 research papers and is a fellow of
the American Association for the advancement of Science. In 2004, he
received the Wiley Lifetime Achievement Award from California
Polytechnic State University and was recently elected a member of
the Royal Irish Academy. Harris earned his Bachelor of Science
degree at the College of William and Mary and his Ph.D. in chemistry
at the University of South Carolina.

"Arizona has the capacity to position itself as a hub of bioscience,
industry and scientific advancements that lead to improved
healthcare and quality of life throughout the state," said
Harris. "I look forward to joining Science Foundation Arizona (SFA)
and Arizona's already well established bioscience partners, in
distinguishing the state as a nationwide collaborator and
international leader in the biosciences and related disciplines
essential for a 21st century competitive economy."

Science Foundation Arizona (SFA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
organization created by the Greater Phoenix Leadership, Inc. (GPL),
Southern Arizona Leadership Council (SALC)and the Flagstaff 40 as a
result of Arizona's Bioscience Roadmap, developed by the Battelle
Memorial Institute with funding from the Flinn Foundation. SFA has
goals to (1) build and strengthen medical, scientific and
engineering research programs and infrastructure in areas of
greatest strategic value to Arizona's competitiveness in the global
economy, and (2) actively engage scientific research, academic and
medical institutions representing both the public and private
sectors on a worldwide basis. SFA will be active in helping Arizona
to position itself as a hub of bioscience, industry and scientific
advancements that lead to improved healthcare and quality of life
throughout the state.

Contact Denise Resnik & Associates Denise D. Resnik, 602-956-8834

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