NEW YORK (January 8, 2009) -- New York Biotechnology Association (NYBA), the voice of New York State’s biotechnology industry, today announced its 2009 Bio Advocacy Day to be held on Tuesday, February 3, in Albany, New York. NYBA members and non-members are invited to attend. Registration is free to NYBA members.

This day-long event will provide an opportunity for the New York State bioscience industry to meet with Senators, Assembly Members and legislative staffers to advocate the biotechnology legislative agenda.  Events will kick off on Monday, February 2, with the symposium, “NY BizBio 2009: Fighting for a Healthy Biotech Industry,” and a reception at the University Club.

Nathan Tinker, NYBA Executive Director, said, “While the financial industry and other sectors are reeling, the life sciences industry, in all its forms, continues to be key to New York’s success.  Enabling bio-industry growth and sustainability will be central to our discussions with legislators. We invite biotechnology executives from across the state to join us for this important event and look forward to productive discussions that will help accelerate the growth of New York’s State’s life sciences industries.”

Biotechnology is a vital, and growing, sector of the New York State economy.  Statewide, employment in the biosciences has grown by 53% since 1998.  The industry employs more than 58,000 people at an average annual wage of $63,000 for total annual wages of $3.75 billion.  And New York ranks third, behind only California and Massachusetts, in terms of the total bio-medical research funding awarded by the National Institutes of Health.

For more information and registration for NYBA Bio Advocacy Day, contact Patricia Waddington, NYBA Membership Director, at 631-444-8895.