March
31, 1998
									Contact:
Charlotte Crystal
	     									    (804)
924-6858

MEDIA ADVISORY

U.VA.'S DARDEN SCHOOL TO HOST STATEWIDE BIOTECH CONFERENCE

	The biotech and biomedical industries are among the fastest
growing industries in the United States today. Yet young companies often
have a difficult time raising the money they need to move from research
and development into clinical trials and commercial production.

	To help meet this need, the University of Virginia will host a
conference on the financing of biotechnology companies. The conference
is sponsored by the Darden School's Batten Center for Entrepreneurial
Leadership, the Virginia Biotechnology Association and Virginia's Center
for Innovative Technology.

	"Biotech Financing: Understanding the Game," will be held at the
Darden School on Thursday, April 16. The seminar will bring together
biotech company executives, university scientists, investors, support
services and faculty members and graduate students interested in the
field.

	The morning session will offer an opportunity for academic
scientists to explore and present their technical business concepts to a
panel of key experts and investors. The presentations will consist of
potential commercial ventures based on U.Va. technologies. Panelists
will critique concepts and offer ideas and experiences to help the
audience and those presenting their ideas understand the issues involved
in starting a venture in this field.

	The afternoon session will feature presentations from three
levels of Virginia biotech and biomedical companies: start-ups;
companies that have formed strategic alliances; and companies that have
floated initial public offerings. A panel of experts will review their
business plans and help them and the audience understand how to prepare
for the next stage of investment.


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	For more information, call Debbie Fisher at (804) 243-7687.
Television reporters should call our TV news office at (804) 924-7550.

	U.Va. news online at: http://www.virginia.edu/topnews