Dr. Timothy Block Receives Philadelphia Business Journal's 2010 Life Sciences Judges' Choice Award

Volunteer President of the Hepatitis B Foundation and Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center to be Honored in Philadelphia. End Quote

Philadelphia, PA-NJ (1888PressRelease) September 08, 2010 - Dr. Timothy Block, co-founder, volunteer president and director of the Hepatitis B Foundation, the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center and the Institute for Hepatitis and Virus Research (IHVR) will receive the 2010 Philadelphia Business Journal Life Sciences Judges' Choice Award. He also serves as director of the Drexel Institute for Biotechnology and Virology Research and as a professor of microbiology and immunology at Drexel University College of Medicine. Dr. Block will be recognized on September 29, 2010 at a breakfast in Philadelphia. To learn more or to register, visit http://philadelphia.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/.

The Philadelphia Business Journal's Life Sciences Awards, in its inaugural year, recognizes the region's medical miracle makers for their innovative approaches to improving the delivery of health care. The program was launched in sponsorship with the University of the Sciences and partners Pennsylvania Bio and Safeguard Scientifics. An independent panel of judges from leading universities selected the finalists. In addition, judges bestowed special honors to one individual and one company for their unique contributions to the life sciences industry.

"I've been very fortunate to have a long career doing what I love, which is pursuing innovative research pathways for a cure for hepatitis B sufferers and their families," said Dr. Block. "I am humbled to receive this award from the Philadelphia Business Journal. I hope this recognition will focus even more attention on the important work we're doing at the Biotech Center and in the region to develop life-saving treatments and a cure."

Devoted to improving the lives of those afflicted with chronic hepatitis B, Dr. Block and his wife, Joan, along with their friends Paul and Janine Witte, co-founded the Hepatitis B Foundation in 1991. Since then, Dr. Block has been instrumental in growing the Foundation into an award-winning nonprofit research and disease advocacy organization that benefits millions of hepatitis B sufferers globally. In 2005, he spearheaded the creation of the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center to expand the Foundation's research capabilities and accelerate its mission while bringing a first-class biotech incubator to the Bucks County, Pa. region. The $14-million-dollar center opened its doors in 2006.

"Dr. Block is a selfless visionary who has led the way in biotechnology, medical and viral research, and education. As the leader of and pioneer behind the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center, he has helped bring jobs and economic growth to Southeastern Pennsylvania," said Jim Greenwood, President and CEO of BIO, the world's largest biotechnology organization. "Millions of hepatitis B sufferers across the globe have directly benefitted from Dr. Block's efforts while furthering Bucks County as a place of discovery, education and opportunity."

Beyond his work with the Foundation, Dr. Block has been responsible for numerous co-discoveries in translational research, including two new families of antiviral agents and early detection biomarkers of liver cancer. He is the co-author of nearly 100 publications and the Principal Investigator for National Institutes of Health grants totaling more than $3 million per year. He has been named "1 of the 100 most important people of the 20th Century in Bucks County" by The Intelligencer and has received the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Block was inducted as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2008; received a Special Citation for Accomplishment by the U.S. House of Representatives; was named Scientist of the Year by the American Liver Foundation; was inducted as an honorary member of the Bulgarian National Academy of Sciences and Romanian Institute of Biochemistry; was selected to be a Sabbatical Fellow at Balliol College at The University of Oxford; and in 2004 was one of 40 American delegates invited to participate in the 40th anniversary ceremony of U.S.-Japan Medical Collaboration in Kyoto, Japan.

Dr. Block holds a B.A. in biophysics, a Ph.D. in molecular virology from SUNY Buffalo, and a post-doctorate degree in biochemistry from Princeton. He currently resides in Doylestown, Pa., with his wife and two children.

About the Hepatitis B Foundation: The Hepatitis B Foundation is the only national nonprofit organization solely dedicated to finding a cure and improving the quality of life for those affected with hepatitis B worldwide through research, education and patient advocacy. It is headquartered in the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center, which it created to accelerate its research mission. To learn more, visit www.hepb.org or call (215) 489-4900.

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