Foundation Executive Director Co-Chairs Third Annual Bioimaging Symposium

MEMPHIS, Tennessee, October 23, 2006 - World-renowned experts in the major fields of medical imaging will gather at the Fogelman Executive Conference Center for the Third Annual Memphis BioImaging Symposium on Thursday, October 26.

The event kicks off at 6 p.m. with presentations from the National Cancer Institute and the National Science Foundation, followed by a reception featuring research posters and commercial exhibits.

Highlighting Friday’s all-day symposium will be a presentation on digital mammography by Martin Yaffe, PhD, professor, Department of Medical Biophysics at the University of Toronto, Canada. Dr. Yaffe is generally regarded as the father of digital mammography for his pioneering efforts in this field.

As a co-chairman of the symposium, Gary Keyes, PhD, noted, “The importance of bioimaging and Dr. Yaffe’s presentation is underscored by the timing of our symposium during October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.” Dr. Keyes, a professor and chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, continued, “Dr. Yaffe heads the bill of a prestigious group of scientists we’ve attracted for our third annual conference, which is clearly ranked as a world-class event in the field.”

“This annual event plays an important role in advancing Memphis’ reputation as a major center for biotechnology development and training in the United States,” said Steven J. Bares, PhD, president and executive director of the Memphis Bioworks™ Foundation and symposium co-chairman.

A full day of presentations by distinguished lecturers on groundbreaking research, clinical applications and technology will also feature: molecular imaging, PET, CT, MRI, radiation oncology and ultrasound. Scientists from Baylor University, University of Wisconsin, University of California, Davis, Stanford, MD Anderson Cancer Center, and the University of Tennessee will share their latest developments in bioimaging.

Luminetx once again leads the list of sponsors for the 2006 symposium, which also includes Boston Scientific, Butler, Snow, O’Mara, Stevens & Cannada, PLLC, Hologic, MedImage Systems, Inc., Medtronic, Planar Systems, Siemens, and Smith & Nephew.

An agenda and further details can be found at www.MemBIS.org and on-site registration will be accepted.

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the Memphis Bioworks Foundation are co-hosts for the symposium.

The Memphis Bioworks Foundation, a not-for-profit organization, was formed in early 2001 to establish the Memphis region as an internationally recognized center for biomedical technology through education, research, job training, and commercialization. Baptist Memorial Health Care donated its property in the Medical Center to the Foundation for the site of the research park, which serves as the focal point of the city’s biomedical economic development.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. Founded by late entertainer Danny Thomas and based in Memphis, Tenn., St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. No family ever pays for treatments not covered by insurance, and families without insurance are never asked to pay. St. Jude is financially supported by ALSAC, its fund-raising organization. For more information, please visit www.stjude.org.

As the flagship statewide academic health system, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center is focused on a four-tier mission of education, research, patient care and community service, all in support of a single goal: to improve the health of Tennesseans. Offering a broad range of postgraduate training opportunities, the main campus, which includes six colleges, is located in Memphis. UTHSC has additional College of Medicine campus locations in Knoxville and Chattanooga. For more information, visit www.utmem.edu.