December 28, 2001, Alexandria, VA - LES (USA and Canada) Foundation Dr. Leroy Hood, a leading scientist and scholar in the fields of molecular biotechnology and genomics, will discuss this timely issue as the keynote speaker at the LES Foundation Dinner, to be held January 15, 2002 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.

Dr. Hood is the inaugural recipient of the Foundation's Dudley Smith Licensing Lecture Series Award, created to recognize individuals in their fields who offer provocative and timely perspectives on important licensing trends and issues. The award was established in the memory of one of the founders of the Licensing Executives Society.

Dr. Hood is a pioneer of the new biology of genomics and proteomics and is world renowned for his scholarship and vision. He will bring a unique perspective to the emerging business and licensing directions in human health in what will be a stimulating and enjoyable evening.
The Human Genome Project has catalyzed a revolution in how scientists view and practice biology and medicine. These paradigm changes (discovery science; the periodic table of life; high-throughput technologies; the critical central roles of computational, mathematical, and statistical tools; and the view that model organisms are the Rosetta Stones for deciphering life) have led to two striking conclusions. First, biology is an informational science with a hierarchy of information types (DNA-mRNA-proteins, informational pathways-informational networks-etc.). Second, systems approaches will be necessary for deciphering life. Dr. Hood will explain these paradigm changes in and their derivative conclusions in clear and straightforward terms. The implications of these new insights for biological intellectual property and licensing will also be discussed.

This event will bring together business, financial, and academic leaders from a wide range of fields including biotechnology, pharmaceutical science and research, finance, economics, and information technology management.

The LES (USA and Canada) Foundation is established for the purpose of education and outreach to business, legal, technical, scientific, and public policy communities on the practices and importance of licensing.

For more information on the LES (USA and Canada) Foundation, and to register for the Foundation dinner, visit www.usa-canada.les.org/meetings.html.

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CONTACT: LES (USA and Canada) Foundation
(703) 836-3106
www.licensingfoundation.org