DRC attends international conference to connect with “greatest minds in biotech”

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By Matthew Berger, Director of Communications  

Jorge Varela, Vice President of Research and Innovation, and Kevin Shatley, Vice President of Economic Development, represented the Dallas Regional Chamber (DRC) at this year’s BIO International Conference in San Diego. 

“The greatest minds in biotechnology were all in the room, and we connected with them to explore opportunities and increase investments in the Dallas Region,” Varela said.  

The annual conference is the industry’s largest conference in the world, attracting an average of 15,000-20,000 people per year. It also features more than 3,000 companies and 100-plus panel sessions over four days. Topics include therapy targets, business development, digital health, patient advocacy, public policy, and next-generation biotherapeutics. 

The DRC attended the conference with Texas Healthcare Biotech Institute (THBI), Bio North Texas, and the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT).  

“We received interest from a half dozen bio companies to relocate to the Dallas Region,” Shatley said. “They recognize the area’s emergence in life sciences, which is driven by our strengths in biosciences, data science, artificial intelligence, logistics, financial technology, blockchain, and sensors and microprocessors.” 

Varela said the Dallas Region is the perfect destination for biotech for three reasons:  

      • The area has available medical facilities and labs like Pegasus Park, UT Southwestern, and the University of Texas at Dallas. 
      • The Dallas Region’s growth in manufacturing. Varela said DRC member Deloitte projects Texas will lead the country in manufacturing jobs through 2029. Having the ability to manufacture drugs in nearby locations at a high pace — while also being able to safely transport the materials — is a huge advantage. 
      • Our airports. Varela said DFW International Airport is one of two airports in the country with Center of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) certification, which means our facilities can safely transport materials like vaccines and drugs to countries across the world.