BioOhio represents and advocates for Ohio’s bioscience community to improve business environment and public funding climate. Alone or in conjunction with partners and members, BioOhio pursues both a proactive and responsive advocacy program. Key action areas include:
- Economic Development
- Workforce Development
- Research Support
- Patient Access
Recent Activity
October/November 2008
- BioOhio President & CEO Tony Dennis chaired two Third Frontier Biomedical Advisory Board meetings to finalize recommendations on the direction of the biomedical portion of the state's Jobs Stimulus Program.
September 2008
- BioOhio traveled to Washington, DC to attend the 2nd Annual AdvaMed conference. This conference provided the opportunity for BioOhio to market Ohio to medical device companies looking to relocate or expand. BioOhio was also able to begin a dialogue with the Ohio delegation about the growth the Ohio device industry.
July 2008
- BioOhio President & CEO Tony Dennis visited Washington to present an introductory briefing on Ohio's bioscience industry to the Ohio Congressional delegation. This was the first instance of what will be an open dialogue in the future.
June 2008
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Gov. Ted Strickland’s economic stimulus and jobs bill (HB 554) was signed into law and contains $100 million biomedical funding over three years to encourage the innovation, development, and commercialization of bioscience products. The bill received strong bipartisan support from House Speaker Jon Husted and Senate President Bill Harris.
BioOhio President & CEO Tony Dennis, actively supported the Administration’s proposal and testified in support in the House Appropriations Committee. Additionally, BioOhio Board member Peter Kleinhenz, managing partner of CID Equity, testified in support of the stimulus package before the Senate Finance Committee.
The Ohio Department of Development will convene stakeholder meetings in July and August to solicit input on ideas and guidelines for the distribution of the $100 million for biomedical funding and $50 million for bioproduct development. BioOhio is actively working with ODOD and the Administration on developing ideas for distribution and will keep our members updated on funding opportunities.
May 2008
- On May 14, BioOhio President & CEO Tony Dennis provided testimony to the House Appropriations and Finance Committee in support of new biomedical and bioproducts funding in House Bill 554, Ohio’s bipartisan jobs stimulus package.
- Last October, Dennis testified in support of SB 186, the Cancer Trials bill. On May 6, Governor Strickland signed Senate Bill 186. Sponsored by Sen. Steve Stivers, R-Columbus, the measure prohibits health coverage plans from excluding coverage for costs of a patient's routine care if the individual is participating in a clinical cancer trial. Typically, the medication or surgery is covered by the drug company or federal agency funding the research.
- The U.S. House passed legislation that would make small businesses majority-owned by venture capital firms eligible for Small Business Innovation Research awards. The SBIR program is up for reauthorization this year. Currently, companies that are more than 50% backed by venture capital are not eligible for SBIR dollars. BIO and its state affiliates like BioOhio are hopeful that the need to reauthorize the SBIR program this year will serve as a vehicle to change eligibility standards for majority venture-backed bioscience companies.
April 2008
- BioOhio President & CEO Tony Dennis testified to express BioOhio's opposition to Ohio SB 174, a bill that bans embryonic stem cell research in Ohio. BioOhio’s membership includes more than 240 bioscience entities in Ohio including leading corporations and academic institutions that are nationally recognized for their research. “Let me be clear,” he said, “BioOhio opposes human reproductive cloning. It is unsafe and unethical. However, SB 174 goes too far in banning all cloning— including therapeutic cloning, in effect criminalizing therapeutic stem cell research in Ohio.”
- BioOhio President & CEO Tony Dennis participated in the 2008 BIO Legislative Day Fly-In. Along with peers from other state BIO affiliates, Dr. Dennis discussed several issues with Ohio’s Congressional representatives, including: follow-on biologics, NIH and FDA appropriations, SBIR and patent reform, and biofuels.
- BioOhio offered its research/academic members the opportunity to sign-on to an advocacy letter urging Ohio’s congressional delegation to support increased funding levels for the National Institutes of Health. Ohio is consistently among the top 10 states in the amount of NIH funding earned by its research institutions and organizations. But as is the case with many other states, the level of funding received by Ohio-based entities is decreasing. Ten member organizations signed the letter, which was faxed to Ohio’s senators and representatives in Washington.
March 2008
- BioOhio sent a letter to U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee (D-Wash) in support of a bill he introduced that would provide clear guidance on a pathway for production of follow-on biologic, also known as bio-similar or bio-generic medicines. The Patient Protection and Innovative Biologic Medicines Act, H.R. 1956, amends the Public Health Service Act to create an abbreviated process for the approval of potentially less expensive biotech drugs, while assuring patient safety and promoting innovation. The letter was also cc’d to all members of the Ohio Congressional delegation.
Ohio Congressional Representatives