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Scripps Florida Receives ITFlorida Innovation and Entrepreneurialism Award

JUPITER, FL, October 10, 2008—Scripps Florida was selected as the recipient of the ITFlorida Innovation and Entrepreneurialism Award on October 6, at the 2008 Awards Gala in Orlando at Disney's Lake Buena Vista Resort.

The Innovation and Entrepreneurialism Award goes to the professional or business that has demonstrated an innovative and creative I.T. solution to a business challenge. Winners are selected by ITFlorida, which serves the state as an umbrella organization, comprised of both public and private technology leaders, and as an advocate for sound public policy on technology issues and initiatives.

"The ITFlorida award validates our bicoastal institute's unique approach of combining outstanding biomedical research with advanced technologies to improve human health for Floridians and people around the world," said Scripps Research Institute President Richard A. Lerner, M.D.

Scripps Florida's screening technology is both innovative – it uses state-of-the-art robotics to speed the process of discovering new drugs to treat a variety of human illnesses - and entrepreneurial - the "Access to Technology" and Scripps Research Molecular Screening Center programs allow for scientists from Florida universities and other academic research institutions to use Scripps Florida's screening technologies for their qualifying projects.

Scripps Florida's Molecular Screening Center is one of only four such large centers nationwide. The robots are two of only a handful of such machines in nonprofit research institutions.

About The Scripps Research Institute

The Scripps Research Institute is one of the world's largest independent, non-profit biomedical research organizations, at the forefront of basic biomedical science that seeks to comprehend the most fundamental processes of life. Scripps Research is internationally recognized for its discoveries in immunology, molecular and cellular biology, chemistry, neurosciences, autoimmune, cardiovascular, and infectious diseases, and synthetic vaccine development. Established in its current configuration in 1961, it employs approximately 3,000 scientists, postdoctoral fellows, scientific and other technicians, doctoral degree graduate students, and administrative and technical support personnel. Scripps Research is headquartered in La Jolla, California. It also includes Scripps Florida, whose researchers focus on basic biomedical science, drug discovery, and technology development. Currently operating from temporary facilities in Jupiter, Scripps Florida will move to its permanent campus by 2009.

PHOTO:
http://www.scripps.edu/news/press/images/20081010ITFlorida/ITFloridaAward.jpg

For more information contact:
Keith McKeown
10550 North Torrey Pines Road
La Jolla, California 92037

Tel: 858.784.8134
Fax: 858.784.8118
kmckeown@scripps.edu