First Annual LA County Bioscience Forum (2018)

At the 2018 Bioscience Summit hosted by Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, LA County announced the creation of Bioscience Los Angeles County or Bio LA, which will serve as an innovation catalyst and entrepreneurial hub for government, research institutions and private investors to accelerate startup activity and amplify economic opportunity throughout the region. The move sends a strong signal that the County is committed to becoming a global leader in bioscience.

“With an $8.7-billion budget dedicated to health services, LA County is uniquely invested in the success of the bioscience sector as it develops innovations to improve health and quality of life,” LA County Chief Executive Officer Sachi Hamai said.

“LA County has always generated vast and exceptional bioscience research, and we deserve an infrastructure that helps scientists, entrepreneurs and investors come together to create America’s next wave of great companies,” Supervisor Ridley-Thomas said. “Bio LA will be our public-private partnership singularly dedicated to growing this innovation ecosystem.”

During the Summit, held at Loyola Marymount University, more than 300 bioscience experts and entrepreneurs, government officials, healthcare executives, academic leaders and investors discussed strategies for boosting LA County’s bioscience industry, including nurturing startup companies, spurring capital investments and building a trained workforce.

Movers and shakers in the growing life science industry discussed L.A.'s future as a bioscience hub. The County is making major investments in the $40 billion local industry, seen as driving job and economy growth in the future.

Featured in this video: LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas with appearances during the panel discussion with Bio LA Founding Board Members Susan Windham-Bannister and Dina Lozofsky.