AtheroGenics CEO Elected Georgia Biomedical Partnership Chairman.

ATLANTA -- AtheroGenics Inc. President and CEO Russell M. Medford has been elected Chair of the Georgia Biomedical Partnership (GBP). The GBP is an organization dedicated to the growth of the life sciences industry in Georgia.

During his inaugural acceptance speech Wednesday evening, Dr. Medford said, "Biotechnology is not just another industry. We have the challenge of not only measuring our success on classic business metrics, such as market cap, value creation and return-on-investment, but also on the unique and profound impact our products have on the health and well-being of millions of people here in Georgia and throughout the world. I look forward to working with the Georgia Biomedical Partnership as we grow this important industry together."

Dr. Medford has served as President and CEO of AtheroGenics since 1995. In addition to serving as GBP Chair, Dr. Medford serves on the BioSciences Executive Committee for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, the Southeastern Life Sciences Association (SELSA) Board of Directors and the Biotechnology Industry Organization's (BIO) Emerging Companies Section Governing Body. He is an inaugural Fellow of the Council on Basic Cardiovascular Sciences of the American Heart Association and has held a number of academic appointments at the Emory University School of Medicine, most recently as Clinical Professor (adjunct) of Medicine. Dr. Medford is a molecular cardiologist whose research has focused on the molecular basis of cardiovascular disease. Dr. Medford received a B.A. from Cornell University, and an M.D. with Distinction and a Ph.D. in molecular and cell biology from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Medford completed his residency in internal medicine at the Beth Israel Hospital and served as a fellow in cardiology at the Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, where he also served on the faculty of Medicine.

The GBP, founded in 1989, is a nonprofit membership organization representing the life sciences industry in Georgia. GBP members include companies, research institutions and universities, government groups and corporate service providers involved in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and diagnostics, medical informatics and related businesses.