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WHEREAS, Women In Bio (WIB) is an organization for professionals committed to promoting careers, leadership, and entrepreneurship for women in the life sciences. Members belong to biotech and pharma companies, universities and institutes, law and accounting firms, marketing and public relations firms, CRO's and CMO's; and,
WHEREAS, Women In Bio is led by more than 150 volunteers and has more than 1400 members who attend yearly events and contribute to the organization’s ideas, activities, and donations. Over the past 10 years WIB has expanded to 13 chapters nationwide and has become a community representing one of the fastest growing and most influential organizations for women in life sciences; and,
WHEREAS, In 2012, a local chapter of Women In Bio was launched by five Pittsburgh entrepreneurs and academics who realized that the life sciences sector, and the minority demographic of women who work in that sector, lacked an appropriate forum to nurture and encourage one another. WIB-Pittsburgh is committed to increasing the impact of local women on the growth of the region by supporting their careers and professional development; and,
WHEREAS, The Pittsburgh chapter of Women In Bio will hold their third annual P.O.W.E.R. (Pittsburgh’s Outstanding Women Entrepreneurs Rally) event on September 20, 2016, which will focus on women using science and technology to help protect the vulnerable in our community from harm. P.O.W.E.R. 2016 links scientific innovation, law and economic growth in a cross-sectional forum of researchers, entrepreneurs and experts who are using cutting-edge technologies for combatting, preventing, and prosecuting sexual violators in Pittsburgh and across the globe; and,
WHEREAS, the Women In Bio-Pittsburgh P.O.W.E.R. Award recognizes life sciences women in transformative roles. Recipients of this honor have made significant contributions within the Pittsburgh region, achieved the highest level of professional excellence in life sciences, and are committed to promoting careers, leadership, and entrepreneurship for women in the life sciences; and,
WHEREAS, on the evening of September 20, the 2016 P.O.W.E.R. Award will be presented to Dr. Ria David, Ph.D., the co-founder and President of Cybergenetics. Twenty years ago, Dr. David and her husband, Dr. Mark Perlin, adapted their TrueAllele technology to automate STR DNA interpretation. This proprietary tool has been used many times to protect women from harm. Most notably, TrueAllele was used to convict, with statistical certainty, a Pittsburgh offender who committed a gruesome double-homicide. Dr. David and her team at Cybergenetics are significantly impacting the health and safety of women across the globe; and,
WHEREAS, Women In Bio-Pittsburgh is committed to promoting careers, leadership opportunities, and entrepreneurship for women in our region, and as an active WIB member, Dr. Ria David supports this mission passionately. She inspires future generations of women leaders by generously sponsoring the WIB-Pittsburgh Mentors, Advisors, and Peers chapter (MAPs) which provides one-on-one mentoring for local university students and post-doctorates. Dr. David encourages all women to exceed societal expectations and she continually advocates the advancement of women in our region. We applaud all she is doing for the WIB organization, our community, and the world; and,
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize and honor Dr. Ria David for her contributions to the scientific community, as well as the health and safety of women in the Pittsburgh area and beyond; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare Tuesday, September 20th, 2016 to be “Women In Bio Day of P.O.W.E.R.” in the City of Pittsburgh.