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Jacques Banchereau, Ph.D., to Receive Award from French-American Chamber of Commerce

Contact: Wendy Walker, (214) 820-4581
Email: wendyw@BaylorHealth.edu

(DALLAS, April 20, 2005) - Jacques Banchereau, Ph.D., director of the Baylor Institute for Immunology Research, will receive the "Person of the Year" Award from the Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter of the French-American Chamber of Commerce (FACC). The award will be presented Friday, May 6, at 8 p.m. at the FACC's Annual Gala in The Pavilion Ballroom at the Belo Mansion.

The award recognizes the exceptional achievements of Dr. Banchereau, who has made significant contributions to the medical research community in Dallas/Fort Worth and around the world. Dr. Banchereau is internationally renowned for his study of the human immune system. His research focuses on manipulating dendritic cells - the primary cells that direct the immune system - to potentially provide cures for a range of diseases, including cancer, autoimmune diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and Type 1 diabetes, and infectious diseases such as AIDS.

In 2004, Dr. Banchereau was appointed to the W. W. Caruth, Jr. Chair in Transplant Immunology at Baylor Research Institute. Using dendritic cell technology, Dr. Banchereau is seeking ways to manipulate the immune system to prevent rejection of transplanted organs and induce tolerance.

Before joining Baylor, Dr. Banchereau was a member of the Schering Plough Laboratory for Immunological Research, located near Lyon, France. He was the director of this organization for 13 years. In this capacity, he has been an inventor/co-inventor on 16 patents and patent applications in the field of biotechnology. Dr. Banchereau received a bachelor of science in pharmacology in 1975 from the University of Angers, his hometown in the Loire Valley. In 1980 he received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Paris. While at the university, Dr. Banchereau became certified in clinical biochemistry, immunology, microbiology and parasitology.

Opened in 1996, Baylor Institute for Immunology Research is the immunology research component of Baylor Research Institute (BRI). BRI's mission is to improve the care and well-being of the community - nationally and internationally - through innovative, clinically relevant research that is consistent with the mission, vision and values of Baylor Health Care System. Currently, investigators are conducting more than 500 research trials in 20 medical specialties. In 2004, Baylor Health Care System launched a biotech company known as ODC Therapy, Inc., to produce personalized cancer vaccines using dendritic cell technology.

The French-American Chamber of Commerce is a bi-national, non-profit commercial service organization committed to the development and improvement of economic, commercial and financial relations between France and the United States. The Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter of the FACC serves as the area's principal forum for French and American business leaders to meet and discuss common interests.

The Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex is home to more than 50 French companies, including Platinum Sponsors Accor North America, American Eurocopter L.L.C., Essilor of America, Inc., and Rexel, Inc. Event sponsors are Baylor Health Care System, EADS Telecom NA, Sandia Imaging, Alcatel, Baccarat, H?tel St. Germain, Hughes & Luce LLP, FBA, Inc., Arlette Douffiagues-Galland and Richland College.

Clarice Tinsley, Fox 4 news anchor, will serve as event's master of ceremonies. The reception begins at 7 p.m. and dinner at 8 p.m. Tickets are $115 each; seats are limited. Tickets can be purchased by calling the chamber at (972) 241-0111 or by visiting www.faccdallas.com.