World Renowned Researcher Joins OCE Board of Directors

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Aug. 18, 2009) - Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) is pleased to announce the appointment of award winning researcher and world-renowned expert in the field of biomedical engineering, Dr. Molly Shoichet, to its board of directors.

"Dr. Shoichet's many achievements in recent years in the area of applied chemistry and biomedical engineering are nothing short of remarkable," said David McFadden, OCE Board Chair. "What's more, she has an incredible entrepreneurial spirit that makes her a natural fit and a true asset for the OCE board."

Since her graduation from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Chemistry (1987) and her PhD from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in Polymer Science and Engineering (1992), Dr. Shoichet has published almost 300 papers, patents and abstracts and is an expert in the study of polymers for regeneration - materials that promote healing in the human body.

In addition, she holds the Canada Research Chair in Tissue Engineering and is Professor of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, Chemistry and Biomaterials & Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto. Dr. Shoichet's laboratory has numerous patents both published and pending on drug delivery and scaffold design. She has also founded two spin-off companies from her laboratory.

Prior to being recruited by the University of Toronto in 1995, Dr. Shoichet worked at CytoTherapeutics Inc. on encapsulated cell therapy. Dr. Shoichet is the recipient of numerous prestigious distinctions such as NSERC's Steacie Fellowship, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) Young Explorer's Award (to the top 20 scientists under 40 in Canada), Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering (CSChE) Syncrude Innovation Award, Canada's Top 40 under 40 and most recently, the Canada Council for the Arts' Killam Research Fellowship.

Stepping down from the OCE board of directors is Dr. Kimberley A. Woodhouse, Dean, Faculty of Applied Science, Queen's University. "I would like to take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt thanks to Dr. Woodhouse who has served on our board since 2004 and has made a valued contribution to OCE during a time of unprecedented growth," said McFadden.

About Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) Inc. (www.oce-ontario.org)

Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) Inc. drives the commercialization of cutting-edge research across key market sectors to build the economy of tomorrow and secure Ontario's global competitiveness. In doing this, OCE fosters the training and development of the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs and is a key partner with Ontario's industry, universities, colleges, research hospitals, investors and governments. OCE's Centres work in communications and information technology, earth and environmental technologies, energy, materials and manufacturing and photonics. OCE is funded by the government of Ontario and is a key partner in delivering Ontario's Innovation Agenda. OCE through its Centre for Commercialization of Research (CCR), an initiative supported by the Networks of Centres of Excellence of Canada, also acts as a catalyst which allows innovative businesses to grow and achieve sustainable, commercial success and global competitiveness.

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Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) Board of Directors

David J. McFadden, Q.C. (Chair) Sensors & Software Inc.
Chair, National Energy &
Infrastructure Industry Group Mark Chamberlain
Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP President and CEO
Trivaris Ltd.
Dr. Suhayya Abu-Hakima
President and CEO Sean Conway
Amika Mobile Corporation Acting Vice-Principal
(Advancement),
Dr. Peter Annan Special Advisor to the Principal
President (External Relations) and Fellow,
School of Policy Studies, Queen's CEO
University Analysis Plus Inc.

Dr. Paul D. Guild Dr. Gilles G. Patry
Professor, Department of Professor and President Emeritus
Management Sciences, Faculty of University of Ottawa
Engineering
University of Waterloo Dr. Molly S. Shoichet
Professor, Chemical Engineering &
Dr. Hadi Mahabadi Applied Chemistry
Vice President and Director University of Toronto
Xerox Research Centre of Canada
Dr. Mamdouh Shoukri
Dr. Robert Moses President and Vice-Chancellor
President and CEO York University
PCI Enterprises Inc.
Dr. Ian C.P. Smith
Director General, Institute for
Dr. Jayson Myers Biodiagnostics National Research
President Council Canada
Canadian Manufacturers and Jeffrey Steiner
Exporters Past President and CEO
Toronto Economic Development
Michael J. Nobrega Corporation (TEDCO)
President and Chief Executive Officer
Mark Romoff (ex-officio)
OMERS President and CEO
Ontario Centres of Excellence
Jim Orgill

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