For Immidiate Release:
CONTACT:
Vered Nohi
Executive Director
Philadelphia-Israel Chamber of Commerce
302.540.6374 | PICC@PhillyIsraelChamber.com
Philadelphia, PA (January 14, 2019)—The Philadelphia-Israel Chamber of Commerce (PICC), the region’s pre-eminent Israel business group, has announced its selection of Mark L. Tykocinski, MD to receive its prestigious 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award.
(L-R) Dr. Tykocinski, Dr. Ami Appelbaum, Chairman of the Board of the Israel Innovation Authority and Dr. Zvi Grunwald, Executive Director of the Jefferson Israel Center celebrated the creation of the Center this past summer.
Dr. Tykocinski, a molecular immunologist, is the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at Thomas Jefferson University, and The Anthony F. and Gertrude M. DePalma Dean of the Sidney Kimmel Medical College.
The PICC recognizes a highly visible and effective regional community leader who has spearheaded academic and private sector innovative joint ventures. Dr. Tykocinski serves as Chairman of the scientific advisory board of KAHR-Medical, the Israeli biotech company he founded to pioneer new classes of fusion protein pharmaceuticals for the treatment of cancer. At Jefferson, he has orchestrated collaborative research and education projects with leading Israeli academic institutions, medical centers, and even the Israeli military.
Last summer, Dr. Tykocinski led the effort to establish the Jefferson Israel Center, one of a handful of global initiatives intended to cultivate a deep, multi-institutional presence in select countries, including unique, first-of-its-kind educational and research programs. The launch of the Center coincided with Jefferson’s sponsorship of the Philadelphia Orchestra Tour of Israel. The Center will leverage Israel’s prolific start-up ecosystem and partner with various world-class Israeli academic institutions in translating basic discovery into product and service innovation. In so doing, Dr. Tykocinski is looking to give life to Jefferson’s vision for “redefining humanly possible.”
“Mark is the embodiment of all the Philadelphia-Israel Chamber represents,” said PICC President Neil A. Cooper, Executive Partner of the Philadelphia law firm Royer Cooper Cohen Braunfeld LLC. “He is a visionary who is re-defining healthcare education, expanding business and investment activity in our region and advancing strong commercial and academic ties between here and Israel.”
Dr. Tykocinski will accept the award at the Chamber’s Annual Gala Reception at the Crystal Tea Room in Philadelphia on April 3.
Philadelphia-Israel Chamber of Commerce
For more than three decades, the mission of the Philadelphia-Israel Chamber of Commerce—unique in this region—has been to develop business and academic ties between Greater Philadelphia, Southern New Jersey and Delaware, and Israel. The PICC is a non-profit, non-denominational, independent organization focused on creating commercial and investment opportunities.
The Philadelphia-Israel Chamber represents the US-Israel Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation (BIRD) in the region. BIRD has made more than $10 million in industrial R&D grants to companies in this area. In 2016-2018 alone, the PICC facilitated five BIRD grants promoting U.S.-Israel technology ventures in Pennsylvania and Delaware.
Jefferson (Philadelphia University + Thomas Jefferson University)
Jefferson (Philadelphia University + Thomas Jefferson University) is a leader in interdisciplinary, professional education. Jefferson, home of the Sidney Kimmel Medical College and the Kanbar College of Design, Engineering and Commerce, is a preeminent university delivering high-impact education in 160 undergraduate and graduate programs to 7,800 students in architecture, business, design, engineering, fashion, health, medicine, social sciences and textiles. The new Jefferson is re-defining the higher education value proposition with an approach that is collaborative and active; increasingly global; integrated with industry; focused on research across disciplines to foster innovation and discovery; and technology-enhanced. Student-athletes compete as the Jefferson Rams in the NCAA Division II Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference.