Invitrogen's Biological Defense Systems Names Advisory Board; Leaders from Broad Range of Disciplines to Advise New Subsidiary

Business Wire, August 31, 2004

FREDERICK, Md. -- Invitrogen Corporation's (Nasdaq:IVGN) Biological Defense Systems(TM)(BDS) subsidiary today announced the formation of an expert Advisory Board to provide the company direction in addressing this critical area of biological research and development

The new BDS Advisory Board has recruited experts representing diverse disciplines in the biodefense field -- academic research, public service, public policy and public health, as well as prior service and ongoing advisory roles with key U.S. federal agencies.

"BDS was designed to adapt and respond quickly to the evolving requirements of biodefense research by drawing upon technologies from across Invitrogen's broad portfolio," said James Gilmore, Director of Biological Defense Systems. "We are pleased to have recruited such a varied and distinguished group of experts for our advisory board. They will help ensure that our efforts are aligned with the latest thinking of our leading researchers and government officials and proactively serving the current and future needs of those charged with protecting our nation's safety."

Joining the Biological Defense Systems' Advisory Board are:

David R. Franz, D.V.M., Ph.D. -- Chief Biological Scientist, Midwest Research Institute, Frederick, Md. -- Chairman of the Advisory Board

Dr. Franz is a retired Army Colonel and former Commander of the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID). He also directs the National Agricultural Biosecurity Center based at Kansas State University.

He served as chief inspector on three U.N. special commission biological warfare inspection missions to Iraq and also was a member of a U.S./U.K. team that visited Russia in support of the Trilateral Joint Statement on Biological Weapons and Trilateral Experts' Committee for biological weapons negotiations.

Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D. -- Vice President of Biological Programs, Nuclear Threat Initiative (on leave), Washington, DC

Dr. Hamburg leads a program to reduce global threats from biological weapons. She served as Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services where she was the principal policy advisor. Additionally, she was the Commissioner of Health for the City of New York where she oversaw the first public health bioterrorism preparedness program in the nation.

Stephen Albert Johnston, Ph.D. -- Director, Center for Biomedical Inventions, Dallas

Dr. Johnston serves as director for a unique technology development unit at the University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, whose mission is to develop technological solutions to major problems in biomedicine and commercialize them. He also conducts basic research into how genes are regulated and has served in a number of research posts with the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Duke University, University of Wisconsin and the National Institutes of Health.

Scott Lillibridge, M.D. -- Director, Center for Biosecurity and Public Health Preparedness, Houston

Dr. Lillibridge is Professor of Epidemiology and Director, Center for Biosecurity and Public Health Preparedness at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. A veteran of the biodefense community, he was the Special Assistant for national security and emergency management at the US Department of Health and Human Services, assisting in the development of a national bioterrorism program during the 2001anthrax attacks. Additionally, Dr. Lillibridge was the Director of the Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He was also the lead physician during the initial U.S. Public Health Service response to the Oklahoma City bombing and led the U.S. medical delegation to Tokyo following the sarin gas release in 1995. He was recently appointed to the Senior Advisory Committee for Homeland Security.

C J Peters, M.D.- Director of Biodefense, UTMB Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases

Dr. Peters serves as Director of Biodefense at the University of Texas Medical Branch and Director of UTMB's biosafety level 4 laboratory. Additionally, he works as a member of the World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases and was a senior official at the CDC. In his 30 years studying the virology, pathogenesis and epidemiology of hemorrhagic fever viruses, Dr. Peters has authored or co-authored more than 3,000 scientific publications as well as the book Virus Hunter.

General Dennis J. Reimer (US Army-Retired) -- Director, National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism, Oklahoma City, Okla.

General Reimer is Director of the National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism in Oklahoma City, which is dedicated to preventing and mitigating the effects of terrorism with particular emphasis on the role of first responders. He became the 33rd Chief of Staff, U.S. Army in 1995 after serving as Commanding General of the United States Army, Forces Command, Fort McPherson, Ga. During his long military career, General Reimer has commanded soldiers from company to Army level, and served in a variety of joint and combined assignments. Additionally, General Reimer served two combat tours in Vietnam, served in Korea and also was aide-de-camp to the Army Chief of Staff General Creighton Abrams, as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans for the Army during Operation Desert Storm and as Army Vice Chief of Staff.