Newswise — Seattle, WA., February 26, 2014 — Seattle BioMed today announced that Jason Beaubien, global health and development correspondent of National Public Radio (NPR), will deliver the keynote address at the Passport to Global Health Celebration on March 5. Key points: • Alan Aderem, president, Seattle BioMed, will highlight the institute’s scientific achievements including critical breakthroughs in the last year on each of the “big three” diseases: HIV, tuberculosis and malaria. • Seattle BioMed is the largest independent, non-profit organization in the U.S. focused solely on infectious disease research

o More than 30 percent of the world’s population is latently infected with the tuberculosis bacterium o Nearly 500 million people get sick and one million people die from malaria each year o 37.2 million adults and 2.3 million children younger than 15 years are living with HIV

• The Passport to Global Health Celebration is Seattle’s premier global health education event and 2014 marks the ten year anniversary of this event within Seattle’s influential global health hub. • Fred Northup Jr. will serve as the emcee for the main program and live music will be performed by singer Naomi Wachira. • Guests will enjoy world music by KEXP DJ Eric Schmidt and can speak directly with several Seattle BioMed scientists about their current scientific work during the reception portion of the event. • The event will include a reception and dinner from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 5, at the Fremont Studios, 155 N 35th St, Seattle, WA • More information and tickets are available at: http://www.seattlebiomed.org/passport

Quotes:Alan Aderem, president, Seattle BioMed said, “The Passport to Global Health Celebration is an important event highlighting the critical need to prevent and treat infectious disease. Seattle BioMed has taken an integrated multidisciplinary approach to accelerate the pace of progress and develop new therapies and vaccines that will improve the lives of the world’s most vulnerable populations, and we are looking forward to updating our supporters on the exciting scientific advances coming from our labs this past year.”

ABOUT SEATTLE BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTESeattle BioMed is the largest independent, non-profit organization in the U.S. focused solely on infectious disease research. Our research is the foundation for new drugs, vaccines and diagnostics that benefit those who need our help most: the 14 million who will otherwise die each year from infectious diseases, including malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. Founded in 1976, Seattle BioMed partners with key collaborators around the globe and strives to make discoveries that will save lives sooner. For more information, visit www.seattlebiomed.org.

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