Dennis A. Carson

State Street Research & Management Company (SSR), with a history dating back to 1924, is one of the nation's first investment management organizations. The Boston-based firm is a subsidiary of MetLife (NYSE:MET), one of the world's largest financial services companies. The firm, together with its affiliate SSR Realty, actively manages stock, bond, balanced and real estate portfolios for both institutional and individual investors. SSR manages pension money for many of the largest U.S. corporate pension plans. SSR also manages money for public and union pension plans, foundations, endowments, and mutual funds.

Vical, Inc. engages in the research and development of biopharmaceutical products based on patented DNA delivery technologies for the prevention and treatment of serious and life-threatening diseases. It focuses on the antifungal VL-2397, which treats patients with invasive aspergillosis. Its products include Vaxfectin, a cationic lipid formulation optimized to increase the immune response to vaccines. The company was founded by Howard E. Greene, Jr. Timothy J. Wollaeger, Karl Y. Hostetler, and Douglas D. Richman in April 1987 and is headquartered in San Diego, CA.

Triangle Pharmaceuticals Inc. provided antiviral drug candidates for the human immunodeficiency virus. The company was founded in 1995 and was located in Durham, NC.

Salmedix, Inc. develops oncology and small molecule drugs to treat hematological malignancies. The company's product, Treanda, is currently in Phase II clinical trials in the United States and Canada for the treatment of indolent (slowly progressing) non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. It was founded in 2000 and is located in San Diego, CA.

IDEC Pharmaceuticals Corp. used to develop and commercialize targeted immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases. The company’s products used to act chiefly through immune system mechanisms, exerting their effect by binding to specific, readily targeted immune cells in the patient’s blood or lymphatic system. The company was headquartered in San Diego, CA.

UCSD Medical Center provides medical services to its clients. The medical center is a part of University of California, San Diego. UCSD Medical Center's facilities consist of UCSD Thornton Hospital in La Jolla, UCSD Medical Center in Hillcrest, and several specialty outpatient clinics and ambulatory health facilities throughout the area. The services provided by the medical center and its affiliates include general medicine and primary care, women's health services, and emergency care for the treatment of serious conditions. The company is headquartered in San Diego, CA

National Academy of Sciences operates as a private, nongovernmental institution that advises on issues related to science and technology. It provides independent, objective analysis and advice and conducts other activities to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions. The firm also encourages education and research, recognize outstanding contributions to knowledge, and increase public understanding in matters of science. The company was founded on March 3, 1863 and is headquartered in Washington, DC.