ORLANDO, Fla., April 16, 2009 – Metro Orlando is on a march toward becoming a medical and life science research destination.  Numerous organizations in the area are helping to make the region known just as much for medicine and life science as theme parks.  And now, bioOrlando, a council of the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission (EDC), debuted a new initiative called Medical Markers to recognize those organizations. 


“bioOrlando felt that it was important to begin to establish recognition for credible life science companies in our region that would add to the clarity of understanding about what our life science economy already is,” said Lars Houmann, president & CEO of Florida Hospital and chairman of bioOrlando.

United Arts is putting a call out to the arts community to design these Medical Markers that will be presented to life science and biotechnology organizations throughout the four county region; Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Lake counties.  bioOrlando’s first Medical Marker was presented to Florida Hospital to recognize its commitment to the health of Central Florida for the past 100 years.  Florida Hospital Celebration Health was also given a Medical Marker for its commitment to technological advancements in health care, such as the Nicholson Center for Surgical Advancement and the Global Robotics Institute.


The vision of bioOrlando is to build Central Florida's prominence as a preferred destination for health care, life science, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, as well as their supporting industries. 

For more information, please go to www.bioorlando.com or contact Jennifer Wakefield at Jennifer.Wakefield@OrlandoEDC.com.