[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 124 (Thursday, September 28, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1872]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           TRIBUTE TO DR. CHRIS FISHER AND DR. JAMES BASHKIN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. FRED UPTON

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 27, 2006

  Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Chris Fisher 
and Dr. James Bashkin, cofounders of Nano Vir, a Kalamazoo, Michigan 
bioscience company that received the 2006 Tibbetts Award for innovative 
work to identify and develop a potential treatment to fight the virus 
that causes cervical cancer known as Human Papillomavirus (HPV). The 
Tibbetts Award is a prestigious national award presented annually by 
the Small Business Administration to small firms, organizations, and 
individuals judged to exemplify the very best in small business 
innovation research. This year, Nano Vir is among the select group of 
55 firms from across the nation who will receive the award.
  The Food and Drug Administration recently approved a vaccine for HPV 
that will prevent individuals from becoming infected with the virus. 
Nano Vir's product would complement the vaccine by fighting HPV 
infections and preventing cervical cancer for those who already have 
the virus.
  The importance of this research cannot be overstated. Nearly 20 
million Americans have incurable HPV, and cervical cancer is the second 
leading killer of women by cancer worldwide. Nano Vir is at the cutting 
edge of DNA research, and I commend Dr. Fisher, Dr. Bashkin, and all 
the folks at Nano Vir for their commitment and dedication to the 
betterment of millions of women's lives around the world. They may soon 
develop one of our most potent weapons yet in the war against cancer, 
and I wish them every success.

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