News Release

A diverse team of Johns Hopkins students was selected on January 12 to compete in the Kellogg Biotech & Healthcare Case Competition. The team members are students in Johns Hopkins' Master of Science in Biotechnology/MBA degree program offered jointly through the Zanvyl Krieger School of Arts and Sciences Advanced Academic Programs and the Carey Business School. The competition selection committee chose the Hopkins team based on members' professional and educational credentials.

"Our team consists of a scientist, an engineer, a biotechnology sales consultant, and a veterinarian who also holds a doctorate in cell and molecular biology," said team captain Steve Hertz, consumer safety officer at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. "We also have various backgrounds working for corporate biotechnology firms, research and regulatory agencies, and academic laboratories. Each member has a unique skill set and expertise that is essential for cross-functional analysis of a business case study, especially in the biotechnology and healthcare sectors."

It is the fifth year that Kellogg has presented this prestigious competition and teams were selected from what organizers describe as "far and away the most competitive field [they] have ever hosted," with teams applying from top schools across the globe.

"By competing in this highly regarded competition, our team seeks to introduce Johns Hopkins' unique MS in Biotechnology/MBA model to other programs from around the world," said Hertz. "In addition to networking with faculty and students from other biotechnology and business programs, we hope to foster relationships that will strengthen these communities."

The case will be sent to teams on Friday, January 23. Teams will have one week to draft and submit a business plan to competition organizers. Each team will present its plan on January 31 at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. Judges will evaluate the presentations for strategic thinking, clarity, enthusiasm, and analytical rigor.

"The high level of competition at this event is consistent with the level of knowledge and experience of our students, and we believe our JHU team will make a strong showing," said Dr. Lynn Johnson Langer, senior associate program chair and faculty advisor to the team.

Representatives from the competition's sponsor, Genzyme — which is one of the world's leading biotechnology companies dedicated to making a major positive impact on the lives of people with serious diseases — will provide a formal debriefing of the case at 5:00 p.m. Dinner and the award ceremony will take place from 6:00-7:30 p.m. The top three teams will receive cash prizes ($5,000, $1,500 and $500). The first place winners will also get to meet Genzyme's CEO and top executives at its corporate office in Cambridge, Mass.

About the Johns Hopkins Team

Team Captain: Steve Hertz
Work Experience: FDA (Consumer Safety Officer (2008-Present); Human Genome Sciences (Process Control Engineer, 2004-2008)

Team Member: Nicholas Hand
Work Experience: Johns Hopkins University (Research Technologist, 2005-Present); European Synchrotron Research Facility (Research Technician, 2003); Abbot-Murex (Lab Technician, 2002)

Team member: Bharat Khurana, D.V.M., Ph.D.
Work Experience: Technical Resources International (Regulatory Compliance Specialist, 2007-Present); USUHS (Staff Scientist, 2006-2007); NIAID (Postdoctoral Fellow, 2001-2006)

Team member: Oneal Puri
Work Experience: Biotechnology Business Consultant, (2007-Present); NIH (Robotic Specialist, 2003-2007); Bristol-Myers Squibb (R&D Scientist, 2001- 2003)