Montgomery County Councilman Michael Knapp
Joins UMBI’s Board of Visitors

Baltimore, MD - Dr. Jennie Hunter-Cevera, President of University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute (UMBI), today announced that Montgomery County Councilman Mike Knapp has agreed to serve on UMBI’s Board of Visitors as an ex-Officio member. UMBI is an independent biotechnology research institute within the University System of Maryland.

“It is an honor to be asked to serve as a member of UMBI’s Board of Visitors and to join distinguished members of the business community to support this unique, internationally renowned biotech research institute,” said Mr. Knapp. “UMBI Shady Grove and the CARB I and II facilities are phenomenal assets to Montgomery County, and I look forward to promoting these education, research and economic development engines in our County.”
Councilman Knapp was elected in 2002 to represent the Upcounty and western areas of Montgomery County, including the communities of Olney, Germantown, Montgomery Village, and Poolesville. He serves as the Chair of the Council's newly formed Homeland Security Committee, and is a member of the Council's Education Committee and also serves on the Public Safety Committee as lead Councilmember for Fire and Rescue Services.

Mr. Knapp is a graduate of the College of William and Mary in Virginia. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army Reserves, and spent 10 years in the Reserves as an engineer and infantry officer. Mr. Knapp was a legislative assistant to Senator Pete Domenici of New Mexico in the 1990’s and served as an advised to the Senator on issues related to biotechnology, including the Human Genome Project, as well as on health care and social issues. In New Mexico, he helped start-up two biotechnology companies. Mr. Knapp returned to Montgomery County in 1997 and began to work for Dr. J. Craig Venter as Vice President for External Affairs at the Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR), developing and expanding programs designed to improve public understanding and awareness of the biotechnology industry. After a year at TIGR, Knapp became one of the founding employees of Celera Genomics, one of the fastest-growing biotech companies in history, serving as director of business development. Mr. Knapp continues to work in the biotech field as a business development consultant.

“UMBI has a strong and diverse Board of Advisors, who give of their time and talent to support this unique research institute dedicated to furthering bioscience in Maryland,” said Dr. Jennie Hunter-Cevera. We are honored to have Councilman Knapp join our Board, and we look forward to working with him as UMBI Shady Grove continues to grow and meet the needs of the community.
Mr. Knapp is a resident of Germantown, Maryland. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Black Rock Center for the Arts, the Dwelling Place and the Boys and Girls Club of Germantown. He has recently served in leadership roles with the Germantown Alliance, the Committee for Montgomery and Germantown HELP, the food bank that serves local families in need. Mr. Knapp also is an avid sports fan, a member of the Montgomery County Road Runners Club, and coaches youth soccer.

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Celebrating our 20th anniversary year, UMBI is the first and only biotechnology research institute within the University System of Maryland and was established in 1985. The University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute (UMBI) consists of five major research and education centers and is dedicated to advancing the frontiers of biotechnology. UMBI’s centers of research include: CARB, the Center for Advanced Research in Biotechnology located in Rockville; CBR, the Center for Biosystems Research located in College Park; and COMB, the Center of Marine Biotechnology, MBC, the Medical Biotechnology Center, and IHV, the Institute of Human Virology, all located in Baltimore. For more information, visit www.umbi.umd.edu