LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Venture Association will honor biomed pioneer Alfred Mann at its 4th Annual LAVA Awards Dinner on Thursday, Jan. 18, at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

Mann, ranked No. 365 on the current Forbes list of the world's richest individuals, is an entrepreneur who has had a hand in some of the world's greatest medical advances: pacemakers (Pacesetter), insulin pumps (Minimed), cochlear implants, neurostimulators (Advanced Bionics), and prosthetic retinas (Second Sight). His current venture, Mannkind, is developing inhaled insulin that mimics the body's own.

"It will be one of the most valuable products of all time," Mann told Forbes.

Mann is also non-executive chairman of the Alfred Mann Foundation and Alfred Mann Institute at the University of Southern California, and the Alfred Mann Foundation for Biomedical Engineering, which is establishing additional institutes at other research universities. The proceeds of the evening will be donated to the Alfred Mann Foundation.

The ceremonies, to be emceed by Douglas Burke, Managing Director of Morgan Joseph & Co., will also include awards for:
Best Venture Financing in Biotechnology/Medical Devices
Best Venture Financing in Software/Media
Best Venture Financing in Communications/Semiconductors
Best IPO
Best Private Equity Transaction
Best M&A Exit
This fun evening of great networking, fine cuisine and entertaining program will begin at 6 p.m. The Beverly Hills Hotel is at 9641 Sunset Blvd. in Beverly Hills.

For more information, contact LAVA at 310-450-9544 or visit www.lava.org.
The Los Angeles Venture Association is the oldest, most successful organization focused on the financing of companies from start to exit. Since 1985 it has been promoting the development and financing of emerging growth and middle market companies by organizing dynamic forums where entrepreneurs and executives actively meet and learn from fellow executives, investors, bankers, financial advisors and other providers of professional services.