Last modified: Monday, February 6, 2012
Indiana Life Sciences Collaboration Conference Series focuses on 'Confluence of Diagnostics and Therapeutics'
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb 6, 2012
EDITORS: A complete program schedule, links to the participants' biographies and directions are available online at the Center for the Business of Life Sciences website. Media interested in attending should contact George Vlahakis at 812-855-0846 or vlahakis@iu.edu.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- As the human genome has been mapped and understanding of genetic markers increases, opportunities to tailor treatment for specific patients and groups of patients should grow exponentially. Turning this vision into reality will require coordinated efforts in both the diagnostic and pharmaceutical arenas.
The next event in the successful Indiana Life Sciences Collaboration Conference Series on Feb. 24 will focus on the increased role of diagnostic testing in "personalized medicine" and the opportunities this presents to companies in this developing industry.
"While much has been said about the promise of personalized medicine, there are challenges to actually making it happen," said George Telthorst, director of the Center for the Business of Life Sciences in Indiana University's Kelley School of Business. "One of the key drivers of personalized medicine is the use of diagnostic tests to identify which molecules will work on which individuals.
"This conference provides more details as to what's entailed to obtain regulatory approval for both the devices used in the diagnostic tests and the drugs treating people at the molecular level," he said. "It also will delve into how device companies and drug companies -- which have very different cultures -- are structuring their relationships."
The theme for the conference is "The Confluence of Diagnostics and Therapeutics." It will take place in the offices of Barnes & Thornburg, 11 S. Meridian St., in downtown Indianapolis. The registration fee is $125. Registration and additional information is available online at kelley.iu.edu/CBLS or by contacting Kelli Conder at the Kelley School at 812-856-0915 or kconder@indiana.edu.
The conference series is presented by the IU Kelley School of Business, its Center for the Business of Life Sciences, the Indiana Economic Development Corp. and BioCrossroads.
Following registration and networking from 8 to 9 a.m., Rob Brown, senior vice president-marketing and chief marketing officer at Eli Lilly and Co., will introduce Brian Williams, director of global healthcare at PricewaterhouseCoopers, who will speak on the topic, "The Global Transformation of Healthcare."
After a mid-morning break, the conference will continue at 10:30 a.m. with a panel discussion, "Threading the Regulatory Needle," moderated by Dr. Tracy Bush, director of companion diagnostics regulatory affairs at Roche Diagnostics. The panel will consist of Christine Gathers, senior director of global regulatory affairs diagnostic at Eli Lilly and Co.; Scott Thiel, senior regulatory consultant at the Anson Group; Chris Henza, regulatory affairs specialist at Regulatory Compliance Associates; and David Kern, senior director of Myraqa.
After a networking lunch, at 12:30 p.m., Janet Bowen, vice president of compliance services at Commissioning Agents Inc., will introduce Mark Rutledge, director of marketing, molecular diagnostics, at Roche Diagnostics, who will give the presentation, "Fitting the Treatment to the Patient -- Roche Personalized Healthcare."
The conference's second panel discussion, which will begin at 1:30 p.m., will focus on "Partnering for Success." Scott Simmonds, a partner in the Intellectual Property Department of Barnes & Thornburg, will moderate. The panel will consist of Nicolaos "Niko" Drivas, director of business development and business licensing at Abbott Molecular; Mollie Roth, chief operating officer of Diaceutics; Blake Cooper, an attorney in the business department at Barnes & Thornburg; and Michael Stocum, president and founder of Personalized Medicine Partners.
Telthorst will offer closing comments and wrap up the day's events at 3:15 p.m.
The Feb. 24 conference is sponsored by Barnes & Thornburg, Beckman Coulter, Commissioning Agents Inc., Eli Lilly and Co., Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, IU School of Medicine and Roche Diagnostics.
Other financial sponsors are Anson Group; Biomet; Cook Medical; Hill-Rom; Ice Miller LLP; Indiana Health Information Exchange; Krieg DeVault LLP; OrthoWorx; Purdue University; Symmetry Medical; Taft Stettinius; WellPoint; and Zimmer.
Brochure sponsors are Cabello Associates; and Miles Printing on Plastics. Marketing sponsors are BioConvergence; Bloomington Life Sciences Partnership; Covance; Covidien Imaging Solutions; Harlan Laboratories; Healthcare Businesswomen's Association, Indiana Chapter; IU College of Arts and Sciences; IU Kelley Evening MBA Program; IU Kelley School of Business Alumni Association; IU Office for the Vice President for Engagement; IU Research & Technology Corp.; Ivy Tech Community College-Bloomington; Novus Biologicals; Purdue University Regulatory and Quality Compliance Graduate Program; and VMS: A BioMarketing Company.
