October 5, 2012 -- Governor John Kitzhaber has proclaimed Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012, as “Oregon Digital Health and Bioscience Day,” kicking off Oregon’s largest-ever bioscience conference, with three days of symposia, networking, poster sessions, and thought-leadership discussion on the local and worldwide growth of the bioscience industry.
Mark Ahn, CEO of one of Oregon’s newest biotech companies, Galena Biopharma, Inc., keynotes on Day 1 with “Biotech Entrepreneurship: An Unofficial Hunger Games Cookbook.” He will join Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), Oregon Treasurer Ted Wheeler, and other leaders such as the “father” of personalized medicine, Leroy Hood, M.D., Joseph Smith, M.D. chief medical officer of the West Wireless Foundation, Brad Vale, vice president of venture investing for Johnson & Johnson and others will deliver keynote speeches at this year’s state- and region-wide bioscience industry conference. Oregon Bio’s conference will feature a deep dive into the digital innovations that researchers, developers and providers are using to diagnose, treat and streamline patient care around the world.
“Oregon has been on the forefront of companies developing innovative medical technologies, and that is continuing,” says Oregon Bioscience Association’s Executive Director, Dennis McNannay. “Increasingly doctors, researchers and entrepreneurs are using digital and mobile models to accelerate scientific research and deliver the highest quality patient care, even in the frenetic pace of medical innovation happening here in Oregon.”
Oregon Bio’s Platinum Sponsor for the conference and signature research center, the Oregon Translational Research and Development Institute (OTRADI), is a cornerstone of the state’s emerging research and biotechnology capabilities. OTRADI brings the lab to the market by accelerating product development and commercialization through strategic partnerships and access to its expertise and equipment.
“OTRADI forms the integral connection or ‘glue’ that links the scientific with the commercial, energizing and simplifying the connection to move medical advances forward, and helping to translate specific research into to tomorrow’s discoveries,” said OTRADI Director Jennifer Fox, Ph.D.
With an emphasis on industry growth and job creation in Oregon, OTRADI is working alongside the Oregon Bioscience Association to foster a strong, self-sustaining
bioscience community in Oregon. At the conference, OTRADI will host a Research Pavilion to showcase some of Oregon’s most promising scientific research and initiatives in an effort to connect potential investors with the state’s emerging bioscience companies.
Also part of the event, entrepreneurs will get the opportunity to “pitch” to qualified investors and potential bio partners. Experts will give feedback so companies and start ups can refine their presentations and attract investment capital.
Dr. Hood heads the Institute for Systems Biology and his research has primarily focused on the study of molecular immunology, biotechnology and genomics. Vale will discuss
the industry trends guiding the investment decisions of Johnson & Johnson, one of the largest health care/bioscience companies as they adapted to a rapidly changing market landscape. Dr. Smith, who brings decades of experience with companies like Boston Scientific and Guidant/Boston Scientific will discuss how the West Wireless Foundation (WWF) is accelerating efforts to leverage wireless and mobile technologies to lower the costs of healthcare.
This year’s two-day event includes a multi-track, kick-off day focusing on bio investing and bio-partnering. Day one’s program includes industry insiders and panels to help entrepreneurs and researchers identify industry key trends, sharpen their business plans, learn practical investment negotiating skills, develop intellectual property strategies and understand how to access key sources of governmental and private funding.
“Bio partnering may be the most important way to fund an emerging bioscience company,” says McNannay. “Rather than give up large portions of equity, partnering allows companies to preserve valuable resources while working cooperatively to reach that next critical milestone.”
Day two will focus on Oregon’s deep experience of technology innovation which currently drives the advancements being made in cancer research, wireless and mobile technologies, scientific software and the deployment of the next generation electronic health record. From Welch Allyn’s patient monitoring equipment to Biotronik’s implantable pacemakers and defibrillators, the conference will profile how digital breakthroughs are impacting healthcare costs and patient outcomes.
Outreach to students and a focus on STEM curriculum (science, technology, engineering and math) will be an important part of the poster session and research pavilion.
“This year’s conference concentrates how digital innovation is impacting almost every area of bioscience and fundamentally changing how treatments are developed and patient outcomes are improved,” says McNannay. He notes that there are challenges that must be overcome in order to enable the next generation of patient-centric care. “As digital bioscience innovation grows in importance, Oregon’s traditional strengths in technology, software and advanced manufacturing become even more important.”
The day two program is divided into three content tracks such as Wireless/Mobile, Information Ecosystem and Digital Infrastructure. New innovations will be presented in wireless patient monitoring, wireless software and security protocols, laboratory equipment, patient diagnostic techniques, and regulatory trends. This event contains topics for both the seasoned industry veterans and those interested in learning more about the competitive landscape.
Sponsors include the spectrum of organizations working in and impacted by this industry. They include Oregon Translational Research and Development Institute (OTRADI), IDC Architects/CH2MHill, JE Dunn Construction, Welch Allyn, MSEI/Biotronik, Turner, Ion Torrent by Life Technologies, Prolifiq, MolecularMD, BIO, HDR Architecture, Genentech, Technology Association of Oregon, CryoSource, Klarquist Sparkman LLP, Oregon Health & Science University, Publix Northwest, SAM Medical Products, Columbia Soft and Portland Business Journal.
Register for the October 9-10 event at https://oregonbio.org/conference-schedule. Sponsorships and engagement are available by calling the association at (503) 548-4432 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting FREE (503) 548-4432 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.
