GPSEG Life Sciences Subgroup: Bridging the Gap between University-Based Research and Commercial Development

• Greater Philadelphia Senior Executives Group

May 28, 2009 - Life Sciences, 7:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.. Held at Marriott Conshohocken.

This meeting is open to members of GPSEG and Guest of a Member guests only
Member Cost: $25
Guest of a Member Cost: $30

Following our successful first meeting in April, the Life Science subgroup will be hosting a Panel Discussion for our May meeting. The GPSEG Legal subgroup will be hosting their meeting at the same time giving us a unique opportunity for both groups to network before and after the presentations.

Topic: Bridging the Gap between University-Based Research and Commercial Development

This month’s meeting will provide an opportunity for our membership to interact with, and learn from, three panelists who have tremendous experience and insight into the development of biomedical technology in the university setting. The mission for the meeting is to have some fun, get intellectually challenged by identifying ways to better bring together the marketing and operations knowledge of GPSEG members with the creativity of academic researchers, and introduce a new program that may allow you to participate.

Our panel will be moderated by Kirk Reinbold, Ph.D., Life Science subgroup Medical Device committee lead, who urges you to bring challenging questions to the session. The panel is made up of three exceptional individuals:

Dr. Stephen Tang, President and CEO of the University City Science Center, is the first president in the Science Center’s 45-year history to have not only led a company through venture funding and an initial public offering, but to also serve as a senior executive with a large life sciences company as it acquired and integrated smaller start-ups. The Science Center has been instrumental in assisting over 400 start-up companies including such success stories as Centocor, Neose Technologies, SEI, Bentley Systems, 3-D Pharmaceuticals, BioRexis, Acuity and Morphotek, among others.

Steve will introduce the new QED program at the Science Center which will support proof-of-concept research projects related to life science technologies with high commercial potential in the healthcare industry. Researchers at 10 selected academic institutions in Philadelphia, New Jersey and Delaware have been sent a request-for-white-paper. Senior Executives are being invited to participate in the program to provide strategic direction to the academic researchers in order to better position the technology for commercial success, be it through a license or venture formation.

Stephen Nappi, Director of Technology Transfer Operations at Temple University is responsible for managing and developing systems for reviewing, protecting, and commercializing intellectual property created by Temple faculty, staff and students. Temple is a participating institution in the Science Center QED program.

Dr. Jeff Martini is Vice President at MD Becker Partners, a life science boutique strategy-consulting firm, and also extensively consults with Ben Franklin Technology Partners (BFTP) Life Science group. Dr. Martini is also a member of Drexel University’s Coulter Foundation where he evaluates early-stage medical technologies.