The Center for Healthcare Innovation, the National Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical Association, and the National Hispanic Life Science Society, recently successfully collaborated on the 2011 “Diversity and Clinical Trials: Opportunities and Challenges for the Life Sciences Industry” symposium in Chicago, IL, USA. The symposium went exceedingly well. We had a turnout of about 90 high quality participants, with a vigorous and engaging discussion. There were attendees from the following companies and organizations:
Abbott Laboratories, Acorda Therapeutics, American Academy of Pediatrics, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boeing Corporation, Bridge Clinical Research, British Consulate-General Chicago, Center for Healthcare Innovation, Chicago Department of Public Health, Chicago Health Executives Forum, Children's Memorial Hospital, Daiichi Sankyo, Datatrak International, Eli Lilly, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, Foley & Lardner, Genentech, GSK, Hospira, Human Genome Sciences, Johnson & Johnson, Lupus Foundation of America, Medical Center at University of Illinois at Chicago, Merck, Miltenyi Biotec Pharmaceuticals, Motorola, National Kidney Foundation, Navigant Consulting, Pharmatek Laboratories, University of Chicago’s Officer of Biological Safety, Pfizer, Sanofi Aventis, Seyfarth Shaw, Takeda.
We thank Michel Feldman and Seyfarth Shaw, LLP for doing an extraordinary job hosting the event. We thank The Honorable Sharon R. Barner for serving as a moderator. The highly distinguished panelists included Dr. Bryan Becker, Dr. Robert Beltran, Mr. Laurence Birch, Mr. Charles Brummell, Dr. George Cole Jr., Dr. Owen Garrick, Dr. Rick Kittles, and Dr. Henry Masters III.
This event was a terrific kick-off to what will be many years of symposia on this key topic. The vision is to become the world’s preeminent annual conference focused specifically on the interface between the life sciences industry and diverse communities. The goals are to connect and network leading biotechnology and pharmaceutical executives, entrepreneurs, policy officials, researchers, scientists, technologists, academics, and service providers by creating a collaborative setting for discussing challenges and opportunities of conducting clinical trials with diverse communities.
Next year's symposium “Diversity & Clinical Trials” will be held in Chicago, IL on Thursday, June 14, 2012. We certainly hope you'll be able to join us for that event. Please check here for future announcements.
