It can be hard to get on people's radar screens sometime. I may be preaching to the choir to you loyal AUTM blog readers, but many still don't realize how the AUTM Annual Meeting has been evolving over time - changing for the better.
The AM will always be the premier professional development meeting for academic TT professionals - but industry partnership development and venture investing activities are becoming a huge part of the meeting. I have taken the liberty of highlighting some of the not-to-be-missed events at the upcoming AUTM Annual Meeting, in the order that they occur. I know this post is long, but I am crazy excited about how this meeting is shaping up - c'mon, it will take you all of 5 minutes to read.
Fireside Chat - Dr. David Nicholson, Senior VP and Head of Worldwide Licensing and Knowledge Management for Merck and Company, offers a rare glimpse into the pharmaceutical industry during this informal discussion with AUTM President Ashley Stevens. Nicholson will discuss his perspectives on the future of the pharmaceutical industry and Merck’s leadership role in the industry. [Sunday, Feb 27, 6PM - sponsored by Snaptech, LTD]
Human Errors Plenary - Dr. Scott Shappell, well known lecturer on human factors analysis, walks through a riveting session on managing human error in complex systems. By the end of the lecture, you will be convinced you need to get a new job elsewhere before the human errors in your license agreements bubble to the surface. [Monday, Feb 28, 8AM - sponsored by Merck & Company]
Industry Roundtable - A powerhouse of healthcare industry executives discuss their corporate strategies for managing innovation. Approaches for growing innovation internally versus importing innovation will be compared and contrasted, and the role of innovation in supporting corporate strategy will be discussed. The following executives will join Dr. Nicholson (Merck) at the Roundtable: Dr. Alan Palkowitz, VP of Research Chemistry and Technology from Eli Lilly; Dr. Garry Neil, Corporate VP for J&J; and Dr. Bryant Moore, VP of External Partnerships and Technology Assessment at Medtronic. [Monday, Feb 28, 9AM - sponsored by Merck & Company]
Industry/Academia Partnering Forum - This forum promotes collaboration and partnerships between industry and academic attendees. Programs spotlighting both academic research capabilities and industry needs will be offered, including podium opportunities, posters of academic core research competencies, and rolling presentations on videos on monitors throughout the associated networking reception ballroom. [Monday, Feb 28, 5:30PM - sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh and by Barnes and Thornberg, LLP]
AUTM Debate - Over the past few years there have been a number of initiatives to develop standard research agreements and standard licenses that would take the negotiation and frustration out of the transaction. Most notable among these initiatives are the express licenses employed at UNC, Carnegie Mellon, and the University of Hawaii. This topic has passionate proponents and critics, and we will hear from both in a debate session on this topic. AUTM Immediate Past President Arun Pradhan monitors a spirited debate, organized by Kevin Wozniak, between Cathy Innes and Tara Branstad (for express licenses) and Fred Reinhart and John Ritter (against). May the best men/women win. [Tuesday, Mar 1, 1PM - sponsored by Marshall, Gerstein & Borun, LLP]
Venture Forum - This multifaceted event provides a unique opportunity for corporate and institutional investors to network with academic institutions who are active in creating and incubating academic-affiliated startup companies. The forum includes the first-ever AUTM Venture Pitch Competition (4 university start-ups will compete for a $10k prize), followed by a panel discussion with prominent institutional and corporate venture investors sharing their strategies and perspectives on investing in the healthcare space in the current economic and political environment. Brian Laden (Tristar Ventures) will preside over the Competition, and Robert Creeden (Partners Healthcare) will moderate the panel session. Our illustrious panel of VCs include: Jennifer Goldstein, Director, Pfizer Venture Investments; Andrew Firlik, General Partner, Foundation Medical Partners; Mudit Jain, Partner, Synergy Life Science Partners; and Fred Aslan, Partner, Venrock. Concluding the Venture Forum is a spirited quasi-debate aimed at improving TLO-investor relations and efficiency. Lou Berneman (Texelerate) will lead the discussion, with the venture perspective provided by Paul Stone of 5AM Venture and Mark Singer of Osage University Partners, and the university perspective provided by Jon Soderstrom of Yale and Rose Ritts of Duke. Program Note: even if you attend the AUTM Debate instead of the Venture Pitch competition, you can still catch the moderated sessions, which begin just after the Debate ends. [Tuesday, Mar 1, 1PM - Sponsored by The Innovation Factory, and by the University of Utah]
Texas Hold'em Tournament - We talked Joe Fondacaro into overseeing the organization of an excellent networking opportunity with a hundred risk-taking AUTM attendees in a lively and entertaining setting. Apply your finely-honed skills at calculating risks and reading others to the inaugural AUTM Texas Hold ’em Poker Tournament. Participants will engage in a friendly competition for poker supremacy - playing for fun, prizes, and most importantly, bragging rights. We will provide the tables, dealers, chips, drinks and snacks – you bring your best poker face and a stack of business cards. At the time of writing this, we have fewer than 20 spaces left, so sign up quickly. [Tuesday, Mar 1, 3PM - sponsored by Dann Dorfman, Herrell and Skillman, LLP, and by IPX International]
Calculated Risk Plenary - Internationally acclaimed speaker, and former professional poker player, Casper Berry explains how managing risk is the key element in turning innovative managers into dynamic leaders. How much of technology transfer is betting on technology or calculating the risk of investing in it - are we smart, or is it all dumb luck? [Wednesday, Mar 2, 8AM - sponsored by Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell and Tummino, LLP]
Opening and Closing Receptions - The AUTM receptions have always been great networking opportunities. We transformed the closing dinner into a reception, to facilitate networking and to give people the opportunity to spend some additional time enjoying the Las Vegas nightlife. The food and drink at the receptions will be excellent, and the entertainment will be, well, Vegas-esque. Come see which stars show up (I heard Cher, or perhaps Elvis, plans to attend). [Monday, Feb 28, 6:30 and Wed Mar 2, 6:30 - sponsored by Astra Zeneca]