Panels

10:30

The Risks and Reward of Technology Transfer

Discussing the trials and tribulations surrounding intellectual property and licensing strategies.

Charles L. Cooney is Professor of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, in the Department of Chemical Engineering. He is the Faculty Director of the Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation, Co-Director of the Program on the Pharmaceutical Industry (POPI) and MIT faculty director of the Consortium on Advanced Manufacturing for Pharmaceuticals (CAMP).  He obtained his Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania in 1966. His Master's and Ph.D. degrees in Biochemical Engineering are from MIT in 1967, and 1970, respectively.  After a short post-doctoral time at the Squibb Institute for Medical Research in 1970, he joined the faculty of MIT as an Assistant Professor in 1970 and became a full Professor in 1982.  He received the 1989 Gold Medal of the Institute of Biotechnological Studies (London), the Food, Pharmaceutical and Bioengineering Award from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and the James Van Lanen Distinguished Service Award from the American Chemical Society's Division of Microbial and Biochemical Technology and was elected to the American Institute of Medical and Biochemical Engineers.  He serves as a consultant to a number of biotech and pharmaceutical companies, is on several editorial boards of professional journals, sits on the Boards of Directors of Genzyme, BioProcessors and Biocon, Ltd (India), is a member of the BP Technical Advisory Council. He chaired the FDA Advisory Committee for Pharmaceutical Science from 2004-2006. 

Lita Nelsen is the Director of the Technology Licensing Office at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she has been since 1986. This office manages over 500 new inventions per year from M.I.T., the Whitehead Institute, and Lincoln Laboratory. Typically, they negotiate over 100 licenses, and start up over 20 new companies per year Ms. Nelsen earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in Chemical Engineering from M.I.T. and an M.S. in Management from M.I.T. as a Sloan Fellow. Prior to joining the M.I.T. Technology Licensing Office, Ms. Nelsen spent 20 years in industry, primarily in the fields of membrane separations, medical devices, and biotechnology, at such companies as Amicon, Millipore, Arthur D. Little, Inc., and Applied Biotechnology. Ms. Nelsen was the 1992 President of the Association of University Technology Managers and serves on the board the Mount Auburn Hospital, and the Scientific Advisory Board of the Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Foundation. She serves as the intellectual property advisor to the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative and is a founding and current board member of the Center for Management of Intellectual Property in Health Research. Ms. Nelsen is widely published in the field of technology transfer and university/industry collaborations and was a CMI Fellow at the University of Cambridge with the Cambridge MIT Institute studying university/industry/government partnerships in technology transfer and local economic development. She is a co-founder of Praxis, the UK University Technology Transfer Training Programme.

Laura Paglione joined the Kauffman Foundation in December 2004, and serves as the Director of the iBridge Network, an on-line marketplace and Kauffman Foundation initiative to facilitate dissemination and transformation of early-stage research. Much of Laura’s background has been as a product and project manger with experience in all phases of new product strategy, including product definition, brand positioning, software engineering, product launch, change management, process re-engineering, product sales, and strategic corporate development. Her diverse career has included several geographic areas, many industries and varied roles including graphic artist, sales executive, software developer, product manager, acquisitions analyst and director of technology. She held many roles at Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan and Mahwah, New Jersey, and also served as a news anchor for VENSTAR, a Volvo franchise news and training broadcast network. Prior to joining Ford, she was a senior software engineer with Avid Technology in Massachusetts and an account executive and artist with Graphic Chart & Map Company in New York. Laura earned her Bachelor of Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ, her Master of Science degree in Computer Science from Brown University in Providence, RI, and her Master of Business Administration from the MIT Sloan School of Management in Cambridge, MA.

John P. White was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1946.  After graduating from Boston Latin School he attended the Columbia University School of Engineering, receiving a B.S. in chemical engineering, and the Columbia University School of Graduate Faculties where he earned an M.A. in chemical biology and a M.Ph. in biophysical chemistry.  Mr. White received his J.D. degree from Fordham University.  He is admitted to practice before the New York State Bar, the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court.  He also is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.  Mr. White is a member of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, the American Bar Association, the New York and New Jersey Intellectual Property Law Associations, American Intellectual Property Law Association, Federal Bar Council and Licensing Executives Society.  Mr. White has lectured extensively on strategies for optimizing patent protection, and his practice primarily focuses in the areas of pharmaceuticals,  biotechnology and medical devices, representing corporations, start-up ventures and university research centers in counseling, patent prosecution, licensing and litigation.  Included among the economically important patents on which Mr. White has worked are Columbia University’s “Axel” patents on making recombinant products in mammalian cells and “Bito” patents on the use of prostaglandins to treat glaucoma; Memorial Sloan-Kettering’s patents on G-CSF.

Gary Frashier serves as President and Principal of Management Associates, which provides strategic consulting services to entrepreneurial companies in the life sciences field.

Gary Frashier joined OSI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OSIP) in 1990 as President and Chief Executive Officer, and successively served as CEO and then as CEO and Chairman until his retirement as an officer on September 30, 1998. OSI discovered and developed Tarceva, an FDA approved genetic-based cancer drug, which is now marketed. He retired as Chairman of the Board of OSI in September, 2000, but continues as a strategic consultant to the company. Previously, Mr Frashier served as Executive Vice President of Millipore Corporation of Bedford, Massachusetts, where he was also President of Waters Associates, Inc., which was an industry leader in liquid chromatographic separations products. At Millipore, Mr. Frashier also served as President, International Operations. In 1984, Mr. Frashier put together a management buy-out of Millipore’s ultra high-purity water process business, Continental Water Systems, which was later sold to Olin Corporation.

Mr. Frashier has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Texas Tech University, where he was subsequently honored as a “Distinguished Engineer”, and an M.S. degree in Management (MBA) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he was selected as an Alfred P. Sloan Fellow in Management. He was also selected as the Long Island “Businessman of the Year” in 1993, by the Wharton Club. He is a registered professional engineer in chemical engineering, a member of the Society of Sloan Fellows (MIT) and a former member of the Young President’s Organization. Mr. Frashier serves on the Board of Directors of Tanox, Inc.(TNOX), a Houston biopharmaceutical company specializing in asthma drugs, and on the Board of Directors of Inex Pharmaceuticals Corp, a Canadian Public company specializing in RNAi therapies. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Boston Life Sciences, Inc.(BLSI) which focuses on regenerative medicines. He is a founder and serves on the Board of Apex Bioventures Acquisition Corporation, which is a specialty purpose acquisition corporation and is a founder and Executive Chairman of Eutropics Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a private company developing genetic-based cancer drugs. He has previously served on the Boards of several other public and private biotechnology firms. He is married to Giva Frashier, a Texas Tech University and Indiana University graduate, who had an extensive career in teaching and counseling,

Ingrid is a member in the Intellectual Property Section and works from the Boston and Stamford offices. Her practice emphasizes patent prosecution in the area of biotechnology, particularly in the fields of molecular biology, immunology, microbiology, cardiovascular medicine, clinical diagnostics, and medical devices, and includes advising clients on issues relating to patent portfolio management and licensing. Prior to joining the firm, Ingrid was a Technology Transfer Associate at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and then practiced at another prominent Boston law firm.

Ingrid is the President of the Boston Patent Law Association. She has been a frequent speaker at Biotechnology Industry Organization conferences, and is also a member of the Licensing Executives Society and of the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM).

Ingrid is admitted to practice in Massachusetts and before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. She received her B.S. in biology from Fairfield University (1979), and her Ph.D. in immunology and microbiology from Emory University School of Medicine (1990). Ingrid was awarded her J.D., cum laude, from Suffolk University Law School (1998).

Panel Lead

Leandro Vetcher, MBA 2008

Trends in Corporate Entrepreneurship

Investigating how life sciences corporations maintain an entrepreneurial spirit to sustain a growing business

Dr Rainer Fuchs is Vice President and Executive Director of BI3, the Biogen Idec Innovation Incubator. He has been with Cambridge, MA-based Biogen Idec since 2000 in various executive leadership roles, including co-head of Discovery Research and VP Informatics and Operations. Prior to Biogen, Dr Fuchs was Global Head of Lead Generation Informatics for Aventis Pharma. Dr Fuchs’s experience in the biopharmaceutical industry includes senior leadership positions at Ariad Pharmaceuticals and Glaxo Wellcome. Dr Fuchs is a molecular biologist by training, with degrees in biochemistry and microbiology.

Stephen W. Potter is a Senior Vice President in Corporate and Business Development for Genzyme and is based in the Kendall Square headquarters in Cambridge, Mass. Mr. Potter leads a team that is responsible for providing strategic analysis and transaction support to Genzyme's business units, science organization, and corporate initiatives. Recent transactions include the acquisition of Bone Care International and the gene therapy assets of Avigen, Inc. as well as the RenaMed and AGTC collaborations.

Prior to Genzyme, Mr. Potter held multiple roles at DuPont in Wilmington, Delaware including Sr. Vice President - Business Development for DuPont's Pharmaceutical subsidiary. Before joining DuPont, Mr. Potter was a Principal at Booz, Allen & Hamilton based in Chicago where his clients included a wide range of companies in the food, agribusiness, pharmaceutical, and Life Science industries.

Mr. Potter graduated from the Harvard Business School in 1989 with an MBA in general management. He earned a BS in Economics from the University of Massachusetts in 1979.

Steve joined the Novartis Venture Fund in 2006 as a Managing Director. From 2001, Steve was a Principal at Prism Venture Partners, where he focused on investments in medical devices and life sciences. He led the investments and/or served on the boards of iScience Surgical, ROX Medical, Sensitech (acquired by Carrier/UTX), and MedManage Systems.

With over 16 years of operating, entrepreneurial, and venture experience he started his career as an entrepreneur and turnaround CEO, raising angel funds to buy the assets of a defunct $26 million electrical distribution business out of bankruptcy. He subsequently ran the business for next five years, re-building it to 30 employees and $8 million in annual revenue.

Prior to Prism, Steve was a Principal and Kauffman Fellow with Mid-Atlantic Venture Funds. There he invested in and served as a board observer for several early stage communications and software companies.

Steve holds an MBA with distinction from the University of Michigan Business School and a BS in mechanical engineering from Columbia University's School of Engineering and Applied Science. He serves on the University of Michigan Wolverine Venture Fund Advisory Board and on the board of the Family to Family Project.

David Freeman is the Chief Marketing Officer for GE Healthcare’s Monitoring Solutions business, with over 20 years of biotechnology industry experience. David’s prior corporate experience includes Philips Medical Systems, BD Biosciences, and Hewlett-Packard’s Medical Products Group. He has championed many technologies over the years, including public access defibrillation. His current responsibilities include strategy and marketing for a broad portfolio of patient monitoring solutions used throughout the hospital, from the ED through Critical Care, to monitor and preserve the health of an increasingly acute hospital population.

Chris Brabham is a partner the Northeast life sciences practice of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, and is the partner in charge of the firm's Entrepreneurial Services Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Chris has extensive experience serving life sciences companies at all stages of development, from emerging companies to global integrated biopharmaceutical companies. He has extensive experience helping companies address business and accounting challenges arising from mergers & acquisitions, strategic partnerships, licensing arrangements, product commercialization, and equity and debt financing. Chris also has significant experience with SEC reporting, including initial public offerings.

Chris is in his fourteenth year with PricewaterhouseCoopers. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Massachusetts Society of CPAs. He graduated from Boston College with a BS in Finance and Accounting.

Panel Leads

Brian Newkirk, MBA & SM 2009

Hannah McClellan, MBA & MS 2008

2:30

The Next Big Thing in Life Sciences

Exploring the new therapies that will shape the way patients are treated and the entrepreneurs pursuing these therapies

Mara Aspinall is the President of Genzyme Genetics, a leading worldwide provider of testing and consultative services. Genzyme Genetics is a division of Genzyme Corporation, one of the world’s largest biotechnology firms with more than 8,000 employees and more than $2.5 billion in revenue. From its roots 20 years ago, Genzyme Genetics has established itself as one of the industry’s foremost independent diagnostics businesses, performing more than one million tests annually, while leading the personalized medicine, prenatal, postnatal, infertility and oncology testing markets. Genzyme Genetics has eight laboratories across the U.S. and employs the nation’s largest network of board-certified genetic counselors. Genzyme Genetics has achieved record growth while setting the quality standard within the diagnostics industry. Most recently, Genzyme Genetics acquired the assets of IMPATH, Inc., one of the nation’s largest cancer testing companies, making Genzyme Genetics one of the top commercial laboratories in the U.S. Under Mara’s leadership, Genzyme Genetics has expanded its range and reach in the marketplace. The division has successfully completed and integrated four acquisitions, expanded research and development programs, and initiated new programs for community outreach and education. Her Masters of Business Administration from Harvard Business School was enriched with the John P. Stevens Prize for leadership. She has served on the board of the HBS Network for Women. A magna cum laude graduate of Tufts University, Mara majored in International Relations.

Mr. Lapidus is an experienced life-science entrepreneur. Helicos is his third life-science start-up. In 1995 he founded EXACT Sciences Corporation (NASDAQ: EXAS), an applied genomics company that develops and markets non-invasive, DNA-based methods for early detection of colorectal and other common cancers. He served as the CEO from 1995 to 2001 and Chairman of EXACT Sciences' Board of Directors from 2000 until the end of 2005. Prior to EXACT, Mr. Lapidus founded Cytyc Corporation (NASDAQ:CYTC) and was President and CEO from 1987 through 1994. In addition to his entrepreneurial activities, Mr. Lapidus holds academic appointments in the Pathology Department at Tufts University Medical School and MIT's Sloan School of Management. He earned a BSEE from Cooper Union. He has served as a trustee of Cooper Union since 2002. Mr. Lapidus holds 29 issued patents.

Kevin Eggan received his Ph.D. in Biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in February of 2003. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Harvard University. Dr Eggan has devoted the last 7 years to performing stem cell research. He is currently leading a research group that is investigating the mechanisms regulating epigenetic reprogramming after somatic cell nuclear transfer and using nuclear transfer techniques to derive disease specific human embryonic stem cell lines from diabetic and Parkinson’s patients. His accomplishments include cloning mice from olfactory sensory neurons, deriving embryonic germ cells and male gametes from embryonic stem cells, and characterizing the abnormalities that sometimes arise as a result of nuclear transfer.

Michelle is the Director of Corporate Development for Sirtris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Prior to joining Sirtris, Michelle worked with Direct Investments, the healthcare venture capital arm of The Wellcome Trust, London. She previously did Post-Doctoral Research in the Department of Pharmacology and the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford. She has published several papers in peer-reviewed journals in the pulmonary field. Michelle holds an M.D. and a Ph.D. in Pulmonary Physiology from the University of Oxford.

Steven Wardell is Executive Vice President of Finance and Corporate Development at NorthPoint Domain, Inc., a Boston-based private company providing Medical Information Services and Informed Care technology products designed to address health literacy concerns and deliver patient care oversight for the specialty-specific practice. In his previous position as a Principal at Apeiron Partners, Steve worked with health and high-tech industry leaders on business development and value-creating corporate-finance transactions and filled operating roles at newcos. For example, he was a member of founding management of Artisan Pharma (a $60m late-stage biotech start-up spun out from a Japanese Pharma company) as VP Finance and Senior Director of Business Development, and of Sonexis (a $210m next-generation VOIP start-up), where he led the Strategic Development Group was Director of Business Development. As Manager of Apeiron’s Z-Cube venture-capital-fund engagement, Steve sourced, structured, and managed the investments of Z-Cube, the $100M international corporate venture-capital fund of Zambon Group, which invests in therapeutically-focused biotech start-ups in the US and Europe. Previously, Steve worked on Wall Street where he participated in over $20 billion worth of international M&A and financing transactions at Citigroup (Salomon Smith Barney) in the health-industry, technology, and other sectors, and he worked in the Corporate Development group at Microsoft. Steve has been recognized for outstanding performance in private-equity investing, M&A advisory, corporate finance, business development, entrepreneurial management, and company building. He has recently been named (7/06) one of Boston’s Ten Outstanding Young Leaders by the Greater Boston Jaycees, and also (8/06) one of the Boston Business Journal’s “Top 40 Under 40” business leaders. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, an MPhil from Cambridge University, and a BA from Harvard College.

Panel Lead

Adam Weinstein, MBA 2008

Entrepreneurship Strategies in International Environments

Understanding the strategic aspects of pursuing entrepreneurship outside of the US

Robert Forrester has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of CombinatoRx Incorporated (CRXX) since February 2004. Mr. Forrester also established and is responsible for CombinatoRx Singapore. CombinatoRx is pioneering the new field of synergistic combination pharmaceuticals and has a broad product portfolio in phase 2 clinical development. Prior to joining CombinatoRx, Mr. Forrester served as Senior Vice President, Finance and Corporate Development at Coley Pharmaceuticals Group from 2000 to 2003. From 1994 to 2000, he was a Managing Director of the Proprietary Investment Group at MeesPierson, part of the Fortis Group. Prior to MeesPierson, Mr. Forrester worked for BZW, UBS, & Clifford Chance. He holds an LL.B. from Bristol University.

Rich Kivel is a seasoned life science and technology executive. Since the successful acquisition of MolecularWare, an MIT spin out which he led as CEO from 2001 to 2004, Rich has launched four new companies in the life science/healthcare space and has served as founding CEO or President of each. Rich presently serves as CEO of TheraGenetics, a London, England-based company focused on the development and commercialization of pharmacogenetic diagnostic tests to help guide and improve the treatment of disorders such as schizophrenia, depression and Alzheimer's. Rich is a frequent guest lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management and has been a judge for the MIT $100K Entrepreneurship Competition since 1998. He speaks internationally and works on behalf of many organizations to promote entrepreneurship in the United States, Canada and Europe. He also serves as a Lead Catalyst for the MIT Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation and is a founding board member of Biolink USA-Ireland.

At Siemens Venture Capital, Anupendra is responsible for investing in medical devices, diagnostics and healthcare IT companies especially in the US, China and Israel. He was previously Director of Mergers & Acquisitions at Siemens Corporation. Prior to joining Siemens, Anupendra worked in Investment Banking at JPMorgan and Salomon Smith Barney, as well as McKinsey and Ford, where he helped the company enter China and India.

Anupendra has founded several companies and not-for profits including Mobile Medics, named the Most Innovative Social Venture of 2006 by the Global Social Venture Competition. Mobile Medics is attempting to solve the “last-mile” problem for rural healthcare. Anupendra is a Charter Member of TiE Boston and mentors early-stage life sciences companies in New England. Anupendra founded the Center for Entrepreurial Leadership at BITS Pilani, named one of India’s top five entrepreneurship centers.

Anupendra holds an MBA from Cornell, MS in Accounting & Finance from Manchester Business School, and dual degrees in Economics and Instrumentation Engineering from BITS Pilani, India.

Dr. Chaturvedi has over 18 years of pharmaceutical industry experience and has been associated with the discovery and development of several novel drugs for the treatment of a variety of diseases. Over his career, Dr. Chaturvedi has been a part of the development of five marketed drugs and of several new drugs undergoing clinical evaluation. Currently Dr. Chaturvedi is the founding Chairman & CEO of IndUS Pharmaceuticals, Inc., an emerging pharmaceutical company, headquartered in the Boston, with R&D operations in India & US. IndUS Pharmaceuticals is focused on the discovery and development of novel small molecule drugs for the treatment of cancer, diabetes and infectious diseases.

Prior to founding IndUS Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Chaturvedi was the founding President & CEO of Scion Pharmaceuticals, a Boston-based biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of new drugs targeting ion channels for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS), cardiovascular (CV) and urological disorders. Under his leadership, Scion successfully achieved key scientific and business milestones and raised venture capital to support its R&D operations. Prior to Scion, Dr. Chaturvedi, spent several years at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, where as the Head of Lead Evaluation. During his tenure at Vertex, he played a key role in the discovery and development of several therapeutic agents for immunosuppressive, anti- inflammatory, anti-viral, oncology and neuroscience indications. Prior to Vertex, Dr. Chaturvedi was in the preclinical group at Alkermes, where he participated in CNS and oncology product development and prior to that, he was in the Product Development group at Parke-Davis/Warner-Lambert Company, where he worked on the development of new drugs for the treatment of oncology, epilepsy, pain and cognition. Dr. Chaturvedi holds a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from West Virginia University and a Bachelor’s in Pharmacy from the University of Bombay.

Brenda Herschbach Jarrell is a member of the firm's Intellectual Property Department. She has been advising life sciences clients in all aspects of intellectual property development and protection since 1993. Dr. Jarrell's diverse practice includes helping various research institutions, in both the academic and commercial sectors, to structure research and intellectual property collaborations with one another, and to protect intellectual property that arises from such collaborations; assisting both early stage investigators and well-established companies as they navigate the intellectual property landscape around exciting new technologies or promising product lines; preparing patent applications to protect the inventions of clients in all sectors of the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries; negotiating licensing or other development agreements between clients and commercial partners; and advising potential investors on the strengths and weaknesses of an intellectual property portfolio whose development they are considering funding. Dr. Jarrell also has significant experience working with Choate's intellectual property litigators on behalf of clients who are involved in intellectual property litigation.

Dr. Jarrell's graduate research concerned investigations of transcriptional repression mechanisms, and resulted in first author publications in Molecular and Cellular Biology and in Nature. Dr. Jarrell also performed undergraduate research in the areas of antibody deficiency diseases (specifically X-linked agammaglobulinemia) and bacterial transposition.

Panel Lead

Sameer Sabir , MBA & SM 2009

3:30

Trends in Exit Strategies

Assessing the dynamics of the life sciences start-up environment with insights from leading venture capitalists and financiers.

Bruce Booth joined Atlas Venture in 2005 as a Principal on the Life Sciences team. Prior to Atlas Venture, Bruce was a Principal at Caxton Health Holdings L.L.C., a healthcare-focused investment firm. He focused on the firm’s private equity activities, ranging from early stage venture capital through late stage buyouts. Prior to joining Caxton Health, he was an Associate Principal at McKinsey & Company, a global strategic management consulting firm, where he focused on R&D productivity, corporate strategy, and business development issues for several major biopharmaceutical companies. While at McKinsey, he also co-led the Firm’s international scholars recruiting efforts.

Bruce works closely with Atlas Venture portfolio companies ARCA Discovery, Archemix, Dynogen, NxStage Medical, Prestwick Pharmaceuticals, and Proprius Pharmaceuticals. He serves on the Board of Zafgen.

As a British Marshall Scholar, Bruce earned a Doctorate in Molecular Immunology from the Oxford University’s Nuffield Department of Medicine and the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine. His research focused on viral and tumor immune surveillance, and how the immune system responds to intracellular pathogenesis. During his graduate studies at Oxford, he also received the Overseas Research Fellowship and served as junior dean of Trinity College. Prior to graduate studies, he worked on President Clinton’s Domestic Policy Council in the National Office of AIDS Policy. He received a Bachelor of Science degree with highest honors in Biochemistry from the Pennsylvania State University, where he was an Evan Pugh Scholar. He currently serves on the New York Academy of Medicine Board of Trustees, and is an active member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Bruce has also authored numerous scientific papers and reviews, including several in Nature Reviews Drug Discovery.

David Cassak is a Managing Partner of Windhover Information Inc., a Norwalk, CT-based health care business information company. He began his career with Cassak Publications Inc., a family-run business that published trade journals for the hospital and alternate site distribution industries. In 1987, he joined The Wilkerson Group, a health care consulting company, as an editor of IN VIVO. In 1989, Mr. Cassak, along with his partner Roger Longman, led a buyout of the publications business of TheWilkerson Group, forming Windhover Information Inc. Since then Mr. Longman and Mr. Cassak have launched several new ventures including

Start-Up: Windhover’s Review of Emerging Medical Ventures;

The Strategic Transactions Database, the industry’s most comprehensive and detailed database of industry M&A, alliances and financings;

The RPM Report, an analysis of key marketing, strategy and R&D implications of the changes in Washington at CMS and FDA; and

A series of senior-executive conferences in corporate strategy, business development, R&D, and finance.

In 2004, Windhover acquired Medtech Insight, an information company covering the medical device field through a market-leading newsletter, a series of in-depth market reports, and a number of conferences.

Mr. Cassak earned a BA from Drew University and did graduate work at Columbia and Princeton, earning an MA, with honors from the former. Mr. Cassak writes extensively about the medical device and hospital supply industries and is a frequent speaker before various companies and industry trade groups.

Stuart Duty is a managing director and co-head of the Health Care Group. Stuart leads the investment banking biopharmaceuticals efforts from the firm's office in San Francisco. He has experience in the full range of investment banking activities for health services , medical device and biopharmaceutical companies , including public and private equity and debt offerings and mergers and acquisitions advisories.

Stuart has been working with biopharmaceutical companies for approximately 14 years. Prior to joining U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray , he led the biopharmaceutical investment banking efforts at NationsBanc Montgomery Securities , was with Kidder , Peabody & Co. in New York and worked for Curative Technologies , a biopharmaceutical company.

Stuart graduated from Occidental College with a bachelor of science degree in biochemistry and received a master of business administration degree from Harvard Business School.

Jean joined ATV in 2002 and serves as the firm’s east coast lead for healthcare investments. She assesses new deals in the life sciences and therapeutic device sectors, identifying innovations viable for commercialization. Jean’s representative investments include Acceleron Pharmaceuticals, Critical Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CRTX), Five Prime Therapeutics, Hydra Biosciences, Hypnion, Juniper Medical, Portola, and Proteolix.

Jean brings more than 20 years of biopharmaceutical industry experience to ATV, including 10 years at Genzyme Corporation. At Genzyme, she held a variety of operational roles in marketing, product development and business development, including Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing. She also worked as Vice President and Founder of Genzyme's Tissue Repair Division, where she was responsible for identifying new product opportunities and potential acquisition candidates. In 1998 Jean joined the venture capital community when she was appointed to lead BancBoston Ventures’ life sciences investments. At BancBoston Ventures Jean led investments in Neurometrix (NASDAQ: NURU), Microbia, NuGenesis Technologies (acquired by Waters), and Syntonix Pharmaceuticals. In addition to her extensive operating and investment background, Jean also spent six years working in chemistry and bioresearch.

Jean holds an M.B.A. from Simmons College Graduate School of Management and a B.S. from the University of Maine.

Steven Dickman, CEO of CBT Advisors, is a biotechnology industry consultant in Cambridge. CBT Advisors’ activities include corporate positioning and strategy; communications and fund-raising materials; and market analysis based on research and expert interviews. Clients include private and public biotech companies and life science venture funds.Before founding CBT Advisors in 2003, Mr. Dickman spent four years in venture capital with TVM Capital. There, Mr. Dickman’s deals included Sirna Therapeutics, sold to Merck in 2006 for $1.1 billion. Earlier, he was a Knight Science Journalism Fellow at MIT, a freelance contributor to The Economist, Discover and Science, and the founding bureau chief for Nature in Munich, Germany. Mr. Dickman got his biochemistry degree cum laude from Princeton University.

Panel LeadS

Eric Varma, MBA 2008; Brian Miller, MBA 2008; Lakshman Pernenkil, MBA 2008