The Gairdner Foundation and York University

Entrepreneurship and Commercialization in Biomedical Science Symposium 
May 14, 2009 at York University, Keele Campus

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Chair: Ronald Pearlman, York University  

In 2009, both York University and the Gairdner Foundation will be celebrating their 50 ^th anniversaries. To celebrate, York and Gairdner will co-host a symposium focused on biomedical science, entrepreneurship and commercialization.  The symposium will bring together Gairdner Award winning scientist entrepreneurs, and representatives of Canadian venture capital firms, the biomedical industry sector, and policy makers / government.  The symposium will activate dialogue about the commercialization of science / technology and inform discussion about policy related to entrepreneurship. 

Date:  May 14, 2009.  Times:  1:00 pm - 5:00 pm.  Onsite Registration opens at 12:00 pm.

Hosted: The Faculty of Science and Engineering and the Schulich School of Business
Location:  Schulich School of Business, York University Keele Campus
Registration information:  There is no registration fee, although advance registration is required. 

For more information please contact York University U50 Office:  416-736-2100 ext 22762.
Online registration is available at http://www.yorku.ca/yorku50/gairdnersymposium/

Who Should Attend
The Symposium will be of interest to members of the business community and those who care about commercialization; scientist entrepreneurs; academics and students; public policy makers and government; representatives of the public health sector; and representatives of the financial and venture capital sectors.

Program

1:00 pm - Opening Remarks and Welcome on behalf of the Gairdner Foundation and York University

1:15 - 2:45 Keynote Presentations

Keynote speakers:

Dr. Corey Goodman-1997 Gairdner Laureate in neuroscience. Founder of two biotechnology companies. Presently, President, Biotherapeutics and Bioinnovation Center, Pfizer Inc. San Francisco, California. See www.pfizer.com/about/leadership_and_structure/leadership_executives_goodman.jsp

Dr. Michael Hayden, Canada Research Chair in Human Genetics & Molecular Medicine, UBC. Exceptional academic scientist in molecular genetics, discoverer of the gene for Huntington's disease among many accomplishments. Entrepreneur and founder of three biotechnology companies. Member of the Gairdner Foundation Medical Advisory Board.  Michael Hayden was the 2008 recipient of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Researcher of the Year.  See www.gairdner.org/aboutus~2/medicala/michaelhay.

Lecture Title:From Genetic Disorders in a Few to Drugs for Many

2:45 - 3:15 pm - Break

3:15 - 5:00 pm - Case Study Panel Discussion - Vaccines: Science and Policy

Following the keynote addresses, a panel will explore the development, commercialization and health policy implications of vaccines.

Panel Moderator:  Mark Lievonen, President, Sanofi Pasteur Limited and a member of the York University Board of Governors. 

Panelists include: 

Dr. Alan Bernstein -President Emeritus of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and presently Executive Director, Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise, New York.  Gairdner Wightman Award Laureate, 2008.  See www.gairdner.org/awards/awardees2/2008/2008awarde/alanbernst

Susan Smith, Founder, Former President and CEO of RBC Ventures, Toronto, Board of Directors, MaRS. See www.marsdd.com/mars/About-MaRS/MaRS-Leadership-Team/smith-s.html  

Richard Gold, McGill University, Faculty of Law. Founding director of the Centre for Intellectual Property Policy. He teaches in the area of intellectual property and common law property at McGill University's Faculty of Law. His research centres on understanding the links between innovation, intellectual property and development, translating research into policy. See http://people.mcgill.ca/richard.gold2/

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