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Johns Hopkins Brain Science Institute Presents "Biotech 2008 Neuroscience Investors Conference: Investing In Brain Research" - 09/12/2008

Johns Hopkins Brain Science Institute Presents "Biotech 2008 Neuroscience Investors Conference: Investing In Brain Research"

Release Date: September 12, 2008

ADVISORY – CALENDAR EVENT
 
WHAT:          
Johns Hopkins Brain Science Institute presents “Biotech 2008 Neuroscience Investors Conference: Investing in Brain Research”   
 
WHO:            
More than 20 world-renowned scientists and industry leaders presenting the current state of neurobiology research and discussing challenges of speeding drug discovery for brain diseases to an audience of more than 200 research scientists, leaders in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, business development executives, venture capitalists, investment bankers, and consulting and legal service providers. 
 
WHEN:          
Thursday, Sept. 18, 7:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
                       
WHERE:        
Baltimore Marriott Waterfront
700 Aliceanna St.
 
More than 10 million Americans suffer from chronic neurological and psychiatric diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s diseases, ataxias and other degenerative conditions that lead to dementia.  
 
According to the World Health Organization, by 2020 mental and neurological disorders will account for 14 percent of the global burden of disease. The personal and economic effects of these diseases are enormous.  Although some of the diseases like Parkinson’s disease have effective symptomatic therapies, there are no therapies that significantly alter the course of these diseases. Thus, there is an urgent need to find treatments and cures.  It is estimated that effective treatments could represent a $100 billion market.
 
Yet drug discovery is expensive and challenging but traditionally has been most daunting in the realm of brain diseases, strokes, brain injuries and other neurological conditions. Unlike cancer, in which the goal of drug therapy is to kill cells that grow uncontrollably, most brain diseases are degenerative and require drugs to keep brain and nerve cells alive.
 
The challenges in drug development, the current state of brain research and what’s on the horizon will be discussed and presented at this investors’ conference, which aims to educate and inform nonscientists.
 
The Brain Science Institute at Johns Hopkins Medicine is launching a new neurotranslational center in an effort to bring more new drugs to the market by fostering more frequent interactions between Johns Hopkins brain researchers and the pharmaceutical industry. Speakers at this conference will explain the drug discovery pipeline, common hurdles and how to overcome them, and how best to streamline the process to move therapy forward.
 
Sponsors of the conference are the Forest City-New East Baltimore Partnership, Merck and Company Inc., DLA Piper, Edwards, Angell, Palmer and Dodge and BioCentury.
 
Neuroscience Investors Conference: Investing in Brain Research    

Schedule of events: 

 
7:45 a.m.         Registration and continental breakfast
 
8:30 a.m.         Welcome
                          Edward Miller, M.D., dean and CEO, Johns Hopkins Medicine
 
John W. Griffin, M.D., University Distinguished Service Professor, departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Pathology; and director, Brain Science Institute
 
Richard L. Huganir, Ph.D., professor and director, Department of Neuroscience; co-director, Brain Science Institute
 
Jeffrey D. Rothstein, M.D., Ph.D., professor, departments of Neurology and Neuroscience; co-director, Brain Science Institute; director, Robert Packard Center for ALS Research
 
9:00 a.m.         Pharma Perspective: State of CNS Drug Development
 
Solomon H. Snyder, M.D., Distinguished Service Professor of Neuroscience, Pharmacology and Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University
 
Robert Pacifici, Ph.D., chief scientific officer, drug discovery and development, Cure Huntington’s Disease Initiative Foundation
 
William Z. Potter, M.D., Ph.D., vice president, translational neuroscience, Merck and Co.
 
Frank S. Walsh, Ph.D., executive vice president, discovery research, Wyeth Research
 
10:15 a.m.       Venture Philanthropy: New Approaches to Drug Development and Building Partnerships
 
Hamilton Moses III, M.D., chairman, Alerion Advisors LLC and the Alerion Institute
 
Russell L. Bromley, Ph.D., CEO, Myelin Repair Foundation
 
Todd Sherer, Ph.D., vice president, research programs, Michael J. Fox Foundation
 
11:30 a.m.       Poster session showcasing technologies available for licensing and commercialization at Johns Hopkins
 
12:15 p.m.       Lunch and lecture: “Overview of Science and Technology Park at Johns Hopkins,” Frank C. Wuest, president, Forest City Science and Technology Group
 
1:00 p.m.         Coffee break
 
1:30 p.m.         Current State of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Schizophrenia and Depression
 
Ahmet Hoke, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor, Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience; director, Neuromuscular Division
 
Ted M. Dawson, M.D., Ph.D., professor, departments of Neurology and Neuroscience; director, neuroregeneration and repair program, Institute for Cell Engineering
 
Donald Price, M.D., professor, departments of Pathology, Neurology, and Neuroscience; director, Division of Neuropathology; vice chairman for research, Department of Pathology; director, Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center
 
Christopher A. Ross, M.D., Ph.D., professor, departments of Psychiatry, Neurology, and Neuroscience; director, Division of Neurobiology
 
2:45 p.m.         Overcoming Current Limitations of CNS Drug Discovery and Development
 
Michael J. Haas, M.Sc., senior writer, BioCentury
 
Howard M. Fillit, M.D., executive director, The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation
 
Franz F. Hefti, Ph.D., chief scientific officer, Avid Radiopharmaceuticals
 
Kenneth J. Rhodes, Ph.D., vice president, Discovery Neurobiology, Biogen Idec
 
4:00 p.m.         Coffee break
 
4:15 p.m.         Challenges of Funding Early Stage Neuroscience Companies
 
James N. Campbell, M.D., professor, Department of Neurosurgery; director, Blaustein Pain Treatment Center; principal professional staff, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory
 
James Barrett, Ph.D., general partner, New Enterprise Associates
 
Mark A. Cochran, Ph.D., acting CEO, Microbix Biosystems Inc.
 
Roger J. Quy, Ph.D., general partner, Technology Partners
 
5:30 p.m.         Wine Reception
 

On the Web:
Johns Hopkins Brain Science Institute:
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/brainscience/
 
Register for the Neuroscience Investors Conference:
https://www.registrationassistant.com/p/rg.asp?Event=16A23AC15633B943CC43C

For the Media

Media Contacts:

Audrey Huang; 410-614-5105; [email protected]

Maryalice Yakutchik; 443-287-2251; [email protected]