The summit will focus on present and future biotechnology relevant cancer diagnostics and therapeutics. The goal is to create a cross-discipline dialogue on critical current and emerging challenges and opportunities in developing novel personalized therapeutics and diagnostics, and adopting them in clinical practice and reimbursement. The dialogue will engage clinical practitioners, academic investigators (clinicians and scientists), biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, health care insurers (government and non-government) and venture capital firms. The program will include presentations and panel discussions of important research and clinical challenges in specific disease areas, perspectives on research fields (such as cancer stem cell research and nanotechnology), as well as dialogues on patient adherence and safety, payer perspectives and investment partnerships - in the context of the present and future state of biotechnology.

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Thursday, July 24, 2008 and Friday, July 25, 2008
Robert H. Lurie Medical Research Center at Northwestern University - Hughes Auditorium
Chicago, IL

The pipeline of oncology products is massive, over 600 oncology medicines in development according to PhRMA's 2007 annual report. Over 100 of these products are in Phase III trials and are close to approval. Many of these products will fundamentally change how oncology is practiced with an ever increasing combination of diagnostics and therapeutics.

Personalized medicine, novel therapeutics and other biotechnology advances are providing an opportunity to change cancer care. There is an increasing recognition in the industry, clinical practice and academia that to fully benefit from these medical advances there is a need for better communication and problem solving across all disciplines involved in oncology. The Lurie Cancer Center and the Kellogg Center of Biotechnology have participated in some topical dialogues addressing particular challenges in onco-biotechnology, and have identified a gap in a more comprehensive cross-disciplined forum. This gap was identified through discussions with researchers, product developers, clinicians and health insurers who are interested in moving onco-biotechnology forward.

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