2009 Spring Symposium: Regenerative Medicine – The CrossroadsExamining the Research from Every Angle

Date: Friday, February 6, 2009
Location: Wake Forest University – Worrell Professional Center, Room 1312

On February 6, 2009, the Wake Forest School of Law Intellectual Property Law Journal will host a symposium on regenerative medicine. The symposium will feature Dr. Anthony Atala, the head of the Wake Forest Institute of Regenerative Medicine. Dr. Atala represents the pinnacle of this field. His lab was the first to successfully use regenerative medicine technology to develop and implant a human organ – a bladder. The symposium will also feature experts covering a variety of areas relating to regenerative medicine, including the ethical debate, patentability issues and their implications, and the commercialization of the research.

Scientists in the burgeoning field of regenerative medicine use the body’s power to replicate itself to grow body parts, including muscle tissue, blood vessels and whole organs. The field holds much promise in developing ways to combat numerous diseases and conditions. There are, however, a variety of debates that surround it, such as the ethics of stem cell research, the patentability of the technology being utilized and the tissues and organs being regenerated, and how the research and technology will be commercialized and utilized in medicine.

We are bringing together a wide variety of experts from the legal, medical, and business fields to discuss these topics.

Dr. Anthony Atala, M.D. (Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center and Institute of Regenerative Medicine)

Anthony Atala, M.D., is the director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine and a member of the urology group. Dr. Atala will discuss what regenerative medicine is, his lab’s accomplishments, and what lies ahead in the field.

Ram Baliga (Wake Forest University Babcock Graduate School of Management) Ram Baliga is a management professor at the Wake Forest University Babcock Graduate School of Management. Among his specialties are strategic decision-making and leadership of strategic change. Mr. Baliga will address the strategic decisions facing entrepreneurs trying to commercialize the research and technology being developed in regenerative medicine.

Tim Bertram (Tengion)

Tim Bertram, D.V.M. Ph. D., is the Senior Vice President of Science and Technology at Tengion, a company commercializing research and technology in regenerative medicine. Dr. Bertram will address issues that arise in the commercialization of regenerative medicine technologies.

Rick Blume (Excel Medical Ventures)

Rick Blume is the managing director of Excel Medical Ventures, a venture company that focuses on healthcare and life science companies. Mr. Blume has been involved in the financing of health care companies for over 30 years. He will address the attractiveness of the research and technology in regenerative medicine from a venture capital perspective, as well as how the regulatory framework and patentability of the research and technology will affect the attractiveness.

Charles W. Calkins (Kilpatrick Stockton LLP)

Charles Calkins practices intellectual property law with a focus on patent law, largely in the life sciences area, at Kilpatrick Stockton LLP in Winston Salem. He will speak on patenting issues relating to regenerative medicine.

Tom Clarkson (Wake Forest University Babcock Graduate School of Management, Babcock Incubator)

Tom Clarkson is the director of the business incubator at the Wake Forest University Babcock Graduate School of Management. He has held senior management positions at several successful startups. Mr. Clarkson will address the implications of regulations and patent restrictions on entrepreneurial ventures in regenerative medicine.

Jason Conner (Life Sciences Law)

Jason Conner is a lawyer with Life Sciences Law, specializing in life sciences business and innovation management. Prior to joining Life Sciences Law, he managed business development activities at Becton Dickinson, a regenerative medicine company. Mr. Conner will speak about legal issues that arise in the commercialization of regenerative medicine technologies.

Dr. Alan Farney, M.D. Ph.D. (Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center and Institute of Regenerative Medicine)

Alan Farney, M.D. Ph. D. is a Transplant Surgeon at Wake Forest. He also serves as a collaborator between the Wake Forest Institute of Regenerative Medicine and the University’s medical center. Dr. Farney will discuss the medical uses for regenerative medicine technologies and the issues that must be dealt with in order to successfully utilize regenerative medicine research and technology in a medical setting.

John Funkhouser (nContact Surgical, Inc.)

John Funkhouser is the president and CEO at nContact. He has worked on the venture capital side as well as in operational roles for venture-backed companies. Mr. Funkhouser will address how the regulatory framework and patentability of the research affects the attractiveness of the research and technology from a business perspective.

Nancy M.P. King (Wake Forest University Health Sciences)

Nancy King is a professor in the Division of Public Health Sciences of Wake Forest University Health Sciences, focusing largely on ethics in medicine. Professor King will focus on the ethical issues surrounding the research and the use and commercialization of the research in regenerative medicine.

Steve Nickles (Wake Forest University School of Law, Babcock Graduate School of Management, and Divinity School)

Steve Nickles is a professor in the Wake Forest University School of Law, Babcock Graduate School of Management and Divinity School. He will address some of the ethical issues raised in regenerative medicine from a business perspective, as well as the implications that arise in the context of religion..

Wilson Parker (Wake Forest University School of Law)

Wilson Parker is a professor of constitutional law at the Wake Forest University School of Law. Professor Parker will speak about constitutional issues that arise in conjunction with regenerative medicine and its regulation.

Lance K. Stell (Davidson College)

Lance K. Stell is a professor of Ethics, Philosophy of Law, and Clinical Ethics at Davidson College. He will address ethical aspects of regenerative medicine, particularly conflicts of interest.