Ramping up neuroscience R&D

NICO Corp., Clarian Health Ventures organize event to get neurosurgeons, inventors, investors talking about commercializing new products

Source: IBJ Healthcare & Reform Weekly12/9/09 – More

Hoosiers Work for Health Announces Jeff Smulyan as Co-Chair

Smulyan Joins Indiana Business Leader Jim Morris in Promoting the Importance of Indiana’s Healthcare Innovation and Research and Development

Indianapolis – Hoosiers Work for Health is pleased to announce Jeff Smulyan, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of Emmis Communications, has been named Co-Chair of the statewide partnership organization.  Smulyan joins Jim Morris, President of Pacers Sports and Entertainment and former Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme, as Chairs of Hoosiers Work for Health.

“Healthcare reform is vital, not just to us as individuals and as members of families, but also to the long-term economic success of our nation,” Smulyan said.  “Here in Indiana, we have made significant investments of private and public dollars to establish a strong and vibrant life sciences sector and any healthcare reform effort needs to recognize that our world leadership in medical innovation and research must continue to be invested in,” said Smulyan. “I am pleased to participate in such a large and diverse group that has the shared interest of providing accessible and affordable healthcare to all our citizens, while protecting our ability to innovate and research cutting edge solutions to major medical problems we face.”

Smulyan replaces former Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson who left Hoosiers Work for Health to become Sr. Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Communications with Eli Lilly and Company.

“I am pleased that Jeff has agreed to take on the leadership of Hoosiers Work for Health, he has been a true business leader in Indiana and understands well the demands of providing healthcare for his many employees and the role the life sciences play in diversifying Indiana’s economy.  He is a natural fit to help communicate the positive changes we need in healthcare reform,” said Peterson.

“On behalf of our more than 50 diverse partners from across the State of Indiana, I welcome Jeff as a co-chair of Hoosiers Work for Health.  It’s appropriate that Jeff is joining us just as the U.S. Senate is beginning the debate over healthcare reform.  There are many very important messages that need to be heard in Washington and Hoosiers Work for Health will help our partners make sure that both our access to high quality and affordable care are protected as well as Indiana’s leadership role in the life sciences economy,”  said Co-Chair Jim Morris.

Hoosiers Work for Health (HW4H), a local chapter of the national organization We Work for Health, is a grassroots initiative focused on bringing various sectors of the health care arena together to demonstrate how these diverse groups are vital to our socioeconomic climate – both local and national. HW4H unites health consumers, biopharmaceutical companies, vendors, suppliers, academic and community partners so that they can speak out on the importance of the biopharmaceutical industry using one voice and one message.

Lilly Exec John R. Hayes, M.D. to be Keynote Speaker at Neuroscience Summit

The Indiana Health Industry Forum today announced that Dr. John Hayes, Vice President of Eli Lilly’s Research Laboratories and Neuroscience Leader, Global Brand Development will provide the keynote address at a Neuroscience Summit, to be held on December 4th in Indianapolis. The title of Dr. Hayes’ presentation will be, “What Do the Patients Need? Opportunities in the Neuroscience Development Space in Indiana”.

The summit goals are to highlight Indiana based achievements in research, diagnostics and treatment; facilitate opportunities for networking, collaboration and partnering; develop a better understanding of the neuroscience care system; and build and strengthen the climate for translational research in Indiana.

The Neuroscience Summit will be held on December 4th at University Place Conference Center on the campus of IUPUI. A summit agenda and registration information is available at www.ihif.org.

Neuroscience Summit – December 4th

On December 4, 2009, the Indiana Health Industry Forum will host, “Emerging Trends and New Developments in Neuroscience”, the fourth event in a series of summits examining sectors of critical importance to Indiana’s health and life science industries. Indiana’s excellence in neuroscience extends into many areas, for this event, discussion will focus around neurodegenerative diseases, traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury, and psychiatric disorders.

Each of the discussion tracks will explore the topics of basic science, translational research, drug discovery, imaging and diagnostics, and treatment of select areas of study. The day will conclude with a capstone session to explore gaps and opportunities discovered during the day’s discussions. Please join our very distinguished panelists in exploring this fascinating sector of excellence for Indiana. Additionally, a poster display will highlight Indiana companies and research activities in the field.

Click here for more information and to register

First Responders in Two Counties Using Electronic Records

The Regenstrief Institute helped make Indianapolis the leader in electronic medical records. Now, the health care research organization has become the first to take those records into ambulances and fire trucks so life saving information can be accessed before a patient gets to a hospital. Regenstrief Research Scientist John Finnell says emergency responders are using tablet PCs to allow them to view a version of a patient’s electronic medical record. Finnell says now that the technology is becoming available in two central Indiana counties, the next step is studying the effect of the new information (Source Inside Indiana Business 11/16/09).

There was a question about this during our recent Health IT seminar in South Bend. To learn more, please check out the video of the presentations on our website at http://www.ihif.org/pages/health_it_series

Warsaw Area Still Concerned About Medical Device Tax

The Warsaw-Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce is stressing the potential dramatic impact of health care reform legislation passed by the U.S. House. It has sent letters to state and national leaders outlining the effect of a tax on medical device makers, which would help pay for health care. Our partners at Fox 28 in South Bend say many business leaders are concerned the tax would be devastating for the economy in a county that includes Warsaw, which is considered the orthopedic capital of the world.
(Source: Inside Indiana Business 11/10/09)

IHIF opposes this tax as well and would like to hear comments from our members on how this might affect their business operations in Indiana.

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