Future Forward Events is pleased to introduce a new dinner series, On the Mainland, to continue the conversations that take place each year at Convergence.  Each dinner brings together a targeted group of executives to share their experiences and debate a topic with a well-known moderator.  The dinners are invitation-only and are limited to no more than 30 executives from life sciences companies. To request an invitation, please contact Alyssa Stern. For information about sponsorship, please contact Shayne Gilbert.

October 28, 2008
Diagnostics: Their Future Impact on Drugs, Devices 
and Healthcare 
Harvard Faculty Club 
Cambridge, MA

Join colleagues at the Harvard Faculty Club this fall to discuss the coming wave of diagnostic products. What new opportunities do they create for collaboration and partnership with makers of drugs and devices? How will they change the way healthcare is delivered? The dinner discussion will be led by:

  • Rich Kivel, CEO, TheraGenetics (moderator)
  • Michael Magliochetti, CEO, Claros Diagnostics
  • John McDonough, CEO, T2 Biosystems
  • Dan Rippy, CEO, Allegro Diagnostics

Thanks to our sponsor:

April 17, 2008
Live from the Labs
Harvard Faculty Club
Cambridge, MA

This evening's dinner discussion was focused on what's new in Boston's research labs, what's in the process of being commercialized, and how the process of licensing IP is changing. It was led by:

  • Noubar Afeyan, Managing Partner, Flagship Ventures (moderator)
  • Lauren Foster, Assistant Director of Biotechnology, MIT Technology Licensing Office
  • Nina Green, Director, Tufts University Office of Technology Licensing and Industry Collaboration
  • Bruce Zetter, PhD, Vice President for Research and CSO, Children's Hospital Boston.

Thanks to our sponsor:

March 5, 2008
Secrets of the Serial Entrepreneurs
Harvard Faculty Club 
Cambridge, MA

Three serial founders/CEOs from the life sciences realm shared their experiences -- positive and negative -- working with investors, building high-powered teams, structuring partnerships, and getting innovative products across the finish line. 

This evening's dinner discussion was led by:

  • Alan Crane, CEO, Tempo Pharmaceuticals; Formerly CEO of Momenta Pharmaceuticals and SVP at Millennium Pharmaceuticals

  • Paul Rubin, MD, CEO, Resolvyx Pharmaceuticals
    Formerly CEO of Critical Therapeutics and EVP of Sepracor 

  • Amar Sawhney, PhD, CEO, iTherapeutix; Formerly CEO of Confluent Surgical and Technology Founder of Focal, Inc.

Thanks to our sponsor:

October 16, 2007
Innovation in Action: What Happens When 
Drugs and Devices Hit the Market
Harvard Faculty Club 
Cambridge, MA

Participants of this evening's dinner discussed some of the issues that drug and device companies encounter once their product is approved, in particular getting it covered by payors, making patients aware of it, and getting doctors to prescribe it. 

This evening's dinner discussion was led by:  

  • Burt Adelman, MD, EVP of Development, Biogen IDEC
  • John Freedman, MD, Freedman Healthcare; former Medical Director at Tufts Health Plan
  • Jonathan Gertler, MD, Managing Director, Leerink Swann & Co.
  • Joseph Madsen, MD, Medical Director, Neurosurgical Clinic, Children's Hospital

Thanks to our sponsors:

  

May 8, 2007
CEO Dinner
Kingfish Hall
Boston, MA

On the evening of May 8th, a select group of CEOs, investors, and senior researchers from the private sector and academia gathered at historic Quincy Market for an invitation-only dinner. Held at the same time that BIO was held in Boston, it was a unique opportunity to socialize with forward-thinking executives from Boston and elsewhere, discuss the conference and industry dynamics, and make new contacts. A special gathering of an international group of executives, this dinner was extended to a larger group of approximately 250 participants.

Thanks to our sponsors:

   

 

November 8, 2006
Interconnections: The Pharma/Biotech Relationship in Boston
Upstairs on the Square
Cambridge, MA 

This evening's dinner discussion was led by:

  • Robert Gould, Vice President of Licensing and External Research, Merck Research Laboratories, Boston

  • Jeremy Levin, Global Head of Strategic Alliances for the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research

  • Phil Vickers, Vice President and Site Head of Pfizer's Research Technology Center.

Issues addressed at the dinner included: How do the local arms of large pharmaceutical companies work with smaller biotechs in the Boston area, and other local entities? Are there ways to improve these interactions? Do R&D and marketing partnerships have their roots here, or back at corporate headquarters?

Thanks to our sponsors: 

               

March 15, 2006
The Future of Implantable Medical Devices 
Upstairs on the Square
Cambridge, MA 
Michael Minogue, Chairman and CEO, Abiomed; John Santini, Jr., PhD, President, MicroCHIPS; and Timothy Surgenor, President and CEO, Cyberkinetics Neurotechnology Systems led the conversation at this dinner moderated by Terry McGuire, Managing Partner, Polaris Venture Partners.

Our speakers addressed issues like: How are these innovators working to get new devices approved? How are they marketing current products? How are they building alliances with larger players? What will the next-generation of implantable devices do, and how will they be powered?

Thanks to our sponsors: 

                        

For more information about sponsoring future dinners, please contact Shayne Gilbert.