Cleveland Clinic Turns Spotlight on Neurosciences

The 2006 Cleveland Clinic Medical Innovation Summit, being held November 6–8, will focus on some of the latest trends and developments in the field of neurosciences.

“Neurosciences is among the hottest areas in medicine right now in terms of investment and innovation,” says Christopher Coburn, executive director of CCF Innovations, the technology transfer and commercialization arm of the Cleveland Clinic. “That makes it a perfect target for this year's summit.”

As in past years, the 2006 summit will feature live, interactive surgeries. This year's anticipated procedures will demonstrate deep-brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease, intrathecal pump implantation for spasticity, spinal cord stimulation for extremity pain, and deep-brain stimulation for essential tremor.

“A powerful, informed population is now focused on living better and longer,” says Chris Chavez, CEO of Advanced Neuromodulation Systems (Plano, TX), a St. Jude Medical company. “As this population ages, it faces a growing list of health problems, including chronic pain and age-related neurological diseases.”

Chavez, who is scheduled to speak at the summit, added, “Within the field of neuroscience, neuromodulation represents an exciting new frontier in the development of treatment options for the millions of people who suffer with these disorders. Presentations on emerging neuromodulation therapies will be one area of interest to the attendees because of the enormous potential this technology holds to address a broad range of neurological disorders.”

As a new feature at this year's summit, Cleveland Clinic experts will unveil and discuss their selection of the top 10 medical innovations that they expect will have a significant impact in 2007. “The perspective of our clinicians is a unique and important one,” Coburn says. “In leading up to the release of this information at the summit, we've heard from members of industry and the investment community who say they can't wait to get their hands on this list.”

To receive consideration, a nominated innovation was required to meet the following criteria.

• Have significant potential for short-term clinical impact, meaning either a major improvement in patient benefit or a use-related functionality that improves healthcare delivery.

• Have high probability of success.

• Be on the market or soon to be introduced.

• Have sufficient data available to support its nomination.

Coburn says the top 10 medical innovations list could potentially become a regular feature of the Cleveland Clinic summit.

Confirmed speakers and panelists at the summit include the following.

• Jeffrey Immelt, CEO, General Electric Co. (Fairfield, CT).

• James Tobin, CEO, Boston Scientific Corp. (Natick, MA).

• Larry Glasscock, CEO, Wellpoint Inc. (Indianapolis).

• Ron Williams, CEO, Aetna Inc. (Hartford, CT).

• Rick Kuntz, MD, president of neurological businesses, Medtronic Inc. (Minneapolis).

• Sanjay Gupta, MD, senior medical correspondent, health and medical unit, CNN.

• Robert Bazell, chief health and science correspondent, NBC.

• Thomas Stewart, editor, Harvard Business Review.

• Senator David Durenberger, (R–MN), retired.

• Stanley Prusiner, MD, 1997 Nobel Laureate in Medicine, University of California, San Francisco.

• Ray Kurzweil, inventor and 1999 National Medal of Technology recipient.

• David Holveck, president, Johnson & Johnson Development Corp. (New Brunswick, NJ).

• Chris Chavez, CEO, Advanced Neuromodulation Systems (Plano, TX), a St. Jude Medical company.

• Alan Levy, PhD, CEO, Northstar Neuroscience (Seattle).

• Frank Fischer, CEO, NeuroPace (Mountain View, CA).

• Jeff Greiner, CoCEO, Advanced Bionics Corp. (Sylmar, CA), a Boston Scientific company.

• Joseph Lacob, partner, Kleiner Perkins (Menlo Park, CA).

• Ryan Drant, general partner, New Enterprise Associates (Menlo Park, CA).

• Harry Rein, partner, Foundation Medical Partners (Rowayton, CT).

• Roger Quy, PhD, general partner, Technology Partners (Palo Alto, CA).

• John Harris, CEO, BioNeuronics Corp. (Seattle).

• Timothy Surgenor, CEO, Cyberkinetics (Foxborough, MA).

• Robert Fischell, chairman, Fischell Biomedical LLC.

• Paul Leber, MD, director, Neuro-Pharm Group LLC (Potomac, MD).

• Allen Roses, MD, senior vice president, genetics research, GlaxoSmithKline ( Greenford, Middlesex, UK).

• Aaron Berez, MD, CEO, Chestnut Medical (Menlo Park, CA).

• Peter Kingma, vice president of molecular imaging, Siemens Medical Solutions (Malvern, PA).

• Eric Bailey, Cofounder, NeuroLogica (Danvers, MA).

• Arani Bose, MD, Department of Radiology, NYU Medical Center.

• Andrew Firlik, MD, partner, Foundation Medical Partners (Rowayton, CT).

• Rodney Pearlman, PhD, CEO, Saegis Pharmaceuticals (Half Moon Bay, CA).

• Gary Curtis, CEO, Concentric Medical (Mountain View, CA).

• Sid Gilman, MD, professor of neurology, University of Michigan.

• Bob Roll, author, OLN correspondent, four-time Tour de France rider.

The 2006 summit marks the fourth year in a row Cleveland Clinic has hosted the international gathering of industry CEOs and other decision-makers. This year's event is expected to draw more than 800 industry executives, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and clinicians. For more information, visit www.clevelandclinic.org/innovations.

© 2006 Canon Communications LLC

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