Forum Abstract

While innovation in the developed world brings the promise of new drugs, diagnostics, vaccines, and medical informatics, bringing these technologies to patients in developing countries, that carry the bulk of the global disease burden, poses complex challenges. Universities serve as a source for one in every five of the highest-priority medical treatments approved by the FDA each year. How can university research be targeted to develop products that serve the needs of people in low-resource settings? What is the role of universities, as major sources of innovation, in expanding access to the end products of research?

The Harvard chapter of Universities Allied for Essential Medicines, in collaboration with the Global Health Initiative of CIMIT, has invited noted experts in the field to a panel and discussion that will address these questions, with a special focus on university licensing policies. Forum moderator, Utkan Demirci, PhD, of HST/BWH, runs a lab working on micro- and nano-scale technologies in medical engineering; these have led to end-products with global health applications. Prof. Demirci also co-directs the HST course, "Designing and Sustaining Technology Innovation for Global Health Practice."

Forum panelists bring a wealth and diversity of viewpoints to this important issue. Maryanne Fenerjian, PhD, JD, Director of Technology Transfer Policy of the Harvard Office of Technology Transfer, will share experience from working at the heart of technology transfer, and address how Harvard currently tackles access issues in licensing. Kevin Outterson, J.D., L.L.M, at Boston University Law School, researches global pharmaceutical markets and health disparities. F. M. Scherer, PhD, MBA, Harvard Kennedy School Emeritus, has published on global welfare and pharmaceutical patenting. Jonathan Spector, MD, MPH, at MGH and HSPH, works with geographically disadvantaged patients as a volunteer with Medecins Sans Frontieres.

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