VENTURE PHILANTHROPY FUNDING FOR BIOTECHS

The Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation is organizing a venture philanthropy panel for the NYBA 2008 Annual Meeting, scheduled for May 19-20, 2008.

Venue: New York Marriott Marquis
Panel Date: May 19, 2008
Time: 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Session: 3F

Description: Traditional funding from foundations and government agencies tend to support basic research. Pharmaceutical and biotech companies finance later-stage drug development. Few sources support early-stage drug discovery.

Venture philanthropy fills this crucial funding gap by providing funding to early-stage, high-risk biotechnology companies with novel ideas for drug discovery research. Indeed, U.S. disease foundations will invest about $75 million in biotechs in 2007.

The panel will provide an overview of venture philanthropy, discuss facilitating technology transfer within this model, and provide case studies from foundations engaged in this investment model.

Session Coordinator & Chair:
Howard Fillet, MD
Executive Director
Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation

Speakers:
Antony Horton, PhD
Director of Scientific Affairs
Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation

Kim Hunter-Schaedle, PhD
Chief Scientific Officer
Children's Tumor Foundation

Sohini Chowdhury
Associate Director, Research Programs
Michael J. Fox Foundation

Peter Lomedico, PhD
Director of Industry Partnershops
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

Robi Blumenstein
Managing Director & Senior Advisor
MRSSI and High Q Foundation