GREENSBORO, N.C., Oct. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Piedmont Triad Entrepreneurial Network (PTEN) today announced plans to host an inaugural Triad Life Sciences Conference, Thursday, November 4, 2004, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Grandover Resort in Greensboro, N.C. The Conference will be the first of its kind to connect entrepreneurs with some successful private and public sector businesses, the latest directions in the life science industry, new university research initiatives, and the perspectives of leading national analysts and North Carolina venture capital community leaders.
Dr. Anthony Atala, the new chairman of the Department of Urology at Wake Forest and director of a new Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering Institute at Wake Forest University Medical Center, will be the keynote luncheon speaker. Dr. Atala is internationally recognized as a leader in tissue science. While at Harvard University, his work was awarded more than 170 patents and produced five spin-off companies.
This inaugural Conference will utilize a panel/discussion format, and the day will be divided into five key topics followed by a cocktail reception for high-level networking. Those topics and invited panelists are as follows:
* Technology Research Initiatives Moderator: Steven Burke, NCBC Panelists: Jerry Maguire, UNCG; Dean Stell, WFU; Joel Berry, WFU/Va. Tech initiative; Doug Speight, NCA&T; Research Triangle, university representative * Life Sciences & the Public Markets: Opportunities and Challenges Moderator: Don Reynolds, Wyrick Robbins Panelists: Greg Mossinghoff, President, Inspire Pharmaceuticals; John Funkhouser, CEO, PharmaNetics; Steve Hall, CFO, Tripath Imaging * Innovative Approaches from the Private Sector Moderator: Don deBethizy, CEO, Targacept Panelists: Roland Johnson, President, CEO Piedmont Pharmaceuticals; Jon Wilson, CEO, CathTec; Robert Anderson, COO, PointDx; Adnan Mjalli, President, CEO, TransTech Pharma * Industry Trends -- What’s Hot and What’s Not Speakers: Kevin Sheridan, UBS Life Sciences Analyst, NYC, NY; Charlie Craig, Ernst & Young, National Director of Life Sciences, Atlanta, GA; Matt Murray, Sanford Bernstein/Alliance Capital, NYC, NY * Investment Capital and Exit Strategies Moderator: Chuck Cox, Managing Director, The Orr Group Panelists: Tim Janke, Fund Director, IMAF; Dennis Dougherty, Founding Partner, Intersouth Partners; Linda Powers, Managing Director, Toucan Capital
As the keynote speaker, Atala will provide an insider’s perspective on issues dealing with the development and commercialization of life science research. Atala has co-written three textbooks about tissue engineering and urology. In 2000, he won the Christopher Columbus Foundation Award for his work in creating new organs. His work has led to advances in creating urologic organs, blood vessels, muscle, bladders and wombs, and has led to the potential for improved quality of life for patients whose tissues may have been diseased or defective at birth. Since the organs are made with cells from people’s own bodies, Atala’s work also avoids controversy surrounding embryonic stem cell research.
Sponsors for this first Triad Life Sciences Conference include Ernst & Young, UBS Financial Services, Wyrick, Robbins, Yates & Ponton, LLP and the Piedmont Triad Office of the North Carolina Biotechnology Center. Admission to the Conference is $75 per person, with reduced admission available for multiple attendees from one company. Since conference and luncheon space is limited, all attendees are strongly encouraged to make an advance reservation. For more information or to make a reservation call: 336-533-0025 or 336-734-7266 or log onto http://www.pentriad.org/ or http://www.triadlaunchpad.org/ .
About PTEN
In July 2004, Triad leaders announced formation of PTEN as a new umbrella organization designed to stimulate economic development through the creation and active support of high-growth companies in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina. A comprehensive entrepreneurial support organization, PTEN is a collaboration of leadership from Greensboro, High Point and Winston-Salem. The organization is funded by Action Greensboro, Winston-Salem Alliance and High Point Partners, and regional corporate sponsors. Allen Joines, Mayor of Winston-Salem and chairman of the Winston-Salem Alliance, and David Norbury, retired CEO of RF Micro Devices, are PTEN co-chairmen. Lisa Blakley, a former Bank of America global market development executive and advisor to entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley (Palo Alto), is the recently named CEO of PTEN.
CONTACT: Kim Doran Quixote Group 336-544-2406
Piedmont Triad Entrepreneurial Network
CONTACT: Kim Doran of the Quixote Group, +1-336-544-2406
