The Boston Enabling Technology Alliance (BETA) event series was launched on February 7, 2007 with a breakfast seminar on "Innovative Technologies Responding to Clinical Challenges in Respiratory Diseases."
Organized by Bioteam and SHARE/Consulate of Switzerland, the event offered the audience of nearly 50 attendees:
- Perspectives and insights from 4 experts with complementary experience and areas of expertise - An overview of new innovations for patients, clinicians and technologists in the field of respiratory disease BETA1 featured distinguished panelists from both academia and industry who presented the latest updates on innovations coming out of their clinics and labs, including:
(1) Dr. Joe Brain, Harvard School of Public Health: - Importance of partnerships between academia, industry and government to lead to successful new discoveries. - Reasons to choose the respiratory route for topical delivery to the lungs as well as for systemic delivery via the lungs. - Ways to open doors to end users such as hospitals and clinics to use new devices, new formulations and new treatment opportunities.
(2) Dr. Armin Ernst, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School: - Interests in interventional pulmonology focused on minimally invasive technologies. - Insights based on his own hospital experience, on the importance of the work being done by the companies represented by the 2 industry speakers on the panel.
(3) David Dove, Aeris Therapeutics: - Status today of surgery for Lung Volume reduction, associated with significant morbidity and mortality, to treat emphysema. - New approach using a targeted delivery into lung sub-segments (Biologic Lung Volume Reduction system). - Promising initial trials (started fall 2006) to decrease mortality and morbidity as well as provide easier access to treatment. (4) Benjamin Abrat, Mauna Kea Technologies: - New advance in the microscopy field, miniaturization of a confocal microscope Cellvizio LUNG® to fit into a flexible endoscope. - Obtain microscopic images of the lungs during bronchoscopy in both proximal and distal airways (clinical use started a year ago). - Future potential applications for: Earlier diagnosis Treatment response evaluation Molecular imaging with specific markers Patient follow-up For more information about BETA1 speakers, their presentations or Aeris and Mauna Kea Technologies products, please contact beta@bioteam.fr
