Monthly Program - October 11, 2011
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Campus Center - Odeum Room
Doors open for networking: 5:30 p.m.
Meeting: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Cost: Free for members, $15 for WPI alumni, $30 general public
Pre-registration
Parking
Kevin Bitterman, Polaris Ventures
Finding and Funding Life Science Innovation
by Mike Travis, moderator
Innovation in the life sciences seems to be everywhere in Massachusetts, but sifting out the best ideas to fund here takes a focused approach, backed by experience and the scientific understanding of what it takes to commercialize a great idea. Kevin J. Bitterman, keynote speaker for the WPI Venture Forum’s October 11 meeting and Principal at Polaris Venture Partners, will shed light on the process as seen from the funder’s perspective.
Bitterman joined Polaris in 2004 and focuses on investments in the life sciences. He earned his Ph.D. in genetics at Harvard Medical School where his doctoral research focused on the molecular regulation of caloric restriction and on modulation of a novel class of protein deacetylases. A cofounder of Genocea Biosciences and Sirtris Pharmaceuticals (GSK), Bitterman was also the founding CEO at Visterra Inc. (formerly Parasol Therapeutics).
He represents Polaris as a Director of EPacing Inc., Follica Inc., Genocea Biosciences, Kala Pharmaceuticals, Neuronetics, Inc., Visterra Inc., and Taris Biomedical. He is also a Board Observer to Pulmatrix Inc. and Biolex Therapeutics.
Patrick O'Donnell, Histogenics
Case Presentation: Histogenics Corp.
Histogenics is a leading regenerative medicine company that combines cell therapy and tissue engineering technologies to develop highly innovative products for tissue repair and regeneration. The goal: a lifelong, active lifestyle for those who suffer from articular cartilage-derived pain and immobility.
The company’s flagship products reverse or prevent cartilage damage, regenerating healthy hyaline cartilage tissue: NeoCart®, autologous engineered neocartilage grown outside the body using the patient’s own cells, developed for repair of full thickness cartilage lesions; and VeriCart™, an auto-regenerative cartilage matrix developed to stimulate cartilage regeneration in a simple, one-step procedure.
Presenter Patrick O’Donnell, President and Chief Executive Officer, is a 20-year veteran of the medical device, biomaterials, and biologics industry. Prior to Histogenics, O’Donnell served as the CEO of Prochon BioTech, a private Israel cell therapy company focused on articular cartilage regeneration. He previously led the global marketing organization for biomaterial start-up Confluent Surgical, Inc., where he was responsible for the global launch of the organization’s flagship hydrogel technology, DuraSeal, into the neurosurgical market. O’Donnell was also responsible for building the technology’s value in the spine, thoracic, and vascular markets. Confluent was subsequently acquired by Tyco Healthcare in 2007. He began his career in sales and marketing in the spine, orthobiologics, and orthopaedics industry at Johnson & Johnson’s DePuy and DePuy Spine.
Rob Brown, Incite Medica, LLC
Panelist
Rob Brown is the Founder and Principal at Incite Medica, LLC, a medical device and commercial strategy consulting practice. Mr. Brown was the VP of Marketing – US, Commercial Strategy and Business Development at ApaTech, an orthobiologics start-up acquired by BAXTER in 2010 for $330M. He is an accomplished and seasoned leader with over 20 years of demonstrated success in bringing emerging technologies to market, with a diverse experience in marketing and product development of medical devices and consumer products. Established leadership in driving top line growth in both new business start-up and turn around situations, Mr. Brown previously held management and leadership roles in marketing and engineering at Ethicon, Johnson & Johnson Orthopaedics and DePuy, responsible for business team leadership, product planning, advanced manufacturing processes, and concept development. Mr. Brown brings deep commercial experience in consumer products were he previously headed up the Wave business at Bose Corporation, and launched some of company's most successful products, including the Wave Radio/CD and Wave Music Systems. Currently holds several patents in the medical device field.
Ed Ross, Excelerate Ventures, LLC
Panelist
Ed Ross is President and Managing Director of Excelerate Ventures LLC, a strategy and commercialization consultancy and angel investment cooperative focusing on disruptive medical innovation.
Mr. Ross has spearheaded the development and global commercialization of several significant disruptive medical device and regenerative technologies including InFuse, the current ‘gold standard’ bone-growth implant nearing $1 billion in sales through Medtronic.
Recently Mr. Ross was the Vice President and General Manager for Alphatec Spine where he initiated an independent orthobiologics division and launched PureGen, a disruptive stem cell line for spinal reconstruction. Mr. Ross has been a founding and/or executive team member for notable medical device start-ups including ConforMIS, Gliatech, Anika Therapeutics and ClozeX Medical, a wound closure company acquired by 3M Healthcare. Prior to entrepreneurial pursuits, Mr. Ross built the orthopedic, anesthesia and healthcare IT businesses for industry leaders such as Zimmer, Genetics Institute, American Hospital Supply and Whittaker General Medical, all marked by successful introductions of key innovations.
An active advisor and Board Member to several startups, Mr. Ross is a founding member of MDG, the Medical Development Group, and active in Mass Medical Angels and Golden Seeds. He serves on the steering committees of entrepreneurial educational groups including the MIT Enterprise Forum Life Sciences Group and the North Shore Technology Council. Mr. Ross has an MBA in Marketing and Finance from University of Rochester and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Dickinson College.
Maintained by webmaster@wpi.eduLast modified: October 11, 2011 15:16:03