Best and Brightest Forum on Medical Innovation: Lansing

Lansing, Michigan

October 8, 2009

On October 8, 2009, the Council for American Medical Innovation and MichBio co-hosted the “Best & Brightest Forum on Medical Innovation” in Lansing, Michigan.

More than 40 innovation stakeholders attended the event, including media, policy makers, and area leaders in research, academia, biotechnology, and health care. The discussion focused on the promise of medical innovation in driving economic recovery in Michigan, and the existing infrastructure and changes necessary for medical innovation to thrive in the state.

Former Democratic Majority Leader and Council Chairman Richard Gephardt opened and moderated the forum, which also featured:

• James Geiger, M.D., Executive Director, University of Michigan Medical Innovation Center
• Kevin Matthews, Morning Host, WLAV-FM, Grand Rapids
• Roger Newton, Founder, President and CEO, Esperion Therapeutics Inc.
• Stephen Rapundalo, Ph.D., President & CEO, MichBio
• State Senator Randy Richardville, R- Monroe
• State Representative Rebekah Warren, D-Ann Arbor

The event created significant media buzz in Lansing and throughout Michigan:

• The Detroit News published a guest column by Richard Gephardt, entitled "Michigan Should Nurture Medical Innovation" on October 7.
• Melissa Domsic of the Lansing State Journal attended and wrote an article entitled "Local company shines at medical innovation forum" published October 9.
• Rick Albin of WOOD TV, the leading station in Grand Rapids, covered the event and taped a 10-minute segment with Gephardt for his weekend public affairs show, "To the Point," which aired on Sunday, October 11, on WOOD TV 8 and online.
• Tim Skubick of WLNS TV, the CBS affiliate in Lansing, covered the event.
• A representative from WILX TV, the NBC affiliate, which also does the newscast for WSYM, the Fox affiliate, attended the event.
• Susan Demas, a reporter for MIRS and a syndicated political columnist, wrote an article titled, “Gephardt: Granholm Won’t Hurt Dems in ’10.” The article focused on political issues and examined how a manufacturing state like Michigan can become a leader in medical innovation.
• Breanna Camarillo of Gongwer News Service covered the event and wrote an article titled, “Gephardt: Kids Need Scientist Role Models,” published October 8.
• Walt Sorg from WILS AM radio in Lansing attended the event.
• MGTV (Michigan Government Television) taped the event for future broadcast on its cable channel (date TBD).

Highlights from the Panel Discussion:

Richard Gephardt opened the forum by expressing his delight to be back in Michigan, where he attended law school. Given the economic climate in Michigan, he emphasized the importance of diversifying the state’s economy by growing the medical innovation sector. He noted that the life sciences and innovation have always been a major part of the state’s economy, and that Michigan has unique assets, such as its major research universities, that will help to advance an innovation economy. He also discussed the importance of medical innovation to our health care – both in saving costs and in helping patients. Mr. Gephardt provided an overview of the Council for American Medical Innovation and its policy platform, and expressed his eagerness to learn more from the event panelists.

Dr. James Geiger discussed the importance of working beyond silos and the promise in interdisciplinary collaboration. The University of Michigan Medical Innovation Center is structured to encourage its innovation fellows -- who have completed MBA, MD, and engineering degrees -- to talk to doctors about the problems they are facing in the field, and then work together to develop solutions. He also noted that the regulatory framework needs to change, researchers need more funding, and we need stronger K-12 education.

Kevin Matthews told his story of being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) nearly one year ago, and said that since his diagnosis, he has become part of a community of patients who are hopeful for future cures. He uses his radio show to raise awareness among his 500,000 listeners about the disease, and the hope in medical innovation. He noted that “Michigan has the talent to overcome anything.”

Roger Newton addressed ways to more firmly establish the life sciences in the state of Michigan. As founder of Espirion Therapeutics, he has seen what it takes for a start up to be successful. Laws must be structured in a way that encourages growth and investment. Mr. Newton also noted that we must address the food intake in America by promoting healthy lifestyles, in addition to providing the medications people need once they become ill. Recovery through discovery will be possible, he said, if we look at the issue from multiple viewpoints, and pursue opportunities to promote health and attract biotech companies to the state of Michigan.

State Senator Randy Richardville (R-Monroe)said that, if you look at Michigan’s economy, history shows that a handful of entrepreneurs can create thousands of opportunities for people. Today, however, companies are much smaller and require much more highly-educated individuals. In order to attract larger biotech companies to Michigan, the legislature needs to examine and respond to barriers that are currently preventing growth in Michigan’s medical innovation sector. He has been working with Representative Warren to remove some of the boundaries that would traditionally separate the two parties on this issue, with the understanding that this is one of the most important elements of the state’s economy. One of their initiatives is to invest in a rich workforce by fostering collaboration between universities, which they hope will attract companies to the area.

State Representative Rebekah Warren (D-Ann Arbor) told of her first day in office in 2006 – the same day Pfizer announced global changes – and she realized how that would impact her Ann Arbor constituents. Since that time, she has been pursing ways to move Michigan’s economy to a new place that is less reliant on the auto industry. Among the many ideas for industrial investment, the biosciences is most promising she said. That’s why she and Senator Richardville have created a bipartisan biosciences caucus to break down barriers and come to agreement on the role of the legislature in fostering a medical innovation industry in Michigan. They are working to examine barriers to success, develop a policy agenda, become more strategic in the state’s investments, and ensure that the regulatory environment encourages start ups to grow their businesses here.

Stephen Rapundalo discussed the promise of the biosciences in driving the economy forward. The state already has tremendous resources for bioscience success, so MichBio is working to raise visibility and awareness of the state’s biosciences industry, and educate the public about what the industry can do to turn the economy around. There are a lot of opportunities here – and it would be a shame for that to be wasted at a time when the economy so desperately needs it, he said.

The Q&A session focused on translational research, regulatory reform, and the importance of public education.