AusBiotech today announced the details of its annual flagship conference, including the high profile local and international leaders and experts that will lead lively debate and discussion to advance our world-class biotech sector.
This year’s conference will be held at the Melbourne Convention Centre from 7 - 9 October, allowing Melbourne to play host to some of the world’s brightest biotech minds, as they gather to connect on new and challenging ideas in their fields.
AusBiotech Chief Executive Officer, Dr Anna Lavelle, said: “More than 1,000 delegates are expected to convene at the 2015 conference, which will focus on supporting the development, growth and prosperity of the Australian biotechnology industry.
“For almost 30 years, the annual AusBiotech national conference has brought our global community together in one place, to reflect on what we have achieved and look ahead to what we need to do to further advance our leading biotech sector, which is currently ranked fourth in the world.”
Feature program
AusBiotech 2015 will feature a new one-day Regenerative Medicine Symposium, which will focus on science’s potential to deliver replacements for damaged tissue and organs, and how close we are to creating ‘made to order’ body parts. Professor Martin Pera, Program Leader at Stem Cells Australia will be joined on Thursday 8 October by a line-up of regenerative medicine experts to discuss different applications for, and advances in, regenerative medicine.
On Friday 9 October, a free public forum will be held, striking a balance between celebrating the advances and successes achieved in stem cell medicine while exploring the fundamental need for regulation in this relatively new area of medicine.
The public forum will explore why some animals can regenerate new limbs but humans can’t, whether stem cells could really be used to make a replacement kidney or grow a new heart; and if advances in 3D printing mean we can make body parts exactly the right size and shape for each patient.
Plenary speakers
The conference will open with a plenary by world-leading stem cell scientist and IVF pioneer Professor Alan Trounson, who first drew media attention as a member of the team that delivered Australia’s first IVF baby in 1980.
The 2015 conference will cover a diverse range of current and emerging topics relevant to the global life sciences industry, in areas including regenerative medicine, new markets, business development, access to capital, entrepreneurship, biotechnology investment and clinical trials.
The annual Millis Oration supported by CSL will feature Professor Carola Vinuesa, Head of the Department of Pathogens and Immunity at the Australian National University. Dr Dushyant Pathak, Associate Vice Chancellor at the Office of Research Technology Management & Corporate Relations, University of California (USA) will speak on bridging the translational gap, and Ms Rhenu Bhuller, Senior Vice President of Healthcare at Frost & Sullivan, will present on the company’s Global Regenerative Medicine market insight report. Lawrence Gozlan, Chief Executive Officer of Scientia Capital will Chair a session to explore the importance of corporate governance.
Partnering and exhibitors
In addition to the program of quality speakers, the conference will feature the BioIndustry Exhibition Hall and provide valuable networking activities for exhibiting companies and delegates.
AusBiotech 2015 will again feature the AusPartnering program, where delegates can request and accept meetings with other delegates via an app. This valuable networking opportunity is one of the exclusive benefits of attending the national conference.
Australia Biotech Invest
This year, Australia Biotech Invest 2015 will run concurrently with the conference, from 6 – 7 October, allowing investors and delegates to maximise the value of the week and capitalise on networking opportunities. Australia Biotech Invest, Australia’s biggest biotech showcase and partnering event, will welcome over 250 senior-level delegates from the life sciences community. The two-day event will feature lively panel discussions, keynote speeches and over 30 pioneering biotech companies from Australia and across the globe will present their pipelines and investment cases in eight-minute presentations to the investor audience.