Program

Monday May 11, 2009 - Masterclasses and Debates Day

09:00 - 12:00 Special Forum Opening Masterclass (in partnership with The National Rehabilitation Center - Emirate of Abu Dhabi)
Investing in meeting the health challenges of the GCC – The case for focusing on reducing real disease burden Speakers HE Hamad Abdallah Al Ghaferi (National Rehabilitation Center); Philippe Chossegros (Network GT69, Lyon); Hisham Al Arabi (National Rehabilitation Center)
SPECIAL SESSIONInfluenza Pandemic 2009: The legacy for health systems strengthening in the Middle East
We will begin with a brief review of the natural history of influenza and its historical context as an aid to understanding current events. The speakers will summarize status of the current epidemic and identify factors which could impact its outcome. We will ask how we can learn from the ongoing epidemic process, and address how to best build on its legacy to establish a proactive health systems strengthening, research and development, manufacturing and public health action agenda to meet the challenges of future pandemics. Speakers Louis-Charles Viossat (former French Ambassador in charge of the fight against AIDS and Communicable Diseases); Jane Homan (IoGenetics); Donald Gerson (PnuVax)
Healthcare Services Masterclass
The human resource challenges of quality - Improving healthcare services quality in the face of increasing demand and constrained resources - the role of training, accreditation and capacity development
Show Masterclasses Speakers Stephen Walston (University of Oklahoma); Abdul Karim Al Fahim (Mafraq Hospital, Abu Dhabi); Oliver Tattan (The Regulated Industry Group); Tom Kass (EFG International); Mohan Chellapa (Johns Hopkins Medicine International)
Technology Transfer Masterclass
Implementing profitable, sustainable and appropriate technology transfer - Addressing urgent health challenges through innovative financing
Show Masterclasses Speaker Stephan Mallenbaum (Greenberg Traurig LLP)
14:00 - 17:00 Afternoon Debates – Controversies and Consensus
Excellence in health system development in the UAE and GCC – lessons learnt and the way forward
Across the Gulf Cooperation Council countries (GCC), $12-16 billion is being invested in healthcare infrastructure projects (mainly hospitals). This wave of healthcare sector development is aimed at ensuring high quality, accessible service delivery to meet the challenge of high levels of chronic and lifestyle-related diseases. Even at this early stage, lessons can be learnt and best practices shared in areas such as health insurance, hospital development and building local capacity. Speakers Alexander Vogler (Daman); Joseph Boulos (NAS Administration Services); Mohan Chellappa (Johns Hopkins Medicine International); Abdulaziz Soudani (Biopharm Tunisia)


Financing the healthcare and life sciences sectors – implications of the global economic crisis
The current state of the global financial markets is impacting on the healthcare and life sciences sectors, especially as funding for innovative bio-science companies is not easily available. Developing countries present exciting healthcare investment opportunities as health system growth remains a priority, privatization initiatives get underway and consumers demand better and more accessible services. Speakers Marcus Sasse (UBS, KSA); Tom Healy (Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange); Simon Turton (Warburg Pincus); Harald Stock (Grünenthal Group)


Is R&D meeting global disease challenges?
R&D efforts to meet the urgent disease challenges of the developing world are increasingly being supported by new models of collaboration and financing the players and global health product development partnerships (PDPs). Yet despite these new funding mechanisms and incentives, there is a continued need for additional private sector investment in developing diagnostics, drugs and vaccines for traditionally neglected diseases. This session highlights innovative partnerships and examines the challenges and opportunities facing innovators in global health R&D. Speakers Christopher Earl (BIO Ventures for Global Health); Chris Hentschel (Medicines for Malaria Ventures); Jean-Pierre Paccaud (Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative); Robert Sebbag (Sanofi Aventis); Herman van Cauteren (Neglected Diseases Foundation); Dan Stinchcomb (Inviragen)

17:00 - 18:30 Special Session: Biomedical R&D in the GCC – Current status and the way forward
An overview analysis of public, private and not-for-profit organizations undertaking and supporting life sciences and medical research across the GCC. Review the current IP and innovation environment in the Gulf and international best practice in developing government-academic-private collaboration to strengthen R&D. An opportunity to debate the state of life sciences and healthcare R&D in the GCC and identify key success factors to ensure that biomedical R&D capacity is further developed to impact positively on health and wellbeing in the region. Presentation of survey and discussion hosted by Santeum Partners and Forum Research Partners, Value Edge Research Services.
Discussants Sehamuddin Galadari (Associate Dean for Research, UAE University) Sultan Al-Sudairy (Executive Director, Research Center, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center); Stewart Cole (Director, Global Health Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne); JiNan Glasgow (Founder, Neopatents)

Closing Comments Speaker Samih Darwazah (Founder and Chairman of Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC)

Tuesday May 12, 2009 - Forum Plenary Sessions Day

09:00 - 12:00Opening Session Speakers HE Jamal Sanad Al-Suwaidi, Director General, Emirates Center For Strategic Studies and Research; HE Jassim Al Hosani, Managing Director, Al Qudra Health Care; HE Khalfan Al Kaabi, Member of the Board of Directors, Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry; HE Robert Philipp, Head of Innovative Financing, Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; Patrons and supporters including The National Investor, sanofi-aventis, Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, UAE University and Gulf Venture Capital Association

Innovative financing models to meet global health challenges (in collaboration with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria)
With a range of new players, the transformation of the global development agenda and evolving health threats and priorities, the rules of health sector development are changing. What are the most effective new models for ameliorating the plight of those most in need? How do we ensure the availability, effectiveness and sustainability of financing to meet urgent disease challenges and strengthen health systems in the developing world? Speakers Robert Filipp (The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria); Victoria Hale (Medicines360); Louis-Charles Viossat; Donald Gerson (PnuVax); Kerry Gilzene (Santeum Partners)

14:00 - 18:00Afternoon Sessions

The role of industry, investors, private equity and venture capital in healthcare sector development (in collaboration with the Gulf Venture Capital Association)
An opportunity to review and discuss key, recent trends in healthcare and life sciences investment and entrepreneurial finance. What lessons learnt from the waves of biotechnology, pharmaceutical and hospital investment? Are we seeing a trend of healthcare industry consolidation? How do we build partnerships between investors, the financial markets, the public sector, industry and entrepreneurs for robust sector growth the Middle East and North Africa region and developing countries? Speakers Imad Ghandour (GVCA); Yahya Jalil (The National Investor); Stephan Mallenbaum (Greenberg Traurig); Khaled W. Jaouni (Partner, Ithmar Capital)


Investing in healthcare R&D (in collaboration with BIO Ventures for Global Health)
As investors in the Middle East pay increasing attention to opportunities in the healthcare sector, it is crucial to draw on the experiences of investors in developed world markets. This panel will focus on identifying and evaluating recognized investment paradigms from mature countries for building healthcare R&D and product development capabilities. It will focus attention on the relevance of those experiences for the emerging markets of the Gulf region. This session, featuring executives from leading venture capital and investment firms will share lessons learned in developed world markets that can be applied to build healthcare R&D capability in the Middle East and other emerging markets. All the panel members have experience investing in healthcare sectors outside their own borders. Speakers Christopher Earl (BIO Ventures for Global Health); Mark Carthy (Orion Partners); Sean Hayes (Greenberg Traurig); Naveed Siddiqi (Nomura Phase4 Ventures); Andreas Wicki (HBM BioVentures AG)

Building healthcare infrastructure and services (in collaboration Dubai Healthcare City)
Matching the healthcare infrastructure and services needs with appropriate projects requires considerable know-how and technology transfer expertise. Which infrastructure and service offerings make a real contribution to improved health status and economic development? How do we ensure that safety, quality and "customer focus" remain a priority? Speakers Ali Abdulkareem Alobaidli (Clinical Affairs Director, SEHA- Abu Dhabi Health Services Company); Mohammed Mutabagani (Chairman of The National Health Committee Saudi Council of Chambers of Commerce); Ayesha Abdullah (DHCC); Fadi El-Jardali (American University of Beirut)

Closing Networking Cocktail

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