Partnering for a New Era of Medicine
Top of Mind Summit: Life Sciences is an invite-only conference for leaders and partners at the frontiers of the health care delivery, insurance, biotech, venture, and life sciences communities.
The Summit aims to provide participants with insights from UPMC, one of the nation’s largest integrated health systems that is forging a unique approach to the development of next-generation therapies and patient-focused health care delivery.
The Summit also is an opportunity to create valuable relationships with diverse stakeholders who are driving innovation in life sciences forward.
Join leaders from Pfizer, Takeda, Network Bio, ElevateBio, PharmaLogic, Broad Institute, Bayer, Novo Nordisk, and other leading organizations for this intimate conference at the Center for Connected Medicine at UPMC.
Attendees are strongly encouraged to plan to be at the Summit for the full event.
Highlighted
Speakers
Rick Siger
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Christina Isacson
Lightstone Ventures
Sean Hofherr
Broad Institute
David Moore
Novo Nordisk
Jeffrey Solomon
TD Cowen
Mike Diem
Pfizer Ventures
Jonathan Peacock
UCB and Avantor
Sonja Hess
AstraZeneca
Oscar Marroquin
UPMC
Diane Holder
UPMC Health Plan
Tim Billiar
UPMC
Jeanne Cunicelli
UPMC
Summit Program
September 9, 2024
11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Women’s Health @ Top of Mind Summit
Women’s Health @ Top of Mind Summit is an exclusive pre-event opportunity at the Center for Connected Medicine in advance of the full Summit. This pre-event is dedicated to gathering stakeholders to drive discussion and solutions toward closing the existing gaps in women’s health and strategize actionable ways to foster innovation and discovery.
Agenda Highlights:
This year’s Summit theme is “Partnering for a New Era of Medicine,” and the women’s health program will approach partnering through a deep-dive into three key areas:
- Research and clinical development as it affects the health of women
- Gender differences in access to health care
- Investment to drive innovations in women’s care
6:00-8:00 p.m.
Opening Reception
To kick-off Top of Mind Summit: Life Sciences, attendees will gather for an opening reception at the National Aviary in Pittsburgh. Enjoy getting to know your fellow attendees over drinks and hors d’oeuvres while taking in a unique Pittsburgh landmark. Transportation will be provided to and from the reception.
September 10, 2024
7:30 a.m.
Registration opens, U.S. Steel Tower lobby
7:30-8:00 a.m.
Light Breakfast
8:00-8:30 a.m.
Opening Keynote: Enabling Life Changing Medicine
Change is constant – this is true in life and most certainly in health care. UPMC has always embraced change, innovation, and risk-taking, qualities that have translated into a successful track record of advances in health care delivery and system growth. Hear how these traits are now embodied in UPMC Enterprises, which enables strategic innovation across UPMC with the potential to significantly benefit patient care.
8:30-9:15 a.m.
The Long View: Creative Partnering to Solve Big Problems
Finding creative solutions to big problems doesn’t happen overnight. Strategic vision combined with a healthy appetite for smart risk-taking and tenacity are required to overcome challenges in health care. In this session, hear from seasoned industry leaders who have been key advisors to UPMC Enterprises and its portfolio companies about what it takes to be successful and why they chose to work with UPMC.
9:15-10:00 a.m.
Getting Close & Personal I: Strategies for Efficient Trials and Enhanced Patient Engagement
A critical early touchpoint and area for partnership between industry and health systems is in the clinical trials arena. Although traditional trials have resulted in many approvals, the model is facing challenges due to long timelines and high cost. This panel will explore opportunities for innovative approaches and partnerships that enhance the efficiency of clinical trials, increase patient engagement, and improve data quality.
Anantha Shekhar, Senior Vice Chancellor for the Health Sciences and Dean of the School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh
José-Alain Sahel, Chair and Distinguished Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
10:00-10:25 a.m.
Coffee and Networking Break
10:25-11:20 a.m.
Manufacturing Change: Pennsylvania’s Efforts to Drive Innovation and Build Biotech Hubs
In this session, leaders from government, health care, and industry explore how Pennsylvania’s diverse economic landscape and rich manufacturing heritage offers compelling opportunities for life sciences investment. With opening remarks from the Commonwealth’s leading economic development official, the discussion will explore how the Keystone State’s nationally recognized health care and research institutions can be harnessed to advance thriving biotech ecosystems.
11:20 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Keynote Fireside: The Evolving Health Care Landscape
Escalating prices and the mounting pressure on health insurers, employers, states, and Medicare to cover the cost of novel therapeutics has intensified in recent years. Is there a sustainable reimbursement model that will cover the costs, monitor efficacy, and ultimately drive value to the system? A leader debates the merits of various strategies.
Feby Abraham, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, Memorial Hermann Health System
12:00-1:00 p.m.
Lunch
1:00-1:40 p.m.
Getting Close & Personal II: Improving Patient Care Through Novel Biomarker Discovery
Precision medicine is expanding beyond oncology and advanced, complex biomarkers are emerging as key tools to segment patients with multi-factorial diseases. This session will feature diverse expert perspectives on the evolution of biomarker discovery in drug development and clinical care. It also will explore how multi-modal biomarkers and spatial omics can further enhance our understanding of complex biological processes to enable more effective treatments. Areas that will be discussed include the critical need for data sharing through innovative partnerships and the patient’s stake in accelerating the pace of discovery.
Sonja Hess, Senior Director, Centre of Genomics Research, Discovery Sciences, R&D BioPharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca
1:40-2:20 p.m.
Mind the Gaps: Driving Women’s Health Equity Through R&D, Investment, and Delivery of Care
There is growing awareness that significant gender inequities exist in health care. From gaps in our understanding of disease biology and clinical presentation between genders, to gaps in investment in R&D or access to care, these inequities stand in the way of delivering effective care to all patients irrespective of sex or gender. This panel will summarize the insights from the dedicated pre-event session on Monday to propose a path forward.
Robert Edwards, Chair, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh
2:20-2:40 p.m.
Coffee and Networking Break
2:40-3:20 p.m.
Hiding in Plain Sight: Can AI Generate Real-World Insights to Solve Big Problems?
Health systems hold tremendously valuable data in their electronic patient record that could be a treasure trove for generating insights about new uses for existing medicines and the discovery of entirely new drugs. This panel will address what’s possible now and what’s needed in the future to effectively leverage AI in proactively developing new hypotheses and uncover new treatments from real-world data.
3:20-4:00 p.m.
Partnering for Change: Collaboration is Key to Develop Novel, Complex Tx Modalities
Gene therapy, cell therapy, and radiopharmaceuticals, to name a few, are emerging modalities that are transforming care. While there is immense promise of these advanced therapies, there are unique manufacturing, supply chain, and clinical testing challenges to take these therapies from bench to bedside and ensure patients have easy access to innovative medicines. This panel will dive into several use cases where UPMC is partnering with industry to enable new therapies.
4:00-4:30 p.m.
Audience Discussion & Closing Remarks
Key themes that emerged from the day’s talks and next steps for the audience will be discussed.
5:00 p.m.
Summit closes
Women’s Health @ Top of Mind Summit
Additional details and full agenda to come
Monday, Sept. 9, 2024
11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Women’s Health @ Top of Mind Summit is an exclusive pre-event opportunity at the Center for Connected Medicine in advance of the full Summit. This pre-event is dedicated to gathering stakeholders to drive discussion and solutions toward closing the existing gaps in women’s health and strategize actionable ways to foster innovation and discovery.
Agenda Highlights:
This year’s Summit theme is “Partnering for a New Era of Medicine,” and the women’s health program will approach partnering through a deep-dive into three key areas:
- Research and clinical development as it affects the health of women
- Gender differences in access to health care
- Investment to drive innovations in women’s care
Summit Details
Where is the Summit?
The Top of Mind Summit: Life Sciences is held in the Center for Connected Medicine, which is on the 60th floor of the U.S. Steel Tower in downtown Pittsburgh. Our address is 600 Grant St., Pittsburgh, Pa, 15219.
Who are the attendees?
Executives in the pharmaceutical, biotech and venture capital industries, academics and founders in the life sciences space, and health system leaders.
Where should I stay?
The CCM reserves room blocks at a hotel that is a short walk of the U.S. Steel Tower. Booking information will be provided to registered attendees.
What is the closest airport?
The Pittsburgh International Airport is 18 miles from the U.S. Steel Tower. The drive can take 30-45 minutes depending on time of day. Ride share and taxi services are available.
How should I dress?
The attire for the Summit is business casual.
What if I have questions?
Please email the CCM team at topofmind@connectedmed.com.