Moderator:
Michael Milken, Chairman, Milken Institute

When it comes to medicine, what was once science fiction is now becoming science. We've moved from mapping the human genome to creating the first synthetic cell. Scientists are developing artificial ovaries that could one day nurture immature human eggs outside the body. Experts in regenerative medicine are printing layers of cells on inkjet printers to construct human organs. The field of nanotechnology is fundamentally changing disease by bringing diagnosis and treatment to the molecular level. And great progress is being made in eradicating diseases that exist in the developing world but have been eliminated in the West. What else is on the horizon for medical science? Will personalized medicine, which rejects one-size-fits-all treatments, fulfill its promise to tailor medical treatments to individuals? Will getting your personal genome reading be as routine as checking your blood pressure? What game-changing drugs for treating cancer, hepatitis and multiple sclerosis seem poised for discovery?

Moderator:
Howard Soule, Senior Fellow, Milken Institute; Executive Vice President and Chief Science Officer, Prostate Cancer Foundation

Suddenly there are people living longer than ever before in human history. How can you improve your own odds of making it to age 100? And more important, how can you ensure that you'll enjoy a good quality of life along the way? Can a Mediterranean diet and mental exercises keep your mind sharp in your later years? Is calorie restriction the key? What's the future price to pay for leading a high-stress, high-pressure lifestyle today? This panel will examine the latest research on scientific and medical advances in aging - and outline the proactive steps you can take in your own life.

Moderator:
John Dwyer, Chairman, Telcare

The Human Genome Project demonstrated that data can be made immediately available to the public, benefitting scientific knowledge and innovation. Yet we know that commercialization of new treatments will not happen without appropriate protection of intellectual property. How can the field of biomedicine better balance data availability, information exchange and IP arrangements among academics, researchers, and the public and private sectors? Are there models of pre-competitive sharing from other fields of R&D that are relevant to medical research?

Moderator:
Margaret Anderson, Executive Director, FasterCures / The Center for Accelerating Medical Solutions

There is a growing "Valley of Death" in funding for the development of new disease treatments. Investment is needed to turn promising discoveries into products. But fiscal realities are causing government, researchers, industry and venture capital funders of medical research to become increasingly conservative and risk-averse in their approaches to R&D and deal-making, despite the fact that the threat to pharmaceutical companies' pipelines has never been greater. The need for new financing models and return on medical research investment is acute. This panel will highlight some alternative and novel mechanisms for identifying and funding high-impact research that can deliver medical solutions to patients.

Moderator:
Paul Irving, Senior Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer, Milken Institute

In the coming years, demographic shifts will cause profound transformations in America and around the globe. The imperatives created by aging populations threaten to swamp economies and place unprecedented burdens on the next generation. A host of challenges must be addressed, from physical health and financial well-being to community engagement and senior employment. Some of these issues pose major policy dilemmas, but the implications aren't all dire. We're on the cusp of accelerating disease cures, setting the stage for seniors to enjoy better health and quality of life as they age. And the graying population is already rewriting the rulebook for retirement. Seniors have new options for staying active, engaged and productive through wellness and disease management programs, continuing education, encore careers, social networks and travel. Our panel of experts will address the key challenges and opportunities in a thought-provoking session.

Moderator:
Jim Glasheen, General Partner, Technology Partners

The doctor-patient relationship is changing. Today many patients are acting as their own best advocates - and now they have new tools at their disposal. Doctors may have to rush through appointments, but patients can maximize the efficiency of their interactions by arriving well-informed. Vast libraries of online information help patients bring themselves up to speed quickly and ask more targeted questions. Interactive support groups offer information and encouragement, while electronic medical records make histories more portable when patients seek out second opinions. Creative new apps help users stay focused on healthy living and maintenance of chronic conditions, while drop-in clinics in retail settings make simple preventive care more accessible. Is patient empowerment the wave of the future?

Moderator:
Frank Sesno, Director, School of Media and Public Affairs, The George Washington University; Creator and Host, "Planet Forward"

The global health community has pulled off a series of miracles: We are on the brink of eradicating polio; maternal deaths have dropped significantly for the first time in decades; and AIDS patients around the world are receiving life-saving treatment. Millions of mothers and children are alive today because of investments in global health. But progress is fragile, and we've yet to erase the major disparities between rich and poor countries. Vaccines and other proven, effective solutions exist, but are not always deployed to save children in developing nations. Aid from the U.S. and other developed countries has been crucial to making strides forward - but how can we ensure that critical health interventions reach those who need them most when governments around the world face tough decisions about how to reduce spending? From bed nets that ward off malaria to targeted vaccine campaigns, what are the initiatives that would produce the greatest results? How can we expand the private sector's engagement?

Moderator:
Greg Simon, Senior Vice President, Patient Engagement, Pfizer Inc.

As the science behind genomics matures and the promise of therapies targeted to individual patients nears, the realities of developing, approving and ultimately paying for drugs geared to targeted populations requires a new paradigm of clinical research and care. What kind of model will work as we move forward to transition drugs through the regulatory and reimbursement environment?

Moderator:
Wendy Selig, President and CEO, Melanoma Research Alliance

After decades of painstaking and determined research, is there finally a real prospect of winning the war on cancer? What changes can we expect to see in detection and treatment? How will all the various stakeholders work together to maximize the opportunities that have evolved over years of history and experience? Melanoma is a perfect case study lens through which to examine these questions and explore the frontiers of medicine. Very recent clinical advances are providing exciting "proof of principle" for innovative approaches to save lives from this deadly cancer, and these successes provide hope for many other cancers as well.

Moderator:
Lesa Mitchell, Vice President, Advancing Innovation, Kauffman Foundation

The United States has gotten comfortable in its role as the undisputed global leader in biomedical research and manufacturing. Over the past 30 years, many European multinational firms shifted R&D to the U.S. to take advantage of its matchless ecosystem for innovation. But today, other countries realize the value of attracting R&D in the life sciences, and the private-sector production activities associated with it, for creating high-value-added jobs. Many Asian and European nations are pursuing strategies to wrestle biomedical innovation infrastructure away from the United States. What policy moves should the U.S. implement to keep its leadership in this field intact?