(November 16, 2018)

Sponsored by

Description:

Healthcare is undergoing unprecedented change—both in terms of emerging technological approaches to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, and in terms of cutting-edge models of care delivery that ensure broader access to affordable, high-value care. Add into the mix exponential advances in connectivity, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence, and it becomes clear that the industry is at a tipping point where the future will be markedly different from the past.

Medical device companies have the opportunity to build fully integrated software, hardware, and engagement-based devices. For some, the development pipeline is already populated with such projects, or partnerships are being developed with start-up companies to expedite time-to-market. For others, they are watchfully-waiting, perhaps hoping to fully extract all value from current lines of business before looking towards the future. Spoiler alert: R&D leaders must decide how to position their organizations for future success, albeit during times of extreme uncertainty and high risk, but hopefully high reward.

Past R&D development was based on a cadence of R&D advances that was siloed, linear, and bureaucratic. Today’s research environment is generating advances at a far faster pace since global connectivity to other research programs and research data has improved, converging technology advances are driving collaboration, and both transparency and nontraditional players are challenging regulatory impediments. To compete, R&D leaders must determine how to stay ahead of the traditional innovation ‘S’ curve, or better yet, reshape the curve altogether.

Learning Objectives:

• Developing an appreciation for why the pace change is accelerating and the implications for R&D leaders
• Learning about 5 specific actions that R&D leaders can take to stay a step ahead
• Affirming that the time to act is now

Speakers:

Leslie Wainwright, PhD
Innovation Advisor, Health Sector Lead
RTI Innovation Advisors

Leslie leads the RTI Innovation Advisors’ health practice, is passionate about entrepreneurship and innovation, and has experience that spans academic research, pharma/biotechnology, and healthcare delivery. She has worked with executive teams from multi-national organizations and startups alike to design growth strategies, create alternative business models, and evaluate emerging clinical and care delivery technologies. Additionally, she spent several years addressing innovation and how healthcare organizations build their own sustainable innovation competencies. Leslie is a speaker and facilitator on the future of healthcare, enabling technologies, disruptive innovation, and emerging business models, domestically and abroad. She is passionate about STEM education and is on the Women’s Board of the Field Museum in Chicago where she works to expand opportunities for girls in science.

Leslie received her Ph.D. in microbiology at Northwestern University, completed postdoctoral research training at the University of Maryland’s Center for Vaccine Development, and received a B.A. in Biology from DePauw University.