• Introduction
• Programme
• Speaker Profiles
• *** Slides ***

Dr. Bill Mason

Bill Mason gained his doctorate in life sciences from Trinity College, Cambridge, in the UK. Prior to his successful business career, he led an academic programme of medical research focused on the use of cell and molecular biology, medical imaging and high throughput screening. He has over 150 publications and has lectured widely around the world. He is the founder of several successful high technology companies. One of these, Life Science Resources, was sold to Perkin Elmer Life Sciences PLC, and was engaged in medical imaging, high throughput screening and drug discovery.

Dr. Ian Wilding

Over recent years there has been significant interest in the concept of engineering based capsule systems to allow remote controlled drug delivery in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, mainly with the objective of collecting human drug absorption data in a non-invasive manner. Older technologies had a variety of practical limitations (Wilding et al 2000). As a consequence these approaches have been largely replaced by the "cutting edge" combination of advanced RF physics and microelectronics utilized by the Enterion capsule. Designed by a multidisciplinary team of pharmaceutical scientists skilled in the complexity of GI delivery, material scientists and physicists, the Enterion capsule combines the unique attributes and design features required to achieve the goal of an oral "magic bullet" so well described by Paul Ehrlich in 1910.

Dr Ian Wilding is Executive Chairman of Pharmaceutical Profiles. He received his first class honours degree in Pharmacy from the University of Nottingham in 1984 and his PhD from the same University in 1990. Dr Wilding has published over 170 research papers/abstracts and has supervised a number of PhD students in the area of Biopharmaceutics at Nottingham University.

Dr Wilding is a frequent speaker at International meetings and is a respected authority on drug delivery and intestinal absorption. In 1997 he served as an expert scientist for the FDA in the area of Food Effects on Drug Bioavailability and is currently the only European scientist working with PQRI (an FDA/AAPS initiative) examining US regulatory guidance in the area of Oral Biopharmaceutics. He is on the Advisory Board for the University of Nottingham Institute of Enterprise & Innovation and is a member of the Steering Committee for the East Midlands MediLink programme, designed to improve connectivity between Universities, Hospitals, SMEs and large companies within the healthcare discipline in the region.

Dr. Stuart Hendry

Dr. Hendry has twenty years experience in the medical device industry, having held positions at Pfizer Hospital Products, Diametrics Inc, and PowderJect Plc. He has been involved in the commercialisation of numerous medical devices, many in the area of clinical monitoring and diagnostics. Before co-founding Sphere, Dr. Hendry was Head of the Life Sciences practice at Generics focussing on molecular and clinical diagnostic business creation, technology and strategy.

Sphere Medical Ltd was founded in 2002 to develop and market a new generation of monitoring and diagnostic products for critically ill patients. Based on cutting edge micro- and nanotechnology, our products will give clinicians real time information to monitor their patients and control therapies more effectively.

Dr. Vincent Wallace

Teraview Ltd http://www.teraview.co.uk/

The terahertz frequency range (0.1 to 10 THz) covers far infrared wavelengths. Terahertz light has the advantages that it is non-ionizing and is not highly scattered like visible and near-infrared light. Optically-driven terahertz (THz) systems are now well developed and commercial applications, such as pharmaceutical, are now beginning to emerge. Terahertz pulsed imaging (TPI) is a reflection imaging method that has been used successfully in the past for non-medical applications. More recently, a portable TPI has been used to image a variety of human tissues e.g. teeth, skin in vivo and breast.

Vincent Wallace has over 10 years of experience in biomedical optics. He graduated with a PhD in Medical Physics from the Institute of Cancer Research, University of London, in 1997. After 3 years at the Beckman Laser Institute and Medical Clinic at the University of California, he joined TeraView Ltd in Cambridge, UK, where he is currently head of the Medical Program.

TeraView Ltd, based in Cambridge UK, was spun-out of Toshiba Research Europe in April 2001 to exploit the intellectual property and expertise developed in sourcing and detecting Terahertz radiation, using innovative semiconductor technologies. Terahertz radiation lies between microwave and infrared and represents the last unexplored region of the radio wave and light spectrum. TeraView has identified target markets and customers for the technology in the areas of security and contraband detection, medical imaging, and drug discovery and formulation.

Dr. Tony Flint

This talk describes the challenges in this project, notably the integration of a new mechanical design with existing devices and procedures, the selection of materials form with respect to biological, mechanical performance and radiation resistance, and the integration of the catheter with a safe and reliable electro medical system.

Tony has a degree in Electronic Engineering from Bangor University in North Wales, and a PhD in Medical Physics from Cardiff University. Following additional research and teaching at Cardiff University he co-founded GrafTechnic Ltd, to exploit new technology in the area of optical measurement of the physiological properties of tissue, and joined Quintiles Consulting in 1999 to focus on strategic planning and regulatory advice.

Thermocore Medical Limited is a private company dedicated to solving the problems posed by unstable "vulnerable" plaques (often referred to as "VP") that are found in diseased blood vessels. These deposits are now recognized as critical indicators of potential heart disease, as they are prone to sudden rupture, resulting in heart attacks in patients who otherwise may appear quite healthy and symptom free.

Richard Traherne

Richard Traherne is the Leader of Cambridge Consultants' Wireless Business Unit, which has an extensive track record in the design and development of wireless technology and systems. With capability in the vast majority of wireless systems available today, the group develops solutions ranging from miniature ultra-low-current RF integrated circuits through to complete rack-mounted communication products.

With a background in the traditional telecommunications sector, Richard has in recent years had a strong interest in developing wireless solutions for the healthcare environment. This work exploits Cambridge Consultants somewhat unique combination of expertise in both wireless technology, as well as in medical device development . the experience of taking a product through the rigours of the medical approvals process.

Having contributed to and led a large number of successful wireless product developments, Richard has observed the rapid escalation of wireless in our everyday lives. Prior to joining Cambridge Consultants he worked for Symbionics, Tality and at Marconi Instruments.

Dr. Gilbert Park

Gilbert Park is Director of Intensive Care Research and Consultant in Anaesthesia at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge. He has been involved with organ transplantation as a consultant for nearly 20 years. He has written books, chapters and many papers on the subject. In 1990 he wrote his Doctoral Thesis on Intensive Care and Anaesthesia for Liver Transplantation.

Rod Ruston

Regulatory approval is not merely the icing on the cake: it is the icing which makes the cake a sellable proposition. Regulatory strategy is a crucial element of business strategy. It includes decisions on which markets to target, and from that, considerations of commonality in requirements. The paper will then focus on the EU regulatory structure for medical devices, and the requirements which must be met to gain 'approval'. Then guidance will be given on costs and time involved. Lastly some pointers on what is required in the other major regulated areas (USA, Canada, Japan, Australia/NZ), including the status of mutual recognition agreements.