NEEDHAM, MA--(Marketwire - January 8, 2008) - The translational science loop -- bench to
bedside and back to the bench -- is challenging enough, but how do you go
from the clinic to the real world and back to the clinic, then back to
discovery? That's one of the challenges facing John Reynders, the new Chief
Information Officer for life sciences at Johnson & Johnson PRD. Reynders
discusses his challenges and opportunities in an exclusive interview in the
December 2007/January 2008 issue of Bio-IT World magazine. He will also be
the opening keynote speaker at the Bio-IT World Conference & Expo, April
28, 2008, Boston, MA.
Reynders leapt to prominence a few years ago as VP of Informatics at
Celera. Following a stint as head of discovery informatics at Eli Lilly,
Reynders was recruited to his new position at J&J-PRD. Reynders' vision for
improving integration at J&J is must reading for all pharma professionals.
Reynders tells Bio-IT World: "My challenge -- and the opportunity -- is how
you make sure you're bridging between the science and technology... How you
blend the community, how you have common goals, how do you form teams that
can do everything from the science to the technology and are agile in terms
of moving across these domains, how you move decision making close to the
projects."
In addition to this exclusive interview, the 2007 year-end issue of Bio-IT
World includes a number of outstanding and exclusive stories of broad
interest to the bio-IT and biopharma communities.
Next-Generation Sequencing: A CHI Conference Report
Buoyed by the success of its inaugural next-generation sequencing event in
April 2007, CHI elected to hold a second conference just six months later
in Providence, RI. Says Bio-IT World Editor-in-Chief Kevin Davies, Ph.D.,
"This conference theme has built huge momentum, and it's a real pleasure to
cover so many exciting applications of new technology, as well as examples
of third-generation technologies that are beginning to mature."
Included in his report is a profile of Kevin Ulmer, one of the founding
fathers of next-generation sequencing, who recently launched a new company,
Genome Corp.
Phase 0 Trials
Known in various circles as microdosing, exploratory INDs, or experimental
medicine, big and small pharmas are increasingly looking at small, highly
controlled studies, in some cases using tiny doses of compound, to better
gauge the likely success of a drug candidate in the clinic.
In this cover story, Mike May offers various examples of groups
implementing innovative strategies and technologies to establish new and
improved clinical models that could yield better, more cost-effective ways
to prioritize drug development. Citing Merck's recently approved diabetes
drug Januvia, May explains that an experimental medicine approach applied
to this DDP-4 inhibitor meant that the drug spent less than four years in
clinical trials. The article is invaluable to individuals involved in early
go/no go decision processes regarding drugs in discovery and development.
Also in the 2007 year-end issue of Bio-IT World
Other highlights of this issue include:
-- A call for entries for the 2008 Bio-IT World Best Practices program
-- A look at CDISC ten years later
-- A new web resource for genome SNP analysis
-- Software strategies for proteomics
-- Text mining and the BioCreative competition
About Bio-IT World
Bio-IT World (
www.bio-itworld.com), the flagship publication of Cambridge
Healthtech Institute (CHI), is the leading source of news on technology and
strategic innovation in drug discovery, development, and clinical trials.
Bio-IT World explores the tools and results of predictive biology as the
industry adapts to the new world of personalized medicine. Bio-IT World has
won 34 national and regional awards, more than any other magazine covering
the life sciences industry. CHI offers a suite of published resources
through a new division -- Cambridge Healthtech Media Group -- that includes
Bio-IT World magazine, numerous topic-specific eNewsletters, white papers,
webcasts, podcasts, conferences, and the Bio-IT World Best Practices
Awards. The magazine is based in Needham, MA.
About Cambridge Healthtech Institute
Founded in 1992, Cambridge Healthtech Institute (
www.healthtech.com) is the
industry leader offering the preeminent source of information to the
leading researchers and business experts from top pharmaceutical, biotech,
and academic organizations. Delivering an assortment of resources such as
events, reports, publications, and eNewsletters, CHI's portfolio of
products includes Cambridge Healthtech Institute Events, Pharmaceutical
Strategy Series, Insight Pharma Reports, Marketing Services, and Cambridge
Healthtech Media Group.
Contact Information: Contact:
Kevin Davies, Ph.D.
Editor-in-Chief, Bio-IT World
781-972-1341