Conference to examine potential economic opportunities presented by global obesity crisis

Mayo Clinic's Dr. Donald Hensrud to give keynote address

  • Nov. 12, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EDITORS: A complete program schedule, links to the participants' biographies and directions are available at the Center for the Business of Life Sciences website.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The rise in obesity worldwide and the potential economic opportunities for firms that come up with solutions will be addressed in the next event in the 2013-14 Indiana Life Sciences Collaboration Conference Series on Nov. 22 in Indianapolis.

"The increase in global obesity has profound implications for future health care costs and at the same time provides opportunities for existing companies and entrepreneurs to develop new products and services," said conference organizer George Telthorst, director of the Center for the Business of Life Sciences in Indiana University's Kelley School of Business.

At the conference, taking place at the NCAA Hall of Champions, 700 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, medical opinion leaders will offer their thoughts as to the causes of the rising trend in obesity and its effects on world health. Executives will discuss their plans for products to prevent and treat obesity and its associated conditions.

According to the World Health Organization, worldwide obesity has nearly doubled since 1980, and 65 percent of the world's population lives in countries where overweight and obesity kill more people than underweight.

The registration fee is $150. Other events in the series include the Feb. 21 conference in Bloomington, "Overview of the Chinese Healthcare and Medical Products Industry"; and the May 9 program in Indianapolis, "Informatics/'Big Data' Uses and Challenges in the Life Sciences."

Students at accredited Indiana institutions of higher education may qualify for a discounted rate. Registration and additional information are available online or by contacting Kelli Conder at the Kelley School, 812-856-0915 or kconder@indiana.edu.

The conference series is presented by the IU Kelley School of Business, its Center for the Business of Life Sciences, BioCrossroads and Covance.

Following registration and networking from 8 to 9 a.m., Dr. Donald Hensrud, chair of the Division of Preventive, Occupational and Aerospace Medicine at the Mayo Clinic, will give the keynote presentation, "The Obesity Explosion: How Did We Get Here and Where Are We At?"

Hensrud, also an associate professor of preventive medicine and nutrition at Mayo, is co-author of several videos and books, including "The New Mayo Clinic Cookbook: Eating Well for Better Health" and "Mayo Clinic Healthy Weight for Everybody."

Following a mid-morning break, the first of two panel discussions will focus on policy and prevention.

Panelists will be Dr. Andrew Renda, program manager of chronic care strategies and health guidance organization at Humana; Marcie Memmer, director for the Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity at the Indiana Department of Health; Hank Cardello, senior fellow and director of the Hudson Institute's Obesity Solutions Initiative; and David Lohrman, professor and chair of the Department of Applied Health Science in the IU School of Public Health-Bloomington. Neal Roach, a partner at Taft, Stettinius & Hollister LLP, will moderate.

The luncheon keynote speech, "Obesity Treatment Considerations: Body, Mind and Spear It," will be given by David Creel, weight management coordinator at the St. Vincent Bariatric Center of Excellence in Indianapolis. Dr. Robin Wagner, senior director, Diabetes Management Solutions and Medical and Scientific Affairs, Diabetes Care, Roche Diagnostic Solutions, will introduce him.

The afternoon's panel discussion will focus on products and solutions. Participants will be Dr. David Moller, vice president for endocrine and cardiovascular research and clinical investigation, Lilly Research Laboratories; David Dzisiak, commercial leader of the Grains and Oils Division of Dow AgroSciences; Todd Kinser, vice president for research and development, Ethicon Surgical Care; and Robert Miller, divisional vice president, Abbott Nutrition, Research and Development Scientific and Medical Affairs. Jamie Jones, business program manager, North America, Hill-Rom will moderate.

Telthorst will wrap up the day's discussion at 3:15 p.m., and an optional tour of the NCAA Hall of Champions will take place afterward as included in the conference registration.

The Nov. 22 conference is sponsored by AIT Laboratories; Hill-Rom Services Inc.; Humana; Roche; and Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP. Supporting conference sponsors are the Indianapolis Business Journal and VMS BioMarketing.

Other primary sponsors are Biomet Inc.; Cook Medical; Duke Energy; Eli Lilly and Co.; Faegre Baker and Daniels LLP; Ice Miller LLP; Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute; Indiana Economic Development Corp.; IU Research Center for Chinese Politics and Business; IU School of Medicine; MedVenture Technology; Oleen Pinnacle Healthcare Consulting; Omnicare; Pearl Pathways LLC; Purdue University; and Zimmer.

Brochure sponsors are Inside Indiana Business with Gerry Dick; Miles Printing; and Cabello Associates.

Marketing sponsors are Aptalis Pharma; Bloomington Life Sciences Partnership; Commissioning Agents Inc.; Harlan Laboratories Inc.; Iotron Industries; IU College of Arts and Sciences; IU Kelley School of Business, Business of Medicine Programs; IU Kelley School of Business, Evening MBA; IU Kelley School of Business, Alumni Association; IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law; IU School of Informatics and Computing; IU Office of the Vice President for Engagement; IU Research and Technology Corp.; Mid-America Sciences Park; Novus Biologicals; and Performance Validation LLC.

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