Traditional education paths don't sufficiently train individuals to manage or start biotechnology enterprises. What solutions can fill this vital need?

1. Educating the Next Generation of Biotechnology Managers and Founders Pittcon March 1st 2010 Yali Friedman, Ph.D. – info@thinkbiotech.com

2. Challenges Traditional biotechnology educational paths are not oriented at developing practitioners PhD: Academic research poor understanding of business MBA: Management, strategy, finance poor understanding of science The biotechnology industry is dynamic Can educational programs keep up with change? How can graduates stay abreast of new developments?

3. Why have PhDs been so successful in biotechnology? PhD: Ability to solve hard problems, independently Often accompanied by a risk-averse, reductionist, mindset There has to be another way…

4. Can you Cross-Train Students? Do you really need a PhD to manage a biotechnology company? MS/MBA Programs Combine research with business training “I’m no good at the lab work, why do I have to do it?” The objective is not to train you as a scientist, but to provide you, as a future manager, an understanding of science

5. Asking the right questions JHU MS/MBA Proseminar course Train students to think like journalists Prepare a 1 page summary on a recent industry report (newspaper, journal, etc) What is the key issue, and why is it important What has changed What does it mean Prepare 3 questions for each speaker This is a life skill: You should be able to ask three intelligent questions of everyone you meet Group project Marketing, R&D management, finance, etc.

6. Working on real problems KGI Team Masters Project Final project in second year Team of students, under faculty supervision, deliver a solution to a real problem Company sponsorship is $50,000 Ensures that the problem is real and important, and that students will be pushed to deliver

7. NIH FAES Graduate School Students are mainly NIH post-docs Intelligent, inquisitive, want to learn business High-speed, deep, overview of biotechnology industry Focus on cases, provide textbook for background reading Guest lecturers Introduce a diverse set of local industry practitioners Students are independent and inquisitive – don’t need prodding to ask questions!

9. Guest lecturers Focus is on learning about the person, not their job Large and small biotechnology companies Which environment suits you? Mid level executives “I’ve had a different business card every year” Service vs. product firms Unique challenges for each No scientific background Career path from Phillip Morris to proactive regulatory consulting

10. NIH FAES Graduate School Final Deliverable Essay on a topic of the student’s choosing Funding opportunities, build vs. buy decisions, etc. http://www.biotechblog.com/2009/05/27/biotechnology-management-papers/

11. Continuing education in biotechnology The industry is dynamic, but there are no formal training requirements Continuing education is a personal responsibility, must be self-directed Journal of Commercial Biotechnology 14(4), 275-276 Free online: http://www.palgrave-journals.com/jcb/journal/v14/n4/full/jcb200830a.html

12. More questions than you came in with? The biotechnology industry is dynamic Keep Learning! Yali Friedman – info@thinkbiotech.com