Free Events Explore the Clinical Trials Process

05/25/2021

Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu and Christine Gillette, 978-758-4664, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu

LOWELL, Mass. – Biotech and medical-device entrepreneurs preparing to test their innovations in clinical trials will gain insights into that process during free programs presented by the Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2).

The Clinical Trial Program Series, which begins next month via Zoom, will unite entrepreneurs with industry and government leaders to share best practices, challenges, funding issues and a road map for successful clinical trials. M2D2 is a joint venture of UMass Lowell and UMass Medical School in Worcester. The center assists entrepreneurs with all aspects of moving new products and technologies from the drawing board to the marketplace.

Each program in the three-part series will focus on a different topic and feature a variety of leaders in this sector.

“This series is a great opportunity for people to learn about clinical trials from true experts; even those with strong experience in the field will find insights from our speakers. I look forward to leading the session on June 9 about investors and financial strategy, which are two of our most popular educational topics,” said M2D2 Co-Director Dr. Nathaniel Hafer, director of the UMass Center for Translational Science and assistant professor of molecular medicine at UMass Medical School.

M2D2 operates lab-based business incubators in Lowell and Worcester and provides networking opportunities, pitch competitions and other programs for startups. The clinical trials series is the latest contribution to these efforts.

“We look forward to introducing series participants not only to the clinical trials process but to all M2D2 has to offer them,” said Brennan Fournier, the center’s program manager.

Participants may attend any or all of the programs. More about each event’s speakers and registration information is available via the links below. The events include:

• Medical Product Development 101, Wednesday, June 2, noon – This session will help entrepreneurs understand the best market for their product, along with how to plan for and design their clinical trials. The program will be moderated by Eric Claude, vice president of product development, MPR Associates Inc. For more, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/medical-product-development-101-tickets-146652815519.
• Investor and Financial Strategy, Wednesday, June 9, noon – Budgeting, risk mitigation, company partnerships and how to raise capital will be among the topics addressed in this session, which will be led by Hafer. For more, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/investor-and-financial-strategy-tickets-146655391223.
• Key Considerations and Best Practices, Tuesday, June 15, noon – This session will explore the most effective ways to conduct clinical trials and how to engage with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, among other issues. The program’s moderator will be Rachel Rath, Johnson & Johnson Innovation’s director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Biomedical Advance Research and Development Authority alliance. For more, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/key-considerations-best-practices-tickets-146657557703.

M2D2 has vetted more than 250 medical-device and biotech ventures for inclusion in its programs and provided support to more than 100 startups since the center was founded in 2007. In total, M2D2 resident companies have secured more than $150 million in external funding for their innovations.

About M2D2

M2D2, the Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center, is a joint initiative of the Lowell and Worcester campuses of the UMass system. Its aim is to help new biotech and medical device entrepreneurs develop products every step of the way, from proof-of-concept to commercialization. Affiliated faculty and staff have assisted more than 100 start-up companies and entrepreneurs since the program kicked off in the spring of 2007. www.uml.edu/m2d2.