Tuesday was another exciting day in the Massachusetts Pavilion!

11 a.m. Special announcement from Senate President Therese Murray

Our first announcement of the day was from Senate President Therese Murray. She unveiled a new multinational research collaboration around throat cancer – a partnership involving the United States, Northern Ireland, the Catalonia region of Spain, and Finland. She also announced that a US-EU Conference will be in Boston October 23-24 and will focus on promoting electronic health collaboration. This will be the first US-EU Conference held outside Washington D.C.

2:45 p.m. Translating Regenerative Medicine Therapy into the Clinic

At 2:45, thought leaders in Regenerative Medicine Therapy joined us to discuss the cell-based therapies, stem cells, and the future of the field of regenerative medicine.

Speakers included:

• Brock Reeve, Executive Director, Harvard Stem Cell Institute
• Rene Maehr, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Diabetes Center of Excellence, Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School
• Joseph V. Bonventre, MD, PhD, Chief of the Renal Unit and Director of the Bioengineering Division, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
• Leanna Caron, R.Ph., MBA, Vice President & General Manager, Cell Therapy & Regenerative Medicine, Sanofi Biosurgery
• Donald Brown, CEO, Arteriocyte
• Moderator: Geoff MacKay, CEO, Organogenesis
  

4 p.m. Special announcement from Governor Patrick

Governor Deval L. Patrick joined Israeli Chief Scientist Avi Hasson to announce the first round of grants awarded under the Massachusetts-Israel Innovation Partnership (MIIP), a formal collaboration between the State of Israel and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to encourage and support innovation and entrepreneurship between Massachusetts’ and Israel’s life sciences, clean energy and technology sectors.

A total of at least $1.3 million is being awarded to four research and development (R&D) collaborations between Massachusetts and Israeli companies that have been jointly approved by the funding agencies on both sides.

“We have to be about shaping our own future,” said Gov. Patrick. “What’s so exciting about this partnership is that it represents a significant commitment to ensure the long-term success of our economy by exploring growth opportunities and common interests within the Commonwealth’s and Israel’s innovation-based sectors. We are proud to support these four R&D collaborations, and we look forward to seeing the new jobs and new technologies that will come as a result.”

“The success of MIIP is a testament to the great contribution of the bilateral R&D program acting as an international bridge between nations and economies and as an accelerator for innovation and growth,” said Hasson.

Winners included:

• Automated Medical Instruments of Needham & STI Lasers of Israel
• SBH Sciences of Natick & Improdia of Israel
• Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc. of North Billerica & Check-Cap of Israel
• FloDesign Sonics of Wilbraham  & Transbiodiesel of Israel

5 p.m. Mass Mixer

We finished the day with the Mass Mixer, the Massachusetts Pavilion Hospitality Reception. Mayor Tom Menino, Governor Deval Patrick, and  Bob Coughlin welcomed the crowd and guests enjoyed drinks from beakers, scallops wrapped in bacon, and clam chowder.

Thank you to Thermo Fisher Scientific for hosting a great party!