Strategic development of biophotonics-based tools

Many important technologies and applications have resulted from the creative efforts of researchers and end users. Probably every day, someone working with biophotonics has an idea that could be realized as a tool to benefit others. But very often, the brilliant scientist lacks the knowledge or business mindset to effectively pursue that idea.

To help creative thinkers figure out how best to pursue their ideas and to foster the conversion of biophotonics-based innovation to useful tools for biomedicine, BioOptics World, together with our sister publication Laser Focus World, is launching a new event, Strategies in Biophotonics (www.strategiesinbiophotonics.com). The two-day conference and exhibition, along with its pre-conference workshop, will be held September 9-11, 2014, at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel.

Our goal for the conference is to help optics- and photonics-based device and system developers cover all the important bases as they think about development toward commercialization. Besides demonstrating the critical role of biomedical optics and photonics in life sciences, the program will highlight key examples of clinical and scientific needs, and discuss requirements for development of technology and application discoveries to meet those needs. Topics will include funding, business models, collaboration, and regulatory issues—because, as advisory board member Aydogan Ozcan (UCLA and Holomic LLC) pointed out, technologists are inclined to overlook the fact that "the technology is almost the easy part; even more important are the team and the business model." Networking will be a critical aspect of the event, and the expo will give scientists and entrepreneurs a chance to meet exhibitors able to help them realize their visions. Because as the article, "The four segments of biophotonics market growth," on p. 46 demonstrates, there is significant opportunity—and need—for photonics-based biomedical tools.

My colleagues and I are grateful to our growing board of advisors (see the list on our homepage at www.strategiesinbiophotonics.com), each of whom was carefully selected to represent one or more important aspects of photonics-enabled biomedicine. Strategies in Biophotonics has the backing of PennWell, a company that specializes in professional event development and organizes hundreds of conferences globally each year, but the input of our advisors will be key to creating a program that provides unparalleled value to attendees—and the industry.

One thing the advisors will help with is review of submissions to our Call for Papers, which is scheduled to close December 9, 2013 (find details at http://s36.a2zinc.net/clients/pennwell/SIB2014/Public/Content.aspx?ID=37576). If you'd like to present, please mark your calendar and plan to submit. And if you'd like to discuss your ideas, I'd welcome your call, so please contact me.

The BioOptics World and Laser Focus World team has great enthusiasm for these technologies and their potential, and with Strategies in Biophotonics, we look forward to contributing further to the success of biophotonics innovation.