7-8 April | Vancouver
A Challenging Landscape
The global healthcare product industry has reached a tipping point. Challenges ranging from the research pipeline and the role of patients, payors and regulators to the global landscape and the economics of sustaining effective healthcare are shaping decisions today that will form the foundation for the future. Regulatory professionals need to be more innovative and develop broader skills and knowledge to address current and future regulatory, scientific and business challenges or risk becoming devalued organizationally. The profession is uniquely positioned to identify the road ahead and serve as a change agent.
These challenges require creative regulatory professionals with broader skills and richer experience than ever before. A strong understanding of science and regulation will continue to be the cornerstone for regulatory professionals; however, political and economic acumen, strategic global thinking, risk management and an ability to drive innovation, particularly in the area of regulatory science, will become more critical for future regulatory success.
The stakes have never been higher. The opportunity has never been greater.
Facing the Challenge
Against the backdrop of these challenges, RAPS will convene 2011 Horizons: Regulatory and Beyond, 7-8 April in Vancouver; bringing together global regulators, leaders, thinkers and innovators to examine:
- Factors driving change in the healthcare product sector, with an emphasis on those that may impact regulatory processes and management
- Positive and negative factors in the current regulatory environment and their sustainability and importance in the future
- Key considerations that can and should be incorporated into new models for the healthcare product sector
- The role of the regulatory profession in actively shaping and refining future models
New Horizons
Since 2006, the RAPS Horizons Conference & Exhibition has brought together regulatory leaders from across the globe to examine science, innovation and economics, and to connect business and regulatory strategy. The conference has always been at its best when tackling real-world challenges head on through provocative discussions and open dialogue.
For 2011, RAPS is taking the Horizons concept a step further—no longer is it defined by a single event alone; Horizons represents a commitment to “forward thinking for healthcare leaders.” The gathering in Vancouver is specifically designed to stimulate critical discussion, reflection and creative ideas.
Participants and speakers alike will be expected to engage, share knowledge and be heard. There will be required readings and preparation before the program, interactive breakout groups and presentations by attendees during the program, and contribution to the development and dissemination of a white paper after the program.
A post-event white paper will outline open research questions and identify opportunities for industry, academia and government to work collaboratively to advance and shape the future of regulatory professionals and regulatory science.
Program Format
The program will begin with a half day of prepared material to set the regulatory landscape, followed by a day and a half of breakout sessions and plenary sessions in which participants will report and discuss findings of each breakout session. Understanding the magnitude of the challenges faced by senior regulatory professionals, the prepared material will be broad in scope by design, intended to feed provocative breakout sessions. These intimate group discussions will be organic in nature, powered by program participants and steered by skilled moderators. Rigorous analysis will take place throughout, driving new ideas and forward thinking.
Rather than the traditional exhibition, RAPS is inviting a select number of companies to sponsor the event at various levels. Benefits of sponsorship will include the opportunity to secure a tabletop to display collateral, wine reception host designation, complimentary registrations, recognition through various RAPS media channels, program advertising, company branded conference gifts, a pre and post show attendee list, and recognition as a supporter in the white paper.
For sponsorship inquiries please contact RAPS Business Development at +1 301 770 2920 ext. 228 or email sponsorships@raps.org.
Advance thinking. Not agendas.
RAPS recognizes that the traditional conference format is not ideal to support an open exchange of dialogue between industry, agency and academic delegates. That is why 2011 Horizons is different. It aims to capitalize on the synergy created when such a diverse group of thinkers works toward developing an effective way forward. To facilitate openness and thought flow, the gathering will remain true to the spirit of the Chatham House Rule which states:
"When a meeting or part thereof, is held under the Chatham House Rule, participants are free to use the information received, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s), nor that of any other participant, may be revealed."