Keynote speakers named for life sciences conference

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An entrepreneur who uses light electrical pulses to help professional athletes is among the keynote speakers at the fourth annual Innovation Louisiana conference.

The educational event is scheduled Nov. 14 and 15 in New Orleans. It helps participants learn how to turn scientific research into viable businesses, network and find professional development opportunities.

The New Orleans BioInnovation Center says that Dr. Brett Wingeier of startup Halo Neuroscience will offer a keynote speech to close the first day of the conference. His company uses neurostimulation to improve the performance of athletes.

Wingeier will discuss these efforts and the work of his previous startup on an implantable medical device that stops seizures in epilepsy patients, according to a news release.

Additionally, Rachel Rimsky of the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research will offer the event’s closing keynote, discussing the Foundation’s work to accelerate the development of new breakthroughs for patients suffering from Parkinson’s.

Other speakers include investors from Louisiana, Texas, California, and other regions, as well as experts from major industry corporations Pfizer, Medtronic, and Becton Dickinson. Other leaders from Sultan Ventures, Carmell Therapeutics, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, Ochsner Health System, and numerous other organizations will also participate in panels.

Session topics will include finding funding for development and commercialization, building a strong team, conducting customer and market research, securing development partners, preparing to introduce innovations in clinical settings with doctors and patients and more.

According to a BIO industry report, average bioscience wages in Louisiana in 2014 were more than $35,000 higher than average wages in the wider private sector, according to the news release.

Registration and more information are available at neworleansbio.com/innovationla.

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