"It was most natural for us to hold this event at Rambam. Prof. Rafi Beyar has been a leading advocate for BHLSI since its inception, and his commitment to enhancing Israel's life-sciences sector and working collaboratively with the Boston community has benefited entrepreneurs throughout Israel. Prof. Beyar, and Rambam as an institution, have opened the door for entrepreneurs' seeking to validate their science and technology."
 -- Robin JR Blatt, Director, Boston-Haifa Life Sciences Initiative

In March, Rambam Health Care Campus and its Director, Prof. Rafael Beyar, hosted the Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) Boston-Haifa Life Sciences Initiative (BHLSI) 3rd Annual Haifa Bio Seminar.

The event, subtitled "Israeli Innovations for Global Health: Translating Ideas into Winning Products," attracted 300 Israeli entrepreneurs -- CEOs, engineers, physicians and other scientists, and R&D professionals -- engaged in such fields as biotech, clean tech, medical-device design and pharmaceuticals.  

They came to hear keynote speaker Dr. Larry Kessler of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Center for Devices and Radiological Health, who directs the Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories and chairs the Global Harmonization Task Force. Dr. Kessler addressed FDA regulatory criteria for drug and medical-device safety and effectiveness.

The speakers' lineup also featured over a dozen venture capitalists and industrialists that advised participants about how to successfully raise capital, strategically build a business, and internationally market Israeli high-tech healthcare products.  Among them were Gilead Fortuna, Senior Research Fellow of the Technion's Neaman Institute and former Vice President of TEVA Pharmaceuticals. 
 
Israel annually registers the world's highest percentage of life-sciences patents per capita. For this reason, as Dr. Eli Opper, Chief Scientist of the Israel Ministry of Industry, Trade & Labor, told the audience, "promoting the industrialization of biotechnology is crucial for the sake of our country's economic future." 

Early stage entrepreneur and Rambam specialist-physician Dr. Itzhak Koifman of the General Intensive Care Unit attended dressed for work in blue hospital scrubs. "I earned my MD at the Technion, whose technological approach to medicine has enabled me to find solutions to clinical problems in situations where other doctors are stumped," he said, explaining the event's attraction for him. "I am involved in a startup and came to see what these people can teach me – and they have taught me a lot! Like an incubator, this event gives me tools to solve problems in business financing, planning and management."

Veteran entrepreneur Shai Levanon, CEO of Rcadia Medical Imaging Ltd. in Haifa, said he came not only for the networking and to hear Dr. Kessler, but also because of the RHCC imprimatur, adding, "To be invited to this program by Rambam and Prof. Beyar is like an automotive-industry entrepreneur's being invited to the main showroom of General Motors." 

BHLSI was launched in 2004 by the CJP Boston-Haifa Connection in collaboration with MATI Haifa and other Haifa-based organizations, and aims to catalyze business collaborations and enhance Haifa's visibility as a leader in the life sciences.  Sponsors of the 3rd Annual Haifa Bio Seminar included Bank Leumi, Ernst & Young, the Massachusetts Office of International Trade & Investment (MOITI), The Marker, and ZAG/S&W. Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav hosted a festive cocktail and networking reception.