Meeting

On October 3rd, the IOM Forum on Neuroscience and Nervous System Disorders held a Workshop on Venture Philanthropy Strategies Used by Patient Organizations to Support Translational Research. The purpose of the meeting was to convene a group of key stakeholders and experts representing a variety of patient organizations involved in venture philanthropy supported translational research to identify and discuss best practices used that may improve efficiency and effectiveness. Areas that were discussed included:

• Criteria used to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to justify moving into translational research - both translational research from basic to clinical and from clinical research toward practice recommendations for the development of a novel drug and/or biomarker/diagnostic;
• Organizational structure, financial models, legal issues;
• Partnerships, data sharing, and IP;
• Communication strategies.