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Keynote Speakers Announced for the Ninth Annual LifeScience Alley(R) Conference & Expo

MINNEAPOLIS, Nov 11, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- LifeScience Alley announced today the four keynote speakers for the Ninth Annual LifeScience Alley Conference & Expo, to be held at the Minneapolis Convention Center on December 8, 2010. "Health Tomorrow," the 2010 Conference & Expo, will highlight Joseph Smith, MD, PhD, FACC, chief medical and science officer of the West Wireless Health Institute; Steven D. Pearson, MD, MSc, FRCP, president of the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) at Massachusetts General Hospital; Kenneth Stein, MD, FACC, chief medical officer for Boston Scientific's Cardiac Rhythm Management division; and Doris Taylor, PhD, Medtronic-Bakken chair in cardiac repair and director of the Center for Cardiovascular Repair.

All three keynote addresses will be centered on the theme of "Health Tomorrow", with a focus on the future of health care innovation. Joseph Smith and Steven D. Pearson will jointly participate in the breakfast general session presentation titled "Innovative Partnerships for New Health Solutions." Dr. Smith has served in leadership roles at Johnson and Johnson, Guidant/Boston Scientific, and in interventional cardiology and academia, and is currently leading initiatives to identify and accelerate innovative health technologies that will dramatically lower the cost of health care. From 2005-2006, Dr. Pearson was special advisor, technology and coverage policy, within the Coverage and Analysis Group at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. He has also served as senior fellow at America's Health Insurance Plans, and as the vice chair of the Medicare Evidence Development and Coverage Advisory Committee (MedCAC).

Kenneth Stein will deliver the luncheon keynote address titled "Proving Value in Innovation -- Challenges, Opportunities, and a New Paradigm for Clinical Science". Dr. Stein has published widely in the areas of cardiac electrophysiology, with special interest in cardiac resynchronization therapy and risk stratification for sudden cardiac arrest. He currently oversees the development and execution of clinical strategy for Boston Scientific's CRM division.

Dr. Doris Taylor will present the afternoon general session keynote address, "The Art and Science of Regenerative Medicine", during which she will discuss the latest in organ engineering and debates about the value of regenerative medicine. Dr. Taylor received global attention recently for creating a beating heart in her laboratory. Her research group is committed to moving cell, gene, and tissue-engineering-based therapies safely and effectively from bench to bedside, while at the same time preparing students and fellows to compete at an international level in the fields of biotechnology and regenerative medicine.

"Minnesota organizations are internationally recognized for pioneering technologies to improve the delivery and outcomes of health care," stated Liz Rammer, chief operations officer for LifeScience Alley. "Conference participants will have the opportunity to hear from industry thought leaders about new approaches that are rapidly changing the landscape of how innovative products and services are developed and integrated across disciplines."

About the LifeScience Alley Conference & Expo The largest gathering of life science industry professionals in the Midwest, LifeScience Alley's annual conference brings together global leaders in the life science and health care industry to identify trends, share expertise, and network across disciplines. This event includes participants from over 650 organizations worldwide and is expected to attract nearly 2,000 attendees this year. The 2010 conference features three keynote addresses and seven seminar tracks with 14 educational sessions. The goal of the conference is to equip attendees with information and resources that will help them stay ahead of the "Health Tomorrow" curve. For more information, visit www.lifesciencealley.org or www.lifesciencealleyconference.org.