Key Points from Peer2Peer Discussion Group

We met last week to discuss how best to work with contract service providers in our AZBio Peer-2-Peer luncheon. The session took two perspectives – utilizing services and providing services. The following outline captures some of the key points that were brought out in the discussion.

• What important factors do you consider when selecting a service provider?
  
  • Clear needs?
    
  • Good capability match?
    
  • Cost competitive?
    
  • Delivery speed?
    
  • Total service offering (i.e. "package")?
    
  • Partnership opportunity?
    
  • Culture match?
    
• How do you maintain good communication with a contract service provider?
  
  • Verbal communications (face-to-face where possible)
    
  • Frequent communication
    
  • Open and transparent with issues
    
  • Multilevel communication
    
  • Taylor to match personal style/preferences
    
  • Be flexible with communication approach
    
• How do you ensure that service providers deliver on schedule?
  
  • Establish series of deadlines/milestones
    
  • Document expected deliverables
    
  • Do a good job defining the scope of work
    
  • Establish clear specifications
    
  • Document agreements
    
  • Use tools (online and email) to keep schedule visible
    
  • Establish contingencies
    
• How do you ensure service providers satisfy your quality expectations?
  
  • Set expectations at the outset
    
  • Keep Quality Control people in the loop
    
  • Perform audits along the way
    
  • Utilize certifications
    
  • Establish a quality agreement
    
  • Work with first with a good reputation
    
• How do you build long-term relationships with service providers?
  
  • …. Ran out of time.
    

Many of these ideas are common sense but it's good to be reminded of them. Feel free to add your comments to this list.

Simulating Your Next Back Surgery

The day is coming when your spine surgery will be performed virtually using advanced computer simulation to practice and plan for the real thing. PADT Medical is currently working with Neil Crawford, PhD at the Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) to develop the Virtual Spine Surgeon software system. The program, which is funded by the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging And Bioengineering (NIBIB), has the ultimate goal to "improve the outcome of surgery, shorten the time under anesthesia, and improve the confidence of the patient and surgeon". PADT is providing software development, finite element modeling, and rapid prototyping expertise to help construct a system that will convert pre-operative images (CT or MRI) into a patient specific model that can be used to suggest refinements to the surgery and ultimately create templates and drill guides for intraoperative use.

Screen Grab from Virtual Spine Surgeon program.

Increasingly, finite element modeling is being used to predict surgical outcomes and device performance. Contact us If you are interested learning more about how we can help you accelerate your medical device development program using finite element modeling.

Join Our Team

Interested in joining the PADT Medical team? We are looking to build our local network of medical device development engineers. Click Here if you're interested in learning more.

Working with Contract Service Suppliers

Please join us next week at Dave & Buster's for the monthly Peer-to-Peer luncheon. We will be participating in the discussion about Contract Service Providers. The first luncheon received positive reviews and we look forward to making it even better. Here is more information about the event.

AZBio's Greater Phoenix Peer2Peer Lunch Series

On the second Thursday of each month, senior representatives of bioscience companies are invited to participate in round-table discussions at Dave & Buster's in Tempe. This is your opportunity to interact with colleagues, share your experiences and/or have your questions answered by experienced peers in your industry.

Thursday, October 9: How do bioscience companies select and manage contract service providers to maximize their value to the organization?

Increasingly bioscience companies rely on contract service providers to perform a range of specialized services. According to Drug Development and Discovery Magazine, "The forces driving the decision to outsource research services are the lack of in-house technology, the desire to accomplish the project more quickly, and the lack of in-house staff. A lack of in-house technology and expertise, along with the need to accomplish research quickly spurs the decision to outsource projects."

Unfortunately, bioscience companies often fail to realize the potential benefits of working with a contract service provider. Why does this happen and what can we do about it? The purpose of this luncheon is to share and discuss methods that you have found helpful when selecting and managing contract service providers.

Here are some questions for discussion:

1. What important factors do you consider when selecting a service provider?
2. How do you maintain good communication with a contract service provider?
3. How do you ensure that service providers deliver on schedule?
4. How do you ensure service providers satisfy your quality expectations?
5. How do you build long-term relationships with service providers?

This is your opportunity to interact with colleagues and to have your questions answered by experienced peers in your industry. Please email questions you would like to get covered during this lunch to natascha@azbio.org or call 602-495-2938.

Space is limited - reserve your seat by registering here or visiting our website at http://www.azbio.org/

See you there.

10+ Years of Bioscience Success

PADT Medical was recently recognized at the AZBio Annual Awards Dinner for over 10 years of participation in Arizona's Bioscience Industry. We are proud of this accomplishment and we look forward to many more years of helping innovators take their medical device concept to market. To learn more about ways we support bioscience companies visit our website at www.padtmedical.com.

PADT Invests in Kinetic Muscles

Last month, PADT invested in an exciting emerging company called Kinetic Muscles Inc. (KMI).  KMI is a Tempe based medical device company that has been working to develop a more effective treatment for stroke survivors.  Founded in 2001 by Jim and Ed Koeneman, KMI has been working steadily to develop and prove its technology and has received several prestigious awards - including Medical Device Company of the year from the Arizona Bioindustry Association.  
 
In 2007, KMI conducted a nationwide launch of their the "Hand Mentor Pro™".  The Hand Mentor™ helps stroke survivors regain use of their hand and wrist by engaging them in a series of game-like repetitive exercises that increasingly challenges the patient to move their hand on their own.  The product is based on the principal of neuroplasticity - which simply implies that a stroke impaired brain can relearn how to control the muscles with proper stimulation, effort, and time. 
 
KMI is now developing a number of additional rehabilitation products all targeting the $65 Billion dollar stroke market and based on the same technology resident in the Hand Mentor.  Simultaneously, KMI is expanding its marketing effort in the US and overseas to generate rapid growth.  To support this expansion, KMI is now accepting Angel and Venture Capital funding.  For more information, please contact KMI's CEO, Grant Farrell, gfarrell@kineticmuscles.com.

It’s Show Time

PADT Medical will be exhibiting in two medical device conferences this fall and we encourage you to come and visit us. On September 10^th and 11^th we will be exhibiting at the BIOMEDDevices conference in San Jose, CA. This conference is a comprehensive resource for medical device and biopharmaceutical development and manufacturing.

On October 29^th and 30^th, we will be exhibiting at the Third Annual Annual California Medical Device Forum in Orange County, CA. This conference is expected to draw over 500 participants from across the U.S. The past two years have been an exciting mix of entrepreneurs, start-ups, large companies, venture capitalists, the university sector and strategic advisors. The conference is organized by OCTANe, an organization is fueling "innovation development" in Orange County and Southern California. By connecting people, capital and technology, OCTANe accelerates entrepreneurs and company development for Orange County's biomedical and information technology community.

We hope to see you there.