The first ever BioAgenda 2004 Summit Was a Success!  On December 5-7, over 150 leaders in biotechnology and life sciences, including journalists, activists, policy makers, a high school teacher, artists and thinkers, gathered in Palm Springs, on the high desert to discuss and debate stem cells, drug pricing, science and politics, what works and doesn't work in the economics of biotech, and the future of life. Over the course of 2-1/2 days we packed in 24 hours of panels and fireside chats; presentations of leading-edge science from our BioAgenda Innovators and new ideas for reform of biotech and life sciences in our BioAgenda Challenges. On the opening night, we watched scenes from plays on scientific themes and had a world premiere of photographer Mariana Cook's new series, "The Faces of Science."   We worked the participants hard and left many with their heads spinning, but the comments were universally positive about the experience and the uniqueness of assembling so many different points of view delivered by smart, articulate speakers about crucial issues and policies. Participants said that they needed more time to ask questions, and more time to download and discuss in longer breaks, but we achieved the major goal of our young effort -- to get people thinking, and talking. Nearly everyone said they would return. Look for transcripts and reports from the summit on this site in the coming weeks and months! To see the final program, topics, and speakers, click here. Another item of feedback from participants is where we go with the excitement generated by the summit. What is the plan of action? In 2005, BioAgenda plans to launch an aggressive program to continue the dialogue by holding events around the country. We also plan to launch our nonprofit biotech policy institute (click here to read more about it). The first order of business for the BioAgenda Institute will be to turn material from the summit and other BioAgenda events into reports and white papers. Then it will be up to us all to disseminate this material -- to executives, scientists, politicians, activists, and the public; to ramp up the intellectual vigor of the debate by presenting data, analysis and the assembled opinions of diverse groups.   Important dates: June 2005: BioAgenda officially launched its effort to start a biotech and life sciences policy institute. February 2006: Discover Magazine, in its February 2006 issue, will publish an article and edited transcript of our final panel at the summit, the Discover Roundtable. The topic was: "The politics of biotech: How best should leading-edge science move forward in an age of political polarization?", moderated by Atlantic Monthly writer James Fallows.   March 8-10, 2006: The second annual BioAgenda Summit will be held at the La Quinta Resort & Club in Palm Springs, CA. Also look for events and programs in your area, to be announced. Thanks to all who participated -- our participants, speakers, underwriters, Board of Advisors, Council of Journalists, co-organizers, and the amazing BioAgenda Team!
LaQuinta Resort & Club, Palm Springs, California, USA The BioAgenda 2004 Summit is a gathering of luminaries, thinkers and communicators to attend a 2-1/2 day forum to interact and discuss crucial issues for the coming year in biotech and life sciences, shaped around special panels, chats, presentations, and discussions. Unlike other programs that focus mostly on finance and science, BioAgenda will cover economics, law, science, politics, ethics, society, communication, and culture, discussed peer-to-peer in an informal environment. Do we need a new FDA? What will humans look like in 100 years? Is personalized medicine for real? Is there a genetics of the soul? Globalization, synthetic life, the viability of the biotech business, and challenges on policy, science, and issues. The summit will also explore issues as interpreted by society, with offerings from playwrights, artists, performers, filmmakers, and thinkers. You will be amazed and surprised! Click any of the links on the right-hand side of this page for more information about this exciting event!	BioAgenda 2004 Summit Program. Issues and topics we are exploring. Confirmed Speakers and Moderators.  Why you should attend the BioAgenda 2004 Summit.