Dr. Kenneth A. Bertram serves as the Principal Assistant for Acquisition for the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command and is a member of the Senior Executive Service since July 2009. He is responsible for the advanced development and acquisition of medical products (drugs, vaccines and devices) for the U.S. Army. His duties include the oversight of clinical trials, Food and Drug Administration product licensure, technology transfer to commercial partners, contracting, requirements prioritization and financial management. Dr. Bertram also serves as the U.S. Army’s Milestone Decision Authority for medical products.
ABOUT THE TWO-DAY SYMPOSIUM.
DAY 1 MEDICAL. Day one, Medical Support to the Warfighter, will connect businesses and academic researchers in North Carolina with military and other federal agencies that purchase or require medical supplies, equipment, devices, pharmaceuticals, information technology and services, or fund medical-related research and development. Representatives from the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs and Health and Human Services, their prime vendors and major contractors – from national commands and from bases/facilities in North Carolina – will highlight current technology gaps and needs, future requirements and procurement processes to supply military and federal medical facilities and agencies. All medical-related businesses in North Carolina – large or small, prime contractors, suppliers or subs, manufacturers, researchers or service providers – will benefit from briefings on military requirements procurement processes and supplier qualifications, one-on-one meetings with buyers and users, and from exhibiting or viewing demonstrations of the latest medical technologies designed to support America’s warfighters.
DAY 2 BIOMEDICAL/BIODEFENSE. Day two, Biomedical and Biodefense Support to the Warfighter, will focus on navigating biomedical and biodefense innovation in order to provide effective solutions to our warfighters and our nation. The morning will focus on the current state of our nation’s biodefense capabilities and involve the primary federal agencies that support and fund important biodefense innovations. It will also include a panel that will highlight North Carolina’s role in biodefense preparation. The afternoon will showcase North Carolina’s strengths in two important areas that affect soldiers, veterans and the civilian population. The first session will look at the challenges of diagnosing and treating traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. The second session will highlight the challenges faced with Emerging Infectious Diseases and connect real world experiences learned from the Ebola outbreak to potential future epidemics. Day two is aimed at establishing dialogue between industry, academia and government in order to form partnerships to address the future biomedical and biodefense technology needs of the military and our nation.
KEYNOTE ANNOUNCEMENT:
