Call for Papers
PIUG 2014 Biotechnology Conference - Staying on the Cutting Edge of Biotechnology Patent Searching

Monday February 24 to Wednesday February 26, 2014, Genzyme Inc., 500 Kendall Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, +1 (617) 252-7500

Now in its eighth year, the PIUG Biotechnology Conference focuses on best practices for patent information professionals who specialize in biotechnology search and analysis. This year’s theme is, "Staying on the Cutting Edge of Biotechnology Patent Searching." As biologics account for an increasing share of product approvals and pipelines, biotechnology searchers face new challenges in efficient delivery of strategic information to facilitate informed decision making and foster innovation of new biologic products.

CALL FOR PAPERS: We are pleased to announce the Call for Papers for the PIUG 2014 Biotechnology Conference to be held February 24-26, 2014 at Genzyme Corp., Cambridge MA, with the plenary session on Tuesday, February 25 and workshops on Monday and Wednesday, February 24 and 26.

The deadline for abstract submissions is earlier this year: September 13, 2013

CONFERENCE DETAILS: The PIUG Biotechnology Conference focuses on best practices for patent information professionals who specialize in biotechnology search and analysis. This year’s theme is: “Staying on the Cutting Edge of Biotechnology Patent Searching”.

Biotechnology and the research categorized as such, continues to evolve to include many diverse inventive areas. The products created from biotechnological research include antibodies and other biologic drugs, molecular diagnostics, biochips, medical devices, amongst others, and the biosequence and text-based information in this area is voluminous and complex.

Acquiring and maintaining the skills necessary for efficient search and delivery of strategic IP information is a challenge to patent information professionals.

TOPICS: We are interested in:
- Presentations on aspects of science or patent law that are helpful for biotech patent searchers to know, as well as search tools and techniques.
- Presentations by biotech patent searchers or their managers, clients or vendors about helpful training, education, mentoring or apprenticeship experiences. It is recognized that the type of one’s institution such as pharma or biotech companies, research institutions, or patent offices, as well as the size of the institution, may impact one’s perspective on this.
- Participants for a panel discussion of experienced biotechnology patent searchers to share how they learned their trade.
- Also, as always, we would be interested in presentations about a specific search scenario, with strategy, databases used, results identified etc.

The theme is meant to inspire but not limit topic selection – all topics related to biotechnology patent information research will be considered.

PAPER SUBMISSION PROCEDURE: General Guidelines for submitting proposal/topic/ideas - Note: presentations are typically 30 minutes but this may vary.

Interested speakers should submit the following to helen_oen at eisai dot com and alison.taylor at abbott dot com by Sep. 13, 2013:

1. Proposed speaker name
2. Brief biography
3. Full contact information
4. Presentation title
5. Abstract (100 – 200 words)

If you are interested in submitting a paper but need extra time to obtain your management approval, please let us know by the Sep. 13, 2013 deadline and if possible provide the topic title &/or a few sentences that we can consider in the interim.

The organizers reserve the right to accept abstracts at their discretion in order to assemble the best possible program. Invited speakers may take precedence over other speakers. Please be advised that your abstract submission may be published on the PIUG web site and related media, shortly after receipt or at any time thereafter. Therefore, do not include confidential or business-sensitive information in your abstract.

If you would like to recommend a speaker on a particular topic or suggest another topic of interest, we would appreciate hearing from you. Please do not hesitate to contact the PIUG 2014 Biotechnology Conference organizers, listed below, with your views.

FURTHER INFORMATION: Further news about the program and updates regarding the conference will be posted on the PIUG Discussion Forum (PIUG-DF) and on the PIUG website at http://www.piug.org

Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to seeing you at the PIUG 2014 Biotech Conference!

THE PIUG 2014 BIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRAM COMMITTEE:
Co-Chairs: Helen Oen, Alison Taylor
Members: Qin Meng, Barbara Miller, Bo Peng, Greg Roland, Kim Spytek
PIUG 2014 Biotechnology Planning Committee
Co-Chairs: Qin Meng, Monica Weiss-Nolen
PIUG 2014 Biotechnology Workshop Chair: Elyse Turner