Conference 7.286::digital

2274.0. "DEC and POPI?" by ESOA12::BRAMHALL () Fri Dec 11 1992 18:08

   The following is a LIVEWIRE message. Why has DEC chose to participate
    in this? What expertise to we bring to the table. Does Win have a
    biology background? I would appreciate any additional info on our
    involvement here. 
    
                       > Digital joins advisory board of MIT's
                      >Program on the Pharmaceutical Industry

  >Digital has joined the advisory board of the Massachusetts Institute of 
  >Technology's Program on the Pharmaceutical Industry (POPI).  Win Hindle, 
  >senior vice president, has been named to the board.  Digital is the sole 
  >computer vendor represented on the POPI Board.  Other members include 
  >executives from leading worldwide pharmaceutical firms such as Merck & 
  >Company and Pfizer Inc.

  >Founded in April 1991 with a major grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, 
  >POPI is a multi-disciplinary program involving the MIT Schools of Management, 
  >Engineering and Science.  Its primary objective is to foster an interest in 
  >the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and related industries among students and 
  >faculty. 

 
  Digital joins advisory board, cont'd 

  In addition to courses, POPI supports an extremely active research program 
  designed to encourage study of the pharmaceutical industry's most critical 
  areas, such as new drug development and regulatory approval.  Key to the 
  program is the opportunity to interact with leading decision-makers to 
  understand the process of change in the pharmaceutical industry and its 
  evolving role in delivering healthcare.

I thought it would be obvious why we have joined this group.  The 
objectives of the group clearly show how beneficial our 
participation will be.

If you want the full details, I suggest that you talk to Nancy 
Strecker, the Pharms IBU Director.  She gave a very good 
explanation of our commiment to this body at the recent Digital 
University held in OPIO, Valbonne.

re .1
I am going to assume since the author of .0 wrote the memo the reason is 
not obvious.

DEC actually sells quite a bit of software through one of its 3rd parties 
(Pallette) to the Pharmacuetical industry.  There is an American regulation 
requiring drug companies to keep very close record of what they do in each 
batch of drugs made.  I think it is called a Electronic Batch Record 
System.  I am not in the industry at all, but am familiar with a DEC 
product that is heavily used there.  The needs for automation in that 
industry are very large, and it is very quickly expanding industry.

I have no means of finding out what was said in Opio France, but I would 
think a growing industry with growing needs would be a good place to 
target.

Matt