Symposium: Tue Feb 3–Thu Feb 5,
Rosenfield Center Room 101 See calendar for schedule

Speakers at a three-day symposium on global pharmaceuticals will address issues of access, patents and development, the politics of clinical trials, and public health policy affected by this international industry.

"Healthcare, as a human right, is significantly impacted by the cost, access, and development of pharmaceuticals," said Sarah Purcell, director of the Rosenfield Program in Public Affairs and symposium organizer. "In this symposium, policy and science will come together to examine the pharmaceuticals industry and its role in domestic and international politics."

Sponsored by the Rosenfield Program in Public Affairs, International Relations, and Human Rights, the symposium will include the following practitioners and policymakers:

Feb. 3, 4:15 p.m.: Rachel Nugent, deputy director for global health at the Center for Global Development in Washington, D.C. Nugent will discuss "Roles and Responsibilities in Preventing Global Drug Resistance." Nugent has more than 25 years experience as an economist and policy analyst for organizations such as the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the Populations Reference Bureau, and the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization.

Feb. 3, 8 p.m.: Ray Giguere, professor of chemistry at Skidmore College, will preview an upcoming exhibition at Grinnell in his talk "The Drugs in 'Molecules that Matter.'" Giguere is curator for the travelling exhibition "Molecules That Matter," which will open at Faulconer Gallery in September. "Molecules" showcases 10 organic molecules that altered way of life in the 20th century.

Feb. 4, 4:15 p.m.: A panel discussion on trends and issues in the pharmaceutical industry will be led by patent attorney and Grinnell alumnus David Rosenbaum. The panel will include Grinnell faculty and students and representatives from Grinnell Regional Medical Center.

Feb. 4, 8 p.m.: Geoffrey Allan, CEO of Insmed, will discuss "The Role of Biologic Drugs in the Continuing Rise of Health Costs — the Need for Change." Allan, who holds several U.S. and European drug patents, leads the Richmond, Va., company that manufactures bio-similar drugs or those that imitate other medicines.

Feb. 5, 11 a.m..: "Public Health Controversies and Vaccine Safety" will be the focus of the Scholars' Convocation by Kathleen Stratton, a scholar at the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine. Stratton, who has been associated with the institute for nearly 20 years, has conducted research on vaccine safety, pandemics, public health preparedness, and Food and Drug Administration regulation of safe drugs. She will also conduct a career hour with Grinnell students while on campus.

Feb. 5, 8 p.m.: The symposium will conclude with a discussion of "Pharma Wars: More ARVs, More than ARVs, More than Africa" by Brook Baker of the Northeastern University School of Law. Baker has taught and consulted at law schools in South Africa for more than 10 years, focusing on legal and clinical education related to HIV/AIDS, antiretroviral drugs (ARVs), and intellectual property. He is also co-chair of the Health GAP (Global Access Project), which seeks access and treatment for persons living with HIV/AIDS.

All symposium events will be held in the Joe Rosenfield '25 Center, Room 101, located at 1115 8th Ave on the Grinnell College campus. Throughout the symposium, the Rosenfield Center will carry an installation of "Pharmaceutical Windows," a grid of pills to illustrate the influence and change pharmaceuticals bring to daily life.