There is something different about the newly-formed Israel Brain Technology (IBT) organization, with its inaugural BrainTech conference planned for mid-October in Tel Aviv. The group was the brainchild of Israel s President, Shimon Peres. In May 2011, on the podium of the large Israel Biomed conference, Peres expressed his desire to see Israel grow in this virgin landscape of brain technologies. Unravelling the secrets of this complex system, he said, is an area where we in Israel should excel.

The IATA Biomed Israel conference is planned in Tel Aviv for early next month. The organizing committee is expecting approximately 6,000 visitors, over 1,000 of whom are expected from outside Israel. The conference focuses on life science and device innovations of different stages, from Teva Pharmaceuticals (Petach Tikva), to technology startups with a name, limited IP, and no full-time employees. The environment is ripe for generating new ideas, and especially for local and international networking. Last year's 3,500 one-on-one networking meetings will likely be equaled in number this year, and based on the number of returning guests, there seems to be great promise in the Promised Land.

WASHINGTON – While the intrinsic value of using companion diagnostics to target the right drugs to the right patients is recognized by all components of the health care system, including drugmakers, diagnostic developers, clinician and patient interest groups and payers, more cohesion is needed among all those parties – and at earlier stages in development – for personalized medicine to reach its potential value.