photoDr. Irwin Boe – Dr. Boe holds a Doctorate degree in Dental Surgery from University of Missouri at Kansas City, and a Master of Science degree in BioMedical Engineering from the University of Minnesota. He is the author of several scientific publications in Journals ranging from Biochemical and Biophysical Methods, Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior, to Psychopharmacology. He has spent over two decades doing research and development of dental and medical products including: Instrumentation, biosensor technology, drug delivery systems, catheters, Injection ports and pumps, and mechanical heart valves and joints. Dr. Boe is a patent holder, and he currently divides his time between clinical dentistry and product development. He has started several companies, managed several million dollar budgets, and a small army of employees.


D-Colbert-WebDon Colbert, Ph.D. – Don brings more than 30 years of professional experience in positions of increasing responsibility in academic, government, and industrial sectors involving research, business, education and training, and management and administrative responsibilities. He has worked on all aspects of science and technology development, transfer, regulation and commercialization. In the process, he has played a key role in the establishment of more than 25 new for-profit and non-profit organizations and has secured more than $35 million in contracts, grants and investments from a variety of sources to support these efforts. Colbert received a bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Irvine and a doctorate from Brown University. He completed postdoctoral training at the UCLA Molecular Biology Institute and Baylor College of Medicine’s Department of Cell Biology.


druesMichael Drues, Ph.D. – Dr. Drues is President of Vascular Sciences (www.vascularsci.com), an education, training, & consulting company offering a broad range of services to medical device, pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies including (but not limited to): stimulating & innovative educational programing, brain-storming sessions, prototype design, product development, benchtop & animal testing, regulatory strategy, intelligence & clinical trial design, FDA presentation preparation & defense, reimbursement, clinical acceptance, business development & technology assessment.

Dr. Drues received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Biomedical Engineering from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. He has worked for and consulted with leading medical device, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies ranging in size from start-ups to Fortune 100 companies. He also works on a regular basis for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Health Canada, the US and European Patent Offices, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and other regulatory and governmental agencies around the world.

Dr. Drues is an internationally recognized expert and featured keynote speaker on cutting-edge medical technologies and regulatory affairs. He conducts seminars and short-courses for medical device, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Health Canada, the US and European Patent Offices, the US Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services (CMS) and other regulatory and governmental agencies around the world.

Finally, Dr. Drues is an Adjunct Professor of Medicine, Biomedical Engineering & Biotechnology at several universities and medical schools. He regularly teaches graduate courses in Regulatory Affairs and Clinical Trials, Clinical Trial Design, Medical Device Regulatory Affairs and Product Development, Combination Products, Pathophysiology, Medical Technology, Translational Medicine and Biotechnology. Dr. Drues can be reached at:

Vascular Sciences
246 Magill Drive
Grafton, MA 01519
Phone: (508) 887-9486 / Fax: (508) 861-0205
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deniseDenise M. Fields – As Senior University Industry Relations Officer for the University of Missouri, a joint UMKC/MU appointment, Denise works with the Office of Research and Economic Development and Office of Technology Management and Industry Relations in assisting the creation of partnerships between the university and outside business entities. Denise has more than 20 years of management experience in both large, publicly held companies and smaller start-up companies. Denise began her career by focusing on the sales and marketing arena with such companies as Information Builders and Lotus Development. Denise graduated summa cum laude from Boston State College and earned an MBA from Northeastern University.


Tom-Krol-web1Thomas F. Krol, PharmD, CLP – Tom has more than 20 years of pharmaceutical, biotechnology and drug delivery experience spanning multiple roles in research and development, new product planning and development, technology assessment, competitive intelligence, marketing, licensing and business development in multiple therapeutic areas. In his corporate career, he led business development activities at Oakwood Laboratories and founded a specialty pharma company, Verenta Pharmaceuticals. He also worked at Cydex Pharmaceuticals, Pharmacia, Searle, Sanofi-Aventis and predecessor companies. Tom holds a B.S. in pharmacy from Ferris State University and PharmD from the University of Utah. He completed a residency at the University of Utah and a fellowship in clinical drug development at the University of North Carolina and the Burroughs Wellcome Company (now part of GSK). He is a registered pharmacist and certified licensing professional, as designated by the Licensing Executives Society.


DrTawfikWebOssama Tawfik, MD, Ph.D. – Dr. Tawfik holds several titles at the University of Kansas including that of Professor, Vice-Chair of Education and Outreach, Director of Anatomic and Surgical Pathology, Director of Surgical Pathology Fellowship Program, and Scientific Director of the Biospecimen Shared Resource Facility, at the KU Cancer Center. He has studied pathology in both the United States and Egypt and holds advanced degrees from countries. He has been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals more than 100 times. During his time at KU which began in 1982, he has become skilled at harnessing the resources at the university for collaborative projects, and is well-respected by his colleagues and by his peers in the scientific community.


vacek-james-2109.ashxJames L. Vacek, MD – Dr. Vacek is a medical device patent holder who specializes in cardiovascular diseases, Nuclear Cardiology, peripheral vascular disease and preventive cardiology. He is a board certified cardiologist who received his MS in clinical research and his MD at Creighton University. He completed his internships and residency at Barnes Jewish Hospital and Washington University-St. Louis before joining the University of Kansas Hospital. His areas of interests include coronary artery disease, cardiac arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. He is a Professor of Medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center where he teaches in the departments of Preventive Medicine and Public Health on the topic of Cardiovascular Epidemiology. Dr. Vacek has published over 170 articles in medical literature and has been co-author of more than 200 abstracts presented at medical meetings.


robynwoodRobyn Wood, B.G.S. – In 2009, Robyn joined the Institute for Advancing Medical Innovation at the University of Kansas as a Project Director. Ms. Wood has more than 30 years of experience working in drug and device development. Robyn began her career in the lab doing biopharmaceutical research for a small drug delivery company that was later acquired by Merck Research Labs. After spending 20 years in the lab, Robyn moved into project management of drug development projects and has worked with companies ranging from small virtual start-ups to large global organizations. Robyn directed Project Management departments for Pharmaceutical Contract Research Companies in the United States and the UK.