Neurotech Network to Unveil Public Awareness Campaign for Industry

Neurotech Network, the Tampa, FL nonprofit organization, plans to launch a public awareness campaign to help promote the neurotechnology industry. Jennifer French, executive director of Neurotech Network, intends to announce details of the campaign on October 26 at the Neurotech Leaders Forum in Newport Beach, CA.

The goal of the new campaign is to target three major challenges facing the industry: reimbursement, market access, and awareness. A major part of the initiative is a public relations campaign targeted at trade publications, medical journals, and consumer media. French is also planning a direct outreach effort, which would include coordination with patient advocacy organizations and contact with more than 500 disability newsletters read by individuals with neurological diseases and disorders.

Neurotech Networks projects a budget of $500,000 for the campaign and will be seeking financial support from manufacturers of neurotechnology products. Several organizations are expected to announce their support for the initiative on October 26, including Neurotech Reports, the publisher of this newsletter, the Neurotechnology Industry Organization, the International Neuromodulation Society, and CoActive Public Relations of San Francisco, CA.

As part of Neurotech Network's effort at direct outreach to end users and patient advocacy organizations, French has organized a panel discussion with disability leaders and individuals with neurological diseases and disorders, to take place at the Neurotech Leaders Forum on October 25, 2007 in Newport Beach, CA. Among the participants are representatives from the Huntington's Disease Society, the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Also participating are Simon Lewis, a stroke and brain injury survivor, and Maura Hofstadter from the Reeve-Irvine Research Center at University of California, Irvine.