The newly named Stanford Mussallem Center for Biodesign expands its scope

The Stanford Byers Center for Biodesign is now the Stanford Mussallem Center for Biodesign, thanks to a generous naming gift from philanthropists, Linda and Mike Mussallem that will support the center during coming. Mike Mussallem, a pioneer in the medical technology industry who has served as chairman and CEO of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation for more than 20 years, and his wife, Linda, are donating resources to help sustain the program in perpetuity and making expansion reach critical areas. policy, life science innovation and promoting greater health equity.

“With world-class training, innovative strategies, and a unique approach to finding health solutions that are affordable and accessible, the next chapter of Stanford Biodesign will have a huge impact.” to patients, health care providers and the community here and around the world,” said Stanford University President Jonathan Levin. “We are very grateful to Mussallems for this gift, which will help the institution do what we do best at Stanford — inventing solutions — for better health and for more people than ever before.”

As an integral part of the university’s business environment for more than two decades, Stanford Biodesign is recognized worldwide for providing the first training programs for people who wish to develop biotechnology. beauty. It is an important part of Stanford’s efforts to translate new knowledge into impactful solutions that help people around the world.

“Stanford Medicine’s rich array of resources and core clinical and research facilities provide a platform on which to build this exciting division of Stanford Biodesign,” said Lloyd Minor, Carl and Elizabeth Naumann Dean of the School. of Medicine and vice president for medical affairs at Stanford University. “This facility has made great strides over the past two decades in the development of health technology.” Acknowledging Silicon Valley business coach Brook Byers, MBA ’70, he added, “I want to extend my gratitude to Brook for his longtime support and to Linda and Mike for giving resources to ensure the program’s growth and longevity.”

“Stanford is unique in its ability to bring together different disciplines – engineering, medicine, business, humanities and more – into a cohesive environment that drives innovation; there is no other place like it,” he said. Jennifer Widom, Frederick Emmons Terman Dean of the School of Engineering. translate into real-world solutions where they are needed most.”

Changing lives through creativity

The gift supporting the new Stanford Mussallem Center for Biodesign is the couple’s first at the university and reflects their belief in the center’s power to empower communities around the world to innovate for the benefit of their citizens. During his time as chairman and CEO of Edwards Lifesciences, Mike Mussallem made philanthropy a core of the company’s culture by creating a business foundation that has given millions of dollars to nonprofit organizations.

Together, the couple founded their family’s philanthropic foundation, The Linda and Mike Mussallem Foundation, to support four important causes: improving the health of the next generation, treating childhood heart defects , a person’s overall health and well-being. for those born with Down syndrome, as both Mussallems had older siblings with the gene. Mussallems also support many social and educational institutions.

“Working in the medtech industry, I developed a passion for helping patients. It became my compass and a priority in my life. While Stanford Biodesign’s history is fascinating, we believe that I can have a bigger impact,” said Mike Mussallem. “We believe in the mission of the institute, the students and the partners of them. There is much that can be done for patients around the world.”

Proven construction

Stanford Biodesign’s innovation process is what sets it apart. Rather than starting with a need-finding solution, the Biodesign approach prioritizes identifying and understanding the unmet need first, and then uses a pragmatic and disciplined process to design solutions and design solutions. the process. Three simple steps – identify, design, implement – can be used repeatedly, in any setting and in any patient care setting. This proven track record, along with strong ties developed across Silicon Valley and health technology, has made the institute an example of what can be achieved when academia and industry work together in partnership. More than 50 institutions worldwide have established programs designed at Stanford Biodesign.

As the new Stanford Mussallem Center for Biodesign begins this exciting next phase, new policy initiatives, life science innovation, and efforts to improve health equity will expand the scope of the program’s impact.

• Strategy: The new strategic plan will advance timely, evidence-based, non-conventional research to address today’s health improvement challenges. With physical and virtual events in Silicon Valley and Washington, DC, the program will be a hub to gather and educate policymakers, researchers, funders and other experts on how technology can be used to achieve better patient outcomes, expand access, and reduce costs. – faster than ever. Current areas of interest include artificial intelligence management; coding, servicing, and billing medical technologies; regulatory issues with cell and gene therapy; orphan disease law; and health data sharing.

• Life science presentation: With the addition of program funding, the agency will continue to expand the scope of training courses to support innovation across the life sciences. The program’s training programs will be developed to be functional and effective for medical devices, digital health, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, diagnostics, services and other fields. This will equip participants to be innovative and influential in solving many health problems.

• Equality of health: The center will create new partnerships in the United States and around the world as part of a broader effort to improve patient access and health outcomes for traditionally underserved populations. By creating initiatives such as East Africa Biodesign, pursuing new opportunities for collaboration with historically Black colleges and medical schools in the United States, and expanding development efforts focused on maternal and child health , Stanford Biodesign will bring the Biodesign approach to even more demanding manufacturers. help foster the innovation needed to bring important health care solutions to patients and their caregivers.

Stanford Biodesign alumni have founded 57 health technology companies based on projects initiated during their training. Collectively, these companies have helped more than 13 million people worldwide.

The institute is led by co-founder Josh Makower, a professor of medicine and bioengineering who is now the Byers Family Director. The new position honors Brook Byers, who has been a mentor and coach since the institute’s inception and remains a strong supporter of the program. Byers welcomed the Mussallems to the Stanford Biodesign family saying, “Mike is a renowned CEO in the life sciences industry. This gift is enhanced by the expertise he will share in innovation, management, reimbursement, strategy and improving the clinical care of patients.”

“Stanford Biodesign was founded with an ambitious vision to create a network of training and support for students, colleagues and faculty who have the talent and desire to become health technology innovators here at Stanford and around the world,” Makower said. “With this new gift, we will be able to grow the program while focusing on our core values ​​of innovation, collaboration, compassion, diversity, integrity and leadership.”