The Partners strategy is driven by its four-part mission: a fundamental commitment to patient care, research, teaching and service to the community locally and globally. While Partners has an international reputation in all of these areas, as the largest academic research enterprise in the U.S., it is a clear leader in research. In 2015, Partners’ research expenditures totaled more than $1.5 billion.

Research is essential to the health of our communities, our country and world. The treatments, tests, drugs and medical devices used today have come about as the result of successful past research—everything from basic science to clinical trials and patient-centered research, health services and epidemiological research.

But translating research breakthroughs into patient care is a complex process. At Partners, this is the mission of the Partners Innovation team, which has extensive experience in every aspect of the commercial application of research, including business development, deal making, company creation, licensing, IP management and investing.

Much of the work of Partners Innovation occurs behind the scenes. But one event, the annual World Medical Innovation Forum, attracts an international audience of 1,100 of science’s most prominent leaders—CEOs, investors, entrepreneurs and officers of venture-backed companies, business-minded clinicians and investigators, government principals and dealmakers.

This year’s forum, which will be held April 25–27 in Boston, will highlight state-of-the-art emerging approaches to diagnose, treat and manage cancer. A highlight of the forum will be a showcase of the most promising cancer technology innovations from around the world—12 technologies with the potential to revolutionize cancer treatment and patient care over the next decade. The selections, called “The Disruptive Dozen,” will be announced on the final day of the forum. Opening the forum will be rapid-fire presentations by emerging cancer research stars called “First Look: Next Wave of Cancer Breakthroughs.”

“We are pleased to team up with colleagues across all Partners institutions to discuss recent advances in the field of oncology,” said Monica Bertagnolli, MD, chief of BWH’s Division of Surgical Oncology and co-chair of the 2016 World Medical Innovation Forum. “The focus is on Partners research that promises to change the lives of cancer patients in the near future. The range of topics is broad and includes discussion of exciting original approaches, as well as breakthroughs in work that has been pursued for decades. Additional input from leaders in biotechnology will provide valuable insights into the real-world challenges of bringing new anti-cancer therapies to the clinic.”

Learn more about this year’s forum.