MedTech Members Addressed Bio/Med Industry Issues with Congressman Scott Murphy

Oct. 15, 2010 - PRLog -- ALBANY, N.Y.—U.S. Rep. Scott Murphy joined a small group of MedTech members in Albany today for a roundtable forum to discuss key issues facing companies in the bioscience and medical technology industry.

MedTech members from AMRI Global, AngioDynamics, BioSensors, Inc., Hodgson Russ LLP, Heslin Rothenberg Farley & Mesiti, as well as representatives from Delcath Systems, Inc. spoke candidly with Murphy at the event, held at the offices of Heslin Rothenberg Farley & Mesiti P.C. Among the issues discussed were the needs for connecting capital and talent with start-up companies in Upstate New York, and strategies to streamline funding for growing companies in the region.  

"The Bio/Med industry is a key growth sector for Upstate New York,” said Heather Erickson, president of MedTech. “Forums like today’s roundtable foster open discussion among business leaders and elected officials and lead to the collaborative efforts that create new jobs in our region.”

The Bio/Med industry employs close to 130,000 New York state residents, with about 95,000 of those jobs located Upstate, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

"The medical device and health technology industry is one of the largest private sector job creators and employers in the 20th Congressional District, but I know there is still room for growth and expansion," said Murphy. "At today's forum, we strategized how to grow our existing companies, as well as attract new companies to our region, in order to grow our overall economy.”

During the past year, Murphy has worked closely with the Bio/Med companies in the 20th Congressional District. Today, he said, “We are all focused on bringing additional medical device and health technology jobs to Upstate New York, and I will continue to work closely with this group to ensure we are bringing those jobs here, and not sending them overseas."

"MedTech members value the opportunity to discuss factors that drive growth in their companies, and Congressman Murphy has been a strong voice for these concerns in his district and in Washington," Erickson said.

Participants also touched on industry-wide issues such as where healthcare reform is affecting their companies, and where uncertainty at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration might be cleared up to help their companies make better plans.

To learn more about MedTech and Upstate New York’s Bio/Med industry, visit http://www.medtech.org.

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MedTech is an active association of pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical technology companies, their suppliers and service providers, and research universities. For more information, visit http://www.medtech.org.