Leading experts on life sciences, innovation, and economic development will be meeting in Birmingham this week for a biotechnology conference.

The Emerge BHM conference will be attended by former U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin; Susan Monarez, Deputy director of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health; Sandeep Patel, first director of BARDA’s Division of Research, Innovation, and Venture; and state and regional leaders including State Finance Director Bill Poole and Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin.

“In 2020, Alabama recorded more deaths than births for the first time ever, as COVID-19 revealed harsh truths about health disparities,” said Josh Carpenter, CEO of Southern Research, a conference organizer. “This conference is a chance to discuss the urgent and important efforts to address these disparities and expand precision medicine through the nationally acclaimed research and development institutions in Birmingham.”

The conference runs Thursday through Saturday. Activities include a tour of Birmingham’s civil rights district and the Lakeshore Foundation. Panels will be held at the University of Alabama at Birmingham on diversity in clinical trials, emerging pathogens, precision medicine, and public private partnerships.

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.