Academic Convocation Tackles Health Care and Life Sciences Issues

Speakers will also address issues surrounding the use of the EPCglobal Network in HLS and other industries. John Williams, director of the Auto-ID Labs at MIT, will look at ways to build an EPCglobal Network simulator to support HLS e-pedigree scenarios. Another core issue of interest to everyone looking to use the EPCglobal Network to share data—whether in HLS or other industries—is how to build a robust infrastructure capable of handling the data load. Steve Georgevitch, Boeing's total asset visibility manager for advanced logistics support systems, will address "stress analysis issues and methodology for EPC network constructs."

In addition, the group will look at some of the physical challenges of using RFID in HLS. Two presenters from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will reveal, for the first time, the results of tests the FDA has performed to determine the effects of RFID interrogators on implanted cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators.

Marlin Mickle, director of the RF Prototyping and Measurements Laboratory at the University of Pittsburg, will explain the physics of RFID in relation to pharmaceutical products and reveal findings from real-world pharmaceutical distribution pilots. J.P. Emond, co-director of the Center for Food Distribution and Retailing at the University of Florida, Gainesville, will discuss HF versus UHF in pharmaceutical supply chains. And Robb Clarke, a professor in the School of Packaging at Michigan State University, will report on item-level tagging experiences with pharmaceutical products.

Moreover, there will be other presentations of interest to both those inside and outside the HLS industry (see the complete agenda), because many of the issues are common to all supply chains and IT infrastructures.

The goal is to foster collaboration between RFID labs doing critical research, end user companies facing implementation issues and vendors seeking to supply products that meet end users needs. Judging by the quality of the end users and academics participating, it should be a fruitful event.

Mark Roberti is the founder and editor of RFID Journal. If you would like to comment on this article, click on the link below.