How better to start the 2012 Design of Medical Devices Conference at the University of Minnesota than with a 5K Fun Run and Walk?

On Monday, April 9, the U of M Medical Device Fellows for 2011-2012 will hold the event for the fourth year. The 5K run is just two blocks away from the conference location – at the University Hotel Minneapolis – and race check-in starts at 6 p.m. Check in will be along Church Street SE, directly in front of the Mechanical Engineering Building. The race will begin at 7 p.m.

Map of the race route can be found at http://outdoor.umn.edu/files/5k-map.pdf . Water stations will be located along the route and times will be called out as runners and walkers cross the finish line. T-shirts and refreshments will be provided to registered participants. There will also be prizes for the fastest male and female runners. A prize will also be awarded to the company with the most checked-in runners and walkers.

The cost to participate is $20. The price goes up to $25 on April 8, so don't wait.

To register for the race, go to http://register.cce.umn.edu/Course.pl?sect_key=186122

The Medical Devices Center's Innovation Fellows Program is a full immersion educational and product development program for medical device creation. Each fall, the program brings together a cross-disciplinary team comprised of postgraduate engineers, medical device professionals and physicians to develop medical devices across a broad range of clinical areas. The team, led by Saurav Paul, will collaborate for one year and will consider the FDA regulatory pathway, insurance reimbursement, intellectual property and business strategies. This one-year product development experience includes identification, development, prototyping and testing of medical devices.