Building bridges between academia and industry: forms; foundations; functions.

The opening of a new medical research facility is, by definition, a tangible expression of progress, and a visible demonstration of continuing, firm dedication to medical science. In this particular instance, celebrating 75 years of pediatrics atYale, we are afforded a welcome opportunity to address a broad question raised often by those whose entire careers have been devoted to or are likely to be devoted to academic medicine. The questionwhat is the world of medical science like for those based in the often frenetic, sometimes tumultuous pharmaceutical industry can be answered in a number of ways. The "sound bite" answer is that it is a very different world, ferociously competitiveeven dog eat dog (which of course contrasts so sharply with academia where it is just the opposite). Our less flippant response will focus on the nature and importance of bridges connecting two of the three key players in our country's medical research enterprise: academia and industry. The third key player is, of course, government in its many forms and functions.