The young investor with an idea has to negotiate many institutional, federal, and industrial challenges in order to get a product to market and has little knowledge of the steps in the development of new drugs, diagnostics, or devices. This volume contains the proceedings of the Symposium on Idea to Product: The Process, held in Washington D.C. from November 17 - 20, 1994. Written and edited by eminent authorities in the field, the papers herein contain timely, practical information on planning clinical research, identifying funding opportunities, details of drug development, negotiating the system, understanding the organization and function of the FDA, patenting and licensing, clinical trial development and design, and starting a medical product business. A must for those planning a career in academic medicine as well as for established academicians seeking an organized, comprehensive overview of the process.