Wiet Life Science Law Scholars Workshop

Friday, September 20, 2024

9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Loyola University Chicago School of Law’s Beazley Institute for Health Law and Policy is pleased to announce our annual Wiet Life Science Law Scholars Workshop. The event will be held at Loyola University Chicago Corboy Law Center on Friday, September 20, 2024.

The workshop is designed to provide an intellectual venue for life science law professors, scholars, and practitioners to convene and discuss current research and scholarship. The term “life science law” encompasses projects from diverse legal fields where life sciences research and development play a pivotal role, which could include biotechnology; food and drug; health and medicine, including issues involving access to affordable treatments; intellectual property; environmental; health equity; reproductive justice; administrative; privacy; and antitrust law. Our goal is to foster recognition of life science law as a cohesive, dynamic area of legal study and strengthen connections among national life science law scholars. Accordingly, topics without a life science connection will not be considered even if they cover a legal topic that sometimes has a life science connection (for example, not every antitrust or intellectual property issue intersects with life science law).

CALL FOR PAPERS

Loyola is currently soliciting 750-1,000-word abstracts reflecting works at least in mid-stage process of draft completion (after most of relevant research has been conducted) for the purpose of meaningful workshopping with expert commentators and other selected scholars. We will allot presentation time for each scholar, followed by intensive discussion with expert commentators and scholar attendees; we estimate about 45 minutes total discussion time for each scholar’s work. Given the substantial feedback provided, we will preference abstracts for articles, but may consider book chapters. Articles accepted for publication will be considered if there is ample time for scholars to incorporate workshop discussions into revisions; if your article has been accepted for publication, please indicate the anticipated publication date. Up to five scholars will be selected to present and provide feedback to other scholars at the workshop. Junior scholars, including those in fellowship positions, are particularly encouraged to apply and will be prioritized in the selection process. Full drafts will be made available at least two weeks prior to the event to all scholar participants for advance review to facilitate effective feedback.

Submission and Review Timeline

The deadline for submission is Monday, July 1. Submit via email to health-law@luc.edu (and cc: jparadise@luc.edu) with subject line Wiet Life Science Law 2024. Your submission should include:

(1) An email with the following information contained in the body: author name, article title, professional title, institution, contact information, and the names of three U.S. scholars that you believe would provide insightful feedback and comments on your article; and

(2) A separate Word or PDF document as an attachment containing the 750-1,000-word abstract omitting author name and any identifying information to permit blind review.

Selected scholars will be notified by email by Monday, July 15. If selected, authors must commit to provide a full draft. For those selected to participate, the deadline for the full draft (15,000-20,000 words for a law review article or 10,000 words for a book chapter) is Wednesday, September 4.

Note: The Beazley Institute for Health Law & Policy also hosts an annual symposium on topics of health law and policy each Fall. Scholars are welcome to submit to both this Wiet Call for Papers and the Beazley symposium Call for Papers.

COSTS AND ACCOMMODATIONS

The workshop is generously funded by Loyola University Chicago law alumnus Mitchell Wiet (JD ’65) and his wife Fran Wiet. Admission to the workshop, a one-night stay at a local Chicago hotel, conference day meals, and workshop reception, are free. Attendees must generally cover their own flight and other travel. In the case that funding for travel is not covered by home institutions, scholars may apply for travel funding as part of their abstract submission by including a statement of travel funding requests and reason; priority in travel funding will be provided to junior scholars. Additional hotel funds may also be available for those traveling significant distances; please also submit an interest statement and reasons for additional night hotel. Funds are limited and requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis

QUESTIONS

Contact Professors Jordan Paradise at jparadise@luc.edu or Cynthia Ho at cho@luc.edu with questions about abstract and draft submissions. For logistical questions, please contact Grace Pyatt at health-law@luc.edu.

ABOUT THE BEAZLEY INSTITUTE

Established in 1984, Loyola’s Beazley Institute for Health Law and Policy has evolved into a nationally recognized center dedicated to the education of health and life science law leaders and policymakers, and to the study and furtherance of the field. The Institute publishes two journals and offers more than thirty health law, life science law, and compliance courses. The Beazley Institute is a leader in online legal education, with more than 300 students annually taking courses through its Center for Online Studies. With the offering of the Wiet Life Science Law Scholars Workshop, the expansion of Loyola’s life science curriculum, and dedicated externship opportunities for students, the Beazley Institute looks forward to collaborating with our scholar colleagues to support the discipline of life science law.