Managing the escalating cost of U.S. health care is a central public policy issue that requires multidisciplinary collaborations to find acceptable solutions. Innovation of advanced technologies in both health care and food have been, and for the foreseeable future will continue to be, a major driving force increasing cost of health care. Yet, it is generally accepted that new technology is needed to more efficiently solve complex problems. Given finite resources, our major public policy dilemma is how to properly balance investment in advanced medical technology against the need to provide basic medical services to all citizens. Introduction of advances in industrial food technology is another major factor that must be properly managed. Elected policy leaders now face the challenge to properly balance the influence of technology on the health of our nation. This symposium will address the economic impact of advanced diagnostic and therapeutic technologies on the cost of health care, the rationale for continued investment in medical science and technology innovation, strategies to manage the influence of food technology, and the public policy perspective. Symposium speakers will be leaders from related disciplines broadly representing perspectives from federal health agencies, medical device industry, academia, and private policy foundations.