The Speakers
SAY HELLO TO
OUR SPEAKERS
Maher Albitar
Founder
CEO & CMO
Genomic Testing CooperativeMaher Albitar
Founder
Chief Executive Officer
Chief Medical Officer
Genomic Testing CooperativeDr. Albitar has extensive experience in anatomic/clinical pathology, hematopathology, and molecular pathology. He also has extensive business and administrative experience as an executive leader of large laboratories, Board member, and director of large scientific and genomic diagnostic studies. Until recently, Dr. Albitar was the Senior Vice President, Chief Medical Officer and Director of Research and Development at NeoGenomics.
He is credited with transforming the NeoGenomics Laboratories from FISH testing company to a company offering the most sophisticated molecular testing. Prior to NeoGenomics, Dr. Albitar served as the Medical Director for Hematopathology and Oncology, Nichols Institute, Quest Diagnostics, and Chief R&D for Hematopathology and Oncology for Quest Diagnostics from 2003 to 2010. From 1991 to 2003, Dr. Albitar held various faculty positions at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, including Section Chief of Leukemia Section in Laboratory Medicine and Pathology Department, Director of the molecular laboratory and Director of Hematopathology Fellowship program.
Dr. Albitar was a tenured full professor in Pathology and Leukemia at the time of leaving MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Albitar is certified AP/CP pathologist with fellowship training in Hematopathology and molecular pathology. After his training in Hematopathology, Dr. Albitar spent 4 years in Physician/Scientist training program at the University of Pennsylvania/Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Department of Genetics. Dr. Albitar has published more than 300 peer-reviewed papers, book chapters, and review articles. He is the lead inventor on more than 50 different patents and patent applications.
Gabriele Allegri
Vice President
Global Commercial Precision Medicine
Johnson & Johnson Innovative MedicineGabriele Allegri
Vice President
Global Commercial Precision Medicine
Johnson & Johnson Innovative MedicineMarried and a father of two, with a degree in Management Engineering obtained across Italy, France, and Germany, Gabriele Allegri began his career in the USA at an American startup focused on Big Data. Two years later, he returned to Europe and started working for the consulting firm Accenture at the Innovation Center in Sophia Antipolis, France, managing various projects for European key accounts across different sectors.
In 2004, he returned to Italy with a scholarship to pursue his MBA (Master in Business Administration) at Bocconi Business School. After an internship at Eli Lilly in 2005, he joined Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine. Here, he initially held the role of Product Manager for the newly created HIV Franchise, then assumed the role of Group Marketing Manager in Turkey. Upon returning to Italy, he took on various roles with increasing responsibilities until becoming Business Unit Head for Infectiology, Immunology, and CNS.
In 2016, he was appointed General Manager for Johnson & Johnson Diabetes Care Company, a J&J Group company focused on diabetes management through a mix of medical and pharmaceutical products. Under his leadership, the first integrated teleassistance service branded JnJ was launched in the Italian market.
Returning to Janssen Italy as head of Regional Market Access and the tender office, he was also given responsibility for managing the newly acquired Actelion, a company involved in rare diseases, specifically pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Currently, Gabriele is Vice President of Precision Medicine, based in the United States. He is also a board member of the Personalized Medicine Coalition (PMC) and vice-president of the Precision Cancer Consortium (PCC). The PMC is a coalition dedicated to advancing personalized medicine through the promotion of public policies and patient education. The PCC is a consortium committed to improving the precision of cancer therapies and developing new therapeutic solutions for cancer patients.
Gabriele maintains a strong passion for his work and healthcare, convinced that he can actively contribute – together with his Team and Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine – to introducing innovative therapeutic solutions to the Italian market and developing proximity care that raises current standards of care for the benefit of all patients.
Don Ariyakumar
Strategic Product Marketing Manager
Hamamatsu CorporationDon Ariyakumar
Strategic Product Marketing Manager
Hamamatsu CorporationDon Ariyakumar has over 17 years of healthcare experience, spanning from lab to market. He specializes in product strategy, business development, and product marketing, with a proven track record of identifying trends and creating innovative business solutions that position both products and businesses for success.
Marija Balic
Chief of Medical Breast Oncology
UPMC Magee Women's HospitalMarija Balic
Professor
Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology
UPMCProfessor of Medicine, UPMC
Chief of Medical Breast Oncology, UPMC Magee Women's Hospital
Co-director of Magee Womens Cancer Program
Clinical Co Leader of the Womens Cancer Research ProgramMarija Balic MD, PhD, is Professor of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. She serves Co-Director of Women’s Cancer Program at the UPMC Magee Women’s Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA. and Clinical Co- Leader of Women’s Cancer Research Center (WCRC).
Dr. Balic has joined University of Pittsburgh from the Medical University of Graz, where she was Deputy Head of the Department of Oncology, head of the interdisciplinary breast center, head of research unit for translational breast cancer research, head of the clinical trial unit in the Department of Oncology, lead coordinator for clinical studies in the Department of Internal Medicine, and program director for breast cancer.
She is a prolific member of the breast cancer research community with several ongoing projects with funding, over 100 publications, mentorship of graduate students, numerous presentations at scientific symposia and conferences around the globe, and service to committees and boards.
Dr. Balic earned her MD from the Karl-Franzens University of Graz, School of Medicine and her Dr. Sci. Med and MBA from the Medical University of Graz in Austria.
Amit Bar-Or
Director, Center for Neuroinflammation and Neurotherapeutics
Penn MedicineAmit Bar-Or
Melissa and Paul Anderson President’s Distinguished Chair
Professor, Department of Neurology
Chief, Division of Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders
Director, Centre for Neuroinflammation and Experimental Therapeutics
University of Pennsylvania and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)Dr. Bar-Or holds the Melissa and Paul Anderson President’s Distinguished Chair at the University of Pennsylvania, where he Directs the Centre for Neuroinflammation and Experimental Therapeutics (CNET) and serves as Chief of the Division of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and related disorders. His clinical focus is on MS and other neuroinflammatory disorders, in both adults and children for which he is cross-appointed at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and co-directs the age-span program in MS and related disorders that ensures seamless pediatric through adulthood transition of care, and provides a focus on education and research.
Following an undergraduate degree at McMaster University, Dr. Bar-Or earned his medical degree at McGill University, Montreal, Québec. He completed an Internal Medicine Internship and Neurology residency at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Harvard Medical School (HMS), followed by postdoctoral clinical fellowship training at the MGH and laboratory fellowship training in cellular and molecular neuroimmunology at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) Center for Neurologic Disease, also completing the Clinical Investigator Training Program (CITP) leading to a master’s degree in Medical Science and Translational Research at HMS and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), with additional training through the Harvard School of Public Health Certificate Program in Clinical Effectiveness. He then joined the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, where he attained tenured Professor rank in 2012 and subsequently also served as the Institute’s Associate Director for Translational Reseacrh prior to arriving at Penn.
Dr. Bar-Or’s research focuses on neuroimmune health and central nervous system (CNS) inflammatory diseases across the age span. He runs a cellular and molecular Neuroimmunology lab directed at understanding general principles of immune regulation and immune-neural interactions, and their contributions to inflammation, injury and repair of the human central nervous system. Major contributions have included discovery of cellular mechanisms by which human T cell, B cell, and myeloid cell subsets modulate one another and interact with brain cells; elucidating the mode-of-action of experimental therapies; advancing the development of clinically meaningful biomarkers; and developing precision medicine strategies for autoimmune and CNS inflammatory diseases. For hos work. Dr. Bar-Or has received multiple awards including the 2021 prestigious Barancik Prize for Research Innovation in MS.
Dr. Bar-Or is passionate about education and mentoring, having trained over 80 students at both pre- and post-doctoral levels with emphasis on clinician-scientist trainees in neuroimmunology and autoimmunity. He has published over 350 peer-reviewed publications, led multiple national and international collaborative research initiatives, and is considered a highly sought-after speaker. He is past-President of the Canadian Network of MS Clinics (CNMSC) and the International Society of Neuroimmunology (ISNI), and served on the Board of Directors of the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS) and the Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies (FOCIS), where he continues as a long-standing member of the Education Committee. He currently serves on the International Advisory Committee on Clinical Trials in Multiple Sclerosis and on the Steering Committee of the NIH Immune Tolerance Network (ITN) and is co-PI of the NIH Autoimmunity Center of Excellence (ACE), and member of the Leadership Council of the Colton Center for Autoimmunity at the University of Pennsylvania.
Luke Benko
International Business Leader
Digital Pathology
Roche DiagnosticsLuke Benko
International Business Leader
Digital Pathology
Roche DiagnosticsMiriam Bredella
Director
Clinical and Translational Science Institute
NYU Langone HealthMiriam Bredella
Director, Clinical and Translational Science Institute
Vice Chair, Strategy, Department of Radiology
Associate Dean, Translational Science
NYU Langone HealthDr. Bredella is Associate Dean for Translational Science and Director of the Clinical and Translational Science Institute at NYU Langone Health. She is also a musculoskeletal radiologist and professor of radiology and vice chair for strategy in the Department of Radiology at NYU. She holds an MBA from MIT/Sloan School of Management.
Prior to joining NYU, Dr. Bredella was professor of radiology at Harvard Medical School and a radiologist at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) where she served as director of the MGH-wide Center for Faculty Development overseeing the Offices for Women’s Careers, Clinical Careers, and Research Careers, the Offices for Well-Being and Senior Faculty Affairs, which she established. She established mentoring programs and hospital-wide and nation-wide initiatives to support early career faculty, women faculty and trainees, which received the Innovative Initiatives Award from the Boston Women’s Workforce Council, the AAMC Group on Women in Medicine and Science Leadership Award, the Program Award for Culture of Excellence in Mentoring from Harvard Medical School and she was awarded the Shirley Driscoll Dean's Leadership Award for the Enhancement of Women's Careers from Harvard Medical School. She has led national NIH-funded working groups on faculty development and well-being.
Dr. Bredella is an NIH-funded physician scientist focusing on novel functional imaging techniques to determine the effects of body composition and different fat depots on bone and cardiometabolic risk. She is the author of over 300 peer-reviewed manuscripts and multiple textbooks. She is a fellow of the American College of Radiology and a Scholar in Diagnostic Excellence of the National Academy of Medicine. She is the recipient of multiple awards, including the Distinguished Investigator Award from the Academy of Radiology Research and the Presidents Medal of the International Skeletal Society.
Philip J. "PJ" Brooks
Deputy Director
Rare Disease Research Innovation
NIHDeputy Director
Rare Diesease Research Innovation
NIHPhilip J. (P.J.) Brooks, Ph.D., is the deputy director of NCATS’ Division of Rare Diseases Research Innovation. Brooks represents NCATS in the NIH-wide Gene Therapy Working Group, the Regenerative Medicine Innovation Project and the International Rare Diseases Research Consortium (IRDiRC). He also is the working group co-coordinator for the NIH Common Fund program on Somatic Cell Genome Editing, one of the leaders of the Platform Vector Gene Therapy (PaVe-GT) pilot project and the co-chair of the Bespoke Gene Therapy Consortium.
In May 2022, Brooks was selected as the recipient of the 2022 Sonia Skarlatos Public Service Award by the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy for consistently fostering and enhancing the field of gene and cell therapy.
Brooks received his doctorate in neurobiology from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After completing a postdoctoral fellowship at The Rockefeller University, he became an investigator in the NIH intramural program, where he developed an internationally recognized research program focused on two distinct areas: the molecular basis of alcohol-related cancer, and rare neurologic diseases resulting from defective DNA repair, including xeroderma pigmentosum, Cockayne syndrome and Fanconi anemia.
Xuguang Chen
Manager
Upstream Process DevelopmentXuguang Chen
Manager
Upstream Process DevelopmentDr. Chen is a biotech professional with deep expertise in Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC), specializing in viral vector sciences and bioprocess development. He holds a PhD in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and is currently pursuing an Executive MBA at Columbia Business School, where he is enhancing his leadership and strategic management skills.
With over seven years of experience in the biotech industry, Xuguang has established himself as a trusted leader in the process development, scale-up, and optimization of biologic therapeutics, particularly in viral production systems. At Spark Therapeutics, he leads cross-functional teams to drive innovation in viral vector sciences, advancing products from early-stage development through to commercial optimization. His expertise spans process development, process characterization, and regulatory compliance, ensuring quality and consistency in biologic therapeutics.
Chakra Chennubhotla
Chief of AI & Co-founder
PredxBioChakra Chennubhotla
Chief of AI & Co-founder
PredxBioDr. Chakra Chennubhotla earned his PhD in computer vision, machine learning, and AI from the University of Toronto. As a former tenured Associate Professor at the University of Pittsburgh, he co-founded PredxBio. Chakra has led NIH and NSF grants, holds numerous patents, and has published extensively in top-tier journals like Science Translational Medicine and Nature Communications.
Ezra Cohen
Chief Medical Officer
TempusEzra Cohen
Chief Medical Officer, Oncology
TempusEzra Cohen, MD joined Tempus Labs in May 2023 as the CMO, Oncology. Dr. Cohen is a leading medical oncologist and cancer researcher. Prior to Tempus he was the Chief of the Division of Hematology-Oncology as well as the Associate Director of Clinical Science at UCSD Moores Cancer Center. Dr. Cohen obtained his medical degree from University of Toronto in 1990 and trained in internal medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Subsequently, he completed a hematology/oncology fellowship at the University of Chicago and joined the faculty there in 2002. He joined the faculty at UCSD in 2014 as full professor.
Thomas Conrads
Director, Women's Health Research
Inova Fairfax HospitalThomas Conrads
Director, Women's Health Research
Inova Fairfax Hospital
Chief Scientific Officer, Gynecologic Cancer Center of Excellence (GYN-COE), Murtha Cancer Center (MCC)
Walter Reed National Military Medical CenterDr Conrads specializes in applying advanced proteogenomic technologies to advance cancer research. Throughout his scientific career, he has pioneered advancements in chemistry and biology and established and sustained integrated multidisciplinary research programs aimed at uncovering novel molecular insights and translational opportunities for clinical translation.
He is currently the Director of Women’s Health Research for the Women’s Service Line at Inova Health System and the affiliated Women’s Health Integrated Research Center (WHIRC), a state-of-the-art facility equipped with a robust cell and tissue culture unit, a world-leading laser capture microdissection facility, and a CAP-approved biorepository housing over 80,000 specimens from more than 8,000 enrolled patients. Our center also boasts extensive computational resources and a state-of-the-art high-resolution mass spectrometry facility.
At the WHIRC, Dr Conrads also serves as the Chief Scientific Officer of the Gynecologic Cancer Center of Excellence (GYN-COE) under the Murtha Cancer Center (MCC) at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Within the WHIRC, the Research Pathology Center conducts laser microdissection on 8,000 cancer cases for proteogenomic profiling, while the Clinical Proteomics Platform serves as the central proteomics discovery reference laboratory for the Applied Proteogenomics Organizational Learning and Outcomes (APOLLO) program, a cornerstone of the US Federal Cancer Moonshot initiative.
In his role within the APOLLO Research Network, he serves as Director of the Clinical Proteomics Platform and Co-Director of the Research Pathology Center. Additionally, he contributes to the Executive Leadership Committee and co-lead the Tissue Into Laboratories task force, emphasizing commitment to advancing cancer research through innovative proteogenomic strategies.
Jason Crites
Founder and CEO
Assurance Health DataJason Crites
Founder and CEO
Assurance Health DataJason has 20 years’ experience in data analytics and virtualization. He is a commercialization and data visualization expert with competencies in engineering, management and acquisition integration. As an ex-IBM sales executive, he generated a billion in revenue and led the development of the Federated Data Model and the Global Storage Solution. Jason is a citizen scientist, public speaker, and an early advocate of models for large-scale data sharing and analytics.
Sundeep Dugar
Chief Executive Officer
Aayam TherapeuticsSundeep Dugar
CEO, Aayam Therapeutics
CEO, Myto Therapeutics
CEO, Rarefy Therapeutics
CSO, Pacegenix IncDr. Dugar's pharmaceutical career began at Schering-Plough, where he was the first medicinal chemist hired to launch a program that ultimately led to the discovery and development of Zetia® and Vytorin®. After 12 years at Schering-Plough and Bristol-Myers Squibb, Dr. Dugar joined Scios in 1999 to establish and lead the small molecule drug discovery program, with a focus on kinases. Under his leadership, the initiative quickly grew into a robust drug discovery and development effort, resulting in multiple programs and two clinical candidates within just two years. In 2002, Scios was acquired by Johnson & Johnson for $2.4 billion, a significant increase from its market cap of around $110 million in 1999.
From 2002 to 2005, Dr. Dugar served as Vice President of Chemistry at Johnson & Johnson’s Fremont, CA facility. In this role, he was responsible for medicinal chemistry at Scios/J&J and for driving strategic process chemistry efforts at CILAG in Schaffhausen. He also played a key role in the due diligence process that led to Johnson & Johnson's in-licensing of the blockbuster drug Xarelto from Bayer.
Dr. Dugar's experience in drug discovery and development spans a broad range of therapeutic areas, including oncology, CNS, cardiovascular, inflammation, pain, neurodegenerative, and infectious diseases, across both major pharmaceutical companies and biotech firms.
In late 2005, Dr. Dugar founded Advantium Pharma, a full-service CRO based in Pune, India. Within 18 months, he successfully exited through an equity sale to Sequoia Capital, achieving a 7x return in two years. In 2008, he founded Sphaera Pharma in Singapore, with the goal of creating a new and unique model for drug discovery and development. Sphaera Pharma raised $14 million in equity financing, and this model has proven highly successful, leading to the discovery and development of multiple platform technologies, spin-offs, and licensing deals. The intellectual property generated at Sphaera Pharma was instrumental in the founding of Epirium Bio, which raised $85 million in December 2019 based on the IP Dr. Dugar developed.
Throughout his career, Dr. Dugar has consistently combined his scientific and business expertise to deliver sustained value to investors and shareholders while advancing therapeutics that benefit patients.
Robert Dumanois
Director
Reimbursement Strategy
Thermo Fisher ScientificRobert Dumanois
Director, Reimbursement Strategy
Thermo Fisher ScientificAs director of reimbursement strategy, Rob leads market access and evidence development activities for Thermo Fisher Scientific’s clinical sequencing division. Experienced in all facets of NGS testing’s coverage, coding, and billing – Rob works with CLIA labs, pharma partners and coalitions to explain the complex and often contradictory U.S. environment and devise pathways to achieve their desired goals. He’s also worked with Oncomine™ Dx Target Test: the first FDA-approved next-generation sequencing (NGS) in vitro diagnostic test for non-small cell lung cancer. This companion diagnostic is now covered nationally by Medicare and dozens of commercial payers. Rob joined Thermo Fisher (Life Technologies) in 2012 through an acquisition of Navigenics, where he led development and growth of payers and employers. Rob was also a Territory Vice President at RelayHealth, with duties that included payer-facing sales of secure messaging and e-prescribing. He also held senior sales and sales management positions with UnitedHealthcare.
Ysabel Duron
Founder/Executive Director
The Latino Cancer InstituteYsabel Duron
Founder/Executive Director
The Latino Cancer InstituteYsabel Duron is a pioneering, award-winning Latina journalist, a cancer survivor, and for the last 23 years, a leading patient activist around Latino community engagement. Her encore career as a cancer patient advocate and non-profit agency builder commenced when she was diagnosed with cancer in 1999.
This past February President Joe Biden appointed Duron to the National Cancer Advisory Board which advises the Director of the National Cancer Institute. She is the first patient advocate to serve on the NCAB.
Duron describes her “work in and with community,” as a learning classroom and credits the experience with preparing her for her advocacy role. Among other things, her former agency developed programs for low income, Spanish-speaking and immigrant communities to address gaps along the cancer continuum including cancer awareness education, navigation into screening, psychosocial support groups and a lay community navigator program to support and guide low income, Spanish-speaking cancer patients in the public health care system in Santa Clara County (San Jose), California.
Between 2008 and 2016, under her leadership at Latinas Contra Cancer (LCC), Duron convened 5 unique National Latino Cancer Summits, turning its lens on cancer issues in the Latino community, collaborating with advocacy groups, researchers and health care providers to investigate, and address cancer related impacts.
LCC also created linguistically and culturally appropriate education tools using a bingo game model to dispel myth and misinformation, promote healthy eating and exercise as well as screening and early detection; training up to 200 promotores aka community health workers to use these tools to raise awareness and navigate eligible participants into screenings. This bingo concept was adapted for the African American and Pacific Islander communities, and cited by the NIEHS – IBCERCC Committee, on which Duron served, in the 2012 Breast Cancer and the Environment, Prioritizing Prevention Report.
In 2017, Ms. Duron launched her third and current agency, The Latino Cancer Institute (TLCI), to amplify Latino voices about the cancer burden – acting as a force multiplier through a nationwide network of stakeholders; dedicated to promote the work of Latino community service agencies; to provide collaboration with the global cancer research community; and to drive policy to improve health outcomes and diminish disproportionate Latino cancer mortality.
The Institute has since convened 4 National TLCI virtual Forums as Duron continues to bring together researchers, clinicians, advocates, government and industry officials across the cancer landscape.
TLCI’s collaborations include engagements with academic partners such as the Stanford Cancer Institute, Universities of California at San Francisco and Davis, Georgetown University Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, George Washington Cancer Center, the California Primary Care Association (FQHCs), San Diego and San Jose State Universities. Duron is a published co-author in over 10 research papers.
TLCI’s robust engagement has resulted in two invitations to the White House, once for a re-launch (Feb 2022) of President Joe Biden’s Cancer Moonshot initiative to drive cancer screenings and decrease cancer mortality by 50% in 25 years. The 2nd White House event (Oct 2022) spotlighted the American Cancer Society launch of the newly formed National Breast Cancer Roundtable (NBCRT) on which Duron was invited to serve. NBCRT aims, among other policy initiatives, to address disparities in cancer screening and access, advanced diagnostics and quality treatment impacting racial and ethnic populations.
Duron also serves on the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the All of Us Research Program at the National Institutes of Health; invited to join in 2016 by former NIH Director Francis Collins, as a patient advocate.
Duron is also a member of the California Initiative to Advance Precision Medicine Advisory Council (CIAPM), which advises the Governor on the direction of Precision Medicine issues in the state.
As a member of the Independent Citizen’s Oversight Committee (since 2019) of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), a tax-payer funded stem cell research program, Duron successfully drove a motion that requires research proposals to include a plan on recruiting a proportionate number of racial and ethnic minorities into newly funded COVID Clinical Trials. The expansion of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) has since been incorporated into the majority of Requests for Proposals funded by the Institute and drives frameworks for internal organizational operations. CIRM CEO, Maria Millan, said that the “culture,” has changed amongst CIRM scientific reviewers who now more vigorously question the quality of the DEI plan in the research proposals, which are also scored by patient advocates and can be returned to applicants for improvements.
As a member of the National Rapid Research Coalition, for the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security between 2020 and 2022, Duron advised on the community’s role in an equitable and effective Covid vaccination rollout (titled CommuniVax), supported the research site team in California (one of five sites around the country), consulted on and assisted in editing the three CommuniVax national reports.
Duron was also elected in 2021 to the University of California Center for Data Drive Insights and Innovation (UCCDI2) which engages in a collaborative approach with UC Health to build a pre-eminent data-driven learning healthcare system that improves the human condition.
A broadcast journalist for 43 years, Duron was inducted into the National Association of Hispanic Journalists Hall of Fame in 2009. A 1970 graduate of San Jose State University with a B.A. in Journalism, Duron distinguished herself in both the journalism and non-profit worlds winning a number of prestigious awards. These include two Emmys, a Radio-TV News Director Award, the Girl Scouts Juliette Gordon Award for her Trouble with Teacher Series, the Silicon Valley NAACP Chapter W.E.B. Dubois Award, as well as the Living Legacy Award from the Chicana- Latina Foundation, the 2005 Bay Area Most Influential Latino from the SF Business Times, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Women’s Media Association, and the 2011 Latino Spirit Award from the Latino Caucus of the California Legislature.
Duron’s non-profit work garnered her the 150-thousand dollar Purpose Prize (2013) from ENCORE, and won her the Distinguished Public Service Award from the American Psychosocial Oncology Society among others.
Craig Eagle
Chief Medical Officer
GuardantCraig Eagle
Chief Medical Officer
GuardantDr. Craig Eagle currently serves as Guardant Health’s chief medical officer. Prior to joining Guardant Health, Dr. Eagle served as Vice President of Medical Affairs Oncology for Genentech, where he oversaw the medical programs across the oncology portfolio and developed innovative cancer trials and strategies in personalized health care.
Prior to Genentech, Dr. Eagle has held several positions in the U.S. and internationally over his 19-year career at Pfizer including global head of the Oncology Medical and Outcomes Group. In this role, he oversaw the worldwide medical programs and development of numerous commercially successful drugs. Dr. Eagle currently serves on the Board of Directors for Generex Biotechnology and NuGenerex Immuno-Oncology.
Dr. Eagle attended medical school at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia and received his general internist training at Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney. Dr. Eagle completed his specialist training in hemato-oncology and laboratory hematology at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney and was granted Fellowship in the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP) and the Royal College of Pathologists Australasia (FRCPA).
Allison Eck
Director, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Doylestown HealthAllison Eck
Director, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Doylestown HealthAllison Eck is the lead histotechnologist at Doylestown Hospital in Pennsylvania. She has been a histotechnologist for 15 years after graduating with a degree in histotechnology from Harford Community College in Maryland and a bachelor’s degree in biology from Lycoming College in Pennsylvania. She holds her histotechnologist (HTL) and qualification in laboratory safety (QLS) certifications through the ASCP, as well as her Allied Health Instructor (AHI) certification through AMT. Allison has spoken at a variety of professional conferences on respiratory disease as well as lab safety and ergonomics.
Stephen Ekker
Professor and Associate Dean
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Dell Medical SchoolStephen Ekker
Professor and Associate Dean, Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Dell Medical School
Associate Vice President, Research Translation
University of Texas at AustinStephen C. Ekker, Ph.D., is a professor of pediatrics and associate dean of innovation and entrepreneurship at Dell Medical School, and associate vice president for research translation at The University of Texas at Austin. He also serves as a professor in the Department of Molecular Biosciences in UT’s College of Natural Sciences.
Ekker is a genome engineer and entrepreneur who uses zebra fish in vivo and human cells in vitro to develop new molecular DNA editing tools to understand our genome and create new therapeutics. He leads the development of key innovation and entrepreneurship education and applications within Dell Med and collaboratively across the University.
He has performed gene editing for three decades at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Johns Hopkins University, University of Minnesota and Mayo Clinic. He was previously the dean of the Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. He was also was the founder and inaugural director of the Mayo Clinic Office of Entrepreneurship and is a strong advocate of the bench-to-business-to-bedside model of research translation.
Ekker is also an inventor and has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health for more than two decades. He has co-authored over 170 scientific publications and has served as the founding president of the Genome Writers Guild — a nonprofit international genome engineering society — and president of the Zebrafish Disease Models Society. As an entrepreneur, he co-founded his first company, Discovery Genomics Inc., which was acquired by Immusoft in 2016 for key technology that now conducts first-in-class human gene therapy based on programmed B cells.
Ekker was the scientific advisor for Opentrons Labworks while the startup went from accelerator to unicorn, and is the scientific founder of Primera Therapeutics, which focuses on developing therapies for patients with mitochondrial disease. As CEO of LifEngine Technologies Inc., Ekker is a scientific co-founder, investor and director of LifEngine Animal Health (LEAH) Laboratories, which focuses on making new therapies for companion animals and their humans; it is the first gene editing company out of the prestigious Y Combinator startup incubator.
Harry Erba
Director, Leukemia Program
Duke Cancer InstituteHarry Erba
Director, Leukemia Program
Duke Cancer InstituteAn expert in hematologic malignancies,Harry Erba, MD, PhD, is the director of both the Leukemia Program and Phase I Development in Hematologic Malignancies in the Division of Hematologic Malignancies and Cellular Therapy in the Department of Medicine at the Duke Cancer Institute in Durham, North Carolina.
Dr. Erba is a clinical investigator focused on the development of novel therapies for the treatment of diseases such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML), myelodysplastic syndromes, and myeloproliferative neoplasms. He is particularly interested in addressing the critically unmet need amongst older patients diagnosed with AML, since only a minority of these patients ever receive treatment. He is dedicated to improving outcomes for these patients by studying targeted therapies that effectively treat bone marrow failure and thereby improve quality of life and survival.
After graduating Summa Cum Laude from Yale University, Erba pursued a medical degree and PhD, both from Stanford University in California. He completed his internship and residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in hematology-oncology at Brigham and Women's Hospital.
Marni Falk
Distinguished Endowed Chair, Department of Pediatrics
Executive Director, Mitochondrial Medicine Frontier Program
CHOPMarni Falk
Distinguished Endowed Chair, Department of Pediatrics
Executive Director, Mitochondrial Medicine Frontier Program
CHOPProfessor, Division of Human Genetics in the Department of Pediatrics
University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of MedicineMarni J. Falk, M.D., is Distinguished Endowed Chair in the Department of Pediatrics and Executive Director of the Mitochondrial Medicine Frontier Program at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), and Professor in the Division of Human Genetics within the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania (UPENN) Perelman School of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA. A board-certified Clinical Geneticist, Dr. Falk works to improve precision clinical care, diagnostic approaches, precision therapeutics, and genomic resources for rare disorders, with a focus on mitochondrial disease. She organized and is co-leader of the global Mitochondrial Disease Sequence Data Resource (MSeqDR) consortium, co-leader of the ClinGen Mitochondrial Disease Gene and Variant Expert Curation Panels, organizer of the international mitochondrial zebrafish consortium (MZC), and organizer of the CHOP/UPENN Mitochondria Research Affinity Group (MITO RAG) that has ~300 participants. Dr. Falk is PI of an active translational research laboratory group at CHOP investigating the causes and global metabolic consequences of mitochondrial disease, and targeted therapies, in C. elegans, zebrafish, mouse, and human cell models of genetic-based respiratory chain dysfunction. She also designs and directs multiple clinical research studies and treatment trials in mitochondrial disease patients. In 2023, she co-founded Rarefy Therapeutics LLC, focused on advancing the late-stage development of data-driven, precision therapeutics for rare diseases.
Dr. Falk received her B.S. degree in Biology graduating Summa cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa, as well as M.D. degree in the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society from a combined 7-year program at the George Washington University School of Medicine. She then completed dual specialty training in a 5-year Pediatrics and Clinical Genetics residency program at Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Falk has authored more than 175 peer-reviewed publications, and edited “Mitochondrial Disease Genes Compendium: From Genes to Clinical Manifestations”.
Dr. Falk is a member of the Scientific and Medical Advisory Board of The United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation (UMDF); founding member of the CHOP Center for Mitochondrial and Epigenomic Medicine (CMEM); CHOP-site PI of the North American Mitochondrial Disease Consortium (NAMDC); member of the Mitochondrial Medicine Society (MMS), Society for Pediatric Research (SPR), Society for Inherited Metabolic Disease (SIMD), American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG), and American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMGG); and elected member of the University of Pennsylvania John Morgan Society (JMS), Interurban Clinical Club (ICC), and American Society of Clinical Investigators (ASCI).
Rong Fan
Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Yale University
Professor, Pathology
Yale School of MedicineRong Fan
Professor, Biomedical Engineering, Yale University
Professor, Pathology, Yale School of Medicine
Member, Yale Cancer Center (YCC), Yale Stem Cell Center (YSCC), and the Human & Translational Immunology Program (HTI)Dr. Rong Fan is the Harold Hodgkinson Professor of Biomedical Engineering and of Pathology. His research interest has been centered on the development and deployment of single-cell and spatial omics technologies to investigate normal development, aging, and disease. He received a B.S. in Applied Chemistry from University of Science and Technology of China, a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of California at Berkeley, and then completed his postdoctoral training at California Institute of Technology, prior to joining the faculty of Department of Biomedical Engineering at Yale University in 2010. He developed a microchip that allows for simultaneous measurement of 42 immune effector proteins in single cells at high throughput, which remains the highest multiplexing to date for a single-cell protein secretion assay. In collaboration with Novartis and Kite Pharma, it was applied to profiling antigen-specific activation states of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered T cells, resulting in the discovery of novel single-cell biomarkers including polyfunctional strength index to characterize the quality of CAR-T infusion products and predict the clinical responses and immune-related adverse effects(irAEs) prior to treatment. This microchip, called IsoCode, and the automation system, called IsoLight, have been commercialized by IsoPlexis, a company co-founded by Dr. Fan. Now, this system has been used by >100 major pharmaceutical companies and cancer centers around the world for monitoring CAR-T or checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapies. Dr. Fan is also a pioneer in developing NGS-based spatial omics sequencing technologies. He conceived the concept of spatial multi-omics and developed the first spatially resolved multi-omics sequencing technology called DBiT-seq (Liu et al., Cell 183, 1665–1681, 2020) which allows for spatial co-profiling of whole transcriptome and hundreds of proteins (spatial-CITE-seq) at cellular level in complex tissues. He further developed a first-of-its-kind technology to enable spatial epigenome sequencing including spatial-ATAC-seq (Deng et al., Nature 609 (7926), 375-383, 2022) and spatial-CUT&Tag (Deng et al., Science 375 (6581), 681-686, 2022). These technologies may unlock a whole new field in spatial biology with applications in a wide range of biological and biomedical research. Dr. Fan co-founded IsoPlexis, Singleron Biotechnologies, and AtlasXomics. He is the recipient of multiple awards including the NCI Howard Temin Career Transition Award, the NSF CAREER Award, and the Packard Fellowship for Science and Engineering. He has been elected to American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering (CASE), and the National Academy of Inventors (NAI).
Phil Febbo
Chief Scientific Officer
Chief Medical Officer
VeracytePhil Febbo
Chief Scientific Officer
Chief Medical Officer
VeracyteExecutive Committee Member
BloodPACPhillip G. Febbo joined Veracyte in 2023 and serves as Chief Scientific Officer and Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Febbo is a distinguished life sciences leader with more than 25 years of experience across academia and the molecular diagnostics industry. Prior to Veracyte, he served as Chief Medical Officer for Illumina where he led the successful strategy to engage clinical customers. Prior to that, he was Chief Medical Officer for Genomic Health, where he oversaw the development and expansion of the company’s test portfolio. Earlier in his career, Dr. Febbo was a Professor of Medicine and Urology at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center, and before that he was an Associate Professor of Medicine and Molecular Genetics and Microbiology at Duke University School of Medicine. He currently serves on the board of the Reagan Udall Foundation for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and was previously a director for Varian, Inc. Dr. Febbo holds a B.A. in Biology from Dartmouth College and an M.D. from the University of California, San Francisco. He completed his internal medicine residency at Brigham and Women's Hospital and his medical oncology fellowship at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.
Andrea Ferreira-Gonzalez
Professor and Chair, Molecular Diagnostics
Director, Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory
Virginia Commonwealth UniversityAndrea Ferreira-Gonzalez
Professor and Chair, Division Molecular Diagnostics
Director Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory
Virginia Commonwealth UniversityAndrea Ferreira-Gonzalez, Ph.D., is the Chair of the Division of Molecular Diagnostics and Director of the Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory in the Department of Pathology at the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System. Dr. Ferreira-Gonzalez has devoted over 25 years to the field of Molecular Genetics and has been recognized nationally and internationally for her work in this field. At the national level, Dr. Ferreira-Gonzalez is a consultant for the FDA’s Clinical Genetics Panel of the Medical Devices Advisory Committee, Center for Devices and Radiological Health. She served in the HHS Advisory Committee on Genetics, Health, and Society (SACGHS). She also served as a member of HHS Clinical Laboratory Improvement Advisory Committee (CLIAC) and Veteran Administration Genomic Medicine Advisory Board. She has been involved in developing clinical guidelines with the Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute and Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP). Dr. Ferreira-Gonzalez also served as President, Secretary-Treasurer of AMP, and Chair of the Professional Relations Committee. Dr. Ferreira-Gonzalez serves as a member of the Molecular Biology Education Committee for IFCC. Dr. Ferreira-Gonzalez has over 90 peer-reviewed publications. She also is the author of 12 chapters in books related to the practice of Molecular Genetics.
Scott Friedman
Dean, Therapeutic DiscoveryChief, Division of Liver DiseasesIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiScott Friedman
Dean, Therapeutic DiscoveryChief, Division of Liver DiseasesIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiDr. Scott L. Friedman is the Dean for Therapeutic Discovery and Chief of the Division of Liver Diseases, at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. He has performed pioneering research into the underlying causes of scarring, or fibrosis associated with chronic liver disease, affecting millions worldwide. Dr. Friedman was among the first to isolate and characterize the hepatic stellate cell, the key cell type responsible for scar production in liver. His work has spawned an entire field that is now realizing its translational and therapeutic potential, with new anti-fibrotic therapies for liver disease reaching clinical trials. Dr. Friedman’s work has been continuously funded by the NIH since 1985; he was awarded his first faculty NIH grant (RO1) in 1986 at the age of 31. A 1979 graduate of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, he served as the President of Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society, then was a Medical Resident at the Beth Israel Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, followed by a Gastroenterology Fellowship at UCSF before assuming a faculty position there which he held for ten years. During a 1995-96 sabbatical from UCSF he was a Senior Fulbright Scholar and Visiting Professor at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, in the laboratory of Professor Moshe Oren. Dr. Friedman has given invited honorary lectures throughout the world and has been a named lecturer or Visiting Professor at over 30 institutions worldwide. He is widely recognized as a dynamic, effective speaker, and is also a respected author, with over 300 peer-reviewed publications. Dr. Friedman was a recipient in 1993 of the Saul Horowitz, Jr. Outstanding Alumnus Award from Mount Sinai. In 2003, Dr. Friedman was honored with the International Hans Popper Award by the Falk Foundation in Freiburg,Germany, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the understanding of liver disease and its treatment. He has mentored over 75 postdoctoral fellows and students, most of who remain in academic training programs or faculty. In 2012 he was awarded the European Association for the Study of Liver Diseases International Recognition Award in Barcelona, Spain, and in 2013 he was awarded the Shanghai Magnolia Gold Award by the Mayor of Shanghai and the China Friendship Award from the Premier of China in 2014 in recognition of his efforts to improve the health of the residents of Shanghai and China through his research achievements. As Chief of the Division of Liver Diseases at Mount Sinai since 2001, Dr. Friedman has expanded the faculty from 5 to 25 individuals, increased NIH grant funding more than 5-fold, clinical trials income more than 10-fold, and overseen the creation of the largest liver fellowship in the United States. He has been a member of the American Society of Clinical Investigation since 1995, the Association of American Physicians since 2004, and was elected as a Fellow of the American Gastroenterological Association in 2008, the Am. College of Physicians in 2013, the American Assn. for the Study of Liver Diseases in 2014 and the American Association for the Advancement for Science in 2015. Dr. Friedman’s appointment in 2012 as Dean for Therapeutic Discovery at Mount Sinai recognizes his unique strengths in translating basic science into clinically meaningful advances, and his investigative work in liver disease has been instrumental in fueling the tremendous growth in emerging diagnostics and therapeutics for hepatic fibrosis. As President of the American Assn. for the Study of Liver Diseases in 2009 (the sixth Mount Sinai faculty member to hold this position), Dr. Friedman oversaw several major new initiatives that accelerated its growth and brought the Association to new levels of income and international visibility.
Mark Garner
Director
Translational Research Market
Agilent TechnologiesMark Garner
Director
Translational Research Market
Agilent TechnologiesKimberly Gasuad
Principal Consultant
JK Life Sciences LLCKimberly Gasuad
Principal Consultant
JK Life Sciences LLCKimberly founded JK Life Sciences, advising AI/ML and digital pathology companies on product, business, marketing, and commercial programs from translational research to clinical use. Before that, she worked at Ibex Medical Analytics as the SVP BD & Strategy and at Roche Diagnostics as an International Business Leader, where she spent her time developing global industry expertise, assessing market trends, and establishing key strategic relationships across AI/ML and digital pathology. She draws on her experiences at McKesson and Novartis, where she was passionate about advancing innovation in healthcare and technology. Kimberly received her BSc in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and completed her master’s in business administration at the University of San Francisco. She currently lives in Boston but also resides in California and Hawaii.
Saba Ghassemi
Assistant Professor
Center for Cellular Immunotherapies Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Penn MedicineSaba Ghassemi
Assistant Professor
Center for Cellular Immunotherapies Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Penn MedicineDr. Saba Ghassemi graduated with a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Villanova University. She then completed her PhD at Columbia University, training under Drs. Michael Sheetz and James Hone. During this time, she was an active member of an NIH-funded interdisciplinary center: The Nanomedicine Development Center (NDC) for Mechanobiology, Directing the Immune Response. During her PhD studies, Dr. Ghassemi identified an intracellular sarcomere-like unit that is responsible for sensing the mechanical properties of the extracellular environment. Combining nanotechnology and cell biology, she showed that this mechano-sensing unit operates at the nanoscale regime. Dr. Ghassemi completed her post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania at the Center for Cellular Immunotherapies (CCI) in Dr. Michael Milone’s lab. She focused on improving CAR T cell differentiation and potency. Her studies showed that CAR T cells progressively differentiate over time: reducing the ex vivo expansion to 3 days increases potency and durable efficacy in pre-clinical models of ALL. The findings from this work are currently being translated into a clinical trial at UPenn led by Dr. Carl June. Dr. Ghassemi was awarded the St. Baldrick’s Scholar Award (2018), Early Career Scientific Research Award from the National Blood Foundation (2019), as well as a DoD Career Development award (2020). Dr. Ghassemi has emerged as an expert in the CAR T cell field with invitations to present her findings at national and international conferences (ASH, ASGCT, AAI, ISCT) and is the author of numerous peer-reviewed publications. She is also a co-inventor on several patents involving methods for improving the efficacy, expansion, and fitness of CAR T cells for adoptive immunotherapy. The overarching goals of the Ghassemi Lab are to use a multidisciplinary approach that combines engineering with CAR T cell immunology to develop potent CAR T cells for adoptive immunotherapy of cancer.
Anthony Green
Chief Scientific Officer
Ben Franklin Technology PartnersAnthony Green
Chief Scientific Officer
Ben Franklin Technology PartnersRegional Innovation Officer
US EDA Designated Tech HubAnthony P. Green, Ph.D., is Chief Scientific Officer for Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern PA and Regional Innovation Officer of the US EDA Designated Tech Hub, PROPEL: The National Center for Precision Medicine. Dr. Green has significant experience in managing technology partnerships, working with university translational research programs and early-stage technology companies, and has deep experience in the gene-based technologies that underscore Precision Medicine.
Dr. Green joined Ben Franklin in 2006, where he focuses on identification and pursuit of new funding opportunities, as well as new partners and partnerships, from a range of local and national resources including foundations, government agencies, and corporations. Building and expanding on Ben Franklin’s capabilities and reputation, Dr. Green is a critical advocate for an innovation agenda and engages with the region’s research institutions and start-up community to gain insights into “what’s next” so Ben can be prepared to support that next generation of technology. Most recently, Dr. Green led the region’s effort to create PROPEL, a regional partnership of over 70 institutions and organizations to transform how precision medicines are discovered, manufactured, tested, commercialized and delivered. This unique collaborative alliance will catalyze the next generation of health interventions, and improve national health equity, security, and economic opportunity.
Previously Dr. Green was Vice President, Science & Technology, leading a team focused on Ben Franklin's business development, its service and prototyping programs FabNet and PRIMA and earliest seed funding program. That program now represents investment of more than $6M into 125 companies, resulting in over $85M in follow-on funding, as well as business and pipeline development for investment opportunities and strategic partnerships. With the Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technology (PACT), Dr. Green created Mentor Connect, the Philadelphia node of the MIT Venture Mentoring Service, to build the next generation of entrepreneurs. Dr. Green was instrumental in the creation and management of the Temple University coinvestment program — the first program of its kind in the country. Dr. Green has also helped develop and implement new partnership and commercialization models for universities and industry through Ben Franklin’s region-wide engagement in emerging technologies in the fields of life sciences, medtech, digital health, advanced textiles, advanced manufacturing, energy, IoT and includes the nationally-recognized 13-institution Nanotechnology Institute, which he led for 10 years. Dr. Green led the region’s partnership--TENSEGRITY: The Greater Philadelphia Smart Communities = Safe Communities Initiative in its application to the NSF Regional Engines Program and its application to BARDA for their BARDA Venture Fund.
Dr. Green represents Ben Franklin as a Board Observer to portfolio companies MBF Therapeutics, Halo Labs, Oxydial and Chromatan, Inc. He is a member of the oversight and advisory committees of many of the region’s translational research programs, including Penn Health Tech, the Coulter-Drexel Translational Research Partnership, UPenn’s Singh NanoCenter, Children’s Hospital’s Pediatric Medical Device Consortium, and the Temple University Professional Science Master’s Program in Bioinnovation and Biotechnology. He has served on SBIR review panels for the NSF and NIH. He is a NewAge Industries Board of Director and was President of the Education Foundation of Lower Merion.
Dr. Green has more than 30 years’ experience in the biotechnology industry through small, emerging companies focused on development and commercialization of cutting-edge technologies in immunodiagnostics, monoclonal antibodies and gene transfer technologies. He previous experience includes Becton Dickinson,
where he was part of the team that developed BD’s Directigen Diagnostic tests, Centocor, where he was employee number 18 and was part of the research and scale-up team that developed immunodiagnostic tests for ovarian cancer (CA-125), colorectal cancer (CA-19-9) and breast cancer (CA-15-3), which are still marketed by Fujirebio, Inc. Dr. Green was a co-founder and employee number 2 at Puresyn, Inc. which remains one of the premier contract manufacturing organizations for production of gene vaccines and gene therapy products. Puresyn prepared critical plasmids for gene vaccines and plasmids for viral-vector production for over 100 companies and continues to provide all the plasmids for the University of Pennsylvania, Children’s Hospital
and the companies that have emerged from those institutions.Dr. Green was Principal Investigator on 6 NIH SBIR grants (3 Phase I, 3 Phase II) all in plasmid and viral vector manufacturing for gene-based vaccines and therapeutics, collaborating with Dr. David Weiner (University of Pennsylvania, now Wistar Institute) and Dr. James Wilson (University of Pennsylvania). Dr.
Green also has experience in market research with Migliara-Kaplan Associates. Dr. Green earned his Sc.B. in Immunology, with Honors, from Brown University, and his Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from Temple University School of Medicine.Hakon Hakonarson
Director
Center for Applied Genomics
CHOPProfessor, Pediatrics
Penn MedicineHakon Hakonarson
Director
Center for Applied Genomics
Children's Hosptial of Philadelphia Research InstituteProfessor, Pediatrics
Penn MedicineDr. Hakonarson is director of the Center for Applied Genomics and professor of Pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. He leads a $40 million commitment from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to genomically characterize approximately 100,000 children, an initiative that has gained nationwide attention in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Time Magazine, Nature, and Science.
Sarah Hersey
Vice President
Precision Medicine
Bristol Myers SquibbSarah Hersey
Vice President, Precision Medicine
Bristol Myers SquibbSarah is currently the Vice President, of Precision Medicine for Bristol Myers Squibb. She has more than 20 years of industry experience in leading R&D organizations, CLIA and GLP laboratories, device manufacturing, consortiums, assessment and implementation of technology strategies, and development of in vitro diagnostics. In addition, she continuously works to further education and awareness in the Precision Medicine and Companion Diagnostic spaces. Prior to joining BMS, Sarah was the Vice President, Precision Medicine & Companion Diagnostics for Celgene, where she founded their Precision Medicine Organization in 2016. She joined Celgene after having held the position as the Global Head of Future Precision Medicine for Novartis, where the team submitted and gained approval for multiple Health Authority applications; including the first pre-market approval for a distributable NGS CDx.
Sarah has also held multiple roles with increasing responsibility within Johnson and Johnson (JNJ) including Global Head of Operations, Assay Program Leader for Companion Diagnostics Center of Excellence, Director of Materials Process Development and Enabling Technologies. At JNJ, Sarah co-led or was the operating company’s representative on key corporate strategic initiatives including, but not limited to: Nanotechnology, Critical to Quality Flow Down and Pathology Business Opportunity Team and had accountability for CLIA laboratories in the US and Europe. In addition, her prior experience also includes start-up and establishment of a GLP laboratory, technical support and quality assurance. Sarah has BS and MS degrees in Chemistry and Biology from Northern Illinois University, Regulatory Affairs Certification (RAC) and an MBA from California State University.
Cailtin Hopkins
PhD Student
Penn MedicineCaitlin Hopkins
PhD Student
Penn MedicineCaitlin Hopkins graduated in 2019 from Northeastern University with a bachelor’s degree in Biology. While an undergraduate, Caitlin worked in the Center for Stem Cell and Translational Immunotherapy under the mentorship of Dr. Khalid Shah studying gene-edited cell therapies for glioblastoma. She then worked for bluebird bio on the T-Cell Gene Editing team investigating strategies to enhance CAR and transgenic TCR T-cell therapies. After graduating in 2019, Caitlin began her PhD at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine in Cell and Molecular Biology within the Gene Therapy and Vaccines program. Caitlin is mentored by Dr. Joseph Fraietta and her graduate work focuses on epigenetic and metabolic mechanisms controlling T cell fate and function and strategies to utilize these pathways to improve the efficacy of CAR T cell therapies.
Sarah Huah
Global Commercial Strategy
Precision Medicine
Johnson and JohnsonSarah Huah
Global Commercial Strategy
Precision Medicine
Johnson and JohnsonSarah Huah has been in the pharmaceutical industry for 15 years across multiple therapies and modalities across small/large molecules to cell and gene therapies. She is currently at Johnson & Johnson and leads the Precision Medicine Commercial Strategy for Maternal Fetal. She is passionate about advancing healthcare, and bringing life changing innovative therapies to market. Sarah is excited about participating in this year’s event and sharing with others some of her experiences and perspectives on how we can utilize precision medicine to continue the advancement in women’s health.
Taylor Jensen
Vice President
Head of Oncology Science
LabCorpTaylor Jensen
Vice President
Head of Oncology Science
LabcorpTaylor Jensen joined Sequenom in 2009 and was part of the team that developed and launched the first commercially available noninvasive prenatal test based on cell-free DNA in the U.S. Subsequently, Dr. Jensen was involved in numerous development efforts focused on the detection of genomic and epigenomic changes in cfDNA for use in prenatal and cancer diagnostics. Since the acquisition of Sequenom by LabCorp in 2016, his work has been primarily focused on biomarkers, precision medicine diagnostic assays, and product strategy with the overarching goal of utilizing these technologies to improve human health. He is a member of multiple professional societies including AACR and ASCO, has contributed to multiple awarded patents, and has authored or co-authored more than 35 publications in peer reviewed scientific journals. He holds a Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Toxicology from the University of Arizona and was a postdoctoral fellow at the Arizona Cancer Center.
Porscha Johnson
Executive Owner/Principal Consultant
PJW Clinical Pharmacy Consulting, LLCPorscha Johnson
Executive Owner/Principal Consultant
PJW Clinical Pharmacy Consulting, LLCDr. Porscha Johnson Williams is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and earned her Doctor of Pharmacy from Howard University College of Pharmacy in Washington, DC. She furthered her training through the completion of a post-doctoral clinical pharmacy fellowship in hematology/oncology and critical care at Howard University Hospital. Double-certified in pharmacogenomics, Porscha serves as the strategic advisor for various molecular tumor board services and precision medicine development. She collaborates with a multidisciplinary team for informed treatment decision-making according to novel approaches and cutting-edge research within the field.
Furthermore, Porscha oversees and contributes to many initiatives including a health system-wide Precision Oncology Program, the curation and delivery of educational material and presentations to all disciplines, as well as serves as an independent consultant for medical oncology and pharmacogenomics. Dr. Porscha Johnson Williams enthusiastically embodies a special interest in the clinical utility of precision oncology and pharmacogenomics/genetics to optimize therapy, improve outcomes, and advocate for health equity for all cancer patients.
Sanjay Juneja
Vice President of Clinical AI Applications
Tempus AI
"TheOncDoc", Social & News Media EducatorSanjay Juneja
Vice President, Clinical AI Applications, Tempus AI
“TheOncDoc”, Social & News Media Educator
Podcast Host, “Target Cancer: Podcast”
Co-Founder, Medfluencers
Co-Founder, TensorBlackSanjay Juneja, MD is a triple board certified hematologist & medical oncologist driven by the need of democratized, accessible innovation in the rapidly evolving cancer space. Through his nationally-recognized social media content as @TheOncDoc, Dr. Juneja has amassed over 700,000 subscribers and, as host of “Target Cancer: Podcast”, has over one million downloads in over 100 countries to date. For his merits, Dr. Juneja was invited by the White House to participate on their Healthcare Leaders in Social Media roundtable through 2023, and in 2024 awarded by Targeted Oncology as the first recipient of their ‘2024 Oncology Icons’. He is an avid Keynote speaker nationally and abroad, and has been featured on several news outlets including CNBC, PBS, WIRED magazine, and the Washington Post.
Outside of his current practice, Dr. Juneja provides consultation and insights in effective messaging when it relates to challenging topics such as cancer and their treatments, to healthcare professionals and biotech / pharmaceutical companies alike. He is a co-founder of Medfluencers, an agency dedicated to ensuring social media education is done in a responsible and compliant manner, as well as to ensure healthcare professionals are aware of state and federal regulations. Dr. Juneja is an editorial board member for the journal ‘AI in Precision Oncology’, and a co-founder of TensorBlack–an educational AI in Healthcare company assembled to ensure the understanding of AI, as well as its applications in the oncology setting. Lastly, Dr. Juneja is a fervent advocate for health equity and access to care, and actively participates in legislative capacities and policy writing on a state and federal level through his affiliations with Alliance for Patient Access, Cancer Advocacy Group of Louisiana, Figs Advocacy Group, xCures, and the Louisiana Oncology Society.Dokyook Kim
Associate Professor, Informatics
Penn MedicineDokyoon Kim
Associate Professor, Informatics
Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics
Penn MedicineDirector, AI-Driven Translational Informatics (CATI)
Associate Director, Informatics
Penn Immune HealthDr. Dokyoon Kim is an Associate Professor of Informatics and serves as the Director of the Center for AI-Driven Translational Informatics (CATI). He also holds the role of Associate Director of Informatics at Immune Health. His primary focus is on the integration of multi-modal data, including 'omics data, environmental data, imaging, and phenotype data from Electronic Health Records (EHR). Dr. Kim's past projects have been both theoretical and applied. They include developing data integration methods that combine multi-omics data and biological knowledge, predicting clinical outcomes based on interactions between multi-omic features, integrating genomics and imaging data for various phenotypes and diseases, and conducting translational research using EHR-linked biobanks. His long-term research goal is to develop and evaluate sophisticated data integration methods that simultaneously combine individuals' variations in genomic ('omic) data, imaging data, phenotype data from EHR, and environmental/lifelog data to advance precision medicine. Through the use of artificial intelligence (AI), he contributes to the fields of precision medicine and translational informatics. Dr. Kim's innovative approach has the potential to revolutionize how biomedical data is utilized, leading to more accurate diagnoses and effective treatments.
Rick Kittles
Senior Vice President for Research
Professor of Community Health and Preventive Medicine
Morehouse School of MedicineRick Kittles
Senior Vice President for Research
Professor of Community Health and Preventive Medicine
Morehouse School of MedicineRick Kittles, Ph.D., is the inaugural Senior Vice President for Research at Morehouse School of Medicine. Dr. Kittles was previously Professor and founding Director of the Division of Health Equities within the Department of Population Sciences at the City of Hope (COH) and Associate Director of Health Equities of COH Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Kittles is also Co-founder and Scientific Director of African Ancestry, Inc. Dr. Kittles serves on many national and international steering committees and advisory boards. He has been a member of the Board of Scientific Counselors (BSC) for the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI/NIH) and is Past Council Chair of the Minorities in Cancer Research (MICR) of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). He has been at the forefront of the development of genetic markers for ancestry and how genetic ancestry can be used in studies on disease risk and outcomes. He received a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from George Washington University in 1998.
Dr. Kittles’ research has focused on understanding the complex issues surrounding race, genetic ancestry, and health. He has published over 260 research articles and is well known for his research on prostate cancer and health disparities among African Americans.
Arutha Kulasinghe
Frazer Institute
University of Queensland
Queensland Spatial Biology Centre
Wesley Research InstituteArutha Kulasinghe
Frazer Institute, University of Queensland
Queensland Spatial Biology Centre, Wesley Research InstituteDr Arutha Kulasinghe completed his Bachelor of Science and Honours majoring in Medical Microbiology at the University of Pretoria (South Africa). In 2014, he undertook his PhD studies in the investigation of circulating tumour cells in head and neck cancers at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), receiving his doctorate in 2017. In 2019, Dr Kulasinghe began a Peter Doherty NHMRC Early Career Fellowship to develop biomarkers of immunotherapy response in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and lung cancer. His research aims to use spatial analysis of the tumour microenvironment and profiling of liquid biopsy (circulating tumour cells/circulating tumour DNA) to identify biomarkers of response to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Dr Kulasinghe is supported by a number of funding agencies including the NHMRC, Cure Cancer and the GPRWMF.
Victor LaGroon
Head, Global Health Equity Strategy
Assurance Health Data
Chief Diversity Officer
Department of Veterans AffairsVictor LaGroon
Head of Global Health Equity Strategy, Assurance Health Data
Chief Diversity Officer, Department of Veterans AffairsVictor LaGroon was sworn-in August 2022, as the Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of the Secretary. He also served as a voting member of the White House Chief Diversity Officer Executive Council. As CDO, Victor was responsible for the development of VA’s Inclusive, Diversity, Equity and Access (I-DEA) strategy and governance. Victor has led the development, adoption and implementation of VA-wide I-DEA programs and policies in support of the Department’s strategic priorities, enabling accountability and transparency of data, driving results, ensuring the most effective initiatives are in-place and communicating and amplifying the I-DEA message.
Prior to his previous position, Victor served as the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Alliances for the Division of Health Equity, Department of Population Sciences at City of Hope. He also led Veteran hiring and retention strategies for the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team at City of Hope, while working as the advisor to the Governance Council on DEI policies and initiatives. Victor also served as the first Director of the Mayor’s Office of Veterans Affairs for the City of Chicago after being appointed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Victor has worked at the University of Illinois at Chicago campus for the Office of the Chancellor of Health Affairs, where he was responsible for external partnerships as well as community and legislative relations. Victor also coordinated Cancer Disparities Strategies for the Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Chicago. While working with academic institutions Victor also served as Chairman of the Advisory Council on Veteran Affairs for the City of Chicago where he also sat on the Board of Commissioners for the Commission on Human Relations.
Victor credits his experience and its impact on serving people to his time spent with the 10th Mountain Division, U.S. Army, where he served as an Intelligence Analyst and was medically retired in 2006. He currently speaks nationally and has testified before the 117th House Veterans Affairs Committee on a variety of issues including access to care, Veterans benefits, transition and employment strategies. With a focus on those from at risk and underrepresented communities including transition and employment strategies.
Today, Victor serves as a policy expert, global health strategist and advisor on issues of equity, international affairs and undeserved populations. While Victor consults on a number of projects, one of which is as co-founder of Veterans for Democracy which focuses on the social civic impacts Veterans make in local communities. Victor also is co-founder of the Black Veterans Cancer Care Collaborative in partnership with Morehouse School of Medicine.
Jasmina Cheung Lau
Lead Scientist
Analytical Program Development
Spark TherapeuticsJsmina Cheung Lau
Lead Scientist
Analytical Program Development
Spark TherapeuticsDr. Cheung-Lau has been an Analytical Program Lead Scientist at Spark Therapeutics for the past 2 years. Prior to that, she was a Senior Scientist in the Analytical Development group at Janssen Pharmaceuticals. From these experiences, she has become an expert in analytical method development, method validations, specifications setting, all as part of establishing a holistic end to end analytical control strategy for protein therapeutics, like monoclonal antibodies, as well as gene therapy products. She has expertise in late stage products and has supported several successful global filings.
Adrian Lee
Professor and Director
Institute for Precision Medicine
University of PittsburghAdrian Lee
Professor and Director
Institute for Precision Medicine
University of PittsburghDr. Adrian Lee is the Pittsburgh Foundation Chair and Director of the Institute for Precision Medicine (IPM), a joint effort by UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh to move biomedical research into personalized well-being and clinical care. He is also Professor of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology and Human Genetics at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. Dr. Lee received B.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in England, and came to San Antonio, Texas for his postdoctoral studies. He was subsequently recruited to Baylor College of Medicine and to the University of Pittsburgh in 2010. The goal of Dr. Lee’s research laboratory is to translate basic cell and molecular research findings into the understanding and treatment of breast cancer. Dr Lee has published over 180 peer reviewed research articles. His laboratory is supported by funding from the NIH, Department of Defense, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, and other sources.
Jennifer Leib
Founder
Innovation Policy SolutionsJennifer Leib
Founder
Innovation Policy SolutionsJennifer Leib founded Innovation Policy Solutions, a government relations firm specializing in genomics and precision medicine policy. Some of her accomplishments include leading the advocacy effort in support of the plaintiffs in the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision in the Association for Molecular Pathology vs. Myriad Genetics Inc. that invalidated gene patents, serving on the Executive Committee of the Coalition for Genetic Fairness which successfully advocated for passage of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, and more recently, assisting companies with navigating the evolving regulatory and reimbursement landscape for diagnostic testing for SARS-Cov-2. Previously, Jennifer co-founded another consulting firm, HealthFutures, which was acquired by CRD Associates in 2009. Board certified in genetic counseling, she also worked at the National Institutes of Health, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, and in the biotechnology industry.
Lauren Leiman
Executive Director
BloodPAC ConsortiumLauren Leiman
Executive Director
BloodPAC ConsortiumAt BloodPAC Lauren is focused on creating an open database for liquid biopsies to accelerate the development of safe and effective blood profiling diagnostic technologies for patient benefit. Prior, she was the Senior Director of External Partnerships at White House Cancer Moonshot Task Force during the Obama Administration. Previously, Lauren was a Senior Advisor for the Melanoma Research Alliance and Director of Philanthropy at Elysium Management LLC in New York City. From 2008-2010, Lauren worked for the Millennium Promise Alliance, where she led the major gifts fundraising effort and spent significant time in sub-Saharan Africa. Lauren was also the head of marketing and investor relations at Steel Partners, LP, an activist hedge fund investing globally. She received her undergraduate degree in communications from the University of Pennsylvania. She also holds an MBA from the University of North Carolinas Kenan-Flagler Business School and a masters degree in public relations and corporate communications from NYU.
Joe Lennerz
Chief Scientific Officer
BostonGeneJoe Lennerz
Chief Scientific Officer
BostonGeneJoe Lennerz, MD, PhD is the Chief Scientific Officer at BostonGene. Dr. Lennerz oversees the comprehensive product lifecycle management, data utilization and regulatory science for BostonGene, a leading provider of AI-driven molecular-genetic and immune profiling solutions.
Before BostonGene, Dr. Lennerz served as the Associate Chief of Pathology and the Medical Director of the Center for Integrated Diagnostics at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Harvard Medical School. His leadership focused on overseeing all aspects of personalized diagnostics, ensuring the rapid clinical integration of innovative technologies.
Dr. Lennerz completed his MD and a PhD in molecular medicine at the University of Erlangen, Germany. His background includes residency training in anatomic pathology at Washington University in St. Louis and fellowships in molecular genetic-, gastrointestinal-, and liver pathology at MGH and Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Lennerz's expertise extends to regulatory science, molecular-genetic biomarkers, payer operations, and the financial sustainability of high-complexity diagnostics. He served as the principal investigator in the first FDA instrument precision study for a whole slide scanning system. His dedication to advancing healthcare and diagnostics is evident through his multifaceted contributions in academia, regulatory science, and personalized medicine.
Karen Lin
Senior Medical Science Liaison
NateraKaren Lin
Senior Medical Science Liaison
NateraArturo Loaiza-Bonilla
Co-Founder
Chief Medical Officer
Massive BioArturo Loaiza-Bonilla
System Chair of Medical Research
Medical Director of Oncology Research
Capital HealthAdvisory Committee Member
ASCOCo-Founder & Chief Medical Officer
Massive BioAccelerator Mentor - Founding Member
CancerX MoonshotTeaching Faculty, Department of Medicine
Drexel University College of MedicineDr. Loaiza-Bonilla is board certified in both medical oncology and hematology and specializes in treating gastrointestinal malignancies. He also has extensive experience in the diagnosis and treatment of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and genomic biomarker-driven cancers. Dr. Loaiza-Bonilla completed fellowship training in hematology and oncology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Miami, Florida and an internship and residency in internal medicine at Harbor Hospital Center, Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. He received his medical degree from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia in Bogotá, Colombia.
Before joining Capital Health, Dr. Loaiza-Bonilla was vice chairman of the Department of Medical Oncology at Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as well as enterprise director of research, where he provided leadership and expertise to their oncology trial portfolio across 5 cancer centers and over 70 NCTN and industry-sponsored clinical trials. His research has been extensively published in the most prominent journals and meetings in oncology, and he has been recipient of NIH funding to advance digital health and artificial intelligence tools for cancer research. He was also assistant professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; during that time, he completed his master’s degree in medical education at the same university and is currently assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at Drexel University College of Medicine, both in Philadelphia.
Throughout his distinguished academic and clinical career, Dr. Loaiza-Bonilla has held numerous leadership positions such as President of the Pennsylvania Society of Oncology and Hematology and President of the Board of Directors of the Global Alliance for Patient Access. In 2018, he was recognized as Philadelphia Business Journal’s Forty Under 40, in 2019 he was bestowed the Influencers of Healthcare Award – Outstanding Healthcare Provider award by the Philadelphia Inquirer, and in 2021 he was chosen as recipient of '40 under 40 in Cancer' accolade. He has also been selected in Castle Connolly's and Philadelphia Magazine's Top Doctors listing since 2018.
Dusty Majumdar
Chief Executive Officer
PredxBioDusty Majumdar
Chief Executive Officer
PredxBioDr. Dusty Majumdar is a seasoned leader in Precision Healthcare with over 25 years of experience in oncology, multi-omics, RWE, diagnostic imaging, and liquid biopsy platforms. He has led innovation using AI, genomic analytics, and digital twins. Dusty has held leadership roles as CMO at IBM and key positions at GE Healthcare, Exact Sciences, and 3M.
Luciano Martelotto
Associate Professor
Single Cell and Spatial Omics Lab
University of Adelaide
Adelaide Centre for Epigenetics
SAiGENCILuciano Martelotto
Associate Professor
Single Cell and Spatial Omics Lab
University of Adelaide
Adelaide Centre for Epigenetics
SAiGENCIAssociate Prof. Martelotto has a robust interdisciplinary scientific foundation, with expertise in molecular biology and biochemistry, complemented by significant training in technology and engineering. His background as a cell and molecular biologist is enriched by a degree in Biotechnology, a PhD in Biological Sciences, and postdoctoral training in cancer genomics and single-cell sequencing technologies. His diverse expertise spans various fields, including plant genetics, microbiology, cancer biology, and genomics, fueling his ambition and capacity to innovate and apply technologies across disciplines. A consistent theme throughout his career is integrating insights from diverse scientific areas to address real-world challenges and improve lives through technological advancements.
The Single Cell and Spatial-Omics Lab at ACE/SAiGENCI serves as a specialized academic incubator for developing and testing new tools and methods in single-cell, spatial, and genomics research. This space fosters innovation in technology creation, protocol development, equipment evaluation, and the integration of informatics tools. While the lab's objectives and activities, led by the Innovation Team, naturally adapt to the fast-paced advancements in genomics, its enduring goal is to cultivate technologies that drive research forward and deliver tangible benefits to the broader scientific community.
Envisioned as a collaborative, technology-driven hub, the Martelotto Lab provides comprehensive technical and intellectual support throughout all phases of experimental projects, from planning and design to implementation and interpretation. The lab stands as a vital resource for collaborators seeking access to cutting-edge technologies, technical guidance, developmental support, and problem-solving expertise.
Shruti Mathur
Pharma Diagnostic Strategy Leader
Global Product Strategy (GPS)
GenentechShruti Mathur
Pharma Diagnostic Strategy Leader
Global Product Strategy (GPS)
GenentechHoward McLeod
Professor & Center Director
Utah Tech UniversityHoward McLeod
Professor & Center Director
Utah Tech UniversityDr. Howard McLeod is an internationally recognized expert in precision medicine, having made novel contributions at the discovery, translation, implementation, and policy levels. Dr. McLeod has been recognized as a Fellow of both the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American College of Clinical Pharmacy. He has also been an active Board Member and/or Founder for over a dozen privately held and publicly traded companies. Howard has published over 600 peer reviewed papers on pharmacogenomics, applied therapeutics, or clinical pharmacology and continues to work to advance innovative healthcare.
Susan Monarez
Deputy Director
ARPA-HSusan Monarez
Deputy Director
ARPA-HDr. Susan Coller Monarez is a globally recognized leader with more than 20 years of experience in health innovation. Throughout her career, Monarez has focused on understanding the critical challenges within the health ecosystem and the greatest opportunities for innovation to meet these challenges. Prior to serving as ARPA-H deputy director, Monarez led innovation at the Health Resources and Services Administration, focused on ethical use of AI/ML to support improved health outcomes, novel approaches to addressing social determinants of health, expanding access to behavioral health, ending the opioid epidemic, addressing health equity gaps in maternal and infant mortality, and improving the country’s organ donation and transplantation programs.
Dr. Monarez has also served at the White House as the assistant director for National Health Security and International Affairs in the Office of Science and Technology Policy and as the director of Medical Preparedness Policy on the National Security Council. In both White House roles, she led efforts to enhance the nation’s biomedical innovation capabilities including combating antibiotic resistant bacteria and MDR/XDR TB, expanding telehealth and remote patient monitoring, establishing safeguards to ensure personal health data privacy, and improving pandemic preparedness. Monarez led the development of several Presidential-level national strategies, action plans, and policy directives related to domestic and global health.
Dr. Monarez also served in leadership positions at the Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency within the Department of Homeland Security and the Biomedical Advanced Research Projects Agency within HHS. In addition to leadership roles within the federal government, Monarez has served on numerous advisory panels, including for the National Academies of Science, the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity, and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Monarez has also served as the U.S. representative on several international cooperative initiatives including with the European Union, Canada, France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom in bilateral and multilateral engagements.
Dr. Monarez was a Science and Technology Policy fellow with the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Prior to government service, Monarez was a postdoctoral fellow and graduate student, respectively, at Stanford University and the University of Wisconsin, where she focused on technology development to prevent, diagnose, and treat infectious diseases with a focus on people living in low- and middle-income countries.
Mike Montalto
Vice President
Precision Medicine Global Development
AmgenMike Montalto
Vice President
Precision Medicine, Global Development
AmgenDr. Michael Montalto Ph.D., Vice President of Precision Medicine, Global Development since February 2024.
Dr. Montalto is a transformational research and development leader with 25 years of experience in both diagnostic device and pharmaceutical companies including a strong history of leading large multidisciplinary teams from innovation to development and commercialization. He is considered an industry leader in digital pathology and artificial intelligence applications for biomarker discovery, as well as translational and precision medicine more broadly, and has further served in several senior functional leadership roles for in-vitro diagnostic devices including research, development, clinical, medical, regulatory, business development and commercial organizations. In his current role as Vice President of Precision Medicine at Amgen, Dr. Montalto is responsible of the strategy and execution of translational and precision medicine in support of discovery biology, clinical development, and companion diagnostics, across all global therapeutic areas.
Prior to Amgen, Dr. Montalto served as the Chief Scientific Officer of PathAI, a leading start-up technology company developing AI-powered digital pathology and software platforms for biopharmaceutical and diagnostic healthcare industries. Under his leadership, the company launched over 25 AI-based product applications, established partnerships with 80% of the top 20 Pharma, received multiple IVD regulatory clearances in the US and EU, established biopharma laboratory clinical trial services, published several high impact journal articles, and helped establish record growth of their sales funnel.
Prior to PathAI, Dr. Montalto led the Translational Sciences Organization as a Vice President at Bristol Myers Squibb, comprising all clinical biomarker platform laboratories, as well as pathology, radiology, sample operations and biobank in support of all therapeutic areas and companion diagnostic development. During his tenure, his team supported flagship biomarker testing programs such as PharmDx 28-8 (PD-L1/Agilent), Tumor Mutational Burden (Roche/Foundation Medicine), ctDNA/MRD (Illumina, ThermoFisher) for drug program Opdivo (Nivolumab), Yervoy (Ipililumab) and Opdualag (Relatlimab).
Dr. Montalto has significant entrepreneurial experience leading teams to invent and develop novel spatial multiplexing technology platforms within General Electric Global Research (GE GRC) Division, which are currently on the market through Danaher/Cytiva (CellDive™) and Neogenomics (Multiomyx™). Additionally, he led teams at GE GRC that pioneered novel digital pathology imaging and software technologies (Dynamx™; VL4/120™) that served as the basis for a joint venture that he co-founded between GE Healthcare and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (Omnyx, LLC) that was sold to Inspirata Inc in 2018 and subsequently Fuji, Inc in 2023.
Dr. Montalto is currently serving on the editorial board of the Journal of AI in Precision Oncology and as a member of the Friends of Cancer Research Digital Pathology Working Group and FNIH Biomarker Consortium Steering Committee. Dr. Montalto has previously served on NIH Study Sections for In Vivo Molecular Imaging Centers, as well as, serving on the Digital Pathology Association Executive Committee as President and a long-standing member of their Board of Directors. He has served as a scientific advisor to Lieca and Perkin Elmer/Akoya and various start-up companies in the digital pathology sector. He received his PhD from Albany Medical College in tumor biology and post-doctoral fellowship training at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Cardiovascular Anti-inflammatory drug discovery.
Susanne Munksted
Chief Precision Medicine Officer
DiaceuticsSusanne Munksted
Chief Precision Medicine Officer
DiaceuticsSusanne Munksted, Chief Precision Medicine Officer of Diaceutics, brings a wealth of experience to her role in leading a global team of precision medicine industry experts dedicated to enhancing the testing ecosystem to help patients capitalize on new breakthrough personalized medications. Susanne's journey in molecular pathology has been marked by notable achievements, including spearheading several global launches of companion diagnostic products. As a leading author of the Practice Gaps Study, Susanne played a pivotal role in identifying seven key clinical practice gaps contributing to patient leakage, and her impactful contributions to the field have earned her a well-deserved place among the PharmaVoice 100 list of transformational leaders in life sciences.
Muhammed Murtaza
Director and Associate Professor, Center for Human Genomics and Precision Medicine
University of Wisconsin-MadisonMuhammed Murtaza
Director and Associate Professor, Center for Human Genomics and Precision Medicine
University of Wisconsin-MadisonDr. Muhammed Murtaza serves as the Director for Center Human Genomics and Precision Medicine and Associate Professor of Surgical Oncology at University of Wisconsin-Madison. He leads a research program focused on leveraging genomics and computational methods to bridge diagnostic gaps and improve outcomes for cancer patients. Funded by multiple grants from the NIH, the lab develops new approaches and multianalyte methods for early detection, minimal residual disease detection, and monitoring response to treatment.
Dr. Murtaza holds a PhD from Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute at the University of Cambridge and an MBBS from Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan. Prior to his current position, he was a faculty member at Translational Genomics Research Institute in Phoenix, AZ and at Mayo Clinic Arizona.
Christine Nguyen
Deputy Director, Rare Diseases, Pediatrics, Urological and Reproductive Medicine
FDAChristine Nguyen
Deputy Director, Rare Diseases, Pediatrics, Urological and Reproductive Medicine
FDADr. Christine Nguyen is the Deputy Director of the Office of Rare Diseases, Pediatrics, Urologic and Reproductive Medicine (ORPURM), in the Office of New Drugs, that oversees the development, review, and regulation of applications for drug and biologic products in the Division of Rare Diseases and Medical Genetics. In her role, she leads in important scientific, clinical, regulatory and policy considerations related to the development of treatment of inborn errors of metabolism, including lysosomal storage disorders, organic acid disorders, and amino acid metabolism disorders. Dr. Nguyen also provides oversight for rare disease drug development across the Office of New Drugs with coordination of rare disease education, policy, research and stakeholder engagement. Prior to becoming Deputy Director of ORPURM, Dr. Nguyen was the Deputy Director for Safety and then Division Director in the Division of Urology, Obstetrics and Gynecology and served as the acting Deputy Office Director in the previous Office of Drug Evaluation II that regulated complex therapeutic areas related to endocrinology, metabolism, pulmonary, rheumatology, analgesia, pain, and addiction. Since joining the FDA in 2005, Dr. Nguyen has actively engaged in and contributed extensively to regulatory and scientific initiatives, within and outside of FDA, and has been the co-investigator on several FDA research grants. She has co-authored numerous publications on regulatory science and complex FDA decisions.
Dr. Nguyen received her Medical Doctor (M.D.) with Thesis degree from the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine. She subsequently completed a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and is a Diplomate of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Kara O'Brien
Executive Director
Precision Diagnostics
NovartisKara O'Brien
Executive Director
Precision Diagnostics
NovartisKara O’Brien is currently the Executive Director, Precision Diagnostics at Novartis. With over 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and diagnostics industries, she has a strong background in precision medicine and precision diagnostics. Kara has recently been diving deeper into the precision medicine ecosystem in non-oncology indications and rare disease and assessing how the learnings from oncology precision medicine can be leveraged to advance precision medicine in new therapeutic areas. At Novartis, she focuses on the precision medicine ecosystem and the opportunities to simplify clinical and patient care pathways to improve outcomes for patients, leveraging innovative treatments and technologies to redefine relationships with healthcare systems and enhance patient diagnosis and access to Novartis’s innovative medicines.
Previously, Kara held key roles at Foundation Medicine, Bayer Oncology & Roche Diagnostics. She is also an active collaborator in the Precision Cancer Consortium (PCC) recently leading the workstream to advance educational efforts on the value of comprehensive genomic testing in routine care and clinical trials.
Roddy O'Connor
Assistant Professor of Research
University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of MedicineRoddy O'Connor
Assistant Professor of Research, CAR-T Cell Metabolism
University of Pennsylvania School of MedicineDr. O'Connor's research emphasizes novel conditioning strategies and genetic approaches to confer unique metabolic attributes to CAR T cells. In collaborative research with Nucleus Biologics, Dr. O'Connor developed a customized, cGMP grade, CAR T cell culture medium for the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) clinical sector. In a recent paper, he shared how this state-of-the-art medium formulation enhances CAR T cell potency and anti-tumor function. As medium composition can obscure metabolic responses induced by CAR co-stimulation, he recently designed a physiologic medium specifically for the Seahorse assay (Agilent Thought Leader Award). His team were also the first to show how nonnative enzymes increase the resilience of CAR T cells against metabolic (lactate, hypoxia) and immune (Siglec) checkpoints in solid tumor environments. His expertise in T-cell metabolism has been recognized through an Award for Excellence in Immunology (AAI) and exemplified by several industry sponsored research alliances with Seahorse Bioscience, Nucleus Biologics, and Agilent. At UPenn, his team is now poised to translate our advances in CAR T cell metabolic fitness to target various malignancies and auto-immune diseases. Dr. O’Connor is a highly regarded expert in CAR-T cell metabolism and has presented his findings at AAI, ASGCT, and the CAR-TCR Summit. Dr. O’Connor co-organizes the annual metabolomics symposium at UPenn and has presented several workshops as well as a webinar series with Nucleus Biologics on CAR-T cell metabolism.
Oriana Papin-Zoghbi
CEO & Co-Founder
AOA DxOriana Papin-Zoghbi
CEO & Co-FounderAOA DxOriana is a visionary leader in the field of women’s health and diagnostics. Recently honored in Inc’s 2022 Top 100 Female Founders for her work in ovarian cancer diagnosis, Oriana brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise bringing disruptive diagnostics to market and changing the landscape of clinical practice. Oriana is passionate about entrepreneurship and problem solving and hopes to use these skills to revolutionize early cancer detection, particularly in cancers that disproportionately affect women.
Oriana has global experience creating and leading organizations resulting in successful strategic exits. Prior to AOA, she led teams at early-stage startups and large life sciences companies. Oriana has a track record of developing a highly productive culture and turning visions into reality. She has a proven technical record of creating market entry strategies and product launches in new markets, including launching nationwide HPV screening in East Africa and novel diagnostics in maternal fetal medicine, oncology and infectious diseases.
As CEO of AOA, her dedication and work have earned her numerous awards and recognition, including the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center MassNextGen Award, The Eddies People’s Choice Award and The Wave Summit’s Emerging Women Founder in Bio Award.
Oriana holds a degree from Boston University in Economics and International Relations, and she has experience both living and working in various geographies
Amanda Paulovich
Professor, Aven Foundation Endowed Chair
Fred Hutchinson Cancer CenterAmanda Paulovich
Professor and Aven Foundation Endowed Chair
Director, CLIA Targeted Proteomic Laboratory
Translational Science and Therapeutics Division
Fred Hutchinson Cancer CenterDirector, Clinical Research Proteomics Platform
Brotman Baty Institute for Precision MedicineProfessor, Department of Medicine/Division of Hematology & Oncology
University of Washington School of MedicineDr. Paulovich is Professor and Aven Foundation Endowed Chair at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle. As a medical oncologist, Dr. Paulovich was struck by the paucity of effective diagnostics for measuring clinically relevant phenotypes in her patients, and the limitations that this put on her ability to practice “personalized oncology.” One patient’s tumor would melt away with standard of care therapy, whereas another patient with what appeared to be the same tumor would nonetheless experience disease progression on the same therapy. One patient would experience life-threatening toxicity, whereas another patient receiving the same therapy would not develop side effects.
Out of these experiences, she became passionate about ushering in a new approach to medical decision making, no longer based on single-gene or single-protein diagnostics, but rather combining multimodal data (e.g., molecular, demographic, clinical) to arm clinicians with tools for early and effective interventions to promote wellness and enable precision medicine.
Over the past 20+ years, Dr. Paulovich's interdisciplinary laboratory at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center has focused on proteogenomic approaches to understanding cancer biology and on laying the groundwork for the clinical translation of NextGen diagnostics to support precision medicine.
Dr. Paulovich completed a residency in Internal Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and a fellowship in Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. She completed her Ph.D. training in genetics with Dr. Lee Hartwell at the University of Washington and postdoctoral training in genomics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with Dr. Eric Lander. She completed her M.D. at the University of Washington, and her B.S. at Carnegie Mellon University.
Andrew Pecora
Chief Innovations Officer and Vice President of Cancer Services
Hackensack University Medical CenterAndrew Pecora
Chief Innovations Officer and Vice President of Cancer Services
Hackensack University Medical CenterWhen Andrew L. Pecora, M.D., FACP, CPE, joined John Theurer Cancer Center, he elevated cancer care to the department level and reorganized cancer services into 14 separate divisions. His accomplishments include the aggressive recruitment of leading oncologists from all over the United States, the addition of innovative basic research and clinical trials, the expansion of patient care services, and the acquisition of new state-of-the-art technology that has helped make John Theurer Cancer Center one of that nation’s top 50 best cancer centers — and the only one in New Jersey with this designation.
A certified hematologist/oncologist, Dr. Pecora is recognized internationally as one of the world’s foremost experts in blood and marrow stem cell transplantation, cellular medicine, and immunology research. In 1989, he spearheaded the development of John Theurer Cancer Center’s Adult Blood and Marrow Stem Cell Transplantation Program and is responsible for many advancements used in stem cell transplantation today.
Dr. Pecora’s current research involves developing vaccines and other cellular therapies that boost the power of a patient’s own immune system to fight cancer, as well as targeted therapies that destroy cancer cells. His research has been published extensively in prestigious medical journals, and he is a frequently requested lecturer at conferences all over the world. Dr. Pecora’s award-winning research is funded by the National Cancer Institute, Amgen, Merck, and the AHEPA Research Foundation.
Emanuel Petricoin
Co-Director Center, Applied Proteomics & Molecular Medicine
George Mason UniversityEmanuel Petricoin
Distinguished University Professor
Co-Director Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine
School of Systems Biology
George Mason UniversityDr. Emanuel F Petricoin has been the Co-Director of the Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine (CAPMM) at George Mason University since 2005, where he is a Distinguished University Professor. Prior to this position, he served as Co-Director of the FDA-NCI Clinical Proteomics Program from 2001-2005, and a Senior Investigator within the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research at the US Food and Drug Administration from 1993-2005. The focus of the CAPMM is the invention and use of proteomics technologies for oncology-based applications, infectious disease research, personalized therapy, molecular diagnostics, and biomarker discovery. He was part of 2 SU2C Dream Teams (pancreatic cancer and melanoma) and is a PI on numerous precision oncology trials including the I-SPY2 TRIAL. He is a co-founder of 3 life science companies. Dr. Petricoin’s expertise includes, precision oncology, precision medicine, development of genomics and proteomics-based companion diagnostics, proteomics and protein biomarkers, cell signaling, molecular diagnostic assay development, biologics and cellular therapeutics regulation, as well as artificial intelligence-based algorithms for therapy matching and precision oncology efforts.
He has co-authored 501 publications (H-Index 116) and is a co-inventor on over 40 filed and published patents. He has authored over 25 book chapters, is a Senior Editor for Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention and on the editorial board of JCO Precision Oncology, Nature: Precision Oncology, Proteomics, Biomedical Microdevices, Proteomics-Clinical Applications, Proteomics-Protocols, Molecular, Carcinogenesis, Journal of Personalized Medicine, and Dr. Petricoin is a founding member of the Human Proteomic Organization (HUPO). He has received numerous awards including the Distinguished University Professorship at George Mason University, the NIH Director’s Award, FDA Distinguished Scientist Award, 2015 Innovator of the Year Award, GAP50 Top Virginia Entrepreneurs, Nifty 50 Award, American Society of Cytopathology Basic Research Award, the Roche Diagnostics/CLAS Distinguished Scientist Award, and the Harvard University Leading Edge Award and is a Kentucky Colonel. He is the recipient of over 60 competitive grants and contracts from the NIH, DoD, DTRA, DARPA DOE as well as several philanthropic and non-for-profit foundations and pharmaceutical company contracts. Dr. Petricoin is a member of the Board of Directors for the Gateway for Cancer Research Foundation, serves on the AACR Exploratory IND Clinical Trials Task Force, and has served as the GMU faculty representative to the George Mason Research Foundation, the GMU faculty representative to the Virginia Biosciences Health Research Committee, and faculty representative to the GMU Board of Visitors. He currently serves on the Distinguished University Professor Committee.
Jasmine Plummer
Founding Director, Center for Spatial Omics
Member, Comprehensive Cancer Center
St. Jude’s Children’s Research HospitalJasmine Plummer
Founding Director, Center for Spatial Omics; Member, Comprehensive Cancer Center, St. Judes Children's Hospital
Associate Professor, Department of Developmental Neurobiology and Department of Cellular and Molecular BiologyDr. Jasmine Plummer, PhD is the founding Director of the Center for Spatial Omics and member of the Comprehensive Cancer Center at St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. She is an Associate Professor and cross appointed in the Department of Developmental Neurobiology and the Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology. She received her PhD in Molecular and Medical Genetics at the University of Toronto, Mount Sinai Hospital. Dr. Plummer completed her post doctoral training at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and University of Southern California and moved into a faculty role at Cedars Sinai where she became a funded PI of the Human Cell Atlas. Dr. Plummer was also co-director of the Genomics Core at Cedars Sinai which focused on generating genomic data for a variety of technologies from single cell and spatial assays to sequencing. Dr. Plummer’s lab uses a multi-omic approach through single cell and spatial genomics to better understand the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders and cancer. Since moving to her new role, Dr. Plummer has established one of the first center’s specializing in the application of spatial technologies to a variety of disease types.
Giovanna Prout
Chief Executive Officer
ScaleBioGiovanna Prout
Chief Executive Officer
ScaleBioGiovanna Prout, Chief Executive Officer of ScaleBio has served across many rolls in the Genomics Tools industry. Prior to joining Scale, Giovanna was the VP of Marketing at both Deepcell and 10X Genomics. She also spent over a decade at Illumina, holding positions in Product Management and Marketing, Operations, Supply Chain, and Development.
Daniel Rader
Chair, Department of Genetics, Penn Medicine
Chief, Division of Human Genetics, CHOPDaniel Rader
Chair, Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
Chief, Division of Human Genetics, Children’s Hospital of PhiladelphiaDr. Rader is the Chief of the Division of Human Genetics and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the Seymour Gray Professor of Molecular Medicine and Chair of the Department of Genetics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, where he also serves as Chief of the Divisions of Human Genetics in the Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics and the Associate Director of the Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics.
Dr. Rader’s research is focused on the human genetics and physiology of lipid metabolism and cardiometabolic disease, as well as the translational implications for novel therapeutic approaches and for implementation of genomic medicine. Dr. Rader founded and directs the Penn Medicine BioBank, an integrated resource to support human genetics and translational research, and he is a champion of genomic medicine applied to disease prevention. Dr. Rader sees patients with lipid disorders and has been regularly recognized by Top Doctors in Philadelphia. He has been a recipient of several national and international research awards. He has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Julie Ramage
Principal
Harbor Precision Genomics ConsultingJulie Ramage
Principal
Harbor Precision Genomics ConsultingJulie Ramage is a seasoned leader in the field of precision genomics and healthcare consulting. With a wealth of experience spanning over 30 years, Julie has made significant contributions to the biopharmaceutical industry, particularly in the areas of oncology, pathology, data regulation, and reimbursement.
Current Role: Principal at Harbor Precision Genomics Consulting
As the Principal of Harbor Precision Genomics Consulting, Julie leads a team of experts dedicated to advancing precision medicine. Her role involves strategic planning, client engagement, and driving innovative solutions for genomics-driven healthcare. Julie’s passion lies in bridging the gap between cutting-edge research and practical applications in clinical settings.
Prior Work: AstraZeneca and Pfizer
Before joining Harbor Precision Genomics Consulting, Julie held pivotal roles at two major pharmaceutical companies:
- AstraZeneca: As the Director of Precision Medicine Quality Initiatives and Partnerships, Julie spearheaded initiatives that integrated genomics into drug development. Her work focused on optimizing patient outcomes through personalized treatment strategies.
- Pfizer Oncology: Julie contributed significantly to Pfizer’s companion diagnostic activities. Her expertise in biomarkers, data aggregation, and regulatory compliance played a crucial role in advancing oncology therapies.
Laboratory Experience and Pathology Expertise
Julie’s background includes extensive laboratory experience, where she has worked hands-on with cutting-edge technologies and platforms. Her understanding of pathology and molecular diagnostics has been instrumental in shaping her career.
Leadership and Advocacy
Julie’s commitment to the field extends beyond her professional roles. She served as the President of the California Clinical Lab Association, advocating for quality standards and innovation in clinical laboratories. Additionally, Julie actively participates in organizations such as the Precision Medicine Coalition and LUNGevity, where she collaborates with fellow experts to drive advancements in personalized medicine.
Julie Ramage’s multifaceted journey reflects her unwavering dedication to improving patient care through precision genomics
Adam Resnick
Director, Center for Data-Driven Discovery in Biomedicine
CHOPAdam Resnick
Member , Abramson Cancer CenterDirector , Children's Brain Tumor Tissue Consortium, Division of Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaDirector, CHOP/PENN Department of Neurosurgery Brain Tumor Tissue BiorepositoryDirector for Neurosurgical Translational Research, Division of Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaDirector, The Center for Data Driven Discovery in Biomedicine (D3b), Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaScientific Chair, Children's Brain Tumor Tissue Consortium, Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaStokes Investigator, Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaVice-Chair of Research, Division of Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaTrained as a neuroscientist, Dr. Resnick joined the Department of Neurosurgery at CHOP in 2007 and began developing a laboratory-based research program dedicated to pediatric brain tumors and the context of their developmental biology. Beginning with an early focus on the characterization of the genetic underpinnings of pediatric low grade gliomas, Dr. Resnick and his research partners engaged efforts to define novel, molecularly informed, targeted approaches for therapeutic intervention in childhood brain cancers.
To support better integration in platforms that would more rapidly inform the preclinical and biochemical modeling of rare diseases, Dr. Resnick and his team launched and participated in new consortia-based approaches for biospecimen-driven research and clinical trials, with the aim of developing scalable ecosystems of collaborative, iterative discovery. These initiatives include the Children's Brain Tumor Tissue Consortium (CBTTC) and the Pacific Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Consortium (PNOC), where Dr. Resnick serves as Scientific Chair. Including more than 20 pediatric hospitals, the consortia provide for the development of research platforms that fully embrace data-driven approaches for brain tumors across ages, diseases, and institutions.
In 2016, Dr. Resnick launched the Center for Data-Driven Discovery in Biomedicine (D³b) at CHOP with co-director Dr. Jay Storm, Chief of the Division of Neurosurgery at CHOP. The Center's activities build on the group's experiences in neuro-oncology and focus on collaborative, data-driven science to harness information-systems-based advancements in technology. Comprised of a diverse set of a multidisciplinary team members, D³b's transformative mission is to build and support a scalable, patient-partnered healthcare discovery and educational ecosystem on behalf of all children.
Henry Rodriguez
Founding Director, Office of Cancer Clinical Proteomics Research
Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnostics
NCI/NIHHenry Rodriguez
Founding Director, Office of Cancer Clinical Proteomics Research
Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnostics
National Cancer Institute
National Institutes of HealthFormer Assistant Director for Strategic Health and Cancer Science
Executive Office of the President
The White HouseDr. Rodriguez serves as the Founding Director of the Office of Cancer Clinical Proteomics Research and is a member of the Senior Leadership team at the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health. Recently, he served as Assistant Director for Strategic Health and Cancer Science in the Executive Office of the President at the White House.
A cell and molecular biologist with a background in business, Dr. Rodriguez has dedicated his career to conducting biomedical research on mechanisms of cancer in basic and clinical science to inform novel diagnostics and therapeutics, and to the development of measurement science, standards, and technology. Dr. Rodriguez founded the Office of Cancer Clinical Proteomics Research that leads the Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC), which combines proteomics and genomes to gain a complete understanding of tumor biology and its application in clinical trials. This endeavor resulted in the formation of the International Cancer Proteogenome Consortium (ICPC) and the Applied Proteogenomics Organizational Learning and Outcomes (APOLLO). The ICPC encompasses 14 nations and promotes collaboration and public data sharing in multiomics cancer research, while APOLLO focuses on patient care for active-duty military personnel and veterans.
Previously, Dr. Rodriguez held multiple roles at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (Department of Commerce), including Director of a Cell and Tissue metrology research group, and Health Sciences Program/Policy Analyst in the Office of the Director.
Born in Miami, FL, Dr. Rodriguez earned his A.A. in biology from Miami Dade Community College, B.S. in biology/chemistry and M.S. in biology from Florida International University, Ph.D. in cell and molecular biology from Boston University, and M.B.A. in finance and management from Johns Hopkins University. Fellowships were conducted at the Scripps Research Institute and City of Hope Cancer Center.
Mark Roschewski
Senior Clinician and Clinical Director
Lymphoid Malignancies Branch
Center for Cancer Research
NCIMark Roschewski
Senior Clinician and Clinical Director
Lymphoid Malignancies Branch
Center for Cancer Research
NCIDr. Mark Roschewski received his B.A. from the University of Notre Dame in 1997 and his M.D. from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha in 2001. He completed internal medicine residency training while serving in the U.S. Army and completed his hematology-oncology fellowship in 2009 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) in Washington, DC. He served as the Director of Hematologic Diseases at WRAMC for 3 years before joining the NIH as a Commissioned Corps officer in the United States Public Health Service in 2013. Dr. Roschewski's current role is as a Senior Clinician in the Lymphoid Malignancies Branch with a clinical research focus on the biology and management of patients with both indolent and aggressive forms of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Frank Sasinowski
Director
Hyman, Phelps & McNamara, PCFrank Sasinowski
Director
Hyman, Phelps & McNamara, PCFrank J. Sasinowski, M.S., M.P.H., J.D., has played a pivotal role in assisting sponsors and patient organizations in developing new medicines, contributing to the FDA approval of hundreds of new drugs, including over 100 new molecular entities, often targeting serious and rare diseases. Frank was involved in 6 of the most recent 7 drugs that the FDA approved through its accelerated approval process. He is actively engaged in many cell and gene therapies and played a significant role in the approval of Zolgensma, the first systemic gene therapy.
Frank joined the FDA in 1983 as a regulatory counsel in the Center for Drugs and Biologics, where he was instrumental in implementing both the 1983 Orphan Drug Act and the 1984 Hatch-Waxman Act. In 1987, he left the FDA as Deputy Director of the Health Policy Staff in the Commissioner’s office and joined HPM (Hyman, Phelps & McNamara, P.C.).
In its March 2012 issue, the Drug Information Journal published Frank’s seminal analysis on therapies for rare disorders: “Quantum of Effectiveness Evidence in FDA’s Approval of Orphan Drugs: Cataloguing FDA’s Flexibility in Regulating Therapies for Persons with Rare Disorders.” His other papers on Accelerated Approval and Orphan Drugs are also widely cited by the FDA, industry, and academia.
Since 2014, Frank has served as an Adjunct Professor of Neurology at the University of Rochester. His work has been widely recognized by both industry and political leaders. For example, Frank was invited by both political parties to testify at the May 2014 inaugural congressional hearing on the 21st Century Cures Act. In August 2018, he was appointed to the Board of Directors for the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM) Foundation for Cell and Gene Medicine. In May 2013, the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) awarded Frank its first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2000, Frank was elected to NORD’s Board of Directors, where he served as Chair and Vice Chair and remained on the Board until 2016. In 2017, Frank joined the Board of the EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases, where he currently serves as Vice Chair.
In October 2012, President Obama recognized Frank’s contributions to the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) report, “Propelling Innovation in Drug Discovery, Development, and Evaluation.” Frank is also a founding Board member of IndoUSrare, a patient organization representing individuals in India and the U.S. with rare conditions. Additionally, he has served on the Board of Directors of the United States Pharmacopeia (USP).
Eric Schadt
Chief Scientific Officer
PathosEric Schadt
Chief Scientific Officer
PathosDr. Schadt is Chief Scientific Officer at Pathos, working to re-engineer drug development by leveraging the power of advanced AI technologies.
Dr. Schadt, a mathematician by training, joined the Icahn School of Medicine as Chairman and Professor, Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences and as the founding Director of the Icahn Institute for Genomics and Multiscale Biology in 2012, and based on advances made during that time, in June 2017 he spun a large part of his Mount Sinai efforts into Sema4, a next generation health information company enabling physicians and patients with state of the art genomics tests and interpretations driven by advanced machine learning approaches that leverage the digital universe of data to better prevent, diagnose, and treat disease. He was previously the Chief Scientific Officer at Pacific Biosciences, overseeing the scientific strategy for the company, including creating the vision for next-generation sequencing applications of the company’s technology. He was also a founding member of Sage Bionetworks, an open access genomics initiative designed to build and support databases and an accessible platform for creating innovative, dynamic models of disease.
His most recent efforts at Pathos center on the generation and integration of large-scale, high-dimension molecular, cellular, and clinical data to build more predictive models of cancer that in turn drive drug discovery and development efforts, towards precision medicine strategies that better ensure the right patient is delivered the right drug at the right time. These efforts were motivated by the genomics and systems biology research he led at Merck/Rosetta to elucidate common human diseases and drug response using novel computational approaches applied to genetic and molecular profiling data.
His objectives are to unlock genomic insights with deep learning systems, causal AI, and digital technology to reinvent medicine with personalized predictive models of disease and wellness that radically improve individual wellbeing.
Nick Seddon
CEO, Optum Genomics
Nick Seddon
CEO, Optum Genomics
Nick is CEO of the newly formed Optum Genomics. He has been at UnitedHealth Group for seven years.
Before joining Optum, Nick served as Special Advisor for Health and Life Sciences for UK Prime Minister David Cameron. In this capacity, Nick played a central leadership role in developing and implementing the strategy to ensure the long-term sustainability of the UK’s National Health Service (NHS). He was also at the heart of the Prime Minister’s program to sequence 100,000 genomes.
He is a Visiting Professor at the Imperial College London Institute of Global Health Innovation. In July 2016 he was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Honors.
Nicole Sheahan
President
Global Colon Cancer AssociationNicole Sheahan
President
Global Colon Cancer AssociationNicole Sheahan serves as the President of the Global Colon Cancer Association. Previously, Ms. Sheahan held leadership positions at the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, including Chief Development Officer and Chief Operating Officer.
Supporting health-related causes has long been a passion of Ms. Sheahan. Inspired by her mother’s cancer diagnosis in 1988 and subsequent death in 1994, Ms. Sheahan has dedicated her professional career to health and human service organizations.
Ms. Sheahan received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Ms. Sheahan then worked for various health-related causes for more than a decade in New York City before returning to her hometown, Washington, D.C. in 2012.
David Sheehan
Founder, President, and CEO
Nucleus BiologicsDavid Sheehan
Founder, President, and CEO
Nucleus BiologicsDavid Sheehan is the Founder, President, and CEO of Nucleus Biologics. As CEO, Dave led the development of innovative cell culture tools to simplify and accelerate the design, customization, and ordering of cell culture media products. Today, Nucleus Biologics offers a unique portfolio of products and services that can support your innovative research from discovery to commercialization. Prior to Nucleus Biologics, Dave was COO of Volcano Corporation, a publicly held life sciences company that was sold to Philips for $1.2 billion. Previous to Volcano, Dave was the CEO of Digirad, a cardiovascular imaging company that he took public in 2004, and in leadership positions at Baxter and Haemonetics. Dave holds an MBA from The Tuck School at Dartmouth College and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Giselle Sholler
Director, Pediatric Oncology Research
Penn State Hershey Children’s HospitalGiselle Sholler
Division Chief, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT
Director, Pediatric Oncology Research
Penn State Hershey Children's HospitalProfessor, Pediatrics and Pharmacology
Chair, Beat Childhood Cancer ConsortiumDr. Sholler is currently the Division Chief of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT and Director of Pediatric Oncology Research at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital, Professor of Pediatrics and Pharmacology and Chair of the Beat Childhood Cancer consortium. Dr. Sholler’s preclinical research has led to the opening of 18 clinical trials for children with cancer. She founded and oversees the Beat Childhood Cancer consortium which is a collaborative team of over 55 universities, research centers and children’s hospitals that have come together to bring new therapies to children in need across the US and Canada. This team has led the research studying both Precision Medicine approaches to cancer as well as novel therapeutics including studying DFMO for maintenance therapy in neuroblastoma to keep children in remission.
Thomas Slavin
Chief Clinical Officer, Molecular Oncology
Medical Director
Haystack OncologyThomas Slavin
Chief Clinical Officer, Molecular Oncology
Medical Director
Haystack OncologyDr. Slavin is a physician-scientist and biotech executive, triple-board-certified in clinical genetics, molecular diagnostics and pediatrics. He is Chief Clinical Officer of Molecular Oncology and Medical Director of Haystack Oncology at Quest Diagnostics. He previously held the positions of Chief Medical Officer at Myriad Genetics and Chief Scientific Officer at HALO Precision Diagnostics. He was a former assistant professor in the departments of Medical Oncology and Population Sciences at City of Hope National Medical Center. Dr. Slavin graduated medical school with Alpha-Omega-Alpha-honors from the University of South Florida. He completed his residency programs at Case Western Reserve in Cleveland, Ohio; this training included a postdoctoral research year in genetic epidemiology. He has also completed graduate coursework toward a Master’s degree in clinical research through the University of Southern California and holds a Master’s in Business Administration through Columbia Southern University. He is a Clinical Advisor for the breast screening awareness nonprofit Touch4Life. He is an active member of the American Association of Cancer Research, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the American Society of Human Genetics, the Collaborative Group of the Americas on Inherited Colorectal Cancer, and is a fellow of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics. He has served on National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) committees for both the genetics of and screening for colorectal cancer. He has served on three ClinGen expert working group committees for variant classification of breast, gastrointestinal and ovarian cancer predisposition genes. Focused on expanding genetics education for cancer care providers, Dr. Slavin is an active faculty member of City of Hope’s hereditary genomics training program. He is a well-respected researcher in the field of medical genetics, publishing over 80 journal articles collectively evaluating genomic data from over 500,000 patients, multiple book chapters, and providing numerous presentations at national and international medical meetings. He has been involved in many national cancer research grants, and was a 2018 National Institutes of Health (NIH) K08-career development grant awardee.
Jeff Smith
Director, NGS Precision Medicine Initiatives
Thermo Fisher ScientificJeff Smith
Director, NGS Precision Medicine Initiatives
Clinical Next-Generation Sequencing and Oncology
Clinical Sequencing Division
Thermo Fisher ScientificDr. Smith has been a member of the Ion Torrent/Thermo Fisher Scientific Team since 2010 with extensive experience in managing the company’s efforts associated with large-scale Clinical Next Generation Sequencing-based initiatives including the National Cancer Institute MPACT and MATCH Clinical Trials and the newly activated NCI MyeloMATCH Program. He has led a team of Sales and Support Professionals with direct experience in supporting laboratories and their implementation of complex NGS assays in the clinical setting and more recently has joined the Medical and Scientific Affairs Team. Prior to joining Ion Torrent/Thermo Fisher Scientific, Dr. Smith led a clinical team at Affymetrix supporting the successful market penetration and adoption of microarrays as tools for Molecular Cytogenetics, Pharmacogenomics, and Oncology.
Dr. Smith received his Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh in the Program of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology.
Nicole St. Jean
Head, Precision Medicine External Innovation
GSKNicole St. Jean
Global Head, Precision Medicine External Innovation
GSKNicole St Jean is the Head of Global External Innovation for Precision Medicine at GSK Research & Development. She leads a team responsible for establishing external business strategy and partnerships in Precision Medicine, covering various disease areas such as cancer, infectious disease, and respiratory/immunology. Nicole joined GSK in 2021 after over a decade at AstraZeneca, where she, together with a team launched over a dozen diagnostics linked to four (4) FDA-approved medicines. She is passionate about innovation in healthcare, and recently completed an executive program in Artificial Intelligence in Pharma and Biotech at MIT. In 2024, Nicole was appointed Chairperson of the board of directors for the Precision Cancer Consortium (PCC), which aims to improve global patient access to comprehensive genomic testing in routine care and clinical trials. Nicole is also an active member of Women in Healthcare – DC chapter. She holds a B.S. and B.A. in Biology and Business Management from the University of Rhode Island, an MBA from Boston College, and has completed executive programs in corporate governance and boards and women’s executive leadership at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania USA.
Sana Syed
Associate Professor, School of Medicine
University of VirginiaSana Syed
Associate Professor, School of Medicine
University of VirginiaDr. Sana Syed is a physician-scientist specializing in pediatric gastroenterology, as well as an Associate Professor in both the University of Virginia School of Medicine and School of Data Science. The Syed Lab focuses on improving global health and combating childhood undernutrition by using cutting-edge molecular and data science techniques to study intestinal structure and function in the context of inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, such as Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, and environmental enteric dysfunction. Dr. Syed co-founded and directs the multi-disciplinary Gastroenterology Data Science Lab, which develops and applies these novel computational approaches to better understand disease and change clinical paradigms. As part of a multi-PI team with partners in Mississippi, Boston and Pakistan, her lab is currently mapping healthy gastrointestinal tissue using single-cell ‘omics in young children. This global initiative will discern ‘true normal’ across geography, ancestry, and environment. In her NIH-funded work, Dr. Syed aims to transform clinical care and improve health outcomes for children by facilitating precision medicine through enhanced diagnostics, outcome predictions, and treatments for luminal inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract which contribute to poor growth in children. Dr. Syed's overarching goal is to establish bench-to-bedside platforms that integrate clinical metadata with deep features of gastrointestinal disease to facilitate individualized precision medicine .
Eric Walk
Chief Medical Officer
PathAIEric Walk
Chief Medical Officer
PathAIDr. Eric Walk is Chief Medical Officer at PathAI in Boston, MA. He is head of the Medical group, overseeing Medical Affairs, Regulatory Affairs, and Clinical Affairs.
Eric has over 20 years of experience in precision medicine, oncology drug development and IVD companion diagnostics development. Prior to joining PathAI, he was Chief Medical and Scientific Officer at Roche Tissue Diagnostics/Ventana Medical Systems, where he led Medical & Scientific Affairs, overseeing the development and FDA clearance/approval of over 20 510k and PMA IVD assays, companion diagnostics and digital pathology algorithms. Eric began his industry career at Novartis Oncology, where he held positions in Early Clinical Development and Translational Medicine, working to implement biomarker and precision medicine strategies for early and late stage targeted oncology therapeutics. Eric is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Johns Hopkins University and holds a MD degree from the University of Virginia School of Medicine. He is board certified in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology and is a Fellow of the College of American Pathologists (CAP). He currently is a member of the CAP Personalized Healthcare Committee.
Lijun Wang
Chief Executive Officer
CoJourney BioLijun Wang
Chief Executive Officer
CoJourney BioLijun has over twenty years biotech industry experience, of which the most recent 17 years were focused on CGT viral vector and plasmid process development, process engineering and cGMP manufacturing. She has deep knowledge of multiple production platforms for viral vectors and plasmids. She specializes in large scale cell culture/fermentation and downstream purification of viral vectors and plasmids. She is an expert dedicated to bring bench scale processes to clinical and commercial ready.
Janet Woodcock
Former Acting Commissioner
FDAJanet Woodcock
Former Acting Commissioner
FDAFormer Director
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research
FDADr. Janet Woodcock recently completed a long career at the FDA. She served as Director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research for over twenty years in several stretches. Most recently she served as Principal Deputy Commissioner and prior to that as Acting FDA Commissioner.
Dr. Woodcock held multiple other senior positions at FDA including at the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. She was the therapeutics lead for “Operation Warp Speed” during the COVID pandemic. Her most recent effort was spearheading a major reorganization of FDA’s foods program and the Office of Regulatory Affairs. Dr. Woodcock completed many major regulatory initiatives during her FDA tenure. She was instrumental in getting the biosimilars legislation enacted and worked to ensure adoption in the clinical community.
Additionally, Dr. Woodcock worked with industry and Congress to bring about the first GDUFA. After passage of the legislation, she oversaw an extensive reorganization of the generic drug review program at CDER, that successfully met the aggressive targets of the legislation and led to eventual reauthorizing, with elimination of backlogs and approval of thousands of generic drugs.
Dr. Woodcock received a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Bucknell University, and earned her Doctor of Medicine from the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University Medical School.
Daozhan Yu
President and CEO
AAVnerGene IncDaozhan Yu
President and CEO
AAVnerGene Inc.Dr. Yu received his PhD degree from the University of Maryland at Baltimore in Molecular Medicine. He received post-Doc training and served on faculty at UMB and Temple University. His research covered Diabetes, Obesity, Cardiovascular diseases, iPSCs, disease modeling, drug screening and development, and gene therapy. He holds multiple patents, and drugs that he developed are in clinical trials. In recent years he has been focusing on AAV delivered gene therapy. He was the director at Vigene Biosciences in charge of virus production. In 2019, he Co-founded the company, AAVnerGene Inc with the mission to develop next generation AAV vectors and processes to increase AAV gene therapy efficiency. With a revolutionary one-plasmid AAV production system, AAVone, it solves AAV production bottleneck problems. With the AI assisted AAV engineering and screening platform, ATHENA, it can increase AAV delivery efficiency and specificity by hundreds of folds, and thus reduce the side effects and cost drastically, making AAV gene therapy accessible and affordable.
Tim Zhou
Manager
Downstream/Formulation Development
Spark TherapeuticsTim Zhou
Manager
Downstream/Formulation Development
Spark TherapeuticsDr. Zhou is the manager of Downstream purification process development at Spark Therapeutics, where he leads the drug substance manufacturing process development of several pipeline programs. He focuses on the early- and late-phase downstream process development for adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapy products, including process scale-up, tech transfer to clinical GMP, process characterization, validation and regulatory interactions. Prior to joining Spark in 2021, Tim spent five years at Teva Pharmaceutcals working on monoclonal antibody (mAb) and recombinant protein downstream process development, where he led the high-throughput process development efforts. Tim received his Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering with a focus on biosensors from Lehigh University in 2016.
SPONSOR
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